nature center

Earlier this week, we decided to check out the San Angelo Nature Center. It was interesting to see what animals they had in this miniature zoo.

One room was full of snakes. Most were rattlesnakes, but there was a case of boa constrictors and one with this black python. This disgusting python was several inches in diameter. The Plexiglas separating us from him just didn't seem sufficient.

images

The kids decided they wanted their own homemade costumes. Daddy dressed Carly, and Mommy dressed Isaac.

New news from the Hartter household: Carly can ride a bike. She told us she'd try without training wheels when she was 5. A few days after her birthday, we asked her if she wanted to try riding with the training wheels off. She said, "No." Isaac exclaimed, "I DO!!!" even though there's not a chance in the world he could balance. This response from him challenged Carly a bit. She said she'd try. We took off the wheels and off she went.

ewe wouldn't believe...

...the fun we had with this project.

Yesterday, we drove around downtown looking for the 23 ewe statues in San Angelo. The kids thought finding 11 was enough.

celebrate Carly

She's been looking forward to this day for a long time.

FIVE years old!

We gave her the choice between cake and fluff, and she picked fluff. PURPLE fluff with pink cream piped on top...and in her mouth.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARLY!

growing outside our apartment

images of home

We are glad to be back for a short visit. It's a special treat to mow green grass, to work with brown dirt, and to see fields of corn ready for harvest. What a blessing it is to run free in the quiet countryside. There's nothing like it.

The kids and I have tromped pastures to check our favorite spots. Our "secret spot" by a cliff is still hidden in the trees. "Salsa" is still cookin' in our "salsa jars" there (glass jars someone discarded by a tree decades ago), still sitting on our make-believe stove on the tree roots. There are still sticks and twigs there to break up for kindling this winter. A few yards down, our "thinking spot" still sits with rocks to sit on so we can think there.

We even checked our picnic spot by the crick. The table is still there and the fire pit hasn't gotten washed away yet by the crick rising too high. A cow left a nice pie nearby. Actually, we had to dodge cow pies all the way down to the crick. Hedgeballs are growing. Little Tally (ewe lamb) won't stay in the pen. And Lucy, dear border collie that she is, holds everything together. If she's bored, she gangs up on the poor cows and gives them a good chase.

We're glad to be home, even if only for a bit.

at play

Carly used to fit on just one cushion.

Now she takes up the whole couch.

She refuses to look at the camera!

Coloring posters from the clearance aisle at Wal-Mart proved to be quite a time-consuming project.

The kids made a train out of chairs and pillows.

Isaac takes his role as conductor seriously.

This turned out to be quite interesting play.

I was just a silent bystander.

images

Nothing new this week, but here are some pictures from the week anyway.

Umm...I'm not sure what's going on here besides the kids putting bowls on their heads.

our swimming pool landscaping

Family Art Night

We cannot paint, but it was fun acting like we could. Look at Jared's "happy little trees!" He must've learned a lot from...was it Bob Ross? Oh, Jared would go nuts if he knew I posted his painting on here.

I'm not sure what was so funny here, but it was good to hear the kids laugh for a reason other than naughtiness.

And now I'll give you a rest from blog posts for a few days (unless there's something pressing to publish). Alan and Sally are coming down to visit us this weekend! Yippee!

images

from this week

mix and paint

Carly: the new photographer

Myra: enjoying a 10-minute kneading session. I attempted to make homemade bagels. I added blueberries, thinking they might turn out like Sara Lee's. Messing with the dough was fun, even therapeutic (something I recommend for an uptight woman needing something to squish)...

...but my bagels turned out tasting like yeast-flavored cardboard.

the kids making muffins and quickbreads for Grandma and Grandpa...

Carly wears this dance outfit (was it from Lisa?) when she wants to listen to fast music. She'll dance, but only if she's sure that no one's watching. If she's alone, music makes her come alive!

images

Okay, maybe I'm an annoying parent who takes too many pictures and posts too many kid pictures on this blog. My excuse: the grandparents following this blog probably don't mind seeing pictures of their grandkids.

Here's a little bit of our week.

Coloring Sunday School pictures...

Isaac got a little carried away.

It doesn't usually rain in San Angelo. The kids loved this shower.

A new park

Isaac chose his outfit this day.

ABCs