Catching up

It would be easier for the reader if I uploaded each picture and gave it an individual caption, but I am short of time and thought I'd take the short cut and make a web album slideshow. We've managed to keep ourselves too busy these last few weeks, but I realized that it is largely b/c I make my own "trouble". Our new adventure is a free play set that someone was giving away that was only a few miles from our home. I convinced Mario to help me take it apart and after a long weekend filled with drama as to whether it could actually come apart, it is now sitting by the side of our house. It has been pressure-washed and waits sanding and staining and then re-assmebly with all new hardware. I think we are all now really excited about it.

In the meantime, we have been enjoying the spring weather. I've not tested this theory, but I think our kids spend much more time outside than other children. This is partly due to the private and safe location of our house and partly due to their neglecting mother who encourages them to "go find something to do" I do think they are having a lot of fun though.

Pictures in the slide show include:
1. Sheila continuing to act older than she is
2. Sheila having fun on her bike.
3. All 3 kids on their bikes (and my nice old neighbor taking care of his lawn)
4. MJ's homemade kite inspired by a windy Saturday
5. The kids hanging out with the "drawing table" and all it's creative mess behind them
6. MJ's picture of the Pirates Veggie Tales (thanks Kaza's for letting us borrow your movie - whether you knew we had it or not)
7 - 10. A series taken by Joey of his adventure with Sheila one morning (Joey has been into picture taking lately)
11. Another Joey picture - of his blue lacrosse made out of Magformers (just like Daddy's) Thanks Kazas for the great toy idea... we are thoroughly impressed by Joey's building skills
12 & 13. Cleaning up after all our fun!

To expand on #s 7-10:
On one of our unusually cold spring mornings, I was helping MJ to breakfast and chatting with him, when I heard Joey and Sheila off somewhere playing. I thought to myself, "It is so nice that those two have learned to have fun together" After awhile, I began to wonder where exactly this fun was taking place, and the mommy radar alerted me to potential danger. I searched all of Sheila's most fun places - the bathrooms - and then realized I had forgotten to put away the bunk bed ladder. Sure enough, she and Joey were up there happily playing. And it was so nice of Joey to capture all of their adventure on camera (he took a dozen or so more pictures).