Reckless Recreation:The Dirt Pile

Last Saturday an excavator came to dig the foundation hole for the new addition. 

Every one was allowed in the pit once.

Sophie was at dance but she did get to go in when she got home.

We had the stump from the tree we cut down last year taken out as well.  We thought it would be trouble and add a lot of time (read $$$) but it came out so easily.

Naturally it became a trench for to take out enemy combatants.

Initially we told the kids that they couldn't play in the dirt pile because we were afraid the dirt would fall into the hole and get in the way of the concrete work.  We very quickly realized that a dirt pile in the yard like this is pretty much a once in a lifetime event.
For days I patiently swept, vacuumed and mopped the floors repetitively.  I washed laundry twice as much and Aaron folded twice as much, but oh the fun that was had.

This stump became the center of a home.  The little nooks and crannies and caves around the roots became cupboards.  Sophie's retainer is probably somewhere in there but has yet to be found.

I happened to get a plastic snowboard free on the side of the road that day and the boys (I think Jacob started it) taught themselves to snowboard...on a dirt pile.

It was pretty cool even if I do say so myself.

Sophie became quite the explorer finding all sorts of treasures in the dirt.

This old bottle was a great find.

Broken glass, cement, rocks, roots, metal...and they still have to go barefoot.  I was torn because feet are a lot easier to clean than shoes, but in the end I made the right choice and made them wear shoes.

Aaron has been moving the excess dirt one wheelbarrow load at a time.  He found a 1920 mercury dime in excellent condition.  It is worth somewhere between $6.50 and $200.00 depending on the website I check on.  Maybe I shouldn't rely on the internet for every thing.

This is where some of the excess dirt is going.

And that is what we do for fun around here.  The kids play and make messes, Aaron does back breaking work and I clean up after everyone.  Ahhhh the life.

Wordless Wednesday: Supermoon

Parenting Practices

 Last week when we dropped Jacob off at school, I very clearly heard someone in the back seat say, "Jacob at school?"  The only other person in the car was Noah and the radio was off (besides it would have been creepy if the radio announcer knew that Jacob was at school.) When did my kid start speaking in sentences?

Yesterday I was pulling out of the parking lot after dropping Jacob off at school and Noah called out, "WAIT!!!"  I stopped the car and Noah said, "Jacob."  I explained that we would come back and get him later and began driving again.  Noah called out again, this time more frantic, "Wait!!!  Jacob not here!"  This kid is going to be trouble.  He is sweet, adorable, funny, speaks, and now he has compassion for others?  I know I haven't done anything to deserve the amazing kids I have so I must totally owe A LOT to God for giving them to me anyway.

Watching the excavator dig the hole for the foundation

Checking out the aforementioned hole for the foundation.

My paper is done and submitted and maybe I can get back to the blog at least until my classes for next semester start.  I did a little better getting pictures of the kids this week.

Ben was home with an ear infection and wanted to play with playdoh.  His ear was hurting him a great deal and a hot pack was very helpful but difficult to manage while playing.  This was our solution for a little while.

You can tell in his eyes that he is in pain.

And sick of me taking pictures.

Eventually the ibuprofen kicked in and his sleeves got in the way so naturally the solution is to remove all offending parties.

Don't cry over spilled milk or wheat berries.  When life gives you lemons make lemonade...

I was processing some wheat and Noah kept throwing handfuls of it so I turned quickly to get it away from him and hit the bad and it fell dumping copious amounts of wheat on the floor.

All four of them still making lemonade

No tears here

Come on, say it, they have the coolest mom and dad ever.

I think I am starting to figure out my camera.  I like how the pictures look in manual more than in auto.  These amazing photos are courtesy of God and a drive home from Island Pond.

The tree I love at the Boston Temple

Flowers I loved at the temple.  My camera is awesome.  It was windy and these were bobbing all over and the camera was still able to capture them.

I keep looking at this picture and I can't believe I took it

This is what a research paper in progress looks like.

This is what our house looks like without a porch.

And that was our week in a nutshell.  Hopefully I'll have more to say next week!