OoooooPossum

If you think this post is about a tricky child, your wrong.
If you are part of animal welfare services, quit reading now. And your an idiot.

The boys built a rabbit trap. They have yet to catch a rabbit.
However, this morning they did catch something.

Elijah came running to the house like somebody was dying. One of those "MAMA" yells that makes you drop whatever your doing and RUN with your heart in your throat and wonder very quickly how to get to the ER the fastest and which children to leave home and which to take.

I met him at the screen door. "WE CAUGHT A POSSUM!" (can I refuse to spell it with an "O," yes I can). "It's HUGE!"
I was almost mad at him.
I made him wait till I went to the bathroom before I grabbed the .22 and followed him and Alex  through the too tall  grass to the edge of the woods. (with the camera - I remembered!)

 

 

They peered in. Still claiming it was "really big!"

So I peered in. I peeked in the crack at the top of the door. Didn't see a thing.

Peeped in the whole on top. Took a minute to see an ugly foot. "That is not big!"

So we flipped it up and opened the hatch.

 

I had instructed all the other kids to wait on the carport to avoid the HUGE possum. But this was almost cute (for a possum).

I love most animals. I do not love possums. I the opposite of love possums.

Elijah wanted to turn it loose and let it grow so he could catch it again.

Alex wanted to shoot it.

I was uncommitted to either. We put it to a vote.

We have a large group of blood thirsty young persons.

So, I reacquainted my self with the gun.

Alex took my picture.

What an exciting life we lead.

 





Lots of Girls

My big cousin came to visit this week. I was so tickled that she decided to come. I looked forward to see her for weeks. And she brought 4 of her pretty girls with her (the 5th, biggest girl went to FL, we should have all gone with her).

Morgan/Brown Cousins - that's a LOT of cute!



Sweet Ryann

Sweetness Tara

Dramatic Jorja with Dramatic Caitlyn - they are cut from the same cloth.
I'm surprised they got along so well, they are so much alike!

Sweet Molly

Monday we had 1 extra boy and 3 extra girls = 11 girls + 5 boys =  a boat load of pretty, a very active house, and lots of waffles and hot dogs.

I did not have my camera handy nearly enough. Wish I had gotten more "dressed-up" pictures.
Our friend Carrie and her precious family came to supper last night. They need to come more often.

Kathy loaded up and went headed home this morning and took Ava and Autumn with her so that they could visit with Kyla. So, I get to see Kathy again in 4 days.
Can't wait to do it again!


UPDATE:
This is what our delightful guest said on Facebook ('cause we are back on there now). We love reviews. (Especially sweet ones)

I just got back from a remote, luxury vacation spot. We were late arriving but management and staff were very happy to see us and met our every need. Many of the porters and bellhops were friendly and curious about our many parcels and luggage, they were also very short. There were two ladies in waiting, quiet, beautiful and serene, but very accommodating. The senior housekeeper was a hoot, she kept her staff on their toes, but took great care of them, always ready to hear their troubles and laugh with them as needed. The food was delicious and plentiful. There was entertainment every evening and a wonderful outing to a local bathing spot, complete with mud baths. On our last evening we met a delightful couple with their entire entourage (more vertically challenged staff). This morning, we were served a hot breakfast with waffles and fruit. We were sad to depart, as were the numerous staff. As a consolation, we were given the beautiful ladies' maids for several more days. I can't wait to meet with these wonderful people again! — feeling special with GeneandErin Brown.

Six Flags 2013

The Brown Home Academy participated in the "Six Flags' Read to Succeed" program this past school year. All the students in K-6th-ish grade earned tickets to Six Flags (and the teacher got one too!) So the "school" bought a few extra tickets and took everyone to Six Flags last Thursday.

Kids with Bugs Bunny



Mama & Jorja waiting on everybody else.



Jorja & Autumn waiting to ride the Mine Train 



Lora driving - she's pretty good!



Ava Driving - Jorja in the back



Elijah driving - Grandma in the back



Autumn driving - Daddy (and Alex) in the back



Alex's turn to drive Daddy

Lora & Jorja

Autumn & Elijah

Autumn & Ava

Lora driving some more

Jorja driving Daddy around

Elijah and Daddy on the Scream Machine
"That was AWESOME!" - from the kid who was scared.

There are some orange dots bottom left, second and third from the pole. That'd be Grandma, Daddy, Ava & Alex



DONE.
Hot, tired, sore, stinky, sticky and ready to go home.

A Big Turd

A "Brat"stands for Big Rotten Annoying Turd. (If you are an honest parent you'll admit that your little darlings fit this description accurately and often).

When Josiah (3) looked across the table at Ava (14) and said something about a big turd we thought (snickeringly) that he was calling her names. (Name calling came later).

What he actually said was as follows.

"There was a big turd by the side of the road in the middle."
"Oh?" was the wondering reply.
"The turd In the in-way-state and the cars couldn't go by."
All agreed that this must have been an unusually large turd.
"Yes, it was like a monster turd."

Oh the joy of boys and dinner conversation in this our bubbling Crock-pot.

*It was later, when supper had ended and two tiny boys wanted to wrestle The Daddy that the name calling began. "You a baby!" The Daddy thought they were being sweet and calling him "baby." The wise Mama set him straight, Baby!

