Mah bay-bah's is all growed up!

This fellow, was the brave little fledgling to test his wings first.

Doesn't he look grand?

(not to mention that I think this a pretty nice shot!)

His brother waited until the coast was clear to take his first leap.

Olivia says you can easily tell they are boy birds:

"They have all the sticking-up hair."

She may be on to something... 

Anyhow, today's excitement may have been inspired by yesterdays excitement.

A story in which Susanna and Olivia managed to get the ladder up to the nest themselves 
 and invite two of their cousins to climb up and HOLD the chickies.  
With them.

Said culprits were caught red-handed in the act by Uncle Char who found mom (that's me) and asked: 

"Do you have any rules about baby birds and ladders?" 

Moms love being asked questions of this nature.  (I'm pretty sure my brother was laughing at me.)

"Do I NEED to have a rule about such things?"  I ask. 

Don't answer that one.

Anyhow, good ol' Unc told the kiddos 

"We don't touch ANYONE'S babies without asking first  [I think he's a genius]  

...and since we can't get the momma bird's permission, 

we just don't touch her offspring."

And I added to that:  

"Well... the good news is that momma bird came back to feed her babies, 

so I guess she's decided to let it pass this time."   

I understand how she sees the situation.

Happy launching Baby Birds! 

 

(and good luck there momma.  You may need it.)

"Uncle Charlie loves me"

you think so?

"I tink so."

My girlfriend from Oregon, her guy and critters visited and made some memories together with us!

Sarah and Nate came and were very intelligent people 

who knew how to "vacation" the way we like to do it!

Lots of staying up late,

sleeping in late,

playing,

relaxing, 

and visiting.

Sometimes bug repellent was necessary.

A few hikes were imperative. 

(The stroller was a nice addition in the outing to Marvel Hill's somewhat inaccessible creek.)

In this case I decided to forgo bathing attire and settle for changing out the wet clothes later.
Susanna really has those overall pant legs cuffed up, doesn't she?

My main question is 

"WHY(!!!) Clayton, do you insist on wearing boots to the creek?

You always let INVITE the water in right over the top!"

Then... a large crew of us hiked to a newly discovered spot 

8 miles behind our house down a maze of dirt roads.  Actually we drove those 8 miles,
but there was a little hike in to the "spot" from where we parked.

It's very hard to take,

living out a Summer like this.

In a place like this.

With people like this.

 Daddy took the boys on these natural waterfalls, and the girls wanted a go at it too 

- what awesomely brave little souls!  

Here's O. with dad before and after the first dunk.  

You might note that I tried it once myself, 

and that short little waterfall sucks you under for a few seconds 

before letting you come up for air! 

 Woo-HOO!!! Now over the little one!

 Me and my love

Sarah and hers:

Us all.  

 (we mostly don't go anywhere without the Cousins, in case you wondered)  ;-)

Thanks  for coming all the way form Southern Oregon to see us you guys!

 You're the best:-)

And we had a WONDERFUL time.

The boy likes to talk.

And he just figured out how to climb up one stair,
so it was worth telling about:

Just a little cuteness for the Grandma's and anyone else who likes cuteness like this:-)

As seen through the window:

And then the glory and excitement was shared with ME!  

I felt so privileged to be invited to share in the spying-on of these baby robins.

(It was a little scary on the ladder I admit.  Being stabilized by Zachary didn't improve my confidence, but may have been worth it for a picture and a story in years to come!)

Keepin' Cool

When the Lake is not available...

Life is good.

The Darlingest Help on Earth!

It was a challenge to figure out how to keep the water on with one hand 

in order to feel the cool spray with the other!

 Then my little friend had to taste the peas.

 I think they were tasty.  

It looks like it anyway.

 Another

Mmmmm...............

Now a little leh-tuss.........

It's all satisfactory.  Very letucy.

The garden has become my therapy.  

Add some good company and a camera and it's heaven on earth ;-)

Marvel Hill or Munchkin Land?

Marvel Hill finds itself happily taken over by Smiths, Bugs, et all, and doesn't mind a bit!

Starting with a boy-made tent - not necessarily slept in.  Maybe next time.

Girls doing girl-ish things.

What Dads do:

This doesn't look like "An Army Of One" to me!
I wonder how much work actually occurred...

What Moms do:

Breakfast.

Herd  Lead berry-picking expeditions.

Smile!

Please? 

..........................Anyone?

Okay.  Just stand there  somewhat.....  together    -ish.

*sigh* 

Never mind.  Go back to your berries.

That was Strawberries, but there were Huckleberries to be picked too...

How about giving baby a bath... Marvel Hill style!

Girls and snacks

Little boys and learning to share toys

All Smiths, Bugs, and Cousins, minus the tiniest person.

You may know (or at least have surmised) that getting them all in one shot is no easy task.
Here's the real-time version:

And don't forget dinner......

No we do not run an orphanage.  

These children all have parents (and there are 6 of us total).

No thank you, you can keep yours.

Awe...

Look how cute!

You two look pretty good after 4 days of what you went through;-)

You may need a vacation after your vacation.

Oh yeah,

Moms can be friends too :-)

I sorta fibbed to my friend.  I told here I wouldn't post this picture until one day in the future 

when we thought it made us look good.

but I cropped, black and whited, and grained this picture to help us out some. 

You can't see the dirt now.

Or the greasy hair.

And smiles are good for hiding tiredness!

You always look great, oh friend of mine!  You always will:-)