The Two Robin Hoods

Introducing...

the TWO ROBIN HOODS.

a.k.a. Kylie (our next-door neighbor) and Thomas

(and their sometimes side-kick Maid Mary Alice.... at the bottom right).

Gotta love the makeshift bows and arrows!

A cool view

With all the recent crazy weather we have had, we had to get a picture of the random cloud patterns we have seen. This was an interesting photo because, although you can't really see it, the sun is actually shining in a brilliant bright blue sky directly over head. (Notice the shadows under the trees). But then immediately to the West was a gigantic thundercloud that really doused us.



To compare, this is our usual view out of the backyard - the Wellsville Mountains. (Not the exact view, mind you... there are houses and a field behind us - but you get the picture.)

Dad's 60th

Recently, we celebrated my Dad's 60th birthday. (Ok, it was over a month ago, but I only recently downloaded the photos.) It was a real privilege to have Dad's mom, brothers, and sisters come for the festivities - some traveling as far as two hours to attend!

Unfortunately some unpredictable weather forced us inside for the BBQ. To our great benefit, Mom and Dad's super-nice neighbors allowed us to use their extra garage room to host everyone.

Thanks to everyone who came and brought food and celebrated with us! Happy Birthday, Dad!

EDIT: I regretfully report that I neglected to mention that the cake Dad is holding is one made specially for him by his extremely talented, though second-favorite, daughter Teresa. Isn't it beautiful? Way to go Teresa!


The guests:

So tired!

This is what I found the other day after I had given Mary Alice her bath and was trying to coax her big brother out of the tub and into his pajamas.




It's oh-so-sweet and adorable when these little tikes conk out, but the truly amazing thing here is that it was John's child who did it. None of our kids have yet mastered the art of sleeping - even when enticed by soft pillows, warm blankets, and cuddly toys - let alone in the middle of the floor with the lights on.



She even slept through the onslaught that happened when big brother found her lying defenseless on the floor and he was forced by all the "pestosterone" in his system to try and rouse her.




This just gives me some hope that the Bradshaw gift of sleeping anywhere, anytime, under any circumstance will prove to be a latent gene that will suddenly turn on one day.


Or at least be present in the third Woolcott baby.

Happy Father's Day...

... to our two most favorite dads!

A Nice Brother

Mary Alice found Thomas' toy sword on the ground yesterday. Now, this sword doesn't usually just lay about, unguarded by its owner. And she thought she had discovered a treasure.

When Thomas found her playing with it, he offered to show her how to pull it out of the sheath and use it.

He was very polite about it, but Mary Alice's automatic shout of "No!" bothered him.

And when she fled in the other direction, clutching the sword in a death grip and acting as if the very hounds of hell were after her, his feelings were positively hurt.

So, he ran after her calling out

"But, I am a nice brother, today!"

Well, at least he senses the crux of the problem.

A Rude Creature

My four year old just declared me to be a "Rude Creature" for enforcing the ban on drinking bath water.

Well... it sure beats the potty-related names he was throwing about last week.

I think I'll take it.