Investigating the woods...

The kids keep finding cool places to explore around Killeny Glen...here is the stream that our spring runs into...

S N A K E S !!!

So, don't worry, the blood curdling scream you heard the other day was just me as I walked through the corn field with the kids and almost stepped on a snake happily sunning himself...or herself...whichever the case may be. I find unexpected snake sightings VERY unsettling! Nate, or shall I call him the "Wildlife Handler" was on the scene instantly chasing that snake to catch it. ME? Oh, I keep a safe distance...as does Mitchell and Madeleine...now, Emma and Sam are RIGHT THERE wanting to touch and handle it too! UGH! Needless to say, the snake was VERY GRUMPY at having his (or her) siesta interrupted and struck at Nate repeatedly.

Toilet training...or maybe not...

Sam has decided that he does NOT want to be potty trained...as mom to five kiddos I had thought that training him may, quite possibly, be an easy task...I mean, come on...I HAVE INDEED successfully potty trained four other children! Well, knock my confidence RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW as Sam is NOT INTERESTED and is quite willing to SAY SO!! I went as far as to say to him, "Sam, BABIES wear diapers and BIG BOYS do not.YOU are TOO OLD to not be potty trained!" He then replied, "I AM a baby, I am tiny...I LIKE diapers!!"





THIS, is what Sam thinks of potty training!!

ELEVEN years old!

I am quite sure I did a blog entry for Mitchell's tenth birthday YESTERDAY!! A whole year gone by and where did it go? Mitchell is a super good guy and asked if he could have a sleepover for his birthday. Well the sleepover turned into an ALL-NIGHTER as they stayed up almost ALL night. Mitchell has awesome friends and they did not give us a LICK of trouble! He and Bob spent a great day out and about going out to breakfast, bowling, seeing a movie and perusing video games at all Mitchell's favorite haunts.
Oh, and from the photos you probably guessed that what Mitchell wanted MOST for his birthday was a Manning jersey...I think he would wear it 24/7 if we let him...he is a huge Colts fan!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MITCHELL!

Celebrating Gramps...

We happily celebrated Grampie's birthday with grilling steaks at Killeny Glen. There is something about steak and baked potatoes that is just SCRUMPTIOUS! Gram made one of Grampie's favorite desserts which is butterscotch pie and that is a real treat too. Gramps is a "jack of all trades" and always willing to lend a hand...he added a couple of new tools to his shop for his birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

We sure are thankful for all of our grandparents! What a blessing they are to our family!

Very good question...

Each morning I get up and walk the dogs. On the weekends, Madeleine, typically is up early and comes out with me. Today, as we strolled along listening to all the wonderful morning sounds she said:

"Mom, do you think that dogs and cats bark and meow in their heads like we think in OUR heads?"

I just love that girl!!!

Our own Rachael Ray

Emma was assigned a "HOW TO" project at school. She chose "How to make Molasses Cookies" which are a Mitchell Family recipe and her favorite cookie. (Mitchell's too for that matter.) Emma and Bob absolutely LOVE to watch the Food Network and she LOVES to cook...she is a great fan of Rachael Ray, Paula Dean and Tony Bourdain. So at school she set up her "kitchen" and made Molasses Cookies just as she has seen the Food Network chefs do...it was SO MUCH FUN to watch her turn on her TV personality and go through the making of the cookies! Most of the kids had never had a Molasses cookie and were pleasantly surprised that they LIKED them which pleased Emma immensely! Emma practiced her presentation down to a science and her teacher was particularly impressed that she cracked her eggs with ONE HAND!!! The crazy part is that I didn't know that she could do it either!! It was truly so fun to watch her since she tends to be shy when put in public situations...:)
She finished her presentation with BON APPETIT!!!!!