Turkey Vultures

A few months ago, we threw the carcass of a turkey into our garden's compost pile. The next morning, I looked out to see 17 turkey vultures sunbathing and hanging out in the garden.

Pictures

Graham got desperate for a life-sized battleship, so he made his own (complete with guns).

Gabriella got to eat lunch with Daddy one afternoon, and she set up her own office across from his.

In celebration of the end of the snow (hopefully!), here is the last snowman picture of the season.

Seven Years' Good Luck

Graham turned 7 yesterday. Somehow, the two-syllable age makes him sound so... old. Here he is, opening presents before school.

I let him put all the decorations on his own cake this year. And he put ALL the decorations on his cake.

This year, the boys took treat bags to school on their birthdays. I asked Graham if the other kids liked the snacks.

Graham: "Yes. Even the one who is threatening to me."
Me, with caution: "What?"
Graham: "Even the boy who is threatening to me liked the bag."
Me, slight panic: "There is a boy who is threatening you at school?"
Graham: "Yes."
Me, starting to freak out a bit: "What does he do to you?"
Graham: "Well, on the bus, he talks even when we're supposed to be quiet at the railroad tracks."

I think we just defined a new, lower threshold of bullying.

Snippets

Graham, during a severe cold, wanting some help blowing his nose:
"Mom, this snot needs to go for a ride."

Chase, when he couldn't recount any details of the story we had just read:
"My ears were listening, but they were facing the wrong direction."

Gabriella, after running her hands from her feet to the top of her head, while counting:
"I am 13 seconds tall."

Will, when I mentioned that our house will never look like something out of a magazine:
"It could be the 'before' picture."

Dayton Air Force Museum

We gave the boys a choice again this year between a birthday party and a birthday trip. They wanted to stay in a hotel, so we headed to Dayton to visit the National Museum of the Air Force. My parents met us there for a night, and the kids had a great time with them

Here is Dad next to the SR-71 Blackbird. I think Dad enjoyed the Museum more than anyone else.

The kids checked out the landing gear at the Presidential and R&D Hangars.

We were able to stand on the same plane where Kennedy's body was placed to transport back to D.C. And then we stood on it again. And again. Because the Presidential Hangar tour was over an hour, and Chase was only interested in walking through planes.

Here, Graham and Gabriella are standing in a hollowed out space shuttle. When the (extremely) attentive volunteer told her not to run down the ramp, she obeyed by galloping instead.

We don't have a picture of Chase from the second half of that day. After our lunch break at Subway, Chase said, "This is the best day ever! Where are we going now?" Will said, "We're heading back to the museum." Chase screamed, "WHAT? I HATE that place!!" (He had thought we were going swimming.) He spent the next hour looking at toys in the gift shop with Grammie, and I think they were both happy.

Chores

We have been slowly introducing more chores opportunities for the kids to help around the house. One of those jobs, when I remember, is to help me make dinner. Here is Chef Gabriella, showing off her pizza skills.

You may notice that she removed her tiara (on the counter) before attempting to use a utensil in each hand.

Happy Birthday, Chase!

Chase turned 6 on Monday. It was a little rough for him, as he was on the tail end of a 5-day fever. On the bright side, he got to stay home from school.

He wanted a spider cake. I added 8 legs and 8 eyes (as a proper spider cake should have), and thought it was done. However, when Chase came in, he took one look and said, "Where are the fangs?"

I can't believe he's 6. I remember 6 years ago this morning, when we got a call saying we could have a little boy that afternoon if we wanted him. I spent a few hours getting out Graham's newborn clothes and setting up a bassinet. When the agency's intake worker put him in his carseat on our couch, he was so small he didn't fit in the clothes from the hospital.

It's been a wild ride, but we wouldn't trade him for anything! We love that kid!