For the cub scouts boys and activity day girls we had a local organization come and do a reptile show in my backyard. Since it was at my house, naturally all my kids were able to participate 
A iguana that had spent time with a taxidermist was passed around.
Daniel with some crocodile skin.
Eric (the reptile guy) brought a live turtle, snake and a few lizards that everyone got to pet.
Fun activity!
Our neighbors had four giant blue spruce trees that shaded our yard in the summer time. Now they have one.
The others blew down in a terrible wind storm.
It was amazing how fast neighbors came to help take care of the wreckage. I think we must have had about 10 – 12 people help.
Working men:
Working Boys:
All chopped up.
Lining up the branches to haul to the dump.
All done!
Ben has always loved to climb. Trees, the column downstairs, really anything it is possible for a monkey to climb, he climbs. I am amazed at how high he can climb the rope swing.
Let’s just hope he doesn’t fall!
I love having baby chicks!
This is the first time we’ve had a hen hatch a batch for us, and I’ve got to say, it’s the best.
The little chicks follow mama hen where ever she goes, and do what ever she does.
She pecks, they peck.
She scratches the dirt, they scratch the dirt.
They walk around the yard pecking and scratching all day.
Today I was watching them and mama dealt an immobilizing peck to a grasshopper and then stepped back so her babies could enjoy the prize.
They enjoyed it all right.
Ben played on the rope swing (none of these panning attempts turned out), and then did some tricks on the trampoline.
35mm lens, f1,8, 1/250 Iso 400
He’s getting quite good at his flips.
35mm lens f1.8, 1/320, Iso 400
Daniel likes to play with Hannah or Ben, on this particular evening he worked in the garden with Hannah for a while,
Played on the trampoline
And then ended the day swinging.
Shutter priority, 35mm lens, f14, 1/15, Iso 400
It’s finally cool enough for the kids to play outside in the evening while I experiment with my camera. I’ve been shooting in manual mode since labor day, with great results (IMO) I like shooting manual, and I feel like I have advanced to 2nd grade in my photography schooling. Yeah!
Now for the pictures!
Hannah’s favorite place to play is the little garden box in the back yard. She loves picking up dirt and letting it run through her fingers, or putting it in other places. ie: outside the box, in the wheel barrow, a tub… you get the idea.
That’s my girl!
While I am feeling like it is time to move back to Alaska, my kids don’t seem to mind the heat at all.
Perhaps I need to follow their example and get a little wet.
Hannah spends a little time each day in jail. -At least that is how she views it. She would much prefer to be allowed to crawl around the yard tasting everything she can find. I don’t like that idea, so she gets stuck in jail.
It’s not all bad, for some reason the kids all like to be locked in jail too….but only for a few minutes.
One of my favorite things about spring is that the Backyard Barbershop opens.
That means the Kitchen table Barbershop gets to close for the season.
Checking out their hair
