Tough as nails

This afternoon I was busy planning a meeting and Levi took advantage of the fact that I was not paying close attention. He decided to live life dangerously and ride his bike in flip-flops. Now, I know that many many many kids ride their bikes in flip-flops but not mine. I tell them horror stories about the things that can happen to their feet, so they grudgingly put on their shoes. He slipped by me today though. Eric and David came running inside saying "we need to get band-aids." "hurry up!" "He's bleeding, there's lots of blood." They didn't even think to get me involved until they were headed out the door with band-aids. I was proud to see them working together to take care of their little brother but I was terribly curious to see what happened. I hadn't heard a peep out of Levi. I walked outside and found Levi by the end of the driveway, bike laying over in the cul-de-sac, flip flops on the ground and he was standing up looking at his toe bleeding on the road. The neighbor boys were huddled around him saying repeatedly "I can't believe he's not crying!" "How is he not crying?" I looked at Levi and his toe and asked what happened and he told me "I was riding in my flip flops"

I gave him a piggy back ride up to the bathroom (stopping in the kitchen for the camera, of course) and set him on the counter. All he said was that it really hurt. I had a hard time getting a picture of it because his little leg was shaking so badly. So I did what any good mother would do and I exasperated him further by asking him to hold it still so I could get a good picture. He couldn't stop the shaking, of course, but he was perfectly patient with me and he tried. I am, in case you were wondering, fully aware that these boys may be permanently, emotionally damaged by my lack of excitability and sense of urgency about such matters. Anyway, once I finished bandaging him up he limped to his shoes, put them on, and limped back outside to hop on his bike and ride some more. Tough as nails that kid! I'm so proud:)

And he did have his helmet on after all!!

Strawberries..I'm in Heaven!

I always miss strawberry season. It tends to just sneak up on me and then I'm scrambling to get what's left at the very end of the season. This year I was ready for 'em.

The boys and I have picked 5 buckets so far. We have eaten so many strawberries it's a miracle that we aren't turning red.

I also tried my hand at making jam for the first time. It turned out great and we have finished one jar already. At that rate the remaining 8 jars will not get us through the year.

This is strawberry lemonade concentrate. I can't wait to try it. Levi and I had a great time making it. We licked clean all of the utensils used in making this.

I called Grammie to get her recipe for strawberry pie. It wasn't quite set up here but we were in a hurry to eat it before the boys had to get to bed. It tasted just like I remembered.

We have made belgian waffles with strawberries and homemade whipped cream. And we have frozen many strawberries to enjoy later. oh...and I chocolate-covered a few to give to teachers. I can't wait to get some more. I still want to try sorbet...oh, and Kem will have to make homemade ice cream.

What fruit is next? Bring it on!

The Clubhouse

After about 4 years of talking about it we finally broke down and bought a swingset for the boys. They are so excited.

We started after Church 2 weeks ago. Then got help up by some rain and a trip to PA

Of course we put the boys to work but they are all too happy to help.

There is still so much to do but the boys are pleased with this. Something to climb on and a slide that they can put anywhere(because it's not attached yet).

I braved putting the roof on by myself today while I had some peace!

My Monkey Man

I have a kid who reminds me of me! Today when I looked out my kitchen window this is what I saw.

I took my camera outside to find Levi and David playing a game of catch with the basketball. I never really envisioned a game of catch like this but why not? It looks like fun.

I know it's sometimes easier to get up than it is to get down so I asked Levi if he knew how to get down. He said "of course I do, mom. I just go like this..." and in a split second he turned around and plopped through the hoop and down onto the trash can.

I gotta say...I LOVE IT!

A lot of snow for us

All of this snow is a pretty big deal for us on the Eastern Shore. Two storms two weekends in a row. And boy, did we have a storm this time. It started with heavy, wet snow on Friday afternoon. At some point after we went to bed it turned into freezing rain, crazy wind (which lasted through the night), and even some lightning. Saturday morning it started to snow again and snowed until 7pm. I think we got about 13 inches on top of last weeks 10 inches. It's hard to say though because of the ice. Here is Kem and David on the front sidewalk.

This is the mountain at the end of the cul-de-sac made by the plow.

Levi dragged poor Cody to the top of Plow Mountain.

I made a pile for a fort and David and I dug it out. We used the boogie boards for sledding down the yard.

It's like New York (except for the lack of plows) only much more fun now that the boys are old enough to enjoy it:)

Record snow fall

OK, it may not be a record but according to people around here there hasn't been this much snow since 1996. It is certainly, by far, the most snow we have seen in our time here. The boys are loving it. A plow actually came through our neighborhood this morning. That is a first. It's a good thing too because Kem had to get to the hospital this morning despite it being his birthday:(

Toothleth

Hopefully his two front teeth will come in before next Christmas!

Everlasting God

Our boys cannot get enough of this song. They can be found "belting it out" any and every time we are in the car. It makes me smile:)

We love God

These two boys love Jesus and they want you to know it! On Wednesday night they both prayed to proclaim that they believe Jesus died for them, to ask for the forgiveness of their sins, and to ask God to be the Lord of their lives. Actually David asked me to pray with him and after we were finished Levi said "I prayed too (and I could hear him wispering along) because I love Jesus!" We have been reading a lot from the book of Genesis about the creation of the world, the fall of man, and how we can be redeemed. They are hungry for the things of God. David reads his Bible at school whenever he can. I know because I have caught him! We started the "One Year Bible for kids" and they love it. They don't let me forget. It is such an honor to be involved in the process of them coming to love the King!

We love the beach!

It is so stinkin' cold here right now but two weeks ago it was warm enough (about 50 degrees) for an after Church trip to the beach. The salty air does everyone a world of good!