12 Lives at the Lake + 1

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

We have now entered MUD season...

Bath Time!

Thought of you....Sarah.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Having some fun with music...

Matthew participated in MMTA's Music Bridges this past weekend. The requirements are to play three musical pieces and present two additional works of art or handcrafted items, preferably within a theme. Linda helped him pick out music, "South of the Border Suite", and then he went to work drawing a sombrero on a fence post.

We had originally talked about making a pinata for the final item but settled on maracas, instead. This ended up being rather labor intensive, involving several layers of paper mache, and days of drying in between. I ,of course, chronicled the process with the camera. So, here you have it...

with a little help from Mom

and a crazy-paper-shredding sister

the finished product after painting...Matthew's favorite part

On Saturday, he played Hot n Spicy, Evening Serenade, and Mariachi Holiday for a music judge and then explained his drawing and the process behind the making of the maracas. He decided this was a lot of fun and would like to do this again next year. Thanks to Linda for jump starting this project and to this website which we used for making the maracas.

A Never Ending Birthday

Therese turned 10 on Friday. 4/4/04...love that birthdate!

Since Thursday, she has been partying hard. Starting with getting her ears pierced...

after ~~badgering her mother incessantly~~ waiting patiently, we finally made it happen and she was

thrilled!

Then, she slept overnight at her godparents' house and spent Friday shopping with them and out for

lunch, topping the day off with a movie. Wow!

Every 10 yo needs a hula hoop. (Grandma even wrapped it. Can you tell?)

Since lots of homeschool dads (We missed you, Daddy.) were on retreat this past weekend,

Saturday turned in to an all day playdate with a favorite friend and Sunday

was her actual birthday party.

It was the first truly beautiful day this Spring, so we stayed outside as much as possible.

Grandpa borrowed Fran Man's hat for a little added warmth on his head.

and everyone had to take a turn trying out the hula hoop.

Johnny wins the prize for master hip swinger...and he hasn't even had much time to practice...yet.

We ramped up the celebrating with Coffee Toffee Cheesecake and Lemon Meringue Cake...

and Grandma's Infamous Cocoa Bars (which I'm still trying to finagle the recipe for)...

and Watergate Cake (seriously, four desserts...yep Therese really knows how to party).

And that's not the end of it, last night she stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's and will get another

shopping spree today. Gee, can't wait until I turn 10. Oh, wait a minute...

Friday, April 4, 2014

A Compromise

Too cold to be outside long...

but little people are tired of the long winter indoors.

Solution to the problem...

hang out in Dad's plow truck.

Or for the brave and desperate...play matchbox cars in the snow.

Monday, March 31, 2014

You choose the caption...

Dad is my hero...or...I'm coming to get you.

Brotherly Love...or...Let me DOWN!

I want that camera!...or...Look at those huge big,boy teeth.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Happy, Happy Birthday, Dear Gabers!

Gabriel is the happy age of six! So even though this is very late, I am posting his birthday pictures.
(Better get caught up before next week, which is Therese's birthday!) Here are six things I love about Gabriel...

#1 He's a very serious guy...gotta work hard to get a smile but it's always worth the effort.

#2 He's a very good buddy to his brother Johnny. Did you know that wrestling is an important component of being buddies?

#3 He's persistent...a necessary skill as #9 in the family.

#4 He loves being a BIG brother. Waited 5 years for that little guy and is still looking forward to the day when Fran Man will sleep in his bed with him. How sweet is that?