Summer

I've been pretty awful at updating this blog. I guess when I already work at the computer so much I try not to during down time.

The kids all had successful school years. Meghan was even inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. Meghan, Evan, and Esther all earned end-of-year awards at school.

Evan and Esther finished off baseball season in June, and Meghan completed her 4-H textile club (sewing) in May.

We just returned from Pinebrook. You'd think this post would be full of pictures, but it's not. (I haven't figured out how to quickly save photos from my cell phone to laptop. And our camera died...)

BUT here's a video of Evan's latest creation. It's a pool table. Guess what he played a lot at Pinebrook? :) Click the link to see his video of the pool table.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bdA4PCei7hgBiZsg6

Corn Maze Fun

We all had a four-day weekend. Overall, it was fairly quiet and relaxing-just what we needed after a long, hot week.

However, we needed to have some fun together-as a family. So Derek and I took the children to Cherry Crest Farm on a blazing hot and humid Labor Day.

Evan powered up the misting fan for us.

The Jeep

Last night while Evan and Derek were at baseball practice, the girls and I went to a friend's house and bought this Jeep from them. Evan has been asking for one for years. We didn't want to get one knowing he'd outgrow it soon, but for a great price we'll be happy even if he only gets a summer's use out of it.

Esther tried it out last night.

 While eating breakfast, Evan asked if he could ride it this morning. I fully anticipated he would want to.

He wouldn't look at me for a picture, but you can see he was loving it.

 After Esther was dressed, he picked her up for a ride.

All of this before 7 o'clock! Now the battery is charging to prepare for their after-school fun.

(Meghan is a couple inches taller than Evan. She will be able to ride in it, but only if she doesn't mind an awkward ride!)

Christmas Note from Mookie 2016

On behalf of the Whipple family, Christmas greetings! I’m taking over the 2016 letter. What good is a family pet if they don’t help? (Ahem. Lucy? Not so helpful.) And the whole family adores me. They can’t help it; I’m a fun, handsome young fella with a mustache.

I’ve been here since July doing pet-worthy things like playing fetch, licking faces at night, and biting hands and arms. Lucy’s fairly useless when it comes to pet skills like those. However, she is an excellent napper. Every day I try to play with her, but she just hisses and swats at me. It’s fun to torture her…until I get locked in the basement. The family cuddles me and plays with me. I don’t mind at all—not even when they carry me like a sack of potatoes.

When Derek arrives home about five each day, he greets everyone, even the pets. When I first arrived, his big project was creating organizers for the kids’ bedrooms. They look great, but I’m still waiting on ladders so I can climb. They say Derek also coached baseball and football this year. I have to trust them since they never took me to a game.

Many afternoons I rest at Annette’s feet while she writes. (Sometimes I pay attention. How else do you think I learned to use the computer?) She had two summer milestones: a fortieth birthday and her first book published. (It’s called Insects as Producers. She didn’t get to pick the title.) She’s under contract with the same publisher for two more children’s nonfiction books for the fall of 2017. She enjoys the opportunity to teach a bit at science camp and at school and library presentations. (Annette’s website is www.AnnetteWhipple.com if you’re interested in that kind of stuff.)

Back when I needed medicine, Meghan handled it like a pro…maybe even better than her parents. When she grows up, maybe she’ll take care of animals. She likes me to nap beside her while she reads on weekends. But she’s not always quiet. She makes a lot of noise with a flute. The more she practices, the better it sounds. Meghan played flag football in the fall and is eager for basketball this winter. She’s also getting crafty with the 4-H textile club once a month. She had no idea she’d have so much homework as a fourth grader. I wonder if she’ll survive with all the moaning I hear.

I like to watch Evan build with little bricks he calls LEGOs. (All the kids enjoy LEGOs and DUPLOs, but he’s the most passionate.) He has a big imagination for design but doesn’t really let me play with what he makes. He’s really into sports like baseball and flag football. Like Meghan, he will also play basketball this winter. I wonder if he can beat my relative, the cheetah, in a foot race. He’s pretty fast. Evan’s big news as a second grader is that he no longer takes anti-seizure medicine. The family prays he remains free from seizures.

At age five, Esther leaves me just three days a week for preschool. Esther plays with me extra when the other children aren’t around. She adores her brother, sister, and me. She also appreciates the days when it’s just her and her mom at home or when her dad runs errands with her. She is a funny and curious kid. Esther keeps up with her big brother and sister pretty well.

I had a good life on the farm, but this is the family for me. Imagine how fun it would be if the kids didn’t bicker so much! I’ve helped make these kids great pooper scoopers. Sometimes I fetch a slipper, stuffed animal, or pajamas from a bedroom. Maybe I show off a little by taking them downstairs, but I don’t want them to think they need a dog. I’m cat enough for this family! On behalf of the Whipple family, have a blessed Christmas and new year!

