Nature and Nurture

 Last weekend I was with the kids on Saturday (which is quite usual) anyway, as my frustration levels were increasing I decided that spending my day getting after the children about chores and what not that we would go out walking instead. I called our friends the Schmidts and off we all went. Brennan and Justice holding hands at the beginning of the trail. We had a great time and despite the children getting a bit whiny toward the end due to being thirsty and hungry(we weren't gone that long) they did a great job. Just wait until they find out the kinds of trails we will be taking them on in Utah! This was at least very flat!

 Stinging nettle is EVERYWHERE in England. The children learn what this is early on in life and fear it like a plague. It hurts to get stung, I'm not going to lie, I don't like the stuff either. Well, Jacob(our friend/Carter's favorite human in the world!) decided to teach Carter a little trick and show him how to touch the nettles so that they won't sting you. After Carter spent 10 minutes fearing the plant and watching mommy have a go, he finally dared the touch for himself! He was amazed and has been showing his friends his special talent everyday at school--I'm not sure he has taught them to do it, he just shows off a little.

 We had some little friends near our house. Such a sweet little nest filled with 6 babies. Brennan found this nest, Mike and I were amazed he even found it. It was tucked in the groove of two trees that had grown together and then split higher up. So this was actually at Brennan's height and we were shocked a bird would build right there. They are out of the nest now--we are hoping by natural causes and not by a cat or something else.

 Spending my days nurturing this little tike has been a joy beyond measure. It has obviously been a long time since a baby was in this house all day. Cameron is getting a lot more interactive and chatty. He makes so much noise from about 11:30-12:15. Yes, he is in fact that scheduled in his life. He kind of has to be so that I have time to enjoy him and still do school runs. I love that I get to ignore things I 'should' be doing for things that I can't afford to miss, like talking to Cameron and playing with his little toes whenever I want!

Brennan is getting so big in my eyes lately. He is going to be starting school this September--like proper primary school, not preschool. He is excited to go to school with Taylor, but is also sad that Carter won't be there anymore. Brennan also just got his hair cut daddy style--he saw Mike buzzing his head and wanted the same as daddy. Luckily we were allowed to leave a little on top!