Getting to know: Remington the Pug

Remington joined the family in Oct 2008 for my Birthday. Rhi knew that I wanted a Pug, and lo and behold she found me one. He only cost $100! Quite a bargian. He lived it up as a Stud Pug and went by the name of "Pip."  He didn't answer to the name so I felt that I could change and picked Remington. Unbeknownst to me, he as a tattoo of  "Pip" on his belly. So that is now his middle name. He is great. All of Rhi's kids love him, though he doesn't much prefer to be chased around the house by Z. Pa and Remi get along famously. He knows all the tricks to get treats out of him.

Most of the time he is a calm, happy sort. He never chases anything, other dogs, cats birds. On his walks his favorite thing is to go right up to fenced in dogs and stare at them while they go crazy and bark, while he looks back mutely.

He is allowed clemency at Rhi's once a year for Christmas. He loves heat dishes and will go right up to them.

He has a very expressive face, I wonder what he is thinking...

In the winter, he twirls himself into blankets.

Happy New year!

He can be distracted by the promise of a treat. This is his most intense expression, "feed me!" He will even don a dreaded Halloween costume without complaint.

What They Wore-Black, White & Blue

Despite my childrens protests and sometimes scriptures are quoted to me, 

there is no rest from dishes on Sunday!

Declan unloads the dishwasher (photo by Archer)

Auntie Rebecca had the high honor of picking the color for the Sunday clothes.  She chose black, white and blue.  Wait you say isn't that the same dress Zaynzley wore last Sunday?  Yes, it is. I had picked a cute little black and white dress out for her and she refuse to wear anything but this dress (Grandma Parke made for her) which she wore last Sunday. It wasn't worth a long fight so we gave up and just paired it with a cardigan.  People under three shouldn't have such strong opinions. (Ha)

Black, white and blue-ish group

A sweet grandpa that was in my ward (church group) passed away and his whole extended family was at church. He always reminded me of my grandpa who passed away in November 2013.  I could just see his recent widow across the chapel and as we sung the opening hymn "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go"" I shed a few tears in memory of my grandpa and also for this sweet family who so missed their husband, father, and grandfather.  I usually associate that hymn with missionary work (it was also a missionary homecoming today) but today I was thinking how it applied to death.  A couple lines from the hymn stood out to me : 

But if, by a still small voice he calls

To paths that I do not know

I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:

I'll go where you want me to go 

Sometimes you really don't want to see your loved ones go and leave this earthly existence and they may not want to go either, but trusting in the Lord to know where the he needs you or a loved one whether in this life our the next can bring peace.  Jesus Christ's hand really is in ours through all things if we will let him. It is such a comfort to know there is a plan and a purpose to our life here on earth and we can be reunited once again with our loved ones. I know I am really looking forward to giving my grandpa a big hug when I see him again!

Archer's Apple Annie Field Trip

There are some scenes in certain books that just stay with you no matter how many years pass. I can clearly remember one such scene from Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses. The main character says apples are the best thing to eat because after you finish eating them you still have the delicious taste of apple in your mouth long after.  I never noticed that about apples until I read that book. A good apple does linger lusciously in your mouth.  I think the best apples are local apples (too bad they are only around from such a short time), I take my apples tart and crunchy! So I was glad that Archer got to go with his kindergarten class on a field trip about forty minutes away to pick apples. He was very excited about it and in the days leading up to his trip he kept asking me what size apple he should get each of his siblings.

Proudly showing off his picked apples

Apparently he wasn't able to get everyone in the family a apple but he told me, "Thats ok we could share them since they are so big."

Here is how his field trip went in his own words:

"On the way back I sleep. It was a long field trip. I picked apples. The worker said twist and pull the apples. Snakes live there and they have little holes. But there was just apples and trees. They said be together. There was a bathroom, it had blue water. There was soap to wash your hands. We ate lunch under a big shade. I ate sandwich and grapes and juice. There was not worms and we rode on a tractor a white one. It took us back."

It took about forty questions to elicit all that information as Archer is not the most forth coming of boys. I had to pack a lunch/snack for him since he was going to be gone all day. I made a Peanut Butter Sandwich (no jam just PB is how Archy takes it), pretzels, peanuts, cheese stick, grapes and juice.  He only ate half of his sandwich and that was it. Sometimes you wonder why you bother packing more than just a sandwich for lunch.

Archer with his leftover lunch

Archy asked, "Mom take a picture of me with my grape guy."

Archer made a whole family of grape people

I guess he had to do something with all that leftover food. I can't wait to try his fresh picked apple and I am even looking forward to the lingering apple taste! Maybe the rest of the family will share just the one apple.  I did go to all that work packing his lunch.

