A tooth lost!

This post is coming a week late but better late than not at all. On April 25th my 4 year old officially became a "big boy" according to him. He lost his first tooth. And oh how proud he was. The sad part about it all is that Jon and I werent even home when it happened. We had went out for the night and had my mom come and put the kids to bed. During story time he was playing with the loose tooth and it just came right out! When we got home they were already asleep so I snuck in the room to put some money under the pillow. Thankfully Jon asked where the tooth was...I forgot to take the darn thing. Its obviously been a long time since the tooth fairy has visited me :) I had forgotten that the tooth fairy pays you for the tooth she takes! Oops. Anyways Jon went and got the tooth and wrapped it up all neatly in saran wrap and stuck it in his guitar case where he said he would keep it forever and ever and he would never forget this nite!hahaha. What a sap. I love it.

Bathtime fun with an orange

The many faces of Cookie Monster

Random trip pics.

Lena Becca, Jonah and mom hanging out on the trampoline.
The kids spent most of their time on it.















Mmmmmm. Bubblegum ice cream!















Even yummier is coconut ice cream!!!
















I love this picture so much. It reminds me of a very realistic watercolor painting Ive seen before. I think I would like to frame it.

Spring cleaning!

OK so I have probably a dozen posts to do before I finish up on our trip...but life does go on!

Spring cleaning was a phrase that I never fully understood. Why would someone clean more in the spring than any other particular time. Now that I have a large piece of land, a garden, greenhouse, and a gigantic strawberry patch all overtaken with weeds and willow trees I get it. Oh do I get it. So here is a Spring cleaning list I have thrown together. With any luck some of these jobs wont carry over into NEXT spring!
















SPRING CLEANING:

· CUT HEDGES
· WEED STRAWBERRIES
· ADD SOIL TO GARDEN
· PRUNE APPLE TREES
· WASH OUTSIDE HOUSE
· FINISH BASEBOARDS
· TILE COUNTERTOPS
· CABINET HARDWARE
· REPAINT DECK
· BUILD MOM A DECK
· CUT DOWN WILLOW TREES IN FIELD
· CLEAN & REPAIR GUTTERS




And then of coarse the obvious washing of windows and such things I dont need to list. So far the hedges are cut, strawberries are half weeded, and half the cabinet hardware is put on. This weekend we will build mom a deck. Then next weekend Jon will be off to The Charlottes for a while :(

Dylan and Emily were amazing that day. We started at 10am. They had a red wagon they filled up with brush, pulled over to the pile of brush we started, emptied the wagon and pulled it back, got another load and so on. Emily made it about 2 hours, Dylan lasted the entire day! No complaining either! He was so happy to have a job and work beside daddy. Usually he complains if I make him pick up a tshirt on the floor. Not this particular day though. He worked his butt off for 6 straight hours (lunch break included). We were so impressed that daddy gave him $10 to go and buy something from Walmart. Emily got $5. Now that ,ay sound like alot for a 4 and 2 year old...but I havent bought them a toy since Christmas. Chores are now their only way to new toys. They work hard and at the end of the month they are rewarded with an appropriate amount of money they can spend. Right now they empty the dishwasher every day(I take the knives out), and clean up anything that is laying on the floor usually once a day. After all its probably there because they put it there! Im not really sure what else I should be making them do at this age but Im sure I will think of more. For now I am extremely happy with their willingness and eagerness to help me. I will make use of it while it lasts for sure!
















Voila! Pretend the unpruned apple trees arent there.

Placencia

We took a 2 day trip to a sleepy little tourist village called Placencia. It was very nice there. During the morning and early afternoon the ocean was calm and the water warm. During the late afternoon and evening the waves got bigger. The kids had a great time splashing around in the waves searching for any signs of life in the water. Corey found a big starfish that Dylan and Tommy fought over for quite a long time. The other kids put on snorkeling masks and swam around looking at the odd fish that would come close. For the most part it was just relax time for us adults.

One of the cabanas we stayed in.

There they are. Fighting over the starfish!

It was a perfect starfish!

So cute.

Just a good pic of me:)

This picture makes me very sad. Its hard to take Dylan away from this life.

This is the morning we left Placencia. Goodbye.

A day at the river.

Lena's brother Josh and his wife Sandra invited us all out for a picnic at a river one day. I was picturing something a little different than this when I reluctantly said yes. I instantly think of fast moving sewage filled deep water when I think Belizean river. Imagine my suprise to see this beautiful place! The water was shallow along the edge where the kids played most of the time. The adults could walk chest high to the other side and bring the kids easily. It was probably the most enjoyable day spent in Belize. It was really nice to have so much family around - and getting along!

Mom watching over some of the kids .

The kids spent the whole time looking for shells

Here is Julie and James with the shells everyone found.

Tommy with one shell.

Sandra and Josh.

Kenya and Jonah. When she was around Jonah only had eyes for her!

Lena and me.

Jon took the boys for a little canoe ride.