Pool Day

The kids have been begging to get out the little pool already.  We have access to several actual pools, but they really like the little plastic one, so...we got it down, hosed it out, and filled it up....with ice cold water.  They wasted no time getting right in (I suggested filling it in the morning, doing some chores, having a picnic, then jumping in, but what do I know).  It may have been too cold, even for them.

We made the most of the sunshine though...in and out of the pool, off and on bikes, running around the yard, and cleaning up outside.

testing the water

Tough as Nails

There are new kittens in the neighborhood. Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Jess have two adorable fuzzy kittens, and Natalie can't get enough of them. Ben hasn't mastered the art of the slow approach, so he and the kittens seem to have mutually agreed to keep one another at a safe distance. 

Today we decided to pay the kittens a visit. Nat collected the first one from the barn. On her way out with the second, she had a funny look on her face and then started screaming. I noticed right away she was holding her foot up, and when I got to her saw two nails through the bottom of her shoe. It should be noted that she was still holding the cat! 

I took the cat, picked her up so she'd stop putting her foot down, and got her shoe off. It was hard to tell the damage, but it was bleeding so we headed for home to administer first aid. Luckily the nail did not go straight in, got her at an angle so it's not too deep. Pediatrician didn't need to see her. A few Band-Aids later and we were back in business!

Giving her foot a check up

After the immediate trauma was under control, we headed back for a proper visit.

Ben was along too, but didn't want a picture. He was more interested in checking out the growing soybean plants. These kids are putting the hard press on for a dog or cat. It's getting harder to say no...

For the Birds

When life hands you lemons....you pack up your bags at the last minute and get the heck outta Dodge.  Or, in this case, down to Pigeon Forge.  Sometimes you just need a change of scenery, and that is just what we did last week with no planning whatsoever.  Thursday evening, we tossed some clothes in a bag and spent 2 nights in Tennessee.

...annnddd...made a stop at Parrot Mountain.  We've never been there.  A little out of my non-bird-liking comfort zone, but the kids were mildly entertained by it.  (Until Ben got tired of walking around on the side of a mountain, that is.)

bike break

Not exactly the relaxing getaway we were looking for, but it was two days spent not doing laundry or cleaning bathrooms...so, victory!