Pea Harvest

The picking season has officially begun.

As has the eating directly off the plant season.

And doing whatever your big brother does.

PLAY

Stage one of our outdoor project for the kids is complete. We removed the chicken tractor and started off with this space.Some cedar posts.
The frame came together quickly.
Cedar decking and some climbing bars. We were really trying to figure out ways to challenge Asher's climbing skills, he had a bit of a challenge for maybe 5 minutes and was up.
Cedar shakes left over from the kitchen remodel- I love putting these up, this was the mama job.
River is really drawn to play houses and counter parts of playground and other peoples homes, and as he can't climb like his brother we dedicated the lower section to him.
A tarp to stay dry in the rain, it is also a great bird blind and we have been able to see a lot of the warbler migration hidden.
90% there, Asher loves his new perch.
And the grand finale. We found some awesome hand holds made from some dude for a great price and were thrilled to make the climbing wall.
T nuts holding them into place.Ratcheting from the top.Holds layed out on the boards.Secured and ready for climbing. Up in no time. I originally thought Ben was a little crazy for the separated posts opposed to a solid wall for climbing on but it lets light into the underneath, is quite original and worked out great. Stage 2 will include pulleys, rope ladders and whatever strikes us between now and then.

A Morning Harvest

We have this wonderful hidden trail that leads from the backyard to the garden. Last year is seems that all the landscaping we did the years before finally made a little sense. Woven between elderberries, gooseberries and josta berries, lined by raspberries, blackberries and asparagus. And leading right to the garden, which we are gathering spinach, komatsuna, turnips, radishes, cilantro and countless other herbs.

A gathering spinach for our morning meal... yummy.

Toady

Once there was a little boy who went on an adventure with his family.

He heard a toad and then spotted it in the leaf litter.

And he caught it all by himself.

It tried to get away, but he held on tight- not too tight, just the right amount. He showed it to his mama and papa and brother.

It was beautiful and he wished so much to take it home to live with him.

But he realized the toad would miss it's home and he let it go free.

Gator Graduates

Congrats to Uncle Gator- or now professionally speaking Engineer Alex.We had a whirlwind adventure this past week. Driving 11 hours to see the last of Ben's siblings graduate from college-not that we saw the actual presentation of the degree, as that didn't happen until 9:30 at night, but all the eating and celebrating. Plus the boys got to climb on the nittany lion, though not for enough time as we waited for over an hour and more likely closer to 2, I am trying to block that part from my memory.

Water

Oh, how all three of the boys love it. Asher was already hooked by Ben and their adventures, and when River received his name, we should have know what we were in store for.

From mud puddles, to ditches, to Wisconsin ponds, the same joy of splashing fills their souls. River was absolutely amazed by this bullfrog. Every time it moved he giggled.

He'll catch one soon enough, I think it's a good thing they can still get away at this point.

Asher patiently stalked up on another: sadly it got away, but next time... he was so close.

Into the Woods:: 5/6

The cotton winds were blowing.

So much running about, that I didn't pause for much. It is a delight to see a gang of kids run through the woods with such joy!

Brothers exploring independantly side by side.

A Sneak Peak

We ordered the hand holds today and got a lot of work done this weekend, to a playable point, but not completion.

But we are thrilled at how much the boys have been drawn to this construction project. Asher saw it out his window, ran outside naked and climbed up (photo through window, where he left me in his dust).

Cedar shakes and all, it is starting to look really good.