Darting Wisley

Earns an "A"

Construction

Straw Robot for stop action film making.

More engaging than Science Fair projects

Science Fair

Experiments under way.

We'll see if researching the best dart to hit your brother with gets us a passing grade or a visit with the principal...

Recipe Collection Complete

 

Stew

 

 

Meatloaf

 

 

Sloppy Joes

 

 

Chili

 

 

Cheese Dip

Sausage

Steak Sandwiches

 

 

Enough.  Venison is good, we got it. 

Oddly, my favorite was meatloaf.

I Know Where To Find Him

Yet it's still often hard to find him.

Except that smile always sticks out.

Do It Yourself

Our response around here to most delectable-looking advertisements--we could do that ourselves.

And we did.

And they were good.

New New Year's tradition

Interesting

When I encourage him to do this, he nearly falls on the floor in horror.

Grandpa encourages him to do this, and I find him here all on his own.

Tactics

When subtlety doesn't work,

try a more direct approach.

Alida's Latch-hook

 

Worked on furiously for three days straight.

Half-way through and now lingering...

Elaine's Homemade Noodles

 

Excellent

And All The Rest

Love you Ben.

 

The child cooking making factory.

 

Artwork.

 

Man-made Tunnels for the train.

 

And a wonderful crew for it all.

Kids Vs. Adults

Dehydration

Statue

Hypnotize

Pluck

Toothache

A smiling toothache

I would look so serious had they told me Quadruplets as well.

Exasperation

 

One More Gift

We couldn't forget the dog.

The Gifts

Watching this hug was mine.

 

This was his.

 

Ben needed help unwrapping, of course.

 

And I love a real surprise.

 

Notice the open windows and shorts.   We made it to noon before we turned on the air conditioning.  At least the AC did not break this year.

Christmas Dinner

From This

To That

With welcome guests Grandma and Grandpa Helmers

Tradition

We open one gift Christmas Eve.

I should be more strategic about what I leave under the tree that evening.

 

Alida was so incredibly tickled to get an Easy Bake oven that they were up until midnight making treats.

 

Which may be why we were like this in church on Sunday morning.

Photo Session

While letting the kids photograph, which takes an amazingly long time, we were in frozen smiling mode through our mannequin challenge.

 

I definitely won.

 

And then he started laughing.

 

And then we got it right.

 

When we started to celebrate with a kiss,

 

The children pretty much threw down the camera and ran.

Christmas Eve Fondue

Or as the girls say: Fun Do!

 

And Elaine dressed for the occasion in her "Oh Snap!" Christmas sweater, that I adore more than a little.

 

The Village

 

Note to self: the gingerbread cookie recipe makes enough dough for three houses, not four...

 

Gingerbread baby making snow angels.

 

Me: "Elaine, why does your chimney look like it is dripping in blood?"

Her: "Oh, Santa fell.  That's him down there."

 

And when boys share the construction of a gingerbread house, there are a few crumbles.

Or as they say, there was a tornado.

Must have been what knocked Santa off the other house.

 

 

Destruction aside, Ben made a camp fire to warm everyone while they recovered from the damage.

 

Nicholas's contribution was to use his blow gun dart making skills to upscale a Christmas Tree mold.

Turned out pretty awesome.

 

And Alida.

She stayed far and away from the mayhem down the street and kept things classic and in order.