Charlotte's web????...

"Do you understand how there could be any writing in a spider's web?  'Oh, no,' said Dr. Dorian, 'I don't understand it, but for that matter, I don't understand how a spider learned to spin a web in the first place.'  When the words appeared everyone said they were a miracle.  But nobody pointed out that the web itself was a miracle."
- E. B. White, Charlotte's Web

I know most people have seen those awesome pictures of spider webs with the droplets of water on the web.  I would love to get one of those photos.  I found a wonderful spider's web just of the back deck.  Normally, I would pull down the web right away, because I am not very fond of spiders.  But I have left this one in hopes of getting my dream web photo.  There hasn't been any dew lately, and it hasn't rained in several days.  So much for my awesome photo.  So, I got a spray bottle, filled it with water, and sprayed the web in hopes of getting the photo.  Not much luck there.  Mother nature does a much better job of decorating the web.  I got a few droplets, but none like I had hoped for.  Guess I will have to wait to get my awesome picture another time...  In the meantime, meet my "Charlotte."

and her web...

"I always worried about everything.  Like spiders." -Taylor Swift

Twins give Luke a birthday surprise...

"God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well." -Voltaire

The twins and I had such fun planning and celebrating Luke's birthday.  I let the boys plan, shop, wrap, and bake for Luke's birthday.  Luke knew he was going to have a party, but he had no idea what great party planners, and bakers his boys were.

Luke wanted a banana cake with cream cheese frosting for his cake...and even though he eats a Keto diet, he wanted this one with real sugar, and flour.  Totally bad!  I made the cake, the boys made the frosting.

They did a pretty good job keeping the powdered sugar in the bowl

Watching...and waiting...

Tasting to see if they got the frosting just right...what cook doesn't sample their work?

Yummy.  They did eat a lot of frosting.  In fact, I worried about not having enough for the cake.

The best part of baking is licking the beaters, and bowl.  

The easy way to lick the batter

I frosted the cake with enthusiastic onlookers waiting for the opportunity to add the spidermen figurines, and sprinkles to the cake.  Finally, they got to add the sparkle to the cake.

The cake after the sprinkles, and figurines were added...

Next was the placement of the candles. 

Such concentration...

Here's the cake finished...

I thought it was interesting that the boys put the candles along the rim of the cake.  It did make for easier lighting.

...and the table with the decorations...

The boys ate a lot of the red M&M's

I had them wrap their own presents, which they loved.  I cut an appropriate sized piece of wrapping paper, and placed pieces of scotch tape around the sides of the table, so they could pick up the tape easily.  I am sorry I did not get photos of their wrapped gifts, which they picked out on their own.

The gift presentation...they could hardly wait for their Daddy to open their gifts...they had to help.

Sawyer helps 

 Oh Wow... a hot wheels truck... just what Luke always wanted...

Both are very thrilled with the gift...

I love how excited the boys were in anticipation of the unveiling of their gifts...

The faces tell it all...

 Not only did Luke get hot wheel cars, he got some pretty special T-shirts...

We found spiderman temporary tattoos, which were a big hit.   Tattoos had to go on arms, hands, and legs.

The first of the tattoos...

Even though the boys were thrilled with all the tattoos, the party must go on...we had the traditional lighting of the candles on the cake.  I must say, I was a little worried about the position of some of the candles, especially those that are on the side.  I was afraid they might fall resulting in a huge fire.  They lit just fine, and luckily, stayed put.  Disaster avoided...

such joy...

blowing out the candles

The aftermath...

It was a very good party...Happy birthday, Luke

From all of us...Mimi, Sawyer, and Tate

What we see...

"What we see depends mainly on what we look for." -John Lubbock

"There is such a thing as sacred idleness." -George MacDonald

George MacDonald is one of my favorite Christian writers.  When I read his books, I do not want them to end.  I really like the stories.   He writes for children as well.  One of my favorite books...that I read aloud to my children...was At the Back of the North Wind.  They liked that book the most.  Why I tell you all this has nothing to do with my post today.  I guess the quote by him brought back some rather fond memories.

I have been told that as a photographer, I should never be without my camera.  Well,  I do have it with  me most of the time, but lately I have been rather slow on the draw.  (that is Wild West lingo ...slow on the draw, for those who are not familiar with the term, means the other guy got his gun drawn out of his holster before you did).  I did not quite get my camera out in time...so I missed...

1.  A great owl (I mean really huge) that was swooping down across the yard.
2.  A raccoon sidling under the backyard fence, and dashing across the yard.
3.  A raccoon looking in the sliding glass window.  He had to crawl up a 15 foot deck.
4.  A rat snake in the side yard.
5.  A fox running across the street.

Here's what I did manage to get...albeit not the greatest photos.  These critters were on the run...

1.  Four wild turkeys running in the front yard.

2.  A white squirrel... eating a pecan.  Where did it find a pecan?  There are not pecan trees around here.

As an aside, Warren saw a deer crossing the road as he was out biking.

I did capture some creatures who were not running across the yard, or even running in the slightest.   They were sitting... perhaps enjoying some "sacred idleness."

1.  Maggie sitting in the sunlight...

2.  Warren sitting on the porch...

Two of my favorite creatures.
Hugs and blessings.  xoxo

Twins...

" A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." -Proverbs 17: 22

Warren brought a very special gift for the twins when he came to visit.  It was a few cars from Luke's car collection from when he was a little boy.  The difference in the Matchbox cars then, and now amazed me.  The quality of the old vs. the new is undeniable.  The old cars are metal as opposed to plastic, the wheels turn much better, hence the old are so much faster, and a lot of the doors, and hoods open on the old.  In this case, old = better!

The boys took turns in selecting their cars, and I wrote a "T" for Tate on his cars...

These cars are any where from 10- 27 years old...Tate's cars

and a  "S" for Sawyer on his cars...

Sawyer's cars

The writing of their initial on their cars has proved to be invaluable...no more fighting over cars.  They just look to see to whom the car belongs, and they are happy.

We spend a lot of time reading, and as you can see...it does all their hearts are indeed merry!

 
This Read Aloud Bible Stories has become one of their favorites.  The illustrations are big, and the stories are ones they can easily identify with.

More serious, and into the story 

We had a brief afternoon shower, and the boys had a great time playing in the rain...

This photo is not exactly in focus, but it captures such a glorious , and joyful face...

After they played in the rain, we set up a tent in the garage for snack time...

More merry hearts...

A beautiful time with these beautiful boys...

Hugs and blessings...xoxo!