Bee sting

While jumping on the trampolene, Ian got stung by a bee.
Here, Ian shows us where he got stung. He had put his hand down on the bee, and it did what bees do.

Seeds

Keighly had a report due on "Seeds". She created this nice and informative display of seeds she collected from around the yard and from relatives.

Costume Party

Janet had gotten down our Halloween stuff to get ready for the festivities. The kids decided to try on last year's costumes. Here, Emily wears Ian's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume he got for Christmas.
Ian reunites with his Spidey costume!
Keighly was a ghost..
Emily was the all-too-familiar pumpkin (her nickname).
Ian gives us a rare look at Spidey-in-a-pumpkin-costume..!

A lost attraction found again

Back in September we had a work day at my parents house. Here Chandler and Keighly give Ian, Emily, and Moma Flo a ride on the four-wheeler as I look on. Yes, those are my work clothes.
After Keighly's birthday party, Moma Flo presented my Dad with a giftbag. It turned out to be a magnet that he had lost as a child.
My grandmother told of how he would drag it around on a string and was amazed at how it would attract things. He had thought someone had taken it, but it was recently unearthed by some surveyors.

Keighly turns 8

Keighly turned 8 this year! At her party at Nanny and Papas, Chandler gave her a birthday 'pickle' card!
Some of her gifts were a Littlest Pet Shop playset (she loves the Littlest Pet Shop).
A large plush cow from Aunt Lori and Uncle Joe.
The bow from the gifts makes a nice hair accessory!
Later, we had a party for her classmates at Laser Mania. This was her frog cake.
The main attraction at Laser Manis is laser tag! Here Keighly and Michael defend their position.
Keighly maneuvers the obstacles!
Fun!
Everyone has a blast!
High energy fun for all!
Keighly blows out the candles on her cake.
She gets lots of great gifts from her classmates.
Meredith doesn't let a bow go to waste!
Lora Lee tries it out as well.
Everyone gets some cake and drink.
Fooseball!
Leah tries Keighly's frog puppet while Meredith enjoys the cake.
After another rousing game of laser tag, the gift bags were passed out. The main prize in each was a whoopi cushion! Micah inflates his quickly.
Michael shows us the proper way to use the whoopi cushion!
The last gift was a plush skunk puppet. She loved it!

Skunk for sale

Shortly after getting a plush skunk for her birthday, Keighly made a washing machine box into a tempting proposal. It says "Get me or all (I'll) stink! One female skunk for sale. 45¢" !

Secret Cable

Over the summer, one of the rewards for working was I would build a "secret cable". The kids had no idea what the secret was, it ended up being a cable-swing/zip line.
First we stretch out the cable and get it laying flat. The grown slopes down where we will be 'zipping', for a total of 180 feet of fun!
Anchor the cable to one tree by wrapping a chain around it. On the chain put a turnbuckle or come-a-long. Anchor the other end of the cable to another tree.
I used two large pulleys I got from Lowes and bolted them together in series (the pulleys have actually flipped here in this picture).
Here we go! First to ride is Emily (the lightest).
And away we go!
The seat doesn't stay facing forward, you kinda turn a lot during the ride.
Even so, Emily likes it!
Next up: Ian! I had to tighten up the cable a little so Ian wouldn't hit the ground on one part.
Bring it on!
At the bottom, only one word was said: "Again!"
Keighly's turn. I had to tighten the cable even more for Keighly.
Wahoo! Fun with gravity!
All the kids really seem to love the zipline, and I'm glad. I recall having one that my father constructed for me and my brothers and it was always fun.


Here is a movie of Keighly riding the zipline after her birthday party. Yes, that is a plush skunk she has (she got it for her birthday)! Janet gives her a big push and I follow her as she rides. Whew!