The best toys in the world!

Yesterday I took the boys to pick strawberries with my mom, and later to make jam. While we were there she asked me if I wanted some disposable plastic cups, and I took them because I thought they would be good for the boys to have snacks in and stuff. I put them with my stuff, and a little while later I heard Preston and Gavin arguing. I went to see what the problem was, and they were fighting over the cups and who had more. I divided them up, and they played with those cups all afternoon, and are still playing with them today! They have built towers, gone bowling, worn them as "wooden shoes", yelled in them to make funny sounds, put things in them and more. I never would have thought of giving them a stack of plastic cups to play with. My mom also got a package while we were there, and another great toy was discovered. Bubble Wrap. I don't know how they are still popping them, but every now and then I hear a few more pops! So thank you to my mother for giving them such amazing toys yesterday! And if your kids are already claiming they are bored, give them a stack of cups!

I just had to show Preston's spring picture from school. I wasn't planning on getting any, since I have so many from the fall and he really doesn't look any different, but he looked so cute I couldn't pass them up! He only has a few days left until he is out for summer. I am getting scared of having them both home together again. I need some help coming up with things to do so we don't go crazy here! I have already told them that they are going to start having chores and that they don't get to do fun stuff unless they get them done. We'll see how that goes!! Anyone have any tips of what to do when the kids are out of school?

Anybody want a cat?

Remember the "stray" cat we have? I still don't claim her, but this picture may say otherwise!

She really is a sweet cat, and now that it is warmer she doesn't come in as much. She has been bringing us even more "presents" lately though. She is a great hunter, but we keep her so well fed that she only plays with them before she brings them to us. On Easter she brought us a baby bunny. It was so little its eyes and ears were still closed. The next day I took it to an animal rehabilitation center about an hour away. They said it would be fine, and they would let it go when it was old enough.


The day after that, she brought us a baby flying squirrel. I was too embarrassed to go back to the rehab place again after just being there the day before! Our friend said he wanted it, so I did all kinds of research on how to raise it and stuff. It was the cuteset thing! He kept it until he decided it was old enough to make it on its own, and let it go.

Another day we came home and Sasha (the hunter cat) was playing with a bird in the yard. The bird was hurt, and I didn't know what to do with it, so I let her have it. The boys were fascinated with the whole thing of course. A little while later I realized they were still standing in the window watching, and I asked them why they were watching the poor bird be tortured. Gavin said "we are watching for Jesus to come and get the bird". And then Preston said "Jesus doesn't come and get them, he sends his angels to get them and they only come at night like Santa and the Easter Bunny"! I promise I take them to church every Sunday!
My favorite Sasha catch happened this last Saturday, while I was gone. Apparently she brought us a 2 ft long garden snake (which Gavin calls a black garbage snake). To get to the back door where she can see us, she has to jump over a pickett fence. She jumped over with the snake, but the snakes head got wedged between the fence slats on her way over!! So the snake was stuck there with its tail flopping all over and of course she was playing with it! I was really sorry that I wasn't there for a picture of that one!! I am always scared of what I will see when I open the door!
We also had a baby duck for a little while the other day. It's mother left it behind when she took the other ducklings to the lake. It was so cute, and it loved being on Toby's warm furry back. Of course Toby didn't care at all, he is the best cat ever!