Rascal

Katie let me spend ten dollars on a 'real' bird feeder after my hand-crafted two-liter bottle solution fell apart.  While the bottle appeared to have been destroyed by a strong early spring storm, I wasn't so sure that wind gusts were to blame.  Duct tape should have stood up against wind, right?

It turns out there was more at work than just the weather: our raccoon friend was back!

I have to give him credit; he's kinda bold.  We were introduced to him one night when we let the dogs out and they promptly cornered him on the deck.  After a bit of snarling and snapping, we coaxed the dogs back inside and watched him for a bit.  The hoodlum was raiding our feeder, draining it of sunflower seeds.

I drew a compromise: I left a few kibbles of dog food outside, and brought in the feeder each night.   All was well, until I noticed that our hummingbird feeder was empty the next day...  Surely not Rascal... right?

Wrong.

 

 

 

He has no shame.

We watched him tilt it, then drink as it dribbled down his arm.

While Katie assures me that the dog food is a big draw for the ants and outdoor cockroaches we're seeing, I maintain that it's Rascal's fault: all that sugary water must have been the cause.  I've decided that Rascal gets a few pieces of carrot from here on out...

Grandparents!

Iowa Nana and Papa came to visit for a couple of days.  Liliana had been anticipating the event for days, and was constantly asking how many 'sleeps' we had until they arrived.  She woke up on Thursday and startled us both with something that sounded like a rebel yell, then charged into our bedroom yelling, "NanaPapaDay! NanaPapaDay!".

It was a blast! We hung out, we walked in the creek...  We thoroughly enjoyed the visit and were sad when they had to go.

Try as we might, we can't read The Sneetches like Papa

Lils demonstrating her fashion sense.

Lils demonstrating her fashion sense... with flair!

I love me some beautiful nature...

Papa explaining how you can navigate using rocks.  Katie seems... dubious.

Pioneer women, charting a course...

I think it was a worm... Lilie said it tasted kinda salty.

Nana spotted this crawdad - he was huge!

At this point, Lilie had donked Katie in the chest with the walking stick.  We decided Lils didn't need a stick after that.

Liliana, channeling Gandalf: "You SHALL NOT PASS!"

Katie helping Lilie understand the 'you can have as many as you can carry' rule.

Liliana spent some quality time on the jampoline.

Thanks for the ride, Papa!

It ended all too soon, but we did receive confirmation that Nana and Papa made it home safely.  Thanks for sharing your time with us!

Art

Liliana has started to express herself through her art.

On more than one occasion, after a heartbreaking experience (like Daddy saying 'no' or offering some discipline), Liliana has resorted to visual media to express her deep, heart-felt emotions.  So far, she has eschewed watercolors, chalk, pencil and pen in favor of the age-old favorite... the MagnaDoodle.

One morning she presented me with a portrait in pain after our argument about the cup she'd use for breakfast.  Her latest depiction represents the time that Mommy had to restrict Lilie's access to her best next-door friend, Trey.

Here we see the entire artist's toolbox, and the frame.

I've added some details: Liliana drew herself, with intense sadness, because when Mommy opened the door, Liliana had to tell Trey that she couldn't play with him.

They Were Having a Field Day With It...

Liliana's school (Quail Ridge Early Childhood) had their field day on Tuesday this week.  We both opted to take some time off so we could participate, and it was well worth it!  Bad weather threatened to spoil the fun, but the morning arrived with really good weather, so all events went as planned.

The school did a great job.  We had fun rotating from station to station with Lilie's classmates, enjoying the weather and the activities along with the company.  Here are the pics!

Liliana, hanging with her besties: Everitt, Indigo and Maddox

Parachute! Nothing beats it for mad shaking.

The two most beautiful girls in the world.

Lilie grabbed the camera and started shooting: Maddox.

Indigo.

Kadin.

Everitt.

Ian did not like his picture being taken.

Lucas.

Avery and her mom.

Miss Carolyn.

Mommy!

The sand table, where buried treasures await.

We're not sure what she's found, but it's funny!

Liliana, running to refill her spray bottle.

Happiness is a spray bottle full of water.

The Run for the Refill.

This was fun: a brick wall they let the kids 'paint' with water.

I saw an empty chair at the face-painting station, so I jumped in...

Thanks to QREC for a wonderful, memorable morning!