Besties

There's nothing like posing for pictures with your BFF.

There's nothing like having a post ballgame snack with your BFF.

And, there's nothing like a good squeeze from your BFF.
We're so glad that Jordan lives on our street.

Hopped Right to It

The Easter Bunny Gang ready for the hunt.

And away they went.

They searched high...

...and they searched low.

Austin was "all in" this year. No bush was too scary.

I can't believe these girls missed these eggs.
They're right here on the ground.
What? They fell out of my basket?
Darn small kids basket.
Next year I want the gigantor basket.

Her basket over-floweth.

Hey, I'm pretty sure I had more eggs in this thing.

Yep, according to my tally, I'm 3.5 eggs short.
MENNAAAAAAA!
(Menna is how he says Brenna)

Don't look at me.
I can't help it if he can't hold onto his eggs.
If they're on the ground, they're fair game.

Spoils of the hunt.

Splendor in the Grass

Here's another photo taken by our neighbor and friend, Wendy. Austin absolutely loves rolling around in the grass... short grass, tall grass... it doesn't matter. The first time I saw him do it I thought, "Oh boy, he's gonna be itchy all night", but it doesn't seem to effect him. I'm not quite sure how to categorize the look on his face, but I love the intensity with which he is staring into the camera. I also like way the light hits the tops of his head and shoulders.

One of the things we love about our new neighborhood are the people. It's so nice to live in an area where people actually spend time outside and enjoy each others' company. With the nice weather recenlty, we've made it a habit of going outside between dinner and bedtime. We may be the only one's outside at first, but eventually we make enough noise, and others join us. The adults chat, the older kids ride bikes or play chase, and Austin tries to sneak into the street when we're not looking. What is it about the street that is so appealing? Why would anyone want to crawl around in dirt and engine residue? Oh yeah, I forgot... he's a boy. It's in his genetic make-up. Well, we've got to take advantage of this wonderful weather, for soon the heat, humidity and MOSQUITOES will arrive, and we'll be holed up in our houses with the kids wreaking havoc on our living rooms. Sigh.

Quarry Work

On our Spring Break trip to Arlington/Haslet, we spent a few days with my parents (Fred and Margaret AKA Granddad and Nana). One day when Austin was napping, Granddad took Kassadie and Brenna outside to the massive backyard that sports a playground, work shop and lots of, get this, rocks. It just happens that every mailbox on the street has a lovely brick or stone enclosure, and theirs is just a plain old mailbox on a post. When Granddad discovered all the natural rock in the yard, he decided he would put it to good use. It was just convenient that some cheap labor came along to aid in the endeavor. Yes, Granddad put the girls to work digging up rocks for his decorative mailbox enclosure. It went a little something like this:

Gather the "proper" tools

Then start digging

And dig some more

Rope your little brother/cousin into putting
the rocks you dig up in a bucket

Once the bucket is full, take it to the tractor trailer

and dump it out. Repeat this process for about 3 hours,
or until Granddad says you can stop.

Try to take the tractor for a joy ride when

Granddad isn't looking.
Keep an eye on the trailer at all times.
There are rock rustlers in these parts.
Load up the help and head to the collection pile.
Practice the art of chucking rocks off the trailer.
Be careful not to hit the person next to you with a rock.
We wouldn't want OSHA to show up.
Reward the help with a well deserved tractor
ride around the yard.

So if you find yourself invited to Fred and Margaret's, be advised. There's plenty of work to be done!

Like a Box of Chocolates

With Austin you never know what you're gonna get...

One minute he's playing ball with determination,

And the next he's climbing on something
that is bound to topple over.
Raising a boy is such an adventure.

Photos courtesy of Wendy Pierce, neighbor and friend.