Back in November all of the cousins in town for Thanksgiving made gingerbread houses at our library. Marian has taken the kids many other weeks while I watch Evelyn so the big kids can do these fun library events.
We had a couple branches fall from this tree that we knew was dying so we decided to take out the dead trees. Jake loved watching them climb and use the chainsaw.
There is a lot of skill involved- this tree hangs halfway over our neighbors fence and yet he managed to have every large branch land right in our yard.
In the back corner of our yard was an 80ft+ tree that was super dead. You can see it's lighter color in contrast to the trees around it.
Because the tree was so dead it wasn't safe for anyone to climb it. They had to fell the tree and with a very dead tree that had a lot of risk (not to mention in the corner of the yard there is not much room for escape). The owner of the company came and was the one to take it down while the other men held ropes to guide it if it started going some crazy way. Before starting, he told us right where he was going to make it fall. They took out several other trees in the way to minimize risk. Then making cuts with a chainsaw just like a beaver (wedge on the side that will fall that makes the tree naturally fall that way) he then got on the back side of the tree and made a slice until we heard the ominous "crack" of the tree getting ready to fall. Thankfully the tree was solid enough that it didn't shatter then and it fell exactly where he had said it would, and it fell apart as it hit a branch from another tree as it came down and then shattered, especially at the top end, as it hit the ground.
It was all day entertainment for the kids and me. The men worked until after dark, and unfortunately took out part of the rock wall with the enormous logs. It was pitch dark and those logs were big! They came back and later fixed the wall. We cheered for them when the big tree fell and gave them some chocolate chip cookies too. We are so grateful those trees are gone.
Flare is absolutely amazing. She is about two months younger than Spike. Her coloring is bright red/orange. Her back has an incredible bow tie pattern and her eyes have what look like eyelashes with the red/white stripes.
Within an hour of seeing Flare in the opposite terrarium, Spike was going nuts. He was head bobbing, pacing around trying to get out, and his beard got black. It was amazing to see how quickly he was trying to impress Flare!
Flare's personality is pretty fun. She will follow you along the cage as you walk in the room, as if asking you to hold her. She was lazily arm waving back at Spike as he went nuts in the other terrarium. Her arm waving is a sign of friendliness and submission.
Basketball corner. We look crazy bringing all our kids to Nicole's games, but Jim and I don't want to miss a minute!
Nicole shooting the ball.
Diana and me playing around on the camera. It is pretty hard for D not to be doing something active during the games so we spend time on my camera trying to keep her happy.
Mostly works.
Nicole gets to do the tipoff since she is so tall. Since that was never an option for me, I love watching the advantage her height gives her. Since she's slowly overcoming her shyness while playing, it's so fun to cheer her on and encourage her. She's even learning to box out. I have so much fun watching her play!
Chef Nicole with her two prepared salads for the bearded dragons. Every morning she makes them a salad and it's fun to see her take good care of them.
Nicole with Flare. Flare loves lookout spots like a shoulder or at the end of the couch.
We went rock climbing with some friends and had an awesome time. There were lines that gave the kids enough tension that they could climb without getting tired even though it was still tough.
Nicole loved it and climbed every single route she could.
Michael pretending he is a monster. He would lay down in the tire shreds and then leap up growling. I have no idea why, but he had the time of his life doing it.
Katy Lynn has Jim's hair! FINALLY finally finally! A baby with his hair! This light brown is the color his was as a baby. I guess 5th time is the charm :)
The Museum of Natural Sciences had their Astronomy Day so we checked it out. The kids got to make and launch these rockets.
In what was a big waste of hot chocolate, the kids made their own craters by throwing golf balls into a big vat of hot chocolate powder and then compared it to huge pictures of the moon.
I'm guessing this volunteer was super hot in this getup! I told the kids to ask lots of questions to everyone and they sure did. Even Diana, who was completely unintelligible to any of us. They learned a lot from each of these stations.
Checking out one of several telescopes on hand.
Discussing how the planets revolve around the sun with a cool demonstration.
Diana slowly lost patience with discussions and enjoyed climbing the walls. She lasted the whole time though so she's making progress.
Using paint to make comets. This only really worked with Nicole, the other kids just wanted to paint.
Launching the rockets! Michael told me today he wants to use his money to buy a rocket launcher and is busily counting every last dime he owns.
We played around with Spike and Flare yesterday.
Flare waving at Spike. She is shedding right now, you can see the white on her legs and tail.
