the ussery life: Outside

Spring is here. And by Spring I mean pollen. And since we love bathing in the yellow stuff, we've been outside a lot. Here are our favorite outside things to do:

1. Congregate at the end of the driveway and discuss the bigger issues in life:

-how to adjust a bike helmet strap

-how big the branch was that you just broke off of the ex-pretty tree in the yard

-how Owen got 2 gummy bears at the school birthday party and you got 3.

These are important things, people! They need to be discussed. And there's no better place than the end of the driveway.

2. Use the outdoor planters for something other than a plant cemetary.

This is a very uniquely titled game. You ready?

Toss.

Toss is played by throwing the bean bags into the planter. There's a point system because we're competitive like that. And they are real points, with real numerical values. None of that smiley face, everybody wins business!

3. Retrieve rogue beanbags from the prickly bushes.

Jack, who is deathly afraid of all bees, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets is NOT afraid to crawl into these spiky bushes to fetch his toys. It appears he is more fearful of the potential sting than the inevitable bush spike poke. I don't know what this means. Other than I don't have to crawl in the bushes to fetch the toys.

4. Hopscotch!

Jack knew how to draw a board and play. I don't know where he learned this. Maybe it's innate kid knowledge. Like how they KNOW how to multiply a tablespoon of maple syrup into 2 tablespoons on the front of their pajamas. Who teaches these things?

5. Shark Teeth Prowling

Jack is a shark tooth treasure seeker of the highest order. Sadly on this particular day the shark tooth supply was low, but Jack, being the happy go lucky kiddo he is, had a great time anyway. Love that boy.

6. Beach Hopscotch

Second only to driveway Hopscotch.

Love this picture of Finn jumping. He's a jumper. I could do an entire post on jumping Finn pictures. He's just hoppy. And fast. And Tigger-ish. And he has great jumping hair.

7. Boat watching

It appears that boys love all things transportation. But boats take the cake. Finn wanted his picture taken with this boat, so we seized the moment.

8. Playing in the woods

There are woods across the street from our house, but the boys can't play freely in them yet because of a creek that is there as well. So, whenever they get some woods time, they freak out. They love it.

This photo was taken at JP's party. They roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, threw rocks, swung sticks, and pow wowed in the woods with the best of them. Such a fun party. Right up a boys alley.

(Side Note: Last week I pulled 3 ticks from my children after an hour of woods time. Beware, Blufftonites. The ticks are on the prowl!)

9. Doing anything with Dad.

When John gets home, the boys are done with me. I can tell by the look in their eyes.

I say, "Let's go play outside!" and they moan and say they are tired. John walks in the door and says, "Let's do chores FOREVER and eat nothing but broccoli!" and they shriek and squeal and hug his neck. What is that?

Maybe I am boring. Maybe they are boring.

Maybe he's just a great dad.

Yup. That's it.

10. Hugging at a pretty sunset.

What? Your kids don't do that? :)

Don't worry. Just a cute picture. Has only happened once. I probably told them to hug. Don't go ask your kids why they don't hug at sunsets.

11. Showing off all of the gross stuff we find.

Thankfully this one was of the wind-up species.

12. Turning a beautiful picnic into Goofy Face Contest #219.

Look at Finn's face. It's like he's taking in the skill and thinking, 'okay...pinky goes here, tongue here...and yep, what we have here is an awesome goofy face.'