6th birthday

On Jake's birthday, he woke up at 6:41 am (also the time of his actual birth, ironically).  No one else was up except Jake and mom until about 8 am.  So, we read some library books and opened a couple birthday cards.
Then, Jake made a change in his breakfast menu from chocolate chip pancakes to donuts and eggs since Papa had brought home some donuts from the bakery after he worked!

Jake quickly dove into opening presents and cards after breakfast.  And he began playing! :)

 

 He went to the house with Dad and we soon followed.  After a couple hours and lunch at the house, we headed to Mama and Papa's for Joe's nap.  Jake and I played with his toys and checked out the praying mantis we had found at the house.
Then, once dad was home, Jake was "if-y" on his plans to go to the playground and outdoor pool (it was 105 degrees out!). It clouded up enough that we went out and had practice with a moving target and his new bow and arrow.  Both boys did well aiming and shooting at a moving target.

It started to get sunny (and even hotter, again).  So, we went inside.  A few minutes later, it started to drip rain.  So, Jake and I went out to do a rain dance (after weeks with no rain).  Mama had washed her car...claiming it would help it rain.  It did.  The longer Jake and I ran in the rain drops, the harder the rain came.  Not too hard, but enough to at least create some puddles.  The puddle water was SO hot b/c the driveway was so hot.  Plus, they were producing bubbles galore as the heat rose in the puddled water. 
After awhile, it stopped.  So, we went inside to get ready for Jake's dinner request...Pizza King.
After dinner, we came back for cupcakes and mint chocolate chip ice cream with Mama and Papa.  Joe led us in singing Happy Birthday.  And we dug in...

All in all, it was a laid back, but memorable birthday for Jake!

There was a lady who swallowed a fly...

 And I wish I had been her...  Because I managed to take in a bee (felt like the size of a huge bumblebee but was probably the mere size of a sweat bee) and get stung (at least once) in the back of the throat before getting it out of my mouth!   In case you are wondering how that might have happened, I took a drink from Josh's water jug and apparently where he left the drinking spout open, a bee had entered in search of water.  Talk about instant sore throat!!!!


 In other news, here is the way we spent our super hot Friday...

And we found a praying mantis in the detached garage that we spent some time investigating...

Tractors, Thomas the Train, and fire engines...

 That was all part of the Greensburg Fourth of July Parade. 

The boys enjoyed watching the bands and participants.

The day itself was pretty low key.  Josh went to work on the house. Then we headed to Columbus to order drywall and insulation for the house.  And then we headed to Indy for fireworks (since all other fireworks displays near us have been cancelled due to such dry conditions).  We ended up at the Bales' house...which provided and air conditioned, third story view...perfect for the fireworks.  Their 14 month old son had taken a late nap, but actually started down the stairs toward his room about 2 minutes before the fireworks started.  But the rest of us enjoyed the 20 minute display (in which 3 times Josh stated..."this must be the finale, boys!!").  Finally, it was the finale...and then one more firework went off...was it the end?
As we headed back through Indy toward home 20 minutes later, Joe (I think) said, "It's all done.  They haven't shot anymore off."  :)

Drama

   The boys have at times watched a couple old flicks on TV with either Grandpa or Papa. With Grandpa, it's been old war movies and with Papa, it's been old police movies. 

   So, a couple weeks ago, the boys were playing with some army guys.  I was near enough to overhear what they were doing.  I heard them singing some music/notes in a very rhythmic fashion.  It took me a second, but I shortly thereafter asked..."Is that the dramatic music before something big happens to your army guys?"  Without hesitation, they replied, "Yep" and carried on like it was no big deal.  I just started laughing. 

   I forget about them doing this until they are playing and I begin to hear the same dramatic rhythm being sung. (It's distinctive.) Last night, it was with the firefighters.  I tried to capture it on video...but Joe (who was the one initially singing it this time) couldn't remember what he had been singing by the time I had the video camera.  And Jake couldn't pick it up either,.... but did have a great musical rendition for a less dramatic part of a movie.  :)

   Carry on...boys.   Carry on! :)

Hide and seek...

   I forgot to share this story in my last post.  So, I'll sneak it in here...only because it's too cute to leave out.

   So, last Tuesday after we ate dinner, we were working on the house for a bit and then planned to play hide and seek with the boys before heading home.  I figured the boys might be scared about hiding around the yard by themselves (even though I mowed...so we could actually see around the yard).  Jake was fine, but Joe wanted a teammate.  Well, that lasted like 2 rounds.  Joe was soon ready to be by himself as we played.
   We took turns being the counter while the others would hide.  Well, it was Josh's turn to count.  He found Jake and I, but had circled the playing boundaries without finding Joe.  So, Jake, Josh, and I headed around to try to see if we could find Joe.
    Josh had gone around the front of the house and I had ventured around the back.  As I came around the corner, I saw Joe's head popping back down into his hiding place...he had just popped up a little, looked to see if we were near him, and popped back down.  Just then, Josh spotted him, too.
   So, where was his great hiding place?   In the tomato plants (which are only about 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall since we've had little/no rain).  He could fit right down between the plants (in the dirt, of course) and not even be seen in the leafage!  Hilarious!
   We think he has gotten the hang of the game because his next hiding place was a pretty good thought, too...between the big pile of dirt and the debris hole in the backyard. (So--he was behind the big pile of dirt and you would have to get pretty close to see him.) The only reason Jake found him was because Joe kept dancing around behind the pile to see if Jake was near.  (I was nearby...having fun watching Joe peek out!)


 On another note...from Friday...
   Here are some videos of Joe playing Wii.  I don't think he would make it down a mogul hill if he were using these snow skiing techniques. 

Snow skiing...

But--he might be able to have a knock out in his boxing!  (I wish you could more clearly see the constant grin on his face as he does this!
Boxing...

