Jailbird

While in RI, Zoe and Annie played Jail with Auntie Becky. It involved wrapping the criminal in a blanket like a pig (in a blanket) (get it) and the jailbird has to get free. Auntie Becky was the warden.

girls

Zoe and Annie being sweet to one another. We had to take a picture to prove that it does happen every so often.

Club house

Tim and Jen cut some trees down in RI at Jen's parent's house. Zoe and Annie made a clubhouse out of some of the logs. The club house didn't last long after the chipper/shredder came over to play.

Pets

Spotty the bunny is trying to figure out how to open the Moon Sand so she can make a sand bunny. Lily is lounging in the shade.

SO-RRY!

There has been a complaint about the blog not being updated in a month or so. Well, some of us have nothing really exciting to report, like moving or having a baby. We did have a birthday last week while we were in Rhode Island fulfilling our Christmas gift to Jen's parents by cleaning out their garage.
Zoe turned 6 and she had 2 mini party's on her day but no one took pictures because she just wanted her cake and loot. She did get a bunch of Barbies and some Rock'em Sock'em Robots (from Annie) and 3 pairs of shoes and a hula hoop. She also got a bunch of money, some of which was spent on some My Little Ponys and an umbrella.
While we were in Rhode Island, Tim used his birthday kayak in the Naragansett Bay and was not run over by any Navy frigates or water skiers. We also consumed some fried clams, clam cakes, lobster, steamers, and soft serve ice cream at Frosty Freeze and some Awful Awfuls at the Newport Creamery. For those of you who don't know, Awful Awfuls are awfully large, thick milkshakes, which are also known in RI as Cabinets.
As for the pets, the bunnies stayed home home and were babysat by our friends Susie, Max and Chloe. Lily and Little Boy came along for the ride, though. Lily was sprayed by a skunk. It was the first time that ever happened to her, mostly because we've lived in places that don't harbor skunks. Little Boy redeemed himself by catching and killing a mouse.
We will try to take some pictures this weekend and post them. We are going to a cavern and a birthday party...

Swinger

Tim is waiting on a tree swing for the girls to come out of the bamboo maze at Green Animals.

A Maze

We took the girls to Green Animals in Portsmouth, RI. They make animal sculptures from shrubbery, which Annie found to be scary. Then we found a bamboo maze. Annie needed some moral support from Zoe because the bamboo was scary also.

The Beach Girls

Zoe and Annie are working off their lunch of fried clams and clam cakes from Flo's Clamshack in Portsmouth, RI. We went to the beach across the street to play for a bit. Zoe was throwing seaweed back in to the sea. Annie was throwing the sand back in.

Who are those girls?

Zoe getting ready for her dancing school show. Yes, Zoe is wearing make-up. Yes, Annie is also wearing make-up. Zoe wanted Annie to try on her costume and make-up so she would be ready for her turn on stage. Sorry, I don't know how to get rid of the red eye.

Spotty

Spotty Spotmaker likes to play with string, even with balloons attached. We had a bunch of balloons leftover from Zoe's bunny party. It was fun to watch Spotty drag the balloons and strings around the room and try to pull them behind the couch.

The Brownies

I know it's been a while... Zoe and her pals are "Bridging to Brownies" way back in May.

Perhaps you are wondering what to get Tim for his birthday, 05 June. Here are some ideas for various budgets:

President level –
Mitsubishi Evolution or
Subaru WRX

Senator level –
50 inch plasma flat screen TV with 1080p

Representative level –
Nikon D80

Governor level –
Sony Playstation 3

State Attorney General Level –
MARC Train Ticket Aberdeen to BWI

Mayor level –
Controllers for Nintendo Wii
Guitar Hero for Nintendo Wii

Town Council level –
Movie: The Big Lebowski

Otherwise, cards, or if you feel obligated, gift cards. Or something creative. Or something from the heart, but not a bullet from the left ventricle or anything like that.

clam head

Zoes' favorite supper after Alaska fish, a.k.a. salmon are clams. If she could eat the shells, she would.

