Mara and Maverick

Mara and Maverick are playing spoons.  They love our spoons.  Forget toys!

We have tiny ice cream cones that the older three get to enjoy once in awhile.  This day, we decided to give Mav and Mara a taste.  They kind of took over the cones!

Although in between each bite, Maverick scrunched up his face cuz it was so cold!

After Mara's first taste, try to get it away from her, forget about it!

Numnum!  (this is way better than a Mum Mum)

Claire made a bead ring and bracelet for Mara to wear.  She really just wanted to eat them, though!

Princess Mara.  Bow before me, please!

Brody and Claire at play (I mean work)

Brody was busy on Farm Day, driving around in his car with his shovel sticking out the back end, wearing Papa's hat (sunny day).  There is always so much to do, he doesn't always get it all done!

Claire got a huge bead set for her birthday and she and Auntie Heather spent quite awhile putting all the beads together in one string!  110 inches long!  She was very particular about how the beads were organized on the string.  When we suggested measuring it, she went right to daddy's tool drawer and pulled out the tape measure (after undoing the childproof lock, of course).play

The Doctor is IN

Brody gave Claire a Doctor doll with doctor kit for her birthday.  We had a little party for her on her birthday (her party was on the weekend), and Everleigh, Briggs, Aunt Bonnie and GG came over to play and have lunch.

Everyone got a turn at playing "Doctor", but these shots are of Dr. Everleigh checking out patients Max and Claire.  Everyone was healthy by the end of the day, thank goodness!  (those house calls are going to be expensive though!)

Max and Mara

I asked Max to get Mara some toys for her Bumbo tray the other day while I was busy with a project with the other kids.  This is what he did, and what I found when I looked in on them!  He was generous enough to share his prized possessions, his HEAVY red and green tractors, with her!!

It would have never dawned on me to give her HEAVY tractors to play with, but somehow she loved it!  Shiny, lots of parts to look at.  He was showing her how they work.

"Here you go, Mara", he is saying!

A little hug.

Mara says, "Thanks, Max.  You're great!"

They both seemed to think this was all perfectly normal!!

Projects

Here, the older three are working with our afternoon helper, Kaija on a project.  We have recently started working with scissors, they are great at it!

We made Coffee Swirl, a family favorite.  It is a yeast sweet bread.  They put lots of muscle and love into those swirls!

Maverick entertains himself quietly sometimes while they are doing projects.  Hey, you can never have enough Sesame Street friends surrounding you!

And then sometimes, he is getting into mischief while they are doing projects.  Here he is ON TOP OF THE TRAIN TABLE.  We try to surround it with obstacles so he can't mess it up, but he succeeded in getting past them. Notice the "deer in the headlights" look, but I don't think he's a bit sorry!

Farm Salon

There is quite often a hair salon going on on Farm Day.  Max is cooperating.

Another salon shot, Brody & Max are reading to pass the time between appointments.  Maverick is making appointments on the phone.

Farm Guys

Uncle Sean joined our farm businesses this spring (Docken Hay Works and HD Beef Works).  Here Brody and Max are getting on their farm jackets, ready to go out and help Uncle Sean and Papa get the work done!

Maverick looks on, waiting for the day he is old enough to go alone.  Claire is helping them get suited up.