Horseback riding

Just a few pictures of the girls riding. They are learning how to cantor, which is a quick trot or a slow gallop, depending on your perspective. It's much harder than it looks. Hannah's first attempt resulted in spaghetti legs, which didn't work very well for maintaining control of the horse. They are enjoying the warmer weather for riding. The horses are shedding their winter coats and are requiring lots of pre-riding grooming. Hannah's horse in particulare was shedding while she was riding, she left of trail of floating fur behind her.

Around the House

Just some random pictures of the everyday stuff.


Enjoying the look of a morning snow. Caleb has been fascinated by snow, not so sure he wants to play in it, but really likes watching it.


He also really likes the fire place.


Our Valentine's Day dessert~ brownie cake filled with Heath Bar ice cream. Loved by all!


Just some moments around the house.

Aaron loves to help Hannah make his favorite cookies, oatmeal chocolate chip. He loves to help pour in the ingredients and then watch as the mixer goes round and round. You can see that he needed to get a close up view of the spinning cookie dough. And of course the fun of baking is licking the batter.

A tease of spring got us out and washing some really winter dirty cars.

Well, do I really need to add anything, too much clean cuteness!

Aaron finding Ken's snorkeling gear and testing it out.

Caleb loves to ride piggy back and Lauren is always willing to accommodate.

Snuggling with a good book.

Hope you enjoyed catching up with our everyday.

Sledding

The Girls........



The Ride...........

Lauren goes....

Hannah goes...

The finish......

They enjoyed having the stairs that Ken put in, much easier to climb than straight up. Great fun that ended, of course, with hot chocolate and extra marshmellows.

Winter Nature

I think winter can be very pretty in it's own way. The gray skies, the bare trees the less brightly colored birds~ it seems quieter, more somber. Some pictures from around our yard in winter.


One of the things I like about winter is the sky seems crisper, the stars and moon brighter. Here is a picture just before sunset, where the moom is already full and out. Thought it was kinda neat, how it was hanging over the mountain. You can see the orange hue just starting to show on the mountain.

We've had bluebirds all winter, it's been fun to watch them, they are so much easier to spot without all the greenery of spring. They like to perch on the gutter outside our family room window.

Snow, a beauty of winter. Here is a view of Massanutten Mountain, from our front door.

These are the wild rose and blackberry bushes. I liked how the branches were all arched, laden with snow instead of flowers and fruit.

The back corner of our yard. Love how blue the sky can look against the snow. I also like the lacey look of the trees.

A view out the back, the cow pasture and the mountians in the distance.

The view off our driveway, love that blue sky.


We've seen lots of tracks in our yard this winter. It's been fun to think of all the activity that occurs out there without us even aware of it. We've had trouble identifying all the tracks, but it's been fun guessing. We've also seen mixed tracks that tell a story~ such as finding fox tracks mixed with rabbit tracks. They criss-crossed the yard, but it looks like the rabbit faired well.

rabbit tracks

??????

deer

We have no idea, but they were everywhere. It's a strange pattern, we thought maybe deer with the snow flicking behind there hoof.

racoon

chickadees on the front porch

Not sure but it was fun to follow them out of the woods, across the back of our yard and back into the brush, we think maybe racoon.

Again, we have no idea, but it looked so fun, like some animals had been skiing down this little slope in our yard.

The deer with their darker, thicker winter coats.

We've had fun enjoying winter nature. We've tried to catch snowflakes and view them under a magnifying glass. We've also enjoyed some snowcream. And the way that winter makes you anticipate spring.

Brotherly Love

I have so many pictures of these two, usually up to something, that I thought a post about them would be fun. It is obvious that they enjoy each other immensely, both in their fun and their mischief. It is only fair to report that upon Caleb's arrival, Aaron was a distant admirer, but has warmed up to the big brother role wonderfully. He is so sweet to Caleb~ helping me get him dressed, bringing him items he needs or wants (sometimes he figures it out before I do), helping him do puzzles, play with cars, read books. The feeling is mutual, Caleb is so excited to see Aaron, gives frequent hugs and regularly will get two cookies or snack and take one to Aaron. He has also been known to keep Aaron company when he is in time out. He just scoots right up next to him in the time out spot.

Some early pictures of when the affection began.

Just some fun pictures of them playing together. Aaron taking the lead and helping or entertaining Caleb.



Brotherly love is frequently shown through food. Aaron is able to reach all those things that Caleb can't and is so willing to accommodate and then share his finds.



A frequent place of fellowship is the pantry. And boy are they quick, you think you know where they are and what they are up to and surprise! Did I mention that mess and a little mommy insanity go along with brotherly love

This was too funny, not only did Aaron get the snack, bring it to Caleb, help feed it to him, he also helped wipe him off when he was done. You can see the cheerios stuck everywhere.

There are many food mess moments of brotherly love, most are not recorded. But this one prompted a mommy sanity device for the pantry door.

This is the mommy sanity device. An improvement, but it only works when everyone remembers to lock it. And of course my creative problem solving guy has already mastered several ways to get it unlocked. But at least it slows them down and gives me a fair chance of intervening before havoc occurs.


Thought it would be nice to end on a sweet note. They bring me lots of smiles watching the two of them, and sometimes even when it's mischief they're involved in.

Aaron likes to look at books, and like his sisters have done with him, he gets Caleb all tucked in under a blanket before "reading"

Gotta love these precious moments.