Claws the Tomcat

We had just got home from camping and we are unloading the truck and I see the neighbor running in her garden waving her hands.  I thought she had a bunny.  She told me it was a cat and we could have it.  Oh and it is headed for your yard.  

My kids love cats!!!  They want a cat so bad.  I do not have the same cat love that they do.  Plus I am super allergic to them.  Well Max ran to the slide and meowed and the cat stopped in his tracks turned around and ran up the slide.  Max got a bit scared and slid down and now this cat is sitting at the top of the slide.  

The kids got close to it and they were able to pet him.  He looked super skinny.  They ran to get him some dog food and water.  Well it wouldn't eat the dog food or drink the water so Max dumped the water and brought out the gallon milk and poured him some milk.  Well the cat loved the milk and the kids quickly attached to him.  

They named him Claws because he was clawing at the grass when they played with him.  They literally sat outside with the cat for 3-4 hours!!  They came in and ate lunch and the cat went into the ditch behind our house and when lunch was over Max went out there and got the cat back.

This cat has such a personality!!

The kids are really into American Ninja Warrior.  So when Claws walked across the swingset... he was now a Ninja Warrior in their eyes!

Watching Mallory swing.

Playing with Max.

Then it laid on top of the slide.

Before the night was over the cat had a blanket on the deck.  The kids are smitten by this cat.  It has a funny personality and loves the kids.  He lets the kids haul him around and pet him.  Jesse even likes the cat.  

Stay tuned to see if Claws sticks around to be the kids outdoor cat!!

Labor Day Weekend

Our weekend camping in pictures.

Uncle Jerry giving rides to Max and Melanie!

Those squished cheeks get me every single time!

It took us all day to realize that these 3 were dressed alike.  They loved Uncle Jerry's woods chicken call.  I couldn't get them to smile or look at me for nothing.  Jerry gave his chicken call and they wanted him to do it again and again...

It rained on and off on Saturday but it ended in a beautiful night!  

Steph and I took a walk and the view from the top of the sand hill was kind of fun.  You don't realize how big the hill is in my pictures.  But it is pretty steep!  

Uncle Adam giving rides in "the bomb".  We are never sure who is having more fun the kids or Adam. 

Left over rain drops while we walked in the woods.

We found some guys fishing in the river!!

They caught a tire!!

The moon was coming up and the sun was setting.

The fog was also rolling in.

The fires were big and the laughs were many.

It was snapper turtle hatching time.  The kids found so many we lost count.  At the end of the trip they had 4 in a bucket that they wanted to bring home and raise.  They were named Lucy, Lilac, Max & Jerry.  They were released into the river before we left!

Miss Andee was working her sunglasses for me!!

We had invited some friends to come out and there were so many kids and they were so cute sitting here eating supper.  We had 10 kids total!!  Max isn't in the picture.

Before you know it - it was time to pack up and head home.  When we are out here I sure soak it up.  I don't want the nights to end.  I am always craving more.  But it sure refreshes me for the weeks ahead!! 

First Day of School 2017

This past week was our first day of school.  Our 4th year homeschooling!!  

Up first in front of my camera for first day pictures was Miss Melanie Mae!!  

Melanie is only 3 but she has great interest in having her own work too.  I had super great intentions of doing some cute stuff with her.  I pinned a calendar to the wall and well it is still stuck on August 27th and tomorrow is September 5th.  However, I spent a day making busy bags with a girlfriend this summer and those have proven to be a life saver!  She loves exploring those bags each day.  

Entering 3rd Grade is Mallory Rae!!!

Mallory was super excited to get back into school.  She is super super super excited to learn cursive handwriting this year!  She has been wanting to learn how to type so I set her up with a typing program also.  Mallory is asking for a real guitar for Christmas... she has an interest in music and plays the chimes in choir.  She told me if she is going to be a singer she needs to learn how to play guitar.  

Entering 1st Grade is Maxwell David

Maxwell was pretty excited for school to start too.  He did so great that first day too!  He remembered how to read!  He is spelling words like a champ!!  Math comes naturally to him.  He is excited this year to dive into some 1-minute math!!

This year I am saying NO more!  We stretched ourselves too thin last year.  I have this bad case of everything sounds so amazing and fun and my kids NEED to be in THAT!!  When it comes time to get in the car and actually travel to these events it is a nightmare.  It involves yelling and panic and stress and running late.  So... this year I am saying NO!!

I am having to remind myself I am a HOMEschooler!  I need to be HOME more!  I can't be gone every single day of the week, and we were last year.  We ate so much in the car traveling from A to B to C back to A.  I don't want that this year.  I want a little more relaxed and a lot more HOME!!