Check...Mate

 Every so often, we get on a kick of playing chess.  Eric usually goes a little easier on Ramsey.  I don't.  But, I'm pretty sure he'll sail on by me soon, so I'm going to win while I can!! 🤣

Heave, HO - Tough Guys

 Jonah and Charlie came to visit us this weekend.   Of course, the adults BS'ed while the kiddos played.  Of course, there was dress-up time as soldiers in camo, donning swords and guns of sort.

Then, it was time for oustide play.  They found all sorts of fun sticks (again, to use as swords and guns).  But, they happened upon a downed tree limb down by the lake.   They made it their goal to get that VERY HEAVY and awkward limb from the shoreline up to the house, so we could later cut it up and use it as fire wood for a bonfire.   We may or may not have cited  a few bucks as extra incentive.  😉

This thing was seriously massive.  There was a reason we hadn't dragged it up the hill yet.  We had planned to take the chainsaw to it, cut it up at the lakeside, then haul it to the wood pile.    These kids had other plans and they were determined to make it work.   It was quite comical for a while as they flustered about trying to figure out the process.   As they struggled, us [mean] adults chuckled.  I'm pretty sure Jonah cackled.

After minutes of frustration (by the kids who couldn't move the branch - and us adults who wanted so badly to just go help them... except for the long walk up and down the hill - no thanks!), they finally figured out the teamwork aspect. They found if they forced it at the same time, it would move (albeit inches at a time, but nonetheless).

They literally/verbally "heaved" and "ho'ed" as they moved that ridiculous dead limb up the hill.   They stopped for "air breaks" intermittently.

Once they made it up the incline, it was much easier to manage.

And, unbelievably, they manged to get that damn branch up the ridulous hill grade and underneath the deck.

We gave them each $10 for their efforts.  It was worth the lesson in teamwork, work ethic, and also entertainment by onlooking adults.

2023 Harvest Stroll & Fun Day

 The annual Harvest Stroll at the museum is always a fun escape and excuse for a day of festivities.  This year, we recruited Ramsey's friend Orion, his Mom, and sister Tehya.  

We roamed all through the museum.  My favorite is always the animal exhibit (that's been there since God knows when!).

Ramsey loves the guns and WWII memorobilia.   In the gun area, they had a crafting section for apply tissue paper to mini pumpkins with decopage.  ...much less messy than carving one!

The kids bolted around more, goofing off in the tents, teepees, and Native American history area.

Upstairs, kids could try their hand at chopping wood, the old-fashioned way.

This one log must have been a little wet yet (or very dense).  Ramsey chopped on that thing for a while.  He got about half way split, then was pooped.

Orion gave it a whirl and and hammered it.  He could be a lumberjack someday!

Ramsey wanted to try it again.  It wasn't a one-hit wonder, but he got one split!

We bought some fun old-style toys at the gift shop and headed out.

It was off to Allevity for more entertainment!

The kids played loads of video games, climbed in the ball tower....

They moved around like spider monkeys on the climbing wall.

And, they played a ton of laser tag.

Ope!  And bumper cars... lots and lots of rounds of the bumper cars!

Playing Catch w/Dad

 Interested in PLAYING football, Ramsey wanted to play catch.  Happily, Eric agreed.  

I had just returned from a walk with Jango when I saw the fun.   It's too late to sign up for tackle football THIS year.  But, maybe next year it will interest him enough to try.  :-)

Eric gave Ramsey one his first lessons about running routes.

Of course, after we came back inside, we had to watch some epic Randy Moss videos on YouTube.

It's Not Football Sunday, it's Military Sunday

 At this point, Ramsey couldn't care much less about football.  He'd much rather play with friends and dress up in BDU costumes, donning guns and knives.

As Eric and I watched Dallas v. Giants, Raelynn and Ramsey had a blast both inside the house and in the yard, playing "snipers" and "war".   

Later.... he dressed up in different garb and wanted me to take additional pictures of guns and such.

This kid is obsessed! ha!

Good Finds at Marshall's

 We've had a new Marshall's store for a little while now and we've only been there once before. It's amaze-balls!   Ramsey and I were poking around town, running errands, and decided to head on over to see what terrific things we could find.

I needed a few decor items for the kitchen and upstairs since the remodel.  We spent at least a half an hour in the home decor aisle.  Most of that time was smelling candles!  And, by smelling candles, Ramsey insisted we smell every... dang... candle they had.   ha!

Cuz why not?!

When Ramsey was little, he LOVED smelling my candles and perfumes.   He'd make up all sorts of funny things about them and what they "actually" smelled like.      

BTW, yes, I am really posting four pictures of my kid smelling candles.  We seriously had the best time!!

We purchased a number of home items.  But, we also discovered fun things in the toy section.  Ramsey found a gun that shoots tennis balls.  So... good for both Ramsey (gun-lover) and puppy (tennis ball-lover).

We spent a good hour or so at home playing fetch with Jango.  The gun doesn't quite fire the tennis balls like a Revolutionary War cannon, but it's enough for doggy exercise and a lot of good laughs.

She's a Scorcher Out There!

 We've had a few HOT DAYS as of late.  It reached 102° today!  It was a perfect day for the kids to swim.

Ashton & Rae came over to play and cool off.  They requested my assistance to record their many fanciful tricks.

They were trying to complete a 3-person totem pole. I knew that wasn't going to work, but they were having fun, so I just took the video and let them do their thang.  😉

This one was rather impressive... Rae actually stood up on Ashton's shoulders.   I guess all of those gymnastics lessons and competitions paid off!

Here, the girls propped Ramsey up on Ashton's shoulders.  They treat him like their little brother.  It's so cute!

Here's a video Ramsey wanted me to post.  Eric had been out fishing and Ramsey had been over at the girls' swimming.  Ramsey decided to swim back.  Eric played "Eye of the Tiger" from the pontoon whilst Ramsey swam back to our dock.  He insisted this was video-worthy! 😂🤨

On a different note, the evenings have still been nice enough for boat rides or fishing off of the dock.  So peaceful and beautiful!