Mitten Strings for God - Chapter 7

I began this study back in 2008 when my children were much younger.  I never finished.  This morning I woke up very early and was looking for something to read.  I picked the book back up (it's been in my to read shelf all these years) and was reminded how much I loved it.  I also reread my old posts and was thrilled to read of our daily lives.  One day I will look back on my current days and will enjoy reminiscing like I did this morning.  

So lets see what I can do in 2017...

Chapter 7 in Mitten Strings for God is on Play.  

Play is much different in our home than it was in 2008.  

Our current favorite ways to play...

Artie - playing hearts with the men at Evans Training Center or basketball with the boys or ping pong with everyone

Kelly - watch a movie or reading a book

Currently Artie and I have been watching college basketball while the South Carolina Gamecocks made it to the Final Four for the first time in school history. 

Emily - playing with Chloe, shopping in stores and online, and hanging out with Lane

Stephen - video games and basketball

Bobby - running 

Terry - chatting with many friends on his phone, playing football or jumping on the trampoline

Looking back when I was their ages, my favorite play time was time spent with Artie.  Terry is just the age I was when Artie became my boyfriend (8th grade). We wrote notes and snuck around and talked on the telephone (which was attached to a chord and hanging on the wall!).  We went on so many dates - to the mall, the movies, out to dinner, to play putt putt.  Our funnest times were just hanging out at his mama's house cooking tacos with jalapenos and watching movies.  (this picture is probably 10th or 11th grade)

Katrina Kenison (the author) says "Children need time that is utterly their own." I believe that is true for all of us at any age.  Spring break begins here tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to having some free time that we just can't experience as much during the school year.  The neighborhood kids all come and play basketball and football.  Boyfriends and girlfriends will be in the mix of plans.  I'm looking forward to some spring time weather and meals.  It's time to wear flip flops and capri's.  It's a beautiful time to be alive!! 

Boy Scout Camping

Catching up with some pictures from earlier in the year...

Artie, Stephen, Bobby and Terry went camping with the Boy Scouts at Mr. Dan's house. Stephen was impressed with the tepee, it had a bathroom inside.... Stephen liked giving Granny Smith apples to the horses.

Stephen found a toad.

He had to show Bobby.

and Terry..

and Mr. Chris... You know how important a toad it to a boy~~~~ :-)

Talking at the campsite.

Time for a walk in the woods

On their hike they picked up their favorite nature finds and worked them into a spider web made of string. Stephen had a empty cocoon in his.

Even when Scouting, Bobby's still the gymnast!! :-)

The boys had a nice picnic in Artie's tailgate.

Yummm, Lunchables!!!

Time for the campfire - Stephen was picked to be the wearer of the Armor of God.

Pinewood Derby - Bobby

The Wolf Cubs

Bobby's Car - #6

Bell Ringers

Bobby and Stephen were bell ringers for the Salvation Army with their wolf pack. They took an hour slot in the middle of the afternoon and it was freezing that day!!! People felt sorry for them out in the cold and seemed to give even more money. They took turns and when it wasn't there turn they waited in the warm door way of Belks. (They have about 5 layers under their boy scout uniforms and jeans.)

Christmas Parade

Stephen and Bobby in the Christmas Parade

Wold Pack 53

Emily (wearing a do-it-yourself hair-do) and Terry (very cold) watching the parade.

On their way to Boy Scouts

Bobby, Stephen

The Littles coming home from school

Emily

Bobby and Terry

Terry and StephenElmo begins barking as soon as he hears the bus rolling down the road. He can hear them way before I can. They are always so excited when they run in the door. School is a great place to them and they are learning so much!!

This is the way Dollie spends her time while Emily is at school - propped up reading a book waiting on Emily to return.

Terry's kindergarten nap towel

Boy Scouts

Bobby (front - missing both front teeth!!) and Stephen (back right) with Mr. Ed - one of their Scout leaders. They are enjoying scouting. This week they learned about fire safety with a tour through a smoke house.

Summer Time

Nothing says summer like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich outside after playing in the water!!!

The Little Rascals

Another movie the children have loved is The Little Rascals. First they watched the newer version. They were in stitches watching Alfalfa dancing in a tutu. They went out that afternoon and made a couple of boxes and an old pedal car they had into "The Blur". That turned into days of fun.

Here is a picture of their "Blur". Bobby was the driver in the picture. This was weeks after they originally made it and right before it finally fell apart. I just had to get a picture of what was left. :-)

The week before we went to Charleston, we received the original Little Rascals from Blockbuster Online.

Again, they roared with laughter at all the antics. It's funny to watch it again now after all these years have passed. It is definitely not politically correct ~ there is drinking, stealing, smoking, violence, pants ripped off /showing underwear for laughs and kids running wild & unsupervised through the neighborhood. All back in the days when children didn't have to worry about child predators and evil things like that and could run and play wherever they wanted as long as they were home by dark. I could never let my kids out of my sight like that in these times!! Spanky had the best laugh - how can you not smile when you hear him!!!! A great laugh for my kids!!!

Mother's Day

Here is Bobby giving his grandmother - Bobbie - his namesake - her mother's day present. We gave her a new Beverly Lewis book, some peanut brittle and some orange slices (two of her favorite snacks - she says she hides those from the grandchildren and won't share any!!). :-)

Danni's Gymnastics Recital - Intro

It's been so busy lately around here that I haven't had time to work on my blog. I am hoping to get a few pictures up today.

Here is Bobby's gymnastic recital. He did so good. Everyone was talking about how strong he is to be able to do the rings. That's his favorite part~~

Here's their intro... (Bobby is in one of the advanced classes, the cute girls in the pink are the competition team.)

The bars - you've gotta catch this one quick. :-) (They are in the back of the gym, behind the balance beam.)

Here's Bobby's floor work. Cartwheel, round off, 2 back bend kickovers, and a limber with a kickover .

And the favorite - the rings!!

Here is Bobby with his medal. We were so proud of him.

Diego

So, here is the Deigo room. It is shared by all three little boys. Terry has a little race car bed on the right of the picture. Bobby's twin bed is across the room on the left. They have two little closets on each side of the toy box under the window.

Here you can see a little more of the set up of the room. Stephen's bed is on the far left against another wall. Their dresser is on the far wall and then a big walk-in closet is on the left of the dresser. I don't think it shows in any of the pictures. So, there is plenty of room for all the little boys and all their toys!!



Stephen (there you can see the door to the walk in closet on the right of the picture)

Each boy wanted their picture taken on their own bed. Bobby

Terry

Go Diego Go!! :-)





So, I still have a little more to do up there. I am looking for new door knobs (for old doors), there is some electrical work Artie's gonna do for me. I need new light switch and outlet covers and a light cover still. But the main part is finished now!!! I think it turned out cute!!