First Family Geocache

I have been wanting to do a trail walk for weeks now as a family. Due to chores, sinus issues and other things we have not made it until today. I told Josh why don't we try out the Geo Cache application on my phone. I wanted to test it out with him before the kids and I ventured off on one by ourselves. And so we did! February 26th and almost 70 degrees outside it was gorgeous! We made a stop by our favorite ice cream shop and then headed to the trails at the lake.

Above is Geo Cache #1 Brenden found.
If you aren't sure what these are they are treasure hunts for which you use a GPS on your phone to locate. The treasures usually aren't worth much Ha well in an adults eyes anyway. You take a treasure and leave a treasure. There are even logs inside for you to sign your name and date, or anything else you would like to add. Brenden got a firefighters knife out of this one. We told him he wasn't quite ready for that yet, so Josh is going to hold on to it for a bit. In return we left a pencil and a hot wheels car.

We had told Joshua that he could pick a treasure out of our next find. You can see how he felt about that clearly.

We are all looking in what seems to me to be an impossible area. You never know where a cache is hidden or what is it hidden in(container). As we all searched I prayed Father this little boy has his heart set on finding this treasure, I know it is such a small thing but to him this is major. If it is your will please help us to find it. Immediately I looked down and there in between three small trees piled with sticks and leaves with only about an inch showing was a green ammo box.! I never would have found it nor would any of the others with out Gods help! He loves us so much that he answered even a small prayer to make a little boy happy! It was a great lesson to teach the kids, Brenden said how did you know you would find it, how do you know God heard you? I told him that was what faith was all about and he then said believing even when you don't see it with your eyes. Exactly! I replied.

Sp happy and proud!

Joshua with his treasure Arthur from the sword and the stone. Tayler picked a pink flamingo. We plan to set our own up soon. Josh brought home some small metal electrical boxes with lids for us to use. Our goal is to try and do at least one per month, though I will more than likely fit in a few more with the nice weather!

Our Very First Goose Egg

We have had some trouble with ducks eating their eggs. Yes unfortunately they will do this. Not on purpose to start with but if one happens to get broken and they then get a taste for them they will continue. Ha Doesn't make me a happy camper I am not raising and feeding the buggers so they can eat the eggs. We have a few tricks up our sleeve to try and hopefully these will stop them. Meanwhile I sent Tayler up to see if we had any eggs(trying to get to them before they eat them). She came back with a our first goose egg! As you can tell she was so proud she was the first to find it!

Modeling the egg.

For comparison left to right chicken, duck, and goose.

I waited on Josh to get home and cook it for us. The yolk is HUGE! I can't say why other than it is a mental thing was hard for me to try it. I mean chicken egg normal, duck eggs a little stretch but goose just bothered me a bit. After Josh scrambled it we all had a taste and Tayler finished it. These are even thicker and richer than the duck eggs, with the same buttery flavor and texture. I want to blow the next few we get for the kids and I to paint.egg

Tayler and Lizards

While taking what was supposed to be a bathroom break during school Tayler happened upon the front porch, where Aroara was entertaining herself by chasing this lizard. Of course she had to save it. She grabbed our netted butterfly house and managed to scoop it up. She really wanted to hold it but talked me into being the guinea pig to see if it would bite first. The little one was brown when she caught it and turned green in her hands.
She found one later int he week that even had red under its chin that is puffed out. Wish I had gotten a picture of that...

Popcorn Valentine

Josh had said for many years he would like to have a popcorn maker. Valentines Day was coming up and I decided to do some research and get him one. Well neither of us can keep a secret for long when we get each other gifts and I told him about it. Ha I couldn't stand it! Come to find out he wanted one for me and the kids and said he wasn't a big pop corn eater. He failed to mention that part. UGH! Boy was I disappointed until we got it. We love to have movie night and the pop corn is amazingly good! So what was supposed to be a Happy Valentine Josh turned out to be a Happy Valentines Jones Party of Five!
For FYI the kettle popped with oil is the way to go. They also make air poppers, it is said that these tend to be dry and tasteless.

We picked these containers up at Target for $1 weeks before anticipating having a popcorn machine one day.

Snow Ice Cream in February

I had Brenden get a huge bowl of fresh snow during our last round. I kept it in our deep freezer until we had time to make snow ice cream. Surprisingly it was just as soft as when we first got it. This was a first for all four of us. I gave them each a bowl of snow adding some milk and vanilla flavoring to taste.

Brenden had the idea to add chocolate and peppermint chips.