The Adventures of PapaKid

Disclaimer: PapaKid is Jacob's imaginary person (son, brother, friend - whatever suits the current story). We've gotten updates on him for several years. Once we had a heart broken Jacob because we wouldn't stop at some random house to see PapaKid's parents. Jacob was SURE that was where they lived. PapaKid moves a lot. All over the country and world.

Jacob called his PapaKid this morning. Here's the report.

"My PapaKid is going to the other side of the world. But a big truck with two trailers hit the van and his mom is in the hospital. It only broke the front and the back. But my PapaKid is a police and he fix-a-did the van and he's driving it."

"Did he not stay with his mother at the hospital?"

"She is with him now. They are moving to China!"

"Wow! That is the other side of the world."

"Yeah! But that big truck fell in the river."

"Is the driver okay?"

"Well, he didn't even know it happened."

"Did he drown?"

"No. There was a boat on the front of the truck."

"So, everybody is okay?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you for telling me that story."

"It's not a story."

"Well, thank you for letting me know how your Papakid is doing."

"Your welcome."

We are . . . (drum roll) . ..

. . .OLD!

We've had some uninvited guest move into the kitchen. (By the way, from our experience, beetles are the most welcome uninvited guest of the several uninvited guest we are dealing with. Just our opinion.)
We cleaned out all the cabinets. Even the ones in laundry room which haven't been empty since we moved in.
We called out our pest control fella, Mr. Cash. A very nice man.
We waited.

We've also had an uninvited guest in the chicken pen. A king snake. We (the Daddy) have taken him/her out and into the woods or tall grass and a few days later, Snake in the chicken pen. Eating OUR eggs.

Gene was told (from who knows where) that putting moth balls around the chicken coop would keep snakes away. (That is NOT a fact).

What a novel idea! If it works for moths and snakes maybe it would work on other pesky critters as well.
We bought 2 boxes of moth balls. One for the chicken pen. One for the kitchen.

That night, after the kids were tucked in, Gene went to guard the chicken pen with moth balls while I placed one ball in each drawer and on each cabinet shelf while reminiscing about MawMaw's house.

The next morning, upon waking and smelling a peculiar odor, several children wondered WHO had come to visit. "Why does it smell like old people?"

So, wrinkles don't matter. The number of your years is only a number. But if you smell like moth balls, your old.

(We are dinning in the school room because of the smell. These things have until the end of the week to prove they might work even a little. If we deem them just a bad smell, we're going back to smelling young again). (Does young smell like dirt?)

Ends and Beginnings

Gene was asked to preach a funeral of a lady he has know since he was a teenager.
Rest in peace Nanny Martin. Please pray for the family left down here, several of them are seeking answers that only God can provide.

But when I saw him I almost forgot about the funeral. WooHoo! What a good looking man! Just breathtaking!

He finally got to wear the $5 suit I bought him. God provides!



The Preacher Daddy and his wife (sans banbinos)

I've been back at making little things again this week. Waiting on the arrival of two nieces.



For Maggie:

I expect to hear that Miss Maggie is making her
 grand debut any minute now.

For Miss Divinity:

Miss Divinity isn't due to make an appearance for several more
months. This is the cutest little onesie dress!
The pig fabric is soft like felt.
Maybe we'll find some little tights and a sweater to match.

I only got the sewing machine out because Ava said she needs shorts. I still haven't made shorts (they seem way more complicated than skirts) but I did fix 2 or 3 dress up dresses and make cute baby stuff, and make Ava one skirt (which she needs a new top for).

Melon Olympics 2013

July 7th was our second Melon Olympics. Here are the good shots I got before the camera died.

 



You have to light the "torch" before the Olympics begin.



Two Josiahs getting ready for the watermelon roll. (You can't use your hands).

Jacob and his good friend Grayson. Ready. Set. . .



Jacob won 1st place in the watermelon roll for the Pre-K group.

Round 2 of the big kid boys group found these two brothers competing against one another.

Jorja won 3rd place in the big kids girls watermelon roll.

Big Kids Boys Watermelon roll
Dillon - 3rd
Elijah - 2nd
Alex - 1st

 Seed Spitting

Josiah spitting seeds.

The Daddy spitting seeds.

And then the camera battery had had enough.
We didn't have many more games that any of us were in. We were busy eating watermelon.

2 Random Converstations With the 4 1/2 Year Old

Scene 1
Setting: Jacob and Josiah playing sweetly together in the living room. Mama comes in, answers the phone and sits down near them.

Jacob: I'm setting off fireworks. At a wedding.
Mama: Well, that would be cool at a wedding. (The Daddy on the phone agrees that it would be a good reason to have an evening wedding.) Especially if you could time it so that when "you may kiss the bride" the fire works start going off.
Jacob: Or when they let the chicken loose they can shoot  it with the fireworks.
Mama: You mean doves
Jacob: Oh yeah

Scene 2
Setting: Ava's reading a book. Jacob is playing cars nearby.

Jacob: (turns to Ava) I want to go live in Never Ever Ever Ever Land
Ava: Why?
Jacob: That's where all the Nevers are.
Ava: Oh? What are Nevers?
Jacob: And grass and tress and bushes. But they are fake.
Ava: You couldn't breath if all the grass and tress and bushes are fake.
Jacob: Well, they are real. And there are just roads. And its all outside.