Spring Break With Brothers

It just so happened that Michael's spring break this year was the same time as the boys' break.  This has never happened in all the years we have all been doing the school thing together.  So, we flew the boys in for a  week long visit.  Sam and I still had to go to school each day while they were here, but they got some really great quality time with Dad while they were here.  They even helped with a little home improvement project during their stay.  Michael and the boys repainted the bathroom, installed a new counter top, framed the mirror and laid a new floor.  They were quite handy to have around this week.  

Not to mention, Sam thinks his brothers hung the moon and adores any time spent with them.  Because we had beautiful weekend weather (and Michael needed a quiet house for a while to finish some school work), we headed to the park to play.  Here are some photos of all my boys at the park enjoying some sunshine and fresh air.

Monkey see...

Monkey do...

I absolutely love watching the bond between these boys grow.  Sam is blessed to have some super great big brothers to teach him how to be kind and have good manners and turn flips on the trampoline.  Kidding.  Sort of...

The Great Outdoors

We started talking a while before Christmas about what we could do that would be a special experience for the boys while they were here visiting for the holidays.  There's not a whole lot of teenager appeal in our town...but we do have CedarRock.  Hunting in general is not new to the boys.  They have a farm in Texas where they frequently deer hunt.  They have been spectators on various bird hunts over the years.  They have canoed and fished with the best of river rats.  So, my dad came up with the suggestion of taking them on their first ever rabbit hunt, complete with hound dogs to lead the way.  

They went for some practice shooting time a couple days before the hunt, but I must say they are both pretty talented with an eye for the shot as it is.  And how did they do on their rabbit hunt?
Five fat rabbits!  Not too shabby for a couple of first-timers!

Sam, however, did not attend the rabbit hunt.  He was happy with a short joy ride through the backyard on our neighbors new 4-wheeler.  Chad was so kind to offer to drive Sam around.  We bundled him up and he rode about 5 miles an hour with a smile on his face that money can't buy.  Now, everytime he hears the 4-wheeler crank up outside, he goes to door to ask Chad for a ride.  He's hooked.