Always something to learn

As we were driving out of the driveway this morning, Garrett said "Daddy, you need to cut down that tree."  "Why?"  asked Todd.  "Because it's dead...The leaves are all gone."

I guess he forgot what autumn was all about.  There is so much for these little minds to learn

Airplane Wheels

We were sitting in the "cell phone" parking lot at the airport watching the planes land today as we were waiting for Grandma E's plane to come in.  As we drove away to pick her up, Garrett announced, "OH... Now I know why planes have wheels... I always wondered why they did."

Big Appetite

Abigail was dishing up ice cream for afternoon snack.  Garrett was passing them out.  There was one with a little bit more than the others.  Garrett says: "I need to eat this one because Heidi might not be able to eat it all.  But I can... See my big mouth?"

Hunters

Our poor chickens are being hunted down by two little boys with cap guns...

Happy Birthday, Abigail!!!

Happy 13th Birthday to Abigail!!!

We are so very thankful to have you as part of our family.  We love your sweet, willing spirit.  You're growing into such a beautiful, gracious young lady!  Love you!!!

The menu requests:  (These kids don't take after their mom - I look for any excuse for junk food!)  - Baked Oatmeal, Split Pea soup in bread bowls, Meatloaf and mashed potatoes (some kind of veggies and maybe a salad) with an Applesauce Birthday Cake. (Every time a birthday rolls around I suggest chocolate cake with chocolate frosting... they just raise their eyebrows and stick with pumpkin, apple, spice, etc. cakes.  Wonder if I can talk Garrett into a Chocolate one? - lol)

Dress rehearsals...

... (or in this case pajama rehearsals) are supposed to go badly, right?

Tomorrow the kids have a singing program that they are doing at an art gallery in town.  Their piano teacher recommended them to the owner of the art gallery when she was looking for performers for her monthly performances.  They are singing 11 songs and have been working quite hard to get ready for it.

Tonight they were running through the program before heading for bed.  The singing went pretty well, but the little brothers (who are singing with the girls in a couple of the songs) were in top form.  They were behaving like... well... like little 6 and 3 year old boys.  Making faces, singing silly, teasing... you get the picture.  The girls were doing pretty well ignoring it until they looked at our faces - we were trying, but we just... couldn't... help... laughing.  (Which, of course, encouraged the little monkeys to entertain us even more).

So tomorrow, we're really, really hoping that stage fright will tame them down.  One of the girls suggested Benedryl...

Happy Birthday, Emily!!!

Happy 10th Birthday to our Emily!!!

Cinnamon Rolls, Baked Potato Soup and Spaghetti are the menu requests for today.  Pumpkin Cake is the birthday cake request.

How can this sweet girl be in the double digits already?  She's our sugar and spice - our giggles and hugs.

We love you, sweet Emily and are so, so glad you are our daughter.

Sibling Cooperation

Three or four years ago we met a family with 10 kids who spend about half the year touring the country singing and playing.  Our kids have learned several neat songs over the years from their CDs and website.  Some of the children noticed that they would be performing in Oblong last Monday evening on their way home to Iowa from one of their tours.  So we went to see them.  They had several new songs but one of the most impressive is an instrumental they call Sibling Cooperation.  I took the video with my phone with everyone tapping their feet and the pew shaking so it is a little shaky in places.
Something amazing happens about 1 minute into the video and then it gets doubly amazing at about 2 minutes into the video.