Joshua enjoyed playing in his.
I was surprised none of them cared much for it even Brenden my sweetaholic.

Joshua Likes Puzzles

Joshua will soon be 5, and that means he will be to old for The Mothers Day Out program at a local church in town. He currently goes for 3 hours 2 days a week and that is my saving grace! I am able to accomplish lots of one on one school with Brenden and Tayler. After talking to his teacher she mentioned he liked floor puzzles. We stopped by one of our usual stops near Memphis Borders Books and they happened to have some buy one get one free.
The first one took all of about 5 minutes for him to put together with no help.

This next one however took several hours and a few breaks. It was 4 ft long and 100 pieces. He did have a little help and lots of encouragement to get it done. I think we will stick with 100 plus from now on ;).

As you can see here it wore him about a bit. Just the other day he had a Thomas puzzle in the kitchen, alphabet in the living room, and space in the school office. All finished.

Exploration

With such nice weather the kids and I decided to go out to the Lake and explore. We asked Reid to tag along with us. They enjoy hanging out and 4 believe it or not is an easier number than 3. There is no third wheel when you have 4. I am thankful for being able to borrow and return though. Joshua has done me in and there won't be any more additions to the Jones Party of Five! Well unless they have fur or feathers anyway.
I didn't encourage any more climbing of this mound after they made if over the top once. I am all about getting dirty and letting kids be kids but RED dirt is no fun, for moms anyway. Shonna should thank me. :)

Hard to tell here but the water had eroded the sand making mini canyons. The kids had fun jumping over them and then sliding down when one would cave. The sand was super soft.

Tayler finds a bridge. This was the best picture I took of Reid facing me. He isn't very cooperative when it comes to picture taking we are going to have to work on that. :)

Here the water was running over slate. The colors were so pretty.

This kid cracks me up, I tried numerous times to tell him the water wasn't high enough. Apparently he wasn't taking any chance.

Brenden really is the best big brother anyone could ever have!
As you can see Joshua wasn't to sure about going over this log. He was worried he would get wet. Hum can't imagine that.  It is all or none for him. He can't stand to have a little water on him or dirt on his hands. At the same time he is a water baby like his brother and sister loving the lake, pond, and swimming pool.

Lets try going under this time.

Freshwater muscle
We have found tons of empty shells on previous walk out here, this was our first time to actually find one occupied. The kids all touched it and checked it out until Brenden freaked when it started pushing out sand and water to hide. The fellow then flew back where it came from.

Here is Reid saying but it isn't soft here look, I am not sinking.
I had told all four of them that they needed to get up where I, there was a good chance of hitting a muddy spot and getting stuck with rubber boots.

Look mom it is solid here.

Tayler saying hum you got yourself in a situation there Reid.
This stuff was like quick sand the more he struggled the deeper his foot went.

Here Brenden comes in to save the day. And thank goodness, I had only tennis shoes on. I kept telling them pull and walk backward! After about 10 times of me saying this they finally did! Brenden and both boots full of water and mud, Reid came out with one dry one. Once we got to the parking lot both boys could stand it no longer and had to take off their boots. I told Reid his sock was and awesome color and it took hard work to get it that color. His reply was really? Yes I said wasn't hard work getting stuck and then getting out? Yeah he replied. :)

February Snow

This little one was right outside our dining room window eating snow.

Joshua was the only one "fun" enough to go out with me while it was snowing like crazy. Brenden was watching a movie and Tayler was taking a nap. I guess the excitement of snow just isn't the same since this was their third time to experience it this year.

View off our porch.

The sun coming out with snow on the ground was incredible!
Sun+Snow=Gorgeous!

Joshua decided to take the John Deere out.

As you can see poor guy didn't get to far once the tires, were covered with snow. The kids talked about tire chains quite a bit. LOL

These two don't care for the snow and found a dry spot.

This is one HUGE rooster! But a sweet one.

Sunny even got a turn in our laundry basket sled.

Want a snow ball mom?

Bren rolled down the hill, and then decided to take a taste.

Snow ball wars.

Aroara liked for Bren to throw snow balls at her, she would try and catch them eating the snow.

Not sure why but the snow piled up in drifts like this on the drive way. It was so pretty with the sun was shining on it.

Peep

Duey tried taking a snow bath, much like when chickens take a dirt bath. He would kick up the dirt and fluff himself. Of course he stopped when I snapped his picture.

A few of our girls Lacey, Piper, and Sweetie
They were on a mud puddle beside the drive way that had frozen.

Coming to check for a snack.

Since no snacks were given these guys decided snow would work. They dug their bills right in.