"Big" Pepper!

"L" loves to haul produce everywhere.  Instead of placing the harvest in the bucket, he likes to carry them around until we take them inside.  Recently, he thought the cows should check out the "big" tomato that he plucked.  So, he stood beside the gate, held the tomato up and told the cows all about it.

The cows were quite impressed, as you might imagine.  They stared back, chomping on their grass, with a very quizzical look.  So, "L" continued to explain the finer attributes of his veggie harvest!

Garden Gifts

One of "K's" favorite evening activities is garden produce picking.  This has been a fantastic year for a garden!  We have been blessed with timely rains and fantastic weather.  The weeds have also really enjoyed the environment as well, but produce is ready for harvest!

"K" has enjoyed picking "matoes," peppers and onions of late.  Mr. Fixit will dig the onions, and "K" hauls them to the bucket.  A few days ago, our three nice green bell peppers did not make it into the house.  "K" chomped them down like an apple!  Good thing that we have more growing ;)

Little Cowboy

We have been tremendously blessed with new-to-us toys!  The boys have a blast, and it has been fun to watch them play with toys that another child (or few) enjoyed once upon a time too.  This horse is one example of a new-to-us toy.  We received it late spring from one of my friends.

The horse hangs out in the basement, and "L" is has mastered climbing upon the horse and riding it himself.  The getting down part is still a work in progress, but getting up is easy.  So, thanks to all who have given us toys, we truly enjoy each and every one!

Summer Time School

The concept of school stays and "stay at home days" are definitely becoming very clear to "K."  He loves, and looks forward -- most days -- to going to school.  I drop "L" off first at his classroom, and "K" requested recently, that he was ready to go to his room.  What an awesome improvement :)!

One of "K's" favorite activities is to "treasure hunt" on his playground.  Well, one other little boy - pictured here - is very much into this adventure as well.  So, the two boys have become fast friends, and the look for "treasure" each day.  "K" brings home rocks, beads, snail shells, acorn hats, sticks and a variety of other trinkets.

The treasure collection is about out of control, so I gave "K" a box for him to keep them all in.  It is beside his bed.  When the box becomes full, we will be prioritizing which "treasures" we should keep!

Life in Perspective

One month ago, or nearly one month ago, I posted to my blog.  Honestly, I can't believe a month has passed this quickly.  Our world has been turned upside down.  It is so hard to believe that the other life before existed.  Both Mr. Fixit and I have each witnessed a serious illness for one of our parents. 

Both parents have been fighters, but it is truly difficult to imagine how this situation became possible.  One of the most difficult things I have experienced, up to this point, is caring for a sick child.  That is tough.  They don't understand why or what is happening to them, but they feel miserable.  Plus, you lose much sleep in the process.  However, I would concur that a sick parent is almost as trying. 

Our little guys are too little to understand what is happening, and hospitals are really not a good environment for toddlers and preschoolers.  So, Mr. Fixit and I have not been able to help and see our parents as much as we would like.  We simply pray.

On a recent visit to see my Dad, for the first time since his diagnosis, we snapped this shot of all 10 grandchildren.  This was one of Mom's request during our visit.  Thanks Sis JK for making this happen!