PA Project: WWII edition: Sniper Rifle boxes

I had the inkling to take a picture of this project a couple of days ago, but alas didn't. It started out as just some old 2 x 4 and various scrap wood he had around. Quick as a shake of a coyote's tail,  he was finished, so I got no pictures of the boxes in progress. He made WWII replica boxes for the shipping of sniper rifles.  Here is the finished products. He did all the leather work, painting, and building, without any plans just his own mind. I too have lots of projects in my mind but unlike my dear old Pa they never turn out quite like I want them too. (I'm looking at you Dalek Cake)

The Allied version, even made the old label.

Here is the inside of the box, with the rifle inside.

Always being a fair minded soul he made one for the Axis.

It doesn't stop there. Here he is making a WWII style scope cover out of leather.

Bonus lizard photo. I have been trying to take a picture of 1) A cardinal that hangs about our house 2) A falcony hawk bird that can be seen about. To no avail. After sitting out side camera in hand I decided I needed a picture of something and this guy crossed my path.

Zee Girl

After the long summer with four big brothers to always entertain and roughhouse with I wasn't sure how Zaynzley would take to being home alone all day. I am glad to report she is doing great and she is very good at entertaining herself (thanks goodness). 

Zany's hair is finally long enough for a side ponytail

After the boys get on the bus in the morning Zaynzley takes a bath, gets dressed and then watches a couple shows. Her latest favorites are Paw Patrol and Dora. Then it is time to play with toys. We have a one toy bin out at a time rule and she always cleans up one toy without being asked so she can get out another one.  Zany plays with Octonauts daily and in almost every toy bin she can find horses to play with. I am surprised how many toys have horses. After toys she will play with her kitchen and then she colors preferring markers to crayons.  

Sometimes you can just cook better with a Viking hat on and no clothes.

Lunch is almost always a cheese crisp with ketchup. Then it is time for books and a nap. No matter what time she takes her nap she always wakes up when her brothers get home from school.  Even though she keeps herself busy, I think, she does really miss those rascally boys.

Clear Eyes: Flag Football

One of Eddy's all-time favorite shows was Friday Night Lights (first season is the best after that it gets a bit soap opera-ish) which was about a coach in a small town leading his high school football team to victory. It must have inspired Eddy to coach his own small town football team albeit a bit younger. This is Eddy's fourth year coaching flag football (ages 5-7 years) and McCoy and Archer are both on his team.

Teddy (best friend) and Zany in the cheap seats

Eddy huddles up and tells the play to the kids 

(Coy green mohawk & Arch black hair with silver)

Archer (far left) and Eddy directs the play

 (in flag the coach stays on the field to direct the kids)

McCoy (green mohawk) lined up to pull a flag

Archy with mouthpiece runs off the field

Eddy led his team the Eagles to unopposed victory 29-0. He had some great trick plays and it was a lot of fun to watch, well, for the Eagle fans anyway.  

Eddy's victory speech:  I told you boys, clear eyes, full heart, can't lose!

McCoy

Archer

Our Eagle Flock (Zany not happy)

(not pictured Quinton and I am still a Wildkat at heart-Go Duncan Wildkats!)

"There's no crying in football!"  

Ok, well, maybe that was baseball besides cheerleaders are supposed to be happy!

Now you know how I will be spendings my early Saturday mornings/afternoons and most evenings! 

BACK TO FOOTBALL!

Pa Project

In a case of seeing your new car everywhere, I have been thinking lots about accordions. Lil Q may not remember but when he was a tiny guy he really wanted to learn how to play the accordion. I asked Rhi how he knew about accordion, but who knows where little people learn things.Recently Rhi told me she really liked the song "Come with me now" by the Kongos because it had an Irish sounding section in the middle of it. (well she didn't know the name of the song or band but I was able to discern them). Its a really great song and can be added to my ongoing cleaning, running list. In fact I was going to use it as my favorite song for September but have decided to post it early. Well I think it is due to to the fact that there is an accordion in it.

In first for Pa, just the other day, someone requested straps for the accordion!

Here he is clamping the shoulder pad to strap so he can sew it.

While the strap was being commissioned,  the fellow spotted this wee fellow and wanted to use him as his color inspiration.

Close up of the progress

 Here is a Happy Pa, you would never know he is in the Slytherin house! We also learned that unlike Guitars, accordion's use two straps.  Alas he didn't make a pattern after he finished the first, but of course he was still able to make another. One is finished and the other is almost there. Pug photo bomb to boot. Sometimes I wonder if it hard to be that talented.