Father's Day Fun

   The weather was better on Saturday than Sunday.  So, we planned Saturday to go to a park in Ohio where we enjoyed running/biking the trails, grilling our lunch, and then renting a pontoon boat to take out on the small lake area.  It was definitely a perfect day for the activities.  And the boys really enjoyed the boat ride (all 3 boys, that is!).  :)

Driver Jake

Driver Joe

   Sunday was more laid back with the rain falling.  But breakfast included donuts! :)  And Jake gave Daddy the boot he carved...which included an engraving of "Dad" on the bottom.

creations

 On Flag Day, we were at the Farmer's Market. The Bookmobile (the library on wheels) was there, too. So, the boys acquired small flags after we checked out some books. 
  We were to have our small group over for dinner that night. So, I challenged the boys to make something representing Flag Day as a centerpiece for the counter.  And this is what they created (from Legos)!  Joe's is on the left (with mountains) and Jake's is on the right!

And here is the latest on the treehouse.  The boys can finally enjoy going inside with the rails up.  (Josh used trees from up by the road...that needed to be thinned out for proper growth...for the railings!)  We are still working on a rope ladder for where the ladder is against the tree.  But the boys LOVE it!

High in the Sky

   Our electric company had a Member Appreciation Day last week.  One of the activities was going up in a bucket truck.  So, the boys took on the adventure.

 The gentleman that took them up was great with them...taking time to point out things and answer their questions.  He held them up so I could see them, too! :)
 Needless to say, the boys enjoyed it a lot!

The grass...

  The grass is greener on the other side....the other side of the house, that is!  FINALLY!  :)  We now look out to green in the back yard. 

Proud of his work

  Jake has worked on Junior Ranger books for a couple different national parks.  He finished the Big South Fork one and mailed off his work. 

  This week, the work was returned...!

A birthday in the house...

 The big day arrived...I heard a thump out of the bed above...footsteps running across the floor and..."Mommy!" ... "Yes?" ... "It's my BIRTHDAY!"

Coming down the stairs looking at the decorations on the table

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This kid can fly on his new scooter...

   Jake decided to make something for Joe using his woodcarving tools.  They decided to name the treehouse..."Doube J".   So, Jake made a sign...

Rings to swing like a monkey with....oh, wait,...he already does that without them

   When asked what he'd like to do on his birthday, Joe's quick response was...family games like at Christmas!  He listed off every sport activity one can think of.  And he wanted to wear a special shirt like we did at Christmas.
   So, we divided into teams and did an obstacle course incorporating as many of the sports as possible...running to the frisbee, tossing the frisbee to the soccer ball, dribbling the soccer ball around cones to the tennis racquets, hitting the tennis ball into the hoop/basket, running to the basketball and turning back to shoot it into the hoop/basket, and running to the finish.

 TEAM CUBS...Josh and Jake...

TEAM 5...Mom and Joe

 On your mark...get set...

 Go...

 Go...

 Go...

 Go...

 Go...

   We changed up the competition a few times...and got better each time down the course!  Fun stuff!

Then, we played a 2 inning game of baseball...2 on 2...that ended miraculously in a tie! 

Finally, it was cake time!  Joe had asked for a M&M chocolate cake with chocolate icing and M&M's on top. He got it!

 He wanted the number "5" and five candles... :)

 And he was excited...

 Directing us as we sang...

Enjoying every bite...

And Aunt Rachel and Uncle Eric brought a 5 cookie (like 12" sized) for Joe, too! :)

 Happy 5th Birthday, Joe!!!

Discoveries...

   So, I had nothing to do today (yeah, right).  But I did find a few moments to wander around the yard.  It was a beautiful day...perfect spring weather...not too hot, not too cold.  So, I tried to think of something I could do. 
   Why not spray weeds? 

   So...I got distracted by the urge to check on the newly discovered mulberry trees.  Some of the mulberries were already dropping all over the ground.  Can't have that waste.  So, I got a bucket and picked what I could. 
   Then I got around to spraying weeds.  And as I wandered the yard, I discovered 2 more large mulberry trees...and a cherry tree.  I can't figure out how I didn't see all these trees last year.  But as I analyzed it all, I wondered if the early and extreme heat we had last year kept the fruit from forming at all.  I am pretty sure I would have noticed the fruit...especially while mowing...since the branches are weighed down with fruit and the fruit evidence is on the ground.

  Regardless, it was fun to find fruit production happening on our trees.

  In other "discovery" news...the boys were excited to find little seedlings growing in their sandbox.  They found it funny and fun b/c they like to get tree limbs off trees and plant them along their roads or army guys or whatever.  Joe laughed pretty hard over the seedlings growing in the sand that is in the back of the dump truck.

  Josh's discovery wasn't as exciting...he wandered to the old barn slab to check out some metal there and found a 3-4 ft garter snake!!!