work, best cure for a fight

I'm super duper sore today from working in the yard yesterday with the boys. We finally finished removing all the busted rock and plastic that remained in the pond. It was a nasty mess filled with leaves, dirt, rain...lots of good smelling, decomposing matter and worms and rolly polies. I couldn't believe how Asher was digging into it with his bare hands and loving the icky mess. He said "What Mom, I AM a boy!" Later he took a big sniff of his hands and said "I love that smell, it smells like summer" HMMM, not sure what he was relating that smell to, boy stuff I guess. I always remember summer to smell like sunscreen and chlorine. Addison wasn't as "in" to the whole yuck because I didn't want him to get his shoes muddy and he didn't want to go change into a different pair. So he fell into the role of a servant, which was completely by his choice and not prompted by me in any way. He began bringing us "fluids, to keep us hydrated" (I have been telling him to drink plenty so he can recover from his upcoming surgery more quickly) and snacks (which I had to feed Asher because his hands were covered in muck, but I had been wearing gloves and had "clean enough" hands by boy standards). Addison would sit and wait for us to ask for a different tool and to his complete joy would lend his knife whenever I needed it. After we got all the rocks and things out we started filling the wheel barrow with fresh dirt and filling the hole in. Asher took a break and Addison and I got to work together for a while. I love the conversation that comes with manual labor side by side with your kid. Initially I started yesterdays work because the boys were arguing and pestering. I knew they needed something worthwhile to do. Of course their attitude was not the best when we started, but within minutes of working, the grouch melted away. I saw this over and over again with boys in the foster home we worked in. The child who was making you miserable and being the biggest pain was the one you needed to work side by side with and in time would probably become one of your favorite people to be around. Anyway, after all the work was done, both boys piled in and played in the dirt.....aahhh, boys! And yeah, it is december and my boys don't have any shirts on...can you believe how warm it has been.

*just a note: I typed this up last week, but didn't have time to add photos and post until now. Addison's surgery went well and he is painfully recovering. I'll post pictures and more about it soon.

I've been missing this blog!!!

Sorry it has been such a long time since I posted. Holidays are crazy times!!! Lots has happened since Halloween. Hopefully I will be able to keep up the blogging and get everyone up to speed.

A few pictures from Christmas. I actually didn't take any pictures xmas day, but these are from a few days prior. The boys were going to spend a few days at the ranch with Mema and Pa so we decided to let them open some presents from Grandma and Grandad, knowing that these gifts would be perfect for the ranch.

shaking and guessing....

I started to clone out the candy cane evidence left on his face...but this is how Addison looks most of the time. Loves tattoos on his cheek and breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner around the mouth...

the first realization of what he just opened

complete delight....(on both sides of the camera)

a few safety tips from Dad, love these pictures!

taking aim at Robert's buck mounted in the corner of the living room

Addison struggling to pump it

needed a little help from Daddy the first time...

will love and cherish this picture for years to come...Daddy's hand wrapped around my little man's tiny hand.

and of course we told them not to shoot out their eye! They actually have done really well and I don't think they have shot anything they shouldn't have. They had a great time shooting coke cans, grasshoppers, cactus, and targets. Both the boys are a very good shot. Asher really enjoys shooting targets, but Addison is itching to hunt!