Lake Erie

This past weekend we were able to go and spend some time on the lake front.  Lake Erie is not close enough to walk to, but it is pretty close to where we are living.  Joshua loves playing in the sand.  He finally ventured out to feel the water, but he stayed very close to me and had to be holding my hand the whole time (even when the water was just up to his ankles).  Mercedes liked the water towards the end, but wasn't a huge fan at first.  That crazy girl was constantly putting rocks in her mouth...the more choak-worthy they were, the more she liked them! 

Jon Mark likes a picture of me from when I was about fourteen (yes, I tease him about being attracted to the fourteen-year-old Ralae) of me doing the splits on the beach.  He kept asking me to try it again for the camera.  I told him that I was a good fourteen years older now and that my body didn't quite bend the way it used to.  But, he talked me into it and so the result is the picture or two below.  Perhaps I shouldn't even post them, I mean, it is a crotch shot if I have ever seen one. 

My sweet husband never just acts natural for the camera, he always needs to be posing.  So, here is Jon Mark giving his dramatic "I am looking out over Lake Erie and contemplating how small I am in comparison to the vast universe" look. 

Oh, I think they're starting to like it... it only took an hour!

Now, a jump back in time... approximately one week ago.  I decided to give Mercedes and Joshua some chocolate pudding as a treat after dinner.  Forget Disneyland, folks!  With the reaction my children gave me, save the forty bucks a ticket (or whatever the new going rate is) and just buy them some cheap (not even name brand) pudding!  You would have thought that I had just made all of their dreams come true!

And finally, some pictures of our kiddos playing outside.  Joshua takes watering "his" grass that we planted very seriously, and Mercedes takes her hobby of eating rocks quite seriously!  My goodness, girl!  ROCKS ARE NOT FOR EATING!!!!!! how many times do I have to tell you!!!!!!!

As a side note:  Do you notice Mercedes new teeth?  Up until about three weeks ago, all she had were two teeth on the bottom.  Then, one morning I awoke to find her with a full row on top (including her molars!). 

Joshua, it's not so serious, can I have a smile?  Oh, okay, I will just settle for your fake smile.

Last, but not least, a painting or two.  The cowboy picture is not perfect, I need to fix a few weird angles, but I like it.  Until I can afford some lessons, I am painting people backward because I don't know how to paint faces!