Aaron & Janice

We are undertaking the gigantic project of the year: photographing and computerizing all of Janice's recipes! Here are a few shots of the first things I've photographed:

...felt like summer, but if you'll notice the colour of the grass...well, I don't think we've quite made it to summer yet (or even spring, for that matter!) Tavin and Tilmann bought the water guns on Saturday and are already working on their tans!Today Tavin, Tilmann, and I went on a two-mile walk. Along the way we stopped at the remains of an old rock house and I had to take some pictures...

How to build a BIGGER snowman? We had lots of snow last week, and by Saturday the temperatures were warm, and melting. The boys decided to build. Of course the snow packed well, it was so wet....but when it came to moving those snowballs they weighed a ton. The second snowball was too heavy for the boys to put on the base snowball...I went out to help, but it was more like rolling the snowball onto the other snowball. By the time the third ball was happening, Drey decided to get the pickup truck, and stand on the back tailgate to get it up, since the snowman was already taller than we are. Here is a photo of him placing the head on the snowman....who was at least 8 foot tall! The plan was to build a family, meaning a snowman for each member of our family....but two was all that happened. It was just getting too hot, and melty. As it was they had to haul in snow (shoving it from a snowdrift onto the sled) just to get this far. On the second ball, Aaron was asked to help, which this isn't the best photo, but it shows the finished snowman.

Building a tunnel I think might have been more fun, and yes it is deep enough with a large enough opening that they were all playing in it. I like it when they Work & Play together.

On the other side of the house, Taft & Tavin decided it was important to build a tunnel of snow for the cats. They did it on their path (there seems to be a trail that the dog & cats use to go around the house...just like a cattle trail) and of course the cats use it. It looked like a fort being built with and opening.

Tonight for our family home evening activity everyone made magazine collages. We were supposed to cut out words that caught our eye, arrange them into a sentence, and then add pictures. Some of us followed the instructions, but it really is just supposed to be an expression of ourselves, so I guess there can't be too many set rules. Here's the group picture, and below are the individuals.
Tell us what you think!

Tilmann

Tavin

Tavin again (he made two)

Taft

Drey

Tearsa

Aaron

Janice

Taft, after 3 weeks was able to have his cast taken off. We learned that with most breaks, the cast is left on for 6 weeks. In the hand, (if they can) it is better to have it on for 3 weeks, then a brace for a month. The problem is that you lose mobility in your hand, so Taft is to be doing finger/thumb exercises daily.

Taft was completely enthralled with the cast saw, afterwards even asking questions. We found out that the blade doesn't go around like a normal saw blade, that it vibrates quickly without spinning to cut through the cast...but not through the cotton insides. Also that there isn't anyway that the blade can cut into his arm, that it will only cut the thickness of a cast. But just look how sharp it appears!
Another x-ray (we've had them weekly). This one you can see the 'bow' in his lower thumb area. He told me that he would have this (unless they pinned his hand) but he would have full function, but it would be somewhat noticeable if you compared his two thumbs with each other. Yesterday he pointed out that his 'bow' has already been straightening itself out some- which it doesn't normally do at this stage of the game. On the 'bow' shape you can see a triangle piece that is missing, that is where the break is. The Doctor said it would fill in with new bone. On the bottom side of the triangle it is a bit more shadowy, is where new bone is already growing. (easier to see on my larger photo). All is healing well.

Here Taft is with Dr. Wright, (good thing, since he broke his right hand instead of his left) He will have this brace on for the next month. Tearsa told him the other night that his cast looks looser-that he is losing muscle in his arm, so it's not fitting as well. I wonder how, since even with a cast he is out using the shovel digging holes. (The cast by the way was looking ready to come off!) But she was right, when we compared his two arms/hands together, the broken one does look thinner & the wrong color too. I am sure this will correct itself soon. Taft by the way doesn't like the brace 'it doesn't feel right, my thumb is too close to my fingers now".

Just thought I would point out that on these cold nights I have been working on sewin' dolls. Yes, they are fat bodied, skinny legged items. I'll post another photo when they are finished. But I kind of liked seeing progress, piled up!