Happy Fourth of July

I think Our Fam may live in the best neighborhood in the world. Every 4th they have a neighborhood parade complete with ambulance, fire truck, and police cars with sirens and lights flashing.

Grandma and Grandpa pulled the boat full of kids and ME. We had American pride. The Aunts ran beside the "float" keeping watch and taking pics. I am so glad we were able to come this year. 

Just A Day At the Park?

Here we are just hanging out at the park... Clara Byrd Baker's playground. And we walked there! We hiked from our house to Clara Byrd Baker then to Ace across the road to check out pocket knives for Pike. And we didn't stop there, we actually went to McDonald's for a cool treat and lunch. It was soo hot and the sun was so unbearable but we still had energy to play. The walk home actually went faster then going. I didn't tell the kids where we were going so it would be an exciting surprise. It definitley was a surprise. I am so proud of my kiddos for hiking so far. They are awesome!

Pets

We don't just have a pair of rats sharing our home we have a Lion Head rabbit and a Teddy Bear hamster. Dumbledore is Tink's  bunny since he resides in her room and she plays with him and takes care of him the most and Bella is Lan's, he worked and saved up his earnings to purchase Bella himself and has loved her deeply ever since.

There was an unfortunate accident the first day Bella came home but it has never been repeated. Lan took Bella out of her cage while he was standing on the chair at the table and she got away from him and she fell hit her head on the table and lost consciousness as she fell to the floor. She eliminated and I didn't see her breathing. I thought she was a lost cause when I picked her up and not knowing what else to do I rubbed her belly a little and then tried to comfort Lan who had lost it and was crying devastated over his loss, When out of the blue I saw her breathing again and then she just came to life again. A few days later she was completely back to normal and Lan and her have grow closer and closer ever since. He takes great care with her and gives her cuddle time every day. She is quite tame and cuddly. She does have a thing for blue berry yogurt bites which with some supervision should not get out of hand. Her cage has lots of tunnels, it would be a shame if she were to get stuck.

Dumbledore is the softest bunny. Tink loved him to tameness and we are able to take him all over. He is an excellent car rider and pretty much potty trained. He loves an adventure especially at the cousins or the pet store. The Compound is a scary place for him due to the number of bunny eating dogs that reside there but has made himself comfortable there by burrowing to his heart's content.

Dumbledore

Bella

These shots were taken by the kids.

The Dungeon

Lan on Grandpa's Total Body

M showing off his technique

Pike future arm wrestler?

Mono y mono

The couch for breaks and breathers

The Dungeon is what the men in the family call the workout section of the shop. We came to work on pinewood derby cars and while we were there some of the boys pumped some iron.  The Dungeon is aptly named: it is dark, dirty, and full of dangerous and unusual work out equipment. Needless to say the kids love it there and love when M takes them with him when he works out. Definite male bonding time.

RATS!

Sisters

Bianca

Oreo

Here are new newest editions to the Jones Menagerie. Rats. How could I? Well, there has been a lonely spot in our hearts since the passing of M's beloved dog, Buster. When M gave me that look in the pet store, the same look he gave me when he came home that first day with Buster I couldn't say no. And besides they live in a cage, I don't have to walk them. They have the potential to be as smart as the average dog, they aren't bulimic, and they are fun to play with. They ride on your shoulder and climb all over you. They take snacks from your hands. They climb like monkeys all over their cage. They constantly clean themselves, more than any cat I have ever seen.

Their names are Ms. Bianca (from the Rescuers) and Oreo. Actually, we originally only took home one Ms. Bianca but after a day she was sullen and wouldn't eat and we just knew she missed her cage mate. So we took the family back to Pet Smart and bought the other one, this time for Pike. He named her Oreo. They are hooded rats and they have a dark brown/black head with a stripe down their back. Bianca's stripe is interrupted by more white than Oreo's and Oreo is also slightly bigger than Bianca. The other way we can tell then apart is that Oreo is more aggressive and curious while Bianca is more willing to chill on your shoulder and more likely to horde food.

M found a ferret/rat cage on sale and they love it and have their favorite spots they tend to hang out in. The kids love playing with them and watching their crazy antics.

One of my best friends in high school always told me about her pet rat growing up and I always wanted one. She told me how fun and sweet they were. When I married M I told him how much I wanted a pet rat. When my pet hamster, Warren, died he bought me a white lab rat. She was so sweet and gentle but I soon experienced being with child and I had no time and energy for a pet of any kind so she became M's and he really liked her. While she sat on his shoulder she would trim his neck hair, which is reason enough to keep something around in my book! 

So rats may be a disturbing pet option for some people but for our house it's all rats. Take a look at any article or book on them and you too will see how smart, fun, and lovable they really are.

Little A's Kindergarten Program

Little A had his kindergarten program. His cousin moved from PA and into our neighborhood and had the good luck of joining Little A's class. Little A needed his help and encouragement and did better in class with his cousin by his side. They were good buddies this year. So our families sat side by side watching the kids sing their way to first grade.

Our Lisa Simpson

Tink has actually learned to play the sax. And without practicing at home. She is so talented. She plans to go on to play in 6th grade. I am excited to see what she can do if she ever practices. This picture comes from the school concert. The week before she had a tri school concert for the parents at Lafayette High School. She was all dressed up and the band sounded amazing.  This concert was good it was nice to be able to hear her and I was sitting very close. At the tri school concert the band sounded so good and they all were very professional. At both concerts the sax's played The Saints Go Marching In. I really hope Tink continues to play through college, making this initial investment truly an investment in her future. Really, her grandmother has made it possible for her to learn the sax so easily. Tink has been taking piano lessons with her grandma since first grade. She has taught her all she knows about music and has Tink playing really well. If only I can get better about getting her to practice...practice....practice!