Parade

Zoe got to ride on the Girls Scout float in the Dublin Parade a few weeks ago. The parade mostly consisted of the parade marchers and float riders tossing candy to the parade watchers. It's almost better than trick-or-treating. The Girl Scouts won 2nd place for their float.

The Hedges

We haven't forgotten about the hedges. Jen's mom pointed out that birds hang around in the hedge and hide from a marauding neighbor cat. We think we will try the making them into 3 bushes again. If only it would quit raining on the weekends we could get the job done and show the after pictures.

A Major Award

Zoe and 11 other kids in her school received medals from the American Heart Association for raising over $125 each in the AHA Jump-a thon. YAY Zoe!

Your Vote Counts!

So here are some views of our lovely boxwood hedge. The question posed- should it get trimmed up and stay, go to the dump and become mulch, or become three boxwood bushes again? They started life as three bushes but became overgrown and a bit ugly. We can't decide so we leave it up to you all. All votes count even if you are not a registered voter. (Shame on you if you are not registered.)

New Friends

After years of seeing bunnies at farm fairs, Zoe has finally achieved her wish of owning a bunny. Of course Annie wanted and got one, too. The brown one is Zoe's and her name is Lizzie. The spotted one belongs to Annie and is called Spotty. Zoe is lucky to get herself a bunny. I myself would loved to have had a horse when I was a kid but, alas, as some woman said if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Whatever.

Visiting

After church we went Great-grandpa and grandma's house for brunch. Zoe played with the Christmas skater music box and Annie played with Great-grandpa. A good time was had by all.

Annie and Tim

Annie and Tim smiling pretty for the camera. They were waiting for Zoe and Granny Smith to get ready for church on Easter Sunday. Zoe declined to have her picture taken.

Easter egg stuff

The girls went on 4 Easter egg hunts over the Easter weekend. These are some pictures of the first one which featured not only egg hunting but pony rides and a hay ride. The pony ride was the favorite activity. Annie's pony is called Pongo, like the dad dog in 101 Dalmations. I don't know what Zoe's pony was called but she had fun with her nameless pony. We don't have pictures of the other hunts because it was only Annie and Zoe involved and we had to make sure Annie got a fair chance at some eggs, so no pictures. Also, the girls dyed some real eggs with Granny Smith.

helpers

Zoe and Annie helped to clean up the yard. Many branches fell off the pine trees during an ice storm a few weeks ago. At first they were helping by picking up pine cones but then started planting them in the yard again. I guess they think we don't have enough trees for Daddy to cut down. Also, I think they were trying to lasso a passing crow with their wild throws of the tie-downs.

Can't catch me

Annie's favorite book lately is The Gingerbread Girl. So, of course, we have to make gingerbread people. Fortunately for us none of them ran away, except for the dough Annie dropped under the chair. She wanted to beat Lily to it.

hmmm

Is Little Boy trying it on or trying to convince me he's looking for one of his toys in there?

Cozy Warm

Little Boy is trying out a new warm spot in the house. Or maybe he's just trying to be cute.

Finally

It has taken a while, no, not the renovation, putting these pictures on. For some reason they didn't want to go. So...here's the mostly completed bathroom. The floor is no longer squishy but it is still crooked. But so is the house. What can you do that doesn't cost a million dollors to fix the crooked house. Live with it. The only part to finish is the threshold. When trying to make the floor straight the old threshold doesn't fit anymore. We need a router or Norm Abrams.

A Star is Born

This is a quilt Jen made for Tim's newest niece, Amelia Rose.

Annie

Okay, it's just another picture of a kid with her fingers up her nose. She liked the way her voice sounded with them in there.

Daisy Girls

Zoe is getting her first badges as a Daisy Girl Scout. Also, Zoe with the rest of the troop. Yes, there are only the three of them. The other girls are Jordan and Alexa.

Zoe

Zoe pretending the pony is her baby. She says she cannot wait to be a mommy. I can.

The Birds!

There were about 1000 birds, I think they are grackles, that landed in the yard. Tim was hoping they were going to eat the leaves so we wouldn't have to rake them. No such luck.