Grab-Bag

Whew. Made it to the end of this photo dump. Have some leftovers! :)

Thanks for the Fancy-Pants-Music-Machine, Owens! (The record player component is, of course, our favorite. Currently playing:  Zamfir's Magic of Panpipes, a risky rummage sale find. Good ol' Zamfir.)

The Walking Wounded

 

My Dearest Loves

And this big love. There's a long story here, and if he writes it someday on his blog I'll add a hyperlink, but he is the walking wounded right now. Freshly cut open and sewn back together to mend a completely torn bicep. 

<3

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

My Little Gourmets

(When they found the ruffly aprons and requested that I help them put them on, I was amused by how much more manly and self-important they became. It's like a fabric-version of testosterone or something...)

((Also, if you read my blog, Becky--this toy kitchen we inherited from you sees daily use. Not always the Official Kind shown in this post, though. Sometimes excavators are loading food into Daddy's big boots and such, but still. Daily use. Thank you again!))

The Grandmas

There are regularly occurring highlights in the boys' week--cell group, having company over, church. Two of the best-loved staples are Grandma visits. Grandma Johnson comes Monday nights; Grandma Purdy comes Thursday afternoons. Each one of them is famous in the boys' minds for one particular activity that makes that Grandma distinctive. Both grandmas have done both activities, mind you, but each Grandma is especially identified with just one. 

Grandma Johnson = Claw Chase 

Grandma Purdy = Train Tracks

We're rich with good Grandmas in these parts. Thanks for being staples in our lives, Grandmas! :)

Valentine's Day 2021

This is the first year it's meant much of anything to our children. The giving and receiving of cards and candy was an unexpected delight for the boys; nothing like letting children in on the secret existence of holidays that keep coming back year after year.

Valentines made:

Valentines received:

And a bouquet of cut flowers from a husband who decided (gasp!) to go traditional this year. 

Snowmen

 Their days are full of snow-tromping. 

And snow rolling.

When they tire, they sit down chummily for some snow eating. 

And when fortune smiles, there are icicles for munching.

Winter is a good time to be a child.

Monster Hunting

They don't just live under the beds in these parts. Thank goodness Tadhg and Pippin are professional exterminators.

We have a shortage of proper pistols around here, so if Pippin's gun looks suspiciously like a plastic baseball bat, never you mind.

If any of you have a monster infestation, drop a comment. I'm thinking about hiring out.

Bed-Time (A Very Good Time, Indeed)

 

(For any Purdys to whom it means something, Tadhg's obsession with Trouble for Trumpets is a thing to behold.)

(Also, for the curious--my husband's thoughts about our bedtime routine.)