   I wish I had a video camera the day Jake looked at his sunflowers and saw they were open.  It was a squeal of delight and laughter...pure joy.  So childlike, yet so pure in nature...delight at the fruit of his labor.
   Before this picture, he stated he was glad the bees were helping his plant grow and he wanted to tell them thank you!!!  (I guess he has listened to some of our lessons on plants and bees this summer! haha...)

    He hopes to salvage the sunflower seeds to be able to eat them.  (I think 3 others of us will be glad for him to do this...and share! :) 

   Josh and I have talked about putting a sunflower field (Kansas-style) between the barn and the road (not the whole area, but a large section).  I've pondered if I can sell roasted sunflower seeds at the farmer's market.  But I need to look into how to prepare them for something like that.   Dreaming...

It's 100+ HOT...

   We have had a very hot week of weather.  Combined with no rain in weeks...it's just plain hot and dry.
   I like hot and dry (ie...little to no humidity) because it is so different from hot and humid that we have endured in TN for the last 5 years.  And, because it is actually enjoyable to get hot and then enjoy the cool of the shade!

   However, I don't think Jack and Josh are enjoying the heat as much.  It stays pretty comfortable in the house for a stretch of the day because of the evening coolness.  But once the house heats up, it gets hot and makes you sweaty fast!
   But because they have endured through the heat, they have finished installing the garage door/door opener.  And we have another water spigot added to the west side of the house.  The plumbing is nearing a finish.  Electrical is pretty much finished. And we are looking at the next big purchase (big in multiple ways), insulation and drywall! 
   I'm to the point where I have to shut down my brain when I think about actually getting to live in our house.  I'm too excited and too ready for life to return to a little more normal way of living.  The boys are ready too (which they voice more and more often).  And, we'll all be glad when Dad can do stuff with us again on a regular basis!


   Now the boys and I have been keeping busy through the week.  I mowed Monday...which I believe was a record time (finally starting to figure out the most efficient way to mow a  large yard with lots of obstacles still).  The boys enjoyed time in the sandbox. 
   Tuesday, we were at the library for a good part of the day with story time and activities.
   Wednesday, we hung out at Mama and Papa's until the library pool party in the evening.  This was one of the rewards for the summer reading program.  Upon arriving and getting ready to get in the water, Joe asked when we would be eating cake.  I guess he has a strong association with "party" and "cake"! :)
   Thursday, we hung out with our friends, Jessi and Sveta...heading to a splash pad in Harrison, Ohio, and then going swimming at their mom/grandma's house in Lawrenceburg, Ohio.  It was over 100 degrees on this day...so a perfect way to spend the day.
  Friday, we stayed inside...recovering from the week and trying to stay cool.  And we headed to church in the evening for a dinner.
  Saturday...we were at the house.  The boys enjoyed their little pool of cold water to play in while the rest of us tried to get some work done!
  Today...the agenda is church and then house! (some things don't change! :)

Our trip to Rocky Top

   We headed south to visit Grammie and Grandpa.  THe goal...swim a lot in the pool, go to Dollywood--hopefully twice, and celebrate Joe's birthday.  What we accomplished...8 times in the pool, two trips to Dollywood, and two birthday celebrations (Joe and Jake!).   Needless to say, it was a busy, but fun trip.  And the weather was gorgeous for us to enjoy it all!

 Like I said, we took two trips to Dollywood...and spent a lot of time at the squirt guns (like...hours...!)  The boys fed the ducks, fish, and turtles, too.  Dad and I took a trip on Thunderhead and then I ventured through the Wild Eagle.  We also enjoyed the dog stunts in the special Kids Fest show...with incredible things like dogs walking on front legs only or hopping on hind legs.  Here are a few pictures of the fun...

Decor outside the show featuring dogs doing various incredible tricks!

The boys are petting one of the stunt dogs

 Celebrating Joe's birthday... (which, when Grandpa asked, was now his 5th birthday...I guess b/c we celebrated his 4th birthday a couple weeks ago...and his 5th birthday comes next!)

Excited to blow out the candles and eat the cake!!!

 Videos of Joe opening his presents...(Grammie had them numbered and hidden around the room for him to find!)
   As Joe looked for the first present, he actually spotted the other 3 presents.

 

Here, Joe cautiously heads for the present he has already seen...and matches the number in his hand to he number on the present...with delight! :)

Sorry for the shaky videos...I was trying to help with the scissors.

This tractor set was the one thing he kept asking for for his birthday!

Here is some of the swimming that was happening.  Notice Joe's kicking, arm movements, and face in the water.  He gained a lot of confidence in the few days we were at Grammie and Grandpa's. 

  Jake was trying some butterfly.  And he finally figured out how to really dive for things on the bottom.  So, he succeeded in both the shallow end and the deep end with this!

 

Playing army guys is always a top activity for the boys at Grandpa's house.  This time, I found it funny to see this on Grammie's decor! :)

Jake's (almost) birthday was celebrated as well...since we aren't sure when we can get to TN again.  Grandpa whispered everytime he mentioned Jake's birthday (which, of course, put Jake in stitches laughing) and had us sing in a whisper "Happy Birthday"!

LOTS of pocket knives...which both boys were very excited about!

Jake was given a lot of military guys including some American Revolution sets!

And for his "cake" we made ice cream sundaes in waffle bowls.

 We only put one candle on his "cake" since he is almost one year older! :)

Other highlights...a trip to Knoxville--including a stop at the Farmer's Market where we got to have mini ice cream cones from my favorite dairy farm that's down the road!!!!  And, lunch on Sunday at The Grille...eating outside in the shade watching the boats, turtles, jet skis, and more!

 Fun times, fun times! Great memories to enjoy for a long time!