Summer Shenanigans

Henry loves critters. He found this tree frog and scooped it right up. I like that he has no fear when it comes to stuff like that. He is very good with the chickens. He will pick them up all the time and can round them up and get them in the coop in no time.

He can also be an out of control beast at times. This photo captures that sentiment.

The both of them love to play in, on and around my truck for some reason -- Violet especially. Violet likes to sit in the cab and play around. She calls it "Violet's Truck". A couple nights ago she was in her truck with no diaper on and whizzed on the seat. Not cool. It hard to stay mad at her though. I swear Henry wears pants sometimes.

This is your basic Tuesday evening here. I get home from work, the kids jump in the truck and act crazy, I run around and feed goats and chickens and whatnot. I bought two turkeys on a whim at the co-op last weekend. They are very akward looking creatures. I plan on eating them for Thanksgiving. Their names are Bachman and Dan. I believe they are Royal Palms. I will get pictures soon.

They are pretty good together about 85% of the time.

Went up north on a Sunday fishing trip with my brother and our boys.

The weather wasn't the greatest but it cleared up long enough for Uncle Jesse to pull one up. Eli manned the net while Henry made observations and yelled whatever came to mind. "THAT FISH IS CRA-ZEEE!"

Eli has perfected the sneer...
I have no explanation for this one. This is apparently what goes down while dad is at work.

The harvest has been slow to come in this year. Kinda mild summer and kinda dry. We just had our first half dozen or so tomatoes ripen so it should be fast and furious from here on out. I made some pico de gallo last nite. Next: Heritage Tomato Bloody Mary Mix! (Side note: Henry insists we call them "Spicey Henry's" around him because "Bloody Mary" sounds kinda gross. Alright.)

I have to work on my carrot picking technique. I had a few snap off as I worked them up with a trowel.

Summer Fun: Nature & Giant Headphones

We spent last weekend -- our sixth wedding anniversary and Mama's 29th birthday -- up at an island retreat in Wisconsin with some friends and family.

Mama and Violet got dolled up in matching toenail polish for the occasion.


Me and niece Jada chilled out on the beach with our ipods and giant headphones. She is all into the High School Musical scene and thinks Troy Bolton is an absolute dreamboat.

Henry took in some sun with Jesse & Brandi's newest addition, their Boston Terrier puppy "Rick".

Mama & Henry hang out on the dock...

Henry could put on a clinic when it comes to peeing in the out of doors. As you can see, he didn't even have to take off his life preserver. Note the clenched butt cheeks and jutting pelvis to avoid swimsuit drippage. I have him using both hands for better aim until he proves he's focused enough for one hand.

We put a few miles in on the paddle boat. Please pay no attention to my doughy and undefined mid-section.

Some of the gang hang out on the beach in front of the cabin -- an elegant design with a danish hip roof covered in cedar shakes.

This picture is a classic -- Henry, Eli, and Rick. It kinda sums up the current relationship between Henry and his favorite cousin Eli. They have a lot of fun together but after about a half hour or so one of them is usually crying or running away. I should have never taught them "heart punches".

Jada and Henry chilling out by the beach...

Jada and Violet on the dock...