The kids LOVE leaves. They spend hours helping Clint rake them into a big pile so they can jump in them and rake them up again. We leave the pile in the front yard for a few days until all the fun has been had and then we haul them to the garden. This year I caught several teenage boys eyeing it as they walked by. I know they were really wanting to jump in! One man from down the road even came to the door and asked if he could have my leaves! (Just to clarify, this is Colorado, not North Carolina. We don't have nearly as many leaves and they are apparently a hot commodity!)
Clint and Haden must have decided that we didn't have enough leaves. They were stealing the neighbor's! I doubt they'll mind, they sweep their leaves to the sidewalk and leave them. Even on windy days. Needless to say, they spend a lot of time sweeping leaves!
At the store a few weeks ago, Haden and I were wandering through toy section. It doesn't seem like I can get out of a store these days without spending a substantial amount of time in the toy section! They had a kid-sized leaf blower. Haden knew exactly what it was and did his best to talk me into buying it for him. It didn't even blow leaves. I knew he would lose interest in it when Clint got out his leaf blower. So after the novelty of raking and jumping and ended, we started raking and then blowing all the leaves! Haden LOVED the leaf blower and refused to share with Regan who really only wanted it because Haden had it. Anytime she tried to come near him to take it, he aimed it at her blowing leaves all over her. It was pretty comical to watch! She did get a couple of turns, though. Haden insisted on wearing his hard hat and tool belt because he was "working".
Lila was entertained just watching her siblings play in the leaves. Next year, she and Regan can team up against Haden for the leaf blower!
We finally got snow!! And it, of course, coincided with my procrastinated shopping trip. Four stores later, we were all very wet but the kids couldn't wait to get home! They had the best time throwing snowballs, and wrestling each other and then coming inside and drinking hot chocolate. The turkeys thought they were going to get me with their snowballs while I was taking their picture, thus the big smiles. They missed, and I retaliated! 
So a while back, Clint let Haden use his power drill. I knew we were going to regret it! Haden has been begging to use it again and again and again! The problem is that he can't use it unsupervised and the last thing I want to do is spend my day watching Haden drill hole after hole after hole. For some reason, his attention span is considerably longer if the activity involves power tools! Clint compromised and handed over the electric screwdriver. Haden keeps it in his toolbox and spends long stretches of time multiple times a day "working". Haden insists on wearing his hard hat, tool belt, and his workglasses that he stole from Clint's toolbox this afternoon as he works. (Apparently stealing tools is genetic-I have found several tools with Clint's dad's name engraved on them in Clint's tool box!)
The kids LOVE leaves. They spend hours helping Clint rake them into a big pile so they can jump in them and rake them up again. We leave the pile in the front yard for a few days until all the fun has been had and then we haul them to the garden. This year I caught several teenage boys eyeing it as they walked by. I know they were really wanting to jump in! One man from down the road even came to the door and asked if he could have my leaves! (Just to clarify, this is Colorado, not North Carolina. We don't have nearly as many leaves and they are apparently a hot commodity!)
Clint and Haden must have decided that we didn't have enough leaves. They were stealing the neighbor's! I doubt they'll mind, they sweep their leaves to the sidewalk and leave them. Even on windy days. Needless to say, they spend a lot of time sweeping leaves!
At the store a few weeks ago, Haden and I were wandering through toy section. It doesn't seem like I can get out of a store these days without spending a substantial amount of time in the toy section! They had a kid-sized leaf blower. Haden knew exactly what it was and did his best to talk me into buying it for him. It didn't even blow leaves. I knew he would lose interest in it when Clint got out his leaf blower. So after the novelty of raking and jumping and ended, we started raking and then blowing all the leaves! Haden LOVED the leaf blower and refused to share with Regan who really only wanted it because Haden had it. Anytime she tried to come near him to take it, he aimed it at her blowing leaves all over her. It was pretty comical to watch! She did get a couple of turns, though. Haden insisted on wearing his hard hat and tool belt because he was "working".
Lila was entertained just watching her siblings play in the leaves. Next year, she and Regan can team up against Haden for the leaf blower!
