So I haven't blogged for a whole nine days? Wow, that must be a record! On the whole I feel pretty good about that. I spent entirely too much time on the computer formerly, and I'm happy to report that I'm doing better.
So what's been happening in our household? Much of the usual. Lydia is growing up, and though she has pretty much achieved the status of "teenage girl," she is still as sweet and helpful and wonderful as ever. (I'm going outside to knock on a tree now.)
Ross continues to make me laugh nearly everyday, he's been writing a comic strip. I keep meaning to post some of them, but Bruce has my camera with him, so I can't at the moment.
Mark continues to be the ladies man. I had to tell on a little girl from school, because she keeps calling here, literally 15 times a day, and texting at 11:30 at night. It's getting a bit annoying. What will we do with him when he gets older?!!
Justice continues to be his regular nut-ball self. I honestly don't know how we got that kid. I'm blaming it entirely on Bruce's genes. In the past couple of weeks, he has broken a window by throwing a shoe at his brother, who -darn him- ducked. And last Sunday he was running around like a maniac and accidentally ran headlong into Bruce's gun cabinet, breaking the glass front. It was rather scary! He was very fortunate to have walked away with just a few minor nicks and cuts. At the moment he is standing on the outside window ledge, knocking to come in. I told him to get down and come in through the door.
A few days ago, he was standing on something high, and Lydia told him that he should get down "before you fall down and break your face."
His response was, "We could just fix it with tape."
"You can't fix your face with tape."
"Okay, we'll use a hammer and some nails."
Where oh where did we get this child?!
Clayton is doing his best to follow in Justice's footsteps. But really, is there anything better than short two year old arms around your neck, with a kiss and a "I wuv you Mommy."
My blessed, wonderful, better-than-I deserve-mother has been busy reupholstering my sectional couch. I've been helping some, but she gets pretty much all of the credit. It's nearly finished. I can't wait!
I've been working on a music project that I don't want to talk too much about until it's finished. I don't know, just in-case ... what? I don't finish it? Or it turns out suckish? No, I will finish it! I've invested LOTS of time, and I think it will be cool when I finish. Let's just say that I'm working hard on it whenever I can. I'm studying theory like a fiend, and I'm trying really hard to develop a new skill. It's too early to tell it I can call it a talent. I'll never know if I don't try though, right?
So that's what is up with me. Life as usual. Living it and loving it!
Lydia went caroling dressed as Buddy the Elf.
One of those sleep pictures that you just can't help taking
Umm... She tried to get out of the van backwards and hands first.
Sorry Bruce, but it was too funny not to laugh.
However, here is the laundry that needed to be folded and put away (que the scary, screechy Friday the 13th violin music):
On top of this add two sets of washers and dryers full of clothes. That day was some time last week, so I now have more dirty clothes to wash and less clean clothes to fold (but only because they have been worn straight out of the baskets.) Do I hear Neicey Nash knocking on my door?
Ross as Sauron in human form
Mark as a mummy
Lydia as the red queen
Justice as a dragon.
Like I said, I wasn't thinking about squirrel hunting, I just opened the door to my daughter holding what looked to be a large, dead, furry rodent by the tail. I screamed like a little girl and jumped in a circle, frantically shaking my hands. Lydia, Bruce and I all had quite a laugh at my sissiness. Clayton took the dead squirrel much better than I did.
Next we went to the state park with my parents. Justice wasted no time in finding a tree to climb. Can you see that little patch of red high up in the tree? That's him. He's the most sure footed kid I've ever seen. If Lydia had tried this at his age, I would have freaked out!
Here's a dog that Mark named Sirius Black. What a life this dog has! We were informed that he lives up the street from the picnic area where we were. He comes and shares in all of the picnics that everyone has. You couldn't ask for a nicer dog! The kids played fetch with him while the adults cooked. We miss our Chloe, and were happy for a canine to share our scraps and fun with. He was certainly fed well! I had to laugh when as soon as our picnic was over and the people at the next table down were getting out their hot-dogs, he took off and decided to hang out with them. 
We roasted marshmallows. Yum!
Look closely at Clayton's "treat" that he cooked for himself. Not so yum!
In true Bruce fashion, he tried to have a little nap in the shade.
It didn't work out for him though.
Next we hiked for a couple of hours. I can't think of anything I like better than a hike with my family!
Lastly, the kids enjoyed a game of chess at the lodge while us old folks cooled our heels before we went home, just in time for bed.
Every time I see this, I giggle thinking it looks like a monster coming out of the ground with his hands raised over his head.
I couldn't convince him to put on some actual clothes, but at least he's wearing shoes and a helmet! Oh well, he'll get dressed sometime today.
Of course I love the scriptures, but you already know that, right?
