The Newell School of Good Learnings. Precious Moment.

 Everyone happily working on his or her own work on one side of the table, by choice!
This moment was brief.  It was rare.  I can not imagine that it will ever happen again.  But it is these moments that keep me afloat when "it" hits the fan.

 The beginning of the end.  Peter decided that he was done.  And just like that, it was over.

Charlie is a Tuck-er-in-er

 Since mid summer Charlie has been a shirt tucker.  Don't even try asking him to un-tuck his shirt because it is not happening.

Complete ensemble with skeleton keys and lego gun.

And sometimes he cleans.  

It is lovely.

 This is a police station containing two Officer Newells.  

Lookout ner-do-wells!

Soaking up the last days of Summer

 Some schools around here have already started but we at the Newell School of Good Learnings believe in making summer last as long as we can.  Thanks water-hose for your help in this endeavor.

Cookie Monster Peter

 This little cookie monster devoured his chocolate peanut butter "breakfast" cookie. I can get him to eat almost anything as long as it looks like a cookie.

Summer is for tree climbing.

 Viola wanted to climb the tree Laura Ingalls style.  If only she had a spot to sit and read in the tree then her life would be complete.

 Charlie on the other hand considers the tree to be more of a launching platform.

Summertime and the Living is Easy

Everyone got fancied up and took me out to dinner for my birthday.  It was a good day.

 Today's activity was Frogging (or fishing for frogs).

 Complete with worms for bait.  I'm sorry worms.

 No frogs were caught but one did jump on Viola's face.  And we did make friends with this happy little Newt.

Spring trip to the Beach

 We went to the beach in April to hang out with Brian's Mom and celebrate Viola's Ninth birthday.

We got nets.

They were very much enjoyed.

 We went to a beautiful State Park beach that required a bit of a walk.

 Well actually it was a pretty long walk.

 But the scenery was well worth it.

 And we had the beach to ourselves.

 And now she's 9!

 An empty beach meant lots of treasures to be discovered.

 Including this sea cucumber?

 And lots of shark teeth (actually these were part of a sand dollar, oops!)  But we did find a couple of actual shark teeth.

 Just so you know that we look like.

 Peter got a bit tired and cold and needed some Grandma cuddles but he got recharged and got back to his net.

 Then the sun came out and we fair folks had to head in.

 Ice cream pie for the celebration.

Onions by the Handfull

 Charlie collected enough onions in our yard to use them for dinner.  We are going to save so much on our grocery bill!