Liz's big fight

Grandpa is tearing out a big section of the yard and Liz has been given the job of clearing out as many rocks as she can. She is compensated by mom at the rate of 1 M&M per rock, regardless of size. So Liz and I went outside this morning to get some M&M's. We took her wagon down (big mistake as I realized later) and began clearing rocks. She requested that we sing as we go, and so we began singing "I am a Child of God", "I know my Father lives" and "I am trying to be like Jesus". Two bunnies, four birds and a few worms later, Liz decided that she was finished and she wanted to go inside. I told her that it was important to finish a job that she started and then told her that we could be done as soon as she brought me a specific large rock that was about half-way up a steep hill. She pulled and pulled on it and tried to lift it, but she couldn't. Finally, she realized that if she was uphill from the rock that she could push it down. Still the task was too difficult. She then realized that if she used her feet that she could push it down the hill. So she finally made it down to the wagon and with just a little help from mom, managed to get it in. I was so proud of her! Now we had to get a fully loaded wagon of rocks up the hill to unload it. Do you know how much a fully loaded wagon of rocks weighs? With me pulling and Liz pushing (and yes, I really did NEED her help) we made it up the hill. We unloaded the rocks without counting them (I probably couldn't afford to buy her all the M&Ms that she should have gotten, I'll just get her the 10 pound bag...). Now we had to clean the wagon. Liz insisted that she should be the one to spray out the wagon. We have one of those sprayers on the hose that only goes when you push the handle in. It worked all right for a while, until she pointed it at herself before spraying... which was funny. Then she pointed it at me... then I took it and sprayed her down... (yes I know that was immature!) we were laughing pretty hard and Liz enjoyed her first water fight... I tried to get a picture of her all wet, but, she ran away...We took family pictures this last weekend in the back yard. The kids cooperated for the most part, and we had fun. Here is a random sampling...

Jack is a HUGE fan of grandpa. It makes me a little jealous, because all grandpa has to do is walk into a room and Jack lights up. Oh well, I'll get over it...

Steve was my willing guinea pig this weekend. I am trying to take better pictures of people and he volunteered to pose... Well, I told him to relax and tell me a joke, and this is when he got to the punch line... You can tell it was a funny joke!

I also told him that if he pulled any faces that I would be sure to post them on the blog... a promise is a promise... PS- it is his birthday tomorrow... Happy Birthday babe!

As much as Jack adores his grandpa, Liz adores her grandma...

You just try and hold that girl down!

Making a cake for her cousin's birthday..

Beautiful Cowling eyes, the sweet innocence of his mother ;-), that boy is a looker!


I made good on the M&M promise...