B-line

Reveal.
The slide was rough to go down and the kids abandoned it after a year or 2 and only used it to climb on, make mud slides, and to transport playhouse toys and furniture.   None of which made me happy.
I had it in my head that a zipline would be a ton of fun so I took my request to J.  :)   She was hesitant, but as I have always been super persuasive she came onboard.   I had originally wanted it shorter and on more of an even hill...but when J takes the bull by the horns there is no messing around.
It took a bit more time and supplies (read, expensive wood) and the kids are in LOVE with it.   We had a few moments when we asked ourselves what the hell were we thinking.  apparently not about liability and waiver forms but all in all it's been great.
We are calling it the B-Line....as in Blanchards zipline  :)   It has a nice ring to it, wouldn't you say.


In case you couldn't understand his little song....he sings, "chicka chicka bow wow, this is how you do it now" I **heart** him !

Lilly

It's not often that I call her Lilly.....it's mostly Lillums.  Or Lill'est.  (like littlest)
She's 4 1/2 months old and super cute.   She's doing better on the potty training front and is 93% sweet which makes the times she doesn't make it outside (read :makes doodoo on my floor) a lot easier to handle.  (ironically it's been the same for me with my kids...they are all glad they are cute)
Lilly will run off sometimes but will eventually come to you....it feels like it has to be on her terms most of the time which is slightly irritating.    The little boys encourage bad behavior ie. puppy biting and chasing and she's a mouth licker.  
All of which means....we're just being patient with her and loving the cute parts until she learns better.

Comparison pictures.

8 weeks

3 months

4 1/2 months

She's definitely looking more like a Cocker Spaniel.   OH MY GRACIOUS she's cute.   She's still little and only weighs 8lbs.  My kids ADORE her....and it's been great to watch them bond with her.   They loved Sadie...but for some reason it's different getting a dog rather than having one already.  Maybe it's that she is a puppy (?) either way, she's been a big hit and we're all very glad to have her in our family.

Sydney and I both laughed at the last 2 pictures and decided to come up with captions to go along with the facial expressions.   (Sydney is as scared of bees as it looks like Lilly is in these pictures)   :)

teaser....

guess what was on J's honey-do-list this time ?   :)

Birthday Party

We celebrated the big boys turning 7 at Boondocks this year.
It was so much fun !   Here are some pictures of the outdoor activities.   Tons to do inside too, but alas....no pictures.

L to R : Jordyn, Sydney, Ryan, Rylan, Nathan, Axel, Mason, Cameron, Andren, Max and Spencer

Spencer, Axel, Rylan, Mason and Andren

Minecraft cake.   A game the boys watched their friends play.

Shaved Ice !

Aunt Jo recently became a partner in a little shaved ice business with a couple of her friends.
Hokulia shaved ice.
We were told not to call them sno cones and it certainly didn't take us long to figure out why.
It was a 101 degree day when lots of friends came over to play.   What a great excuse to go enjoy these ginormous treats.

Spencer and Max

Andren, Mason, Cameron

Sydney and Jordyn

Ryan, Henry and Nathan

Cameron, Mason, Ryan, Nathan, Spencer, Andren and Max

Happy 7th Birthday My Big Boys !

The cutest, nicest, sweetest, greatest most wonderful 7 year old boys to ever walk this planet.  
And that's no joke.

The Fourth !