Merry Christmas 2020!

Merry Christmas from our family, with bonus picture of Santa's snowy footprints (courtesy of Daughter #1, who stayed awake late to make them let him in)!

Boys and Basketball

 Ethan and Luke both started basketball this week.  Ethan got a couple of baskets, while Luke was a little unsure of what to do, but he was learning quickly and I think he'll do fine as the season continues.

Halloween 2020

In the absence of Trunk R Treat this year, we did a Halloween party when their grandparents came to visit. The adults voted on Scariest, Most Creative, Sneakiest, Strongest, and Prettiest costumes.   Fortunately, there was an entry for each category!

Naomi's dance show

 Not really a recital yet; more a show-the-parents-what-we've-learned-in-four-weeks.

2020 Soccer Season is a Wrap

The last day of soccer was a chilly morning but we didn't quite need coats and mittens as we have in some years.  

 Abbey and Ethan finished the season undefeated, just one tie short of a perfect record.  Isaac's team did not win but he was one of the best players, and Luke and Naomi---who knows what the score was, but they were always in there playing hard!

 

 

More soccer!

 My turn to watch Luke and Naomi while Debbie was watching Isaac's game.

First chilly day of soccer!

First lost tooth for Luke!

 

2020 Soccer

Isaac: 8

Abbey: 12

Ethan: 11

Luke: 5

Naomi: 5

Summer Fun

Isaac caught his first fish!

Luke and Naomi at McCaw Park

Isaac is a fearless tree climber; much like his dad was.

Only a few months ago Luke begged for help with these

So did Naomi!

She's pretty good at tree-climbing too.

4th of July sparklers.  We don't usually light things on fire inside the garage, but it was a windy day.

Summer Camping

We talked and talked about how to camp this year: one big tent for everyone?  Bunkbed cots?  Two tents?  And finally settled on renting a cabin so we didn't have to haul all the tenting supplies.  Felt a little like cheating but Monday the rain came down in like the proverbial cats and dogs, and it was very nice to not be in a tent!

Abbey, reading about cowboys cooking over campfires.  Not shown: face she made after she saw the camera.

Ethan was the only one of us all who actually managed to catch a fish, but sadly I wasn't there to get a picture.

Swimming in the creek!

Even on a hot day the water was pretty cold.

Didn't stop them, though!

They'd "hide" underwater if they saw the camera, but I caught them anyway.

Happy 5th Birthday to Luke and Naomi!

Happy birthday to my favorite twins! They were born on Memorial Day, and this is the first year their birthday has fallen on the holiday again. We spent 15 minutes trying to figure out why: seems like it should only be every seven years. But it's because 2016 was a leap year and so is 2020.

Their very first Memorial Day in 2015.

2016.  The pillow is called an Twin Z pillow and was supposed to make nursing easier.  It wasn't all that useful, but it was a good way to prop them up.

2017, about six months after we moved to Indiana.

2018: Learning to garden!

2019: exploring Indiana

2020: Naomi Nicole, age 5

2020: Luke Payton, age 5

Propehtstown State Park

We took an actual "field trip" to Prophet's town State Park.  This is one of the fields it looks like they did a planned burn on.

They loved looking for shells, rocks, and creatures in this bubbling stream. An 11 year old boy next to a stream is about as good as it gets.

We concluded that this looks like a beaver made dam; and below.....

The beaver lodge! Pretty cool!

We think the area we were walking in is sometimes flooded.  We found some fish remains, which were kind of neat to inspect (keeping a good social distance!)

All along the wetland area were these wicked looking trees with 2-3 inch thorns growing out from the branches and straight out of the trunk.  The kids told me that some birds of prey hang their catch on the thorns! 

I researched this tree and it is a Honey Locust or Thorny Locust.  Wikipedia said it is sometimes used as an ornamental tree.  I don't think I would want this in my yard!

Easter 2020

Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely.  For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay (Psalm 16:9-10).

Williamsport Falls

                                  The water was perfect for wading on a warm day!

 They loved going behind the falls.  The water was not deep thankfully so mommy did not have to be  nervous!

                                   The huge rock formations were pretty impressive!

           Abbey spotted this crawfish, which was pretty cool.. I have never seen one before!

Lots of huge moss covered boulders!