A brisk sunny March Sunday afternoon in the backyard. James was going work on converting the shed into a gardening greenhouse. The kids had fun playing together. Michael pulled the little blue sled with a delighted Charlie- back and forth, back and forth across the seeded lawn. 
Maura climbed around and swung upside down on Charlie’s climbing apparatus. She tried pulling Charlie but too heavy.
A few alterations to the original recipe but Wednesday night Laura guided Charlie and Maura in the holiday tradition of making Chex Mix. One site says “it’s been a party staple for 50 years”. I can tell you the original recipe was not on the boxes we had this year. Boo.
Baked at 250 F for an hour stirring every 15 minutes. What could be bad about it with all that melted butter and savory salt? Hmmmm
After the Mix making the two cousins played in Charlie’s new train tent. Crawling between the red and blue and back again. Then the added collapsible tunnel component.
A fun night.
Charlie said ” I love this game”
The Little Engine That Could. There have been lots of different editions but this one that Maura is reading to her cousin Charlie is the Complete and Original. The author name is a pseudonym as I looked up the Watty Piper. Lots of discussion about the origin of The Little Engine That Could story in this throughly researched article by Roy E Plotnick- University of Illinois in Chicago
There’s an abridged version and a board book one out in bookstores now and the illustrations have been updated?jazzed up. (Not necessarily for the better in my opinion_ Guess I’m “Old School”.
Charlie loves trains and he likes the flow of language in the story……”I think I can, I think I can, I think I can,” and the rhythm of “I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could, I remember my mother reading it to me.
2017 photos above
You’ll see the eclipse on your 12th birthday, Michael. How cool is that? Wishing you a happy twelfth birthday. You are a wonderful young man. Before you know it you’ll be a teenager!
Much love, FF Ruthie
From the archives
Uncle Frank gets a lot of satisfaction from restoring vintage cars,
He is a grand master of restoration.
He was showing Michael and Jack how the car lowered down
Here is Uncle Frank with his latest acquisition- 1963 Chevy
You’ve seen this one before on the blog
https://rutheh.com/2011/09/16/uncle-frank-put-the-engine-in-the-1953-chevy/
https://rutheh.com/2013/08/28/remember-uncle-franks-53-chevy/
See his 1953 Ford Crestline Victoria
https://rutheh.com/2014/11/08/uncle-franks-and-aunt-lindas-new-car-1953-ford-crestline-victoria-v8/
And his 1933 Plymouth
Popsicles from Uncle Franks for the cousins who visited Archie’s Garage this afternoon.
Yesterday three of my grandchildren, Michael, Jack and Maura met their new baby cousin Joseph.
Their mothers are first cousins as their mothers are sisters so their offspring share a great grandparent!
Michael, Maura and Jack are first cousins once removed to baby Joseph’s mother but are second cousins to her son Joseph.
Right?
It can be confusing -even looking at the chart
Happy Parents Laura and James holding the birthday boy!
Cousin Maura helped Charlie blow out his candle.
Cousins and friend Oliver help Charles Celebrate Grandma and Grandpa Weaver Aunt Brenda holds the mini UNO cards
Playing UNO
A new litttle piggy to hold
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Playing outside after a walk, enjoying the beautiful summer day. iPhone shot Happy First Birthday.
This week, show us something careful — a photo taken with care, a person being careful, or a task or detail requiring care. Michelle W.
Here is my gallery of careful.
Ever so careful.
Careful not to drop her, Mom.
Putting on her seatbelt.
Careful not to touch the soft spot
Maura in the deer stand at the farm
St. George Island FL
Holding him so he doesn’t roll off the ottoman.
Mike the balloon guy taking care to tie the balloon.
Lobster fest.
Careful.
So very careful, Michael. Nice!
Maura attended a 3 day Cheerleading camp at Olentangy High School. She loved it! She lead two of the cheers for the entire group.
Baby Charles and Aunt Laura came to see the performance.
Jack brought a book to read. And he shared it with his new baby cousin!
Jack would just have soon missed the performance but entertained himself with a book.
Aunt Erika and Cousin Michael take care of Cousin Charles.
Maura led two cheers for the entire group.
Believe it or not, Charles seemed to like all the cheering and music.
In the parking lot.
Not even 24 hours old. My daughter Laura and her husband James have a new member of the family.
Charles Joseph. 7 pounds 15 ounces. 19 1/2 inches long.
He arrived Thursday night but Anna and Michael were home in bed resting up for the Peppe Meet at Ohio State Swim Club Friday afternoon.
Friday morning, we went to Riverside hospital on the way to the swim meet. It was on the way to OSU.
Anna meets baby Charles-
Michael gets a turn with Charles on the Boppy
Anna waits for another turn to hold her new first cousin.
Michael, Charles and Anna pose for Grandma
Their Dad Mark ( my son) is now an uncle
and we talked to Uncle Matty and Natalya in Croatia via SKYPE
Here are the two Grandmas
Anna took the photo, thanks Anna.
and here is the new little family
I need a LOVE button to click .