Hummingbirds

We noticed we were getting a lot of hummingbirds visiting our flower bed earlier this summer, so we put a feeder out on the front porch. It took a while, but we have several visiting us now almost constantly. Seriously, you can look out there almost any time during the day and if you wait 5 minutes you will see one. They are the neatest creatures. So teeny, fast, and very feisty! I didn't realize how territorial they are -- if two happen to show up at the same time they fly off squeaking at each other. I've stalked them a few times for photos but they are so darned fast! I can barely even click the shutter before they are gone again!

Good Old Fashioned Fun

Rylan has really been missing his brother since he started school last week. Even though they were starting to bicker more toward the end of the summer, they occupy each other nicely during the day. With Conrad gone, he had to settle for time with Mommy, and I'm afraid that isn't quite as exciting.

To help him get used to being without his brother, I planned quite a few activities for Rylan last week. We went and played with his buddy Logan twice, we went to the pool, and one day we got the sprinkler out. It was so much fun to just sit there and watch him run around in the water, and squeal when it got him.

As a bonus, I found that Rylan behaves much better when he has had so much activity that he is exhausted. I need to keep that in mind. If he starts acting out I should just send him for a run around the yard!

My Third Grader

Yikes! Conrad is in third grade already! How did that happen? Time sure seems to whiz by faster and faster every year. Hilliard started school this year on August 19. Yikes again! I don't remember EVER starting back that early when I was little. I'm pretty sure Conrad didn't mind though. He seemed more than ready for a break from his wild and crazy brother. And Rylan is happy to have me to himself again during the day. So far so good. Conrad really likes his teachers (there is one in the morning and a different one in the afternoon) and has made some new friends who were not in his class last year.

Cool Riders

Conrad has been begging to be allowed to take a ride on Jason B's motorcycle for ages. I surprised him last weekend with a "sure, why not?" Conrad ran home as fast as he could for tennis shoes, and then they rode down to Conrad's elementary school and back. He was begging for another ride by dinnertime. Aren't these the coolest Harley riders you've ever seen?

Don't Blink!

On this particular day I remember trying to talk the boys out of playing in the snow because it was bitterly cold. They begged and pleaded so I got out all of their gear. As soon as they were out the door I went for my camera. I'm so glad I did! They were back inside within 15 minutes. I refrained from the expected "I told you so" response.

Old Man's Cave

Somehow we made it through the whole summer without a vacation. Jason has been traveling a ton for work and we have been trying not to spend too much money since we knew I would be quitting soon, so we decided to vacation "at home" with several fun things close to home. One of those things was a trip to Old Man's Cave. We stayed in a log cabin and did a lot of hiking at Old Man's Cave and Ash Cave. I think the boys' favorite part though was the cat that lived under the porch at the cabin. If I had only known, I could have just sent them next door to visit GiGi's cats!

Pinewood Derby

Look at this! Another scrapbook layout! We had so much fun at Conrad's pinewood derby last year. I don't think I've ever seen such an excited roomful of boys like I've seen at the pinewood derby!