Pinchy Buns

We're a family of bun pinchers. We can't help it. Something about cute little buns makes them irresistably pinchable. Shane is the king of all bun pinchers. If he walks in while anyone is changing clothes, he runs at them, laughing hysterically with hands outstretched for bun pinching. Here I caught him apparently going through withdrawal because he resorted to pinching his own buns!

Cast away that cast!

This is before the nice lady brought out the very loud cast cutting off machine.
This is a few minutes after the nice lady turned off the cast cutting machine and Mommy wiped a lot of tears and we had some cuddles.
This is one motley bunch.
When we got home, I saw this. Apparently Ella was feeding her baby and writing a story when it was time to come in last night. I'm glad baby was ok on the porch all by herself for so long.

Stunt Baby rides again

Hank and Ella like to ride her tricycle down the big side hill.

I guess Shane felt left out because this afternoon when we went out, he headed straight for his little car, dragged it to the edge of the big hill (facing backward), got on and started pushing his chubby little feet. He got turned around, went a few feet and crashed.

I was multi-tasking like crazy. Yelling STOP!, running and taking pictures. I am so glad we don't have neighbors nearby because they would seriously think us crazy.

He got back on the car so I stood next to him to see just what he would do. Fortunately he went a couple of feet and ended in another slow burn of a crash. I guess the thrill was gone because he didn't try it again - yet...

Building a mall, um mosque

We're doing Tapestry of Grace this year for homeschool and week 3 is about the intro of Islam into the world. One of the activities it suggests is making a mosque. Not only are they architecturally beautiful, but the model serves as a nice reminder to pray for Muslims as well as Christians in Muslim countries.

Hank keeps calling it a mall which cracks me up for some reason. He mispronounces a lot of words which I find adorable. So anyway Hank built one out of blocks, sans the dome since we're fresh out of wooden domes.

Then we started on the paper mache version. We'll paint and decorate this one in the coming week. Ella "Don't get me dirty" Machen actually helped with the dome and then declared the process awky and left to wash her hands - and not return. Such a girlie girl.

More Williamsburg Pix

In case you missed it in the first Wmsburg post. :) This daddy loves his girl and was all too happy to oblige her request to trade hats.

Williamsburg on the 15th

We headed down for the day and had a great time.

Nurse Ella, Sick Hank

Hank was a little under the weather this morning so I let him sleep in. Ella went back to see what she could do for her partner in crime and he asked for some juice.

She held one finger up (ala "I have an idea!") and said, "I will get a cup with a straw and put water in it. I can't reach the juice so mommy will get it. I will bring you some juice and you will get better." So there

He also wanted to play his toy guitar which Ella promptly brought to his sickbed. After a few minutes playing his guitar, he came to the front of the house miraculously cured. Apparently he went to see Dr Alalouf (their dentist) and he said, "No more sick kids." Poof! Hank is all better. I'll need to remember that trick the next time the plague visits our house.

Crazy Hair

Day 1

School was supposed to start last week but with Shane's arm and the resulting dr appts, etc we kind of played school last week. Today was the real deal.

Ella loved school last week. Today she sort of checked out after the first worksheet. She's currently a Kindergarten drop out refusing to do anymore work. I'm sure that will last only until craft time and then we'll be in good shape again.

Jake accomplished zilch last week and we're on a pretty tight schedule so he has to double up this week. Poor Jakie

I had the kids walk out the utility door and take some stuff to mailbox, tour the yard a bit and then come in the front door for school. They called me teacher instead of mom until snack time. Then I was mom again which I thought was funny.

Shane was lying on the floor goofing off while we were working. Hank explained that they found him on the front porch and brought him to school as a present for their teacher. Did I like my present they wanted to know. Too cute! I wonder if they kept the receipt so I could exchange for a quieter, less daring model.... nah...this one is more exciting. :)

We have a full schoolyear ahead of us. Hopefully it will be fun *and* we learn a lot in the process.

The Haircut

Taken with Bill's cell so the clarity isn't great, but they're too cute not to post.

One Day My Handsome Guy Will Come

Doesn't flow as well as "prince," but Ella doesn't care.

We stopped by our local educational store yesterday and Hank and Ella each picked out 2 medieval action figures. Hank chose a "good guy knight" and a "bad guy knight" so they could fight each other.

Ella chose a Cinderella-looking princess and a prince. Only she calls him Handsome Guy. "Mom! I can't find Handsome Guy! Hank took him!"

Then she proceeded to describe him to me so I could help her find him. "He's this tall," holding her hands a few inches apart. "He has wittle hands like this," holding her fingers very close together. "And (of course) he's handsome."

We found him in the puppet theatre under some toys. The reunion was beautiful and there was much merriment and dancing. :)

Stunt Baby

I had to duct tape his soft cast because he kept trying to take it off. He definitely has his own ideas about how he's going to do things (Lord, help me!).

Bill was doing some work on the Yukon last night and Shane was right in the middle of it with his shiny club-arm.

We went this morning for his sassy red cast. Great news! He has to wear this one for only 3 weeks!

This kid is a pistol. I think we may need our own parking spot at the ortho's before he's grown...