THMJ - A jumble of catch up!

I'm not even going to try to put things in any kind of order or remember what we did when, but I am going to cover a bunch of "stuffs".

We took a hike on the Long Trail and Babcock.  I was quite sure Micah was trying to kill me.  Granted, he had the toddler in a pack, but he is also in much better shape than I am.  It was a gorgeous day, not too hot, not too buggy, not too humid.  It's just a shame I developed a wicked blister on my heel within the first half mile (out of nearly five).  The climbs were tough, especially once the heel got ripped up, but all but one down hill section and all the more level parts were beautiful.  Once we got to the road, I was all excited to be nearly back to the car, only to have to cross the road and walk another half mile.  In Micah's defense, the website labeled it a "fun family hike".  He just didn't take into consideration, my old, decrepitness.

An action shot of Mal at a rest stop.

Incredibly scenery.

All my hiking buddies.

Merricky Boy is growing up so fast!  Brings to mind the saying, "The days are long, but the years are short."  He is so stinking busy. All. Day. Long.

Making faces for Mama's camera.

So proud of himself.

My littlest Lego Maniac.

We're all involved in Royal Rangers this year.  Merrick joins me in Rainbows where I help out.

Merrick takes craft time at Rangers VERY seriously.

Mal helped me with laundry one day.  I added soap, just because I do when we don't have pods (which only the boys use, because, let's face it, they are a bit pricey).  After starting the load, Mal proudly informed me he added the "oily stuff" to the laundry.  I ended up draining and spinning the load, scooping out as much of the bubbles as possible (which the boys then sculpted in the kitchen sinks), dividing it into two loads, combining each half of the load with half of the dry, dirty load, and running an extra rinse or two.  It took all day to wash two loads of towels.

Glub  Glub

    Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
 My inlaws were just here for a few days, which is always fun.  Wendy and I took Mal and Xav to the goat dairy down the road.  They were having a family fun day.  Xav and I each milked this cow.  Mal didn't want to.  He mostly stood there, looking in the other direction, begging someone to *please* take away the cow poop NOW.  Which they did, because, honestly, who wants their fun day guests walking in cow poop and bringing it into the store?  Xav also helped feed these hungry calves.  We visited the goats and chickens as well.

Cider being made with a garbage disposal.  *chop chop*

Xav was creeped out by the finger sucking.  Cutest little calves ever.

Goats!

    Things I’m working on…
As long as I had help, this last few days, I pulled out the sewing machine and my MIL and I fixed two of my kitchen chairs.  They got new springs, new cushions and new covers.  Hooray!  Now I don't want to let the boys use the repaired chairs!  She also whipped up curtains for both of the kid bedrooms and took some of the matching left over fabric home to work on a quilt for Merrick.

    In our homeschool this week…
 As always, I am always amazed how differently these boys go about everything they do.

Lining up rods in pairs.

This video was pretty cool.  Singing God's praises with the heavens and the seas.

Let's see.  What else?

Xav and I rounded up an escaped chicken.  She survived a night of free-ranging it.

A brand spanky new "The WalMarts" opened up a half an hour away.  Xav saw and talked to an elf, even giving her a message for Santa.  The sweet girl was actually dressed as a Vulcan and Xav even recognized her communicator pin.  She just told him that she and Santa were big Star Trek fans.


Some nasty little green worms were eating our carrots.  *blech*

Guess that's it for now.  I shall end this post and Linky up to The Homeschool Mom's Journal.  See you over there!