Meowy Christmas,

Mookie 

Mookie and Lucy

If I'm only going to post here occasionally, you probably want to know more of what's happening with people than cats, but these cats are important.

Mookie is desperately loved by the children. He's easy to love because he's so cuddly and sweet when he isn't biting and clawing. 

Last week I came home and found the cats in close proximity without any hissing or growling. It was noteworthy.

Mookie is just six months old, but they really are about the same size. Last week he was also fixed; he seems much calmer.

Summer 2016

I haven't updated the blog much recently, so here are a few images from our summer vacation. (See Pinebrook and my birthday party pics at those links.)

One of my best friends from my teenage years visited this summer. We went to the zoo before they had to leave.

 We got a new kitten. This is Mookie. We met him for the first time Memorial Day weekend. He came home with us after my writing conference. He was born on the same farm as our 11-year-old cat, Lucy.

The children pick him up and play with him all day long. He does bite, but it has only recently been worse than nibbles. Mookie and Lucy don't get along very well.

 The first week of August the children and I went to Science Camp. Actually, I cotaught it with my friend. The older two children were in camp with me. Esther was with the younger children with Drama Camp.

This is Meghan and her friend, M. They were preparing for chemical reactions.

 We also explored physical changes. Evan rescued this LEGO minifigure from icec.

 One day the children helped me prepare corn for the freezer.

 My book arrived! See more about it here.

 Here's another picture of Mookie. He loves to cuddle--the neck and face. He begins purring before you even touch him. Meghan's been a champ helping me give Mookie medicine in the mornings. She opens his mouth and pops the pill right in!

Spring Weekend in Northeastern Pennsylvania

Friday morning we headed north to visit family. We started out Friday night with miniature golf followed by ice cream. Derek's mom joined us. It rained on us, but we knew it might and were happy to take that risk.

Farm Day

The kids' school has a microfarm. This past weekend they put on a nice event for families.

We walked through the greenhouse and then pet the duck.

 Can you tell we had just come from Evan's baseball game? Esther opted not to pet it.

 All three made a sheep craft.

Meghan tried her hand at the mechanical bull. Meghan worked hard at staying on the bull.

 So did Esther. It was really cute how the man moved it around enough for her to have fun without being scared.

 Evan loved the sling shot. They aimed at a pig's nose...just like in the game Angry Birds.

 Meghan hit the target, too.

 Climbing...

 We also took a look at the bees. We were able to find the queen bee (inside). The bees on the top that are visible were just foraging/visiting bees. The ones in the container stayed in the container.

Zoo

Life has been busy. Lots of good. Some not, but certainly busy.

I should probably do a catch-up post of 2016 at some point, but today, this is what I want to share.

After church today, Derek wanted to steam clean the furniture and two main rooms. It was a gorgeous spring day, so I decided to be spontaneous and take the children to the zoo.

The zoo is just ten minutes away. We're planning to visit a lot this summer with our family membership. I won't share pictures every time we visit, but I wanted to share a few from today.

The zoo's parking lot was full, but it wasn't crowded.

More Snow

We're finally getting a taste of winter here.

 With a white house, snow always camouflages it.

(Almost) Blizzard 2016

This blog (as well as the other two) has been sorely neglected. The good news is I submitted my insect manuscript to my editor eleven days early!

Friday night about six o'clock we saw our first snowflakes of the season (while at home). 

Saturday morning the children went outside during the wind and snow. Evan didn't even want to take out a sled. He wanted to shovel the driveway. Derek got out there to help him. (At that point the road was plowed. It wasn't long before you couldn't the road.) 

 The children were eager to share our cookies with some neighbors. Their snow pants were soaked, so we, foolishly, sent them without them. They all fell repeatedly.

 Off to the next house...

 This is what they looked like when they arrived home.

 This photo shows just how bad the drifting is. The news says we got 25 inches of snow. In some areas we have grass showing...other areas have well over two feet.

 Playing and making tunnels.

 I think she lost her feet.

 Derek working to clear the driveway. Again.

A front-end loader came through to "plow" our road today.

Today the kids asked if I was going out. Nope. No snowpants. Maybe someday that will change, but I don't mind staying inside!

End of School Year

Before school year officially ended, I had the opportunity to teach Meghan's class about pioneer games. We had a lot of fun. You can read about it at Little House Companion. I'd like to get into schools regularly for classroom visits and assemblies.

On the final day of school, I picked the children up from the bus stop and headed downtown. We went out for ice cream...a real treat!

We ordered indoors...

 but finished our ice cream outside.