Memorial Weekend (With Family!!!)

Yep, it is summer!  Justin was blessed with a few days off and my brother Matt and his family decided to drive all the way down from Philladelphia on his few days off too!  I can't believe I had family come to North Carolina.  What a huge treat, and what a great family they are.  We had so much fun every day swimming, cooking, eating, picking strawberries and making jam, working hard and playing hard.  Matt was such a good sport to help with my many projects on the house we decided to take care of.   Justin, Matt and Bruce worked on painting, pull staples out of the floor, putting down new hard wood floors and built a doggy door for my chickens. 


I love this little face! 

Family Home Evening games with water relay races.  Let the Games begin.

I am not sure why I think this picture was so cool but I thought it was cute watching these two dads walking with their little girls.

Paige was ready to leave with Candice and Adelle when they had to leave.  She sure wouldn't mind being Candice's little girl.  I don't really blame her. :)

I guess I never knew Matt was so good at ice skating...  they had the ice rink to themselves!

Boy the kids had a blast with Matt around!!

I wish I had a better picture of the finished product after I touched up our many goofs from me and the kids attempt to paint the room.  Many hands might make light work but they also reaquire much more for clean up.

Bows and Arrows

Payton made this cute little bow for Ben, melted my heart.  Well then one morning I couldn't find Ben for the life of me and finally find him out the front door nailing one of PJ's targets to the first tree in the front yard.  I grabbed the camera and decided to document one of his little adventures.   

I know it looks bad...   but he said it didn't really hurt, he is tough.

Oh to be 4.... :) 

The Race

Well it has been MANY miles of training but I am so proud of Justin.  His time was 1 hour : 16min : 13 sec, his personal best. He has been training for months with a pretty cool 10 miler team.  Justin was 244th out of 1,659 runners. Which put him right around top 15%.  He was 22nd out of 99 in his age group of 35-39 years old.  His pace was a gruelling 7:38 per mile pace.  I wish I had the stats for how hot this morning was, I think that would have been a factor for me.  But he did a lot of time shaving from his time two years ago at 1 hour 30 min.   

I actually was having trouble getting to the race and missed him crossing the finish line but I tried to add a few links to his strong finish.  WAY TO GO, Babe!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59899770@N05/7176603999/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59899770@N05/7176603999/

Baby Gray

Sunday Morning surprise!!

I am SO EXCITED!!  My miniature horse, Ginger, had a baby!! When I left I hoped she was pregnant, but wasn't sure.  Only a month or so ago my sister sent me a picture, which confirmed she was really pregnant.  But I wasn't expecting her to have it until we made it back to WA in a few months.  I sure wish I was there to see the little sweetheart.  I can't wait to pet the little guy.  Thanks for the pictures!  Now for the naming game.

Sweet Ben

This morning right after Ben woke up he asked "Mom do you know how I got all these stripes?"  He indicated lines down the side of his face, his side and leg. "Stripes," I asked, "like scratches?"  "Yeah, scratches.  I got them when I was a teenager." 
I raised my eyebrows in curiosity. 
"Yeah, do you know what teenagers do?" 
"What do teenagers do?" I ask. 
"They fall a lot.  They fall on rocks, they fall on their motorcycles and get bad stripes.  That is where I got mine.  Back when I was a teenager." 
Oh this guy makes me smile...  I wonder what he dreamed about last night, rough night?

I don't write enough of his sayings down and sure wish I could remember more of his sweet and innocent conversations and thoughts.  He has the heart of a lion and can be sweet as a lamb.  I love my Ben Ben. 

I heard a little knock on the front door one morning.  I opened it to little scurrying feet and found Ben on the front step with his arm around Gracie like this.  "Mom can you take a picture of me and my friend Gracie?"  Of course.  :)

I also wanted to record another sweet conversation with him.  A while ago at dinner the conversation was about doing what you are supposed to do because it is the right thing to do.  Justin talked to the kids at dinner explaining what the word Duty meant and relating the story about the boy that found the kings treasured jewel by doing his duty.  After the conversation was over and dinner was closing we were cleaning up after it and Justin told the kids to go ahead and get ready for bed.  Justin went outside to put the chicks and ducks away for the night.  It is sometimes a big chore but Justin quietly slipped out to do this.  Ben was still working on finishing his dinner.  He suddenly got an idea and popped out of his chair and said "Mom there is something I got to do!" and he ran out the back door. Curiously I watched him run out to the chicken coop.  A few moments later he came back crushed!!  He was crying and seemed so lost.  I asked what was wrong.  "Mom that black chicken is my responsibility. It is my duty to put it back in the coop at night.  Dad told me to go back inside and eat my dinner but I need to do my duty. I GOT to do my DUTY!"  Justin came in right behind him upset because he thought Ben was trying to get out of eating dinner and getting ready for bed.  But after I explained Ben's choice to take care of his duty over eating and staying inside.  He gave Ben a hug and expressed his appreciation for Ben's desire to do what he should be doing.  I just loved Ben's sweet and willing heart to Do his Duty!
Oh by the way he named his chick Benny, or little Ben, after uncle Benny, not himself.  ha ha ha

Here are the kids during Spring Break.  The kids played a lot of Indians that week.  Ben was Scootney, Paige's Indian name was Lutacaga, Payton was Hiawatha and Avery was Corn Tassel.  Wonder where the names came from. ha ha  But sometimes they still call each other these names.  I sure love when they all play together.  This week Payton and Ben are special spies with all Payton's spy gear.  Two boys running around with sunglasses and ball caps and sleuth gear.  Too fun.

Ben sure does love to kid and tease. 

Here is a quote from the other day-

After Ben walked across my mopping he asked, "Mom do you know why I didn't leave any muddy tracks?" I shook my head. "It is because I just washed my feet," he proudly continued"... Last Year!"
May 4th, 2012

Today-
Ben- "Mom why doesn't dad use his ma*?"
Me- "maa*, his what? his map?"
Ben- "no, maSK"
Me- "What mask?"
Ben- "His Mask" pointing to a big wooden Jamacin, african looking mask, hanging on the wall.
Me- I shrugged, "I don't know.  What would he use it for?"
Ben- After thinking for a minute he replies. "If dad put a little string around it he could wear it easier than just hanging it on the wall."
Me- Walking away smiling, imagining someone wearing it to work with a string holding it on.

Krabby Patty

 You may or may not know how much I don't like Sponge Bob but I thought these were too cute not to try so for one day we will let krabby patties in our house. 

Be Happy not a Krabby Patty

We had a family home evening about being happy and served krabby patties for dessert.  They are yellow cake mix muffins, brownies middle and food colored frosting mustard and ketchup.  The kids loved making them as much as eating them. 
 Our family discussion was based on the quote from the proclamation- The Family: A Proclamation to the World. "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

flowers

So I guess these are Carolina's idea of dandelions(??) They are huge and our yard is full of them.  Ben loves them and thinks we have the prettiest yard around.  Gracie can't seem to eat them fast enough so we might as well try and get some pictures in them.  The other day Ben was missing for a while and finally I found him outside with a bucket trying to water ALL of the beautiful flowers for mom.  What a sweet boy!