FIRE!!

Our school had a fundraiser a couple of months ago and Chris and I bid on a ride to school on the firetruck for the boys. The day finally came today...OH WHAT FUN!! The firemen took them on 20 minure ride around the area, then brought them into the school drop off zone with the sirens and lights going...the boys were like rock stars (Jack even signed autographs on the playground later-wow!!)

Jack getting on board
That look makes it all worth it!
The adoring fans waiting for their arrival
Here they come
Getting out...gotta go to school you know

Cooking with Toula!

OPA!! My friend Toula did a Greek cooking class for a fundraiser for our old school and I got to go along to be her assistant and see some old friends. REALLY good food...I can fold phyllo dough like you read about now.

Toula is showing us how to use phyllo

Learning and eating...the only way to do it

Some of the ladies

Me and Toula

Ironbirds

I think Chris has found his calling...coaching!! He took on the task of assisting Ben's team and coaching Jack's team...it has made life a little hectic but a lot of fun too. He has the patience of a saint (remember he is married to me!) and the kids absolutely love him. You should see all of the progress they have all made...check out the pictures...big smiles all around. BTW...Jack is doing great...one game was a meltdown...but every week he his getting a little bit better.

Coleman, Jack and Ben T. in the dugout
Smile Big

Getting ready to hit one out of the park
Ready to go
Catching (his favorite position)
Coach Chris in fine form

Tee Ball

Baseball season is here...and Ben is trying T ball again with Chris assisting. Gosh, when he is good...he is really good...when he is bad...he is just plain goofy...but that is to be expected when you are 5. Watch the ball...or play with your hat
Coach Chris and Mr. Baseball

Line Drive
I will do whatever you say Coach (yeah right!)

CRITTERVILLE

So, I guess when you live in the country...critters come out in abundance during the spring...lots of frogs...lizards...birds...deer...snakes...not to mention the assorted insects...all sorts of fun!! Ben is our local reptile guy and when he grows up he wants his own show on the Discovery Channel...after last week (look below) I am not so sure that he wants to do that anymore.

We started off with frogs...actually we have two frogs right now...very interesting, low maintenance and after a week in the reptile ranch that Chris got talked into buying we release them back into the wild. Did I mention the tadpoles we inherited from Ben's kindergarten class...nature at work...woohoo!!

Here is Spike, our first frog...now back with his friends in the yard
Can you see him climbing on Ben?
The turkey congregation hanging out next door Moving the meeting up the hill

Before you look at the next picture, prepare yourself.......

RATTLESNAKE!!!!!!

Check out the baby rattlesnake I killed in our garage last week. OHMYGOSH!! VERY SCARY!!! Ben and I were going out to the car so we could pick up Jack at school and there waiting in Chris's car bay was this lovely little guy...hissing and rattling at us. Ben and I have never screamed so loud or ran so fast in our lives. Poor Ben, it scared him a lot...here we are almost a week later and he is still talking about it and won't go in the garage by himself (I don't blame him). Anyway, with all my outdoor experience (yeah right) I got Ben and I into the car and decided I would try to run it over with the car (I know, I know...not the best idea...but I didn't want to actually have to kill him) that didn't work (of course) so we went to go pick up Jack (I know, another not so good idea...but we were running late). When we got back the boys stayed in the car and I found our friend under some cabinets. Jack ran in to get the phone (in case he needed to dial 911 if I got bit...just the boost of confidence I needed!!) and I got the shovel...and the rest is history....did you know that the still move quite a bit after they are decapitated?? The boys were impressed by their old mom...I am not as girly as they thought...still don't want to touch the frogs or lizards they bring in the house, but hey, I can kill a snake if need be. Hopefully this will be our one and only rattlesnake story...but living out here in critterville you just never know.