Maverick's Birth Day

We celebrated Maverick's 1st birth day at daycare with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.

Then at snack time, we had birthday mini muffins with a real candle.

We helped him blow it out, he was impressed!

Everyone is enjoying the muffins.

Especially Maverick!  For this special occasion, I sprinkled them with powdered sugar!

And everyone got four or five of them, unheard of!  (even though they are healthy)

Just a few more...

After all those muffins, Auntie Heather led us in exercises.

Claire and Max are wearing their birthday masks - boo, scary!

Fun at Daycare

GG comes to play and do projects with us on Farm Days.  They had a lot of fun on this project - putting the foam ABCs into their places.

Maverick is learning to walk behind this push toy, over and over again.

Claire and Max are watching and helping Maverick.

Brody is working on puzzles all by his quiet self.  So proud.

Maverick is learning to sit by himself at the snack table.  As I was taking his picture, Mara peeked out from where she was playing on the floor!  Ham!

When Auntie Heather is with us, we take on bigger projects.  This day we did a lot of painting!

And painting some more!

Max loves to pick on Maverick.  Now that Maverick is a little bigger and able to interact with Max, they have learned to wrestle!!  It is not the same kind of wrestling that Max and Brody do, much gentler, but they do have fun.

Maverick is laughing in this shot!

Max is thinking this whole thing is very funny!

Beading is a new project.  Brody has created a masterpiece necklace!!

June Happenings

Max and Mara are quite a pair.  He actually plays with her quite often when nobody is looking.  They have similar features and build as well, which makes it extra cute.  I caught them this morning with Max laying on her lap and Mara slapping his head and pinching him on the cheek.  They even amazed me by letting me snap this photo.  (Coincidentally, Mara's shirt says Peas in a Pod!)

Maverick gave everyone an animal mask at his birthday this weekend.  They were a hit (later that day).  Here's Claire sporting her pig mask (pink, of course) on the way to the farm.

One of the rare days when we had warmth, we headed outside.  Claire is busy feeding babydoll Abby.  She often does this when I am feeding Mara.

On our Zoo Day, Mara decided she wanted a ham sandwich instead of the puffs her mom was giving her!                                                                        

A Shout Out to My Team

     I had the flu on Monday.  Kinda hit me in the middle of the night - didn't know what to do about the kids.  In my old life, I would have called in sick and spent the day on the couch!  I plowed ahead, got ready and headed up to pick up Max and Claire at their house.  Got home with them and I felt worse.  They had Alpha Bits for breakfast with a glass of milk!!  I wondered how I would manage when baby Mara and Maverick arrived (figured Brody would be good with ABCDs (as they call them)).  Luckily PAPA hung around to help out.  Barry dropped off the boys and Heather arrived a little later with Mara.  Thankfully AUNTIE HEATHER decided to work from my house for the morning, so she helped out with the babies and keeping C, B, and M busy.  I got Maverick and Max down for a nap and Heather put Mara down and then I rested on the couch while GG took Claire and Brody to her house to fill the birdfeeders, then Claire went with PAPA in the tractor for the rest of the morning.  Then AUNT BONNIE arrived early to help out and play with the kids as well!!  She entertained Brody and Max, Maverick and Mara while I worked on getting lunch ready.  They were able to spend a lot of time outside, it was a beautiful day!
     I sure do appreciate my team of loving helpers.  I made it through the day, the kids had a good time, everyone ate and slept, all is well with our little world!

Their 300

Papa has a 1956 Farmall 300 tractor.  Grandpa Don bought it the year Papa was born.
We bought a smaller version when we found out we were going to be grandparents.
The kids have been sitting on it in the house ever since, starting out with barely being able to sit on it, now finally reaching the pedals.  It weighs a ton, so they can't quite work the pedals enough yet to make it move.
Today was the day to photograph the older three on it outside in the front yard!

Here's Claire, the oldest (4)
                           
Now Brody's turn, (3)

Then little Max, (2 1/2)         (I think he is barking out orders)                                                              

The Tambourine Story

Claire and Max have a tiny set of tambourines with their musical instrument set.  Mara and Maverick kinda fell in love with them.  Partly due to their size and shape, partly due to the noise they can make.  When Maverick clangs them, Mara flinches.

Maverick is mobile, and Mara is not yet, so he often steals both tambourines and goes off with them.  Not to be outdone, she bends over as far as she can to grab one back.

Couldn't we share?

Here, Mara, listen to the noise I can make!

She likes it!

Mara says 'bye now.  Maverick is off with the tambourines.                                

May pics

Maverick still wears a sleep sack for naps, keeps him warm and toasty.  He can't really get around with it on, but sometimes he tries!

Auntie Heather day - Claire working on her special sticker book with Auntie and Mara.

Claire really liked Mara's sweater (size 18 months) and declared she could and should wear it - and she did!