Happy Halloween!

Harry "Tanner" Potter, 16 years

Harry "Hunter" Potter, 14 years

Harry "Porter" Potter, 11 years

Harry "Cooper" Potter, 9 years

Harry "Sawyer" Potter, 6 years

Harry "Miller" Potter, 2 years

Potter Family

Newspaper Safety

This is a daily feature of one of our local papers, The Ironton Tribune. They will post a student from anywhere in the county, and their "good morning" greeting. Cooper was pegged while working at Hunter's eagle scout project. We knew nothing about it until we found him in the paper. "Good morning from Cooper Schenewark of Proctorville. Cooper is a student at Fairland West, has five brothers, plays baseball and is a Boy Scout." We are feeling a little uncomfortable, more concerned, with the information that was printed. He's probably the only Cooper Schenewark in the world, and definitely the only one in Proctorville.

Good Neighbor

This is our neighbor, Larry. He's the best neighbor you could EVER have. He's fixing a piece of siding that my two older boys smashed with a baseball. You would think those two could throw better and catch better. He said, "I almost was half mad, then I remembered my foul ball that broke a man's windshield."

Miller is bringing over a peace offering: cranberry muffins. We're grateful for Larry, his forgiveness, and willingness to keep on fixing our mistakes.

Coming Out of the Closet

At the risk of alienating myself from my neighbors and community, I'm coming clean. This secret I carry has to come out! I'm tired of hiding ;-) This summer, while visiting New Hampshire, the gift of all gifts that keep on giving was given to me: lice. Just a moment. LICE. I feel better. I have become an expert on this subject, which can be a good thing, and now see it everywhere, including parent pick up lines, children waiting to be picked up, and grocery store clerks. Thankfully I am the only member of my family that was given this gift that keeps on giving. But credit is due my nit pickers, and it is time to hand out the awards. Miller, for asking the most questions about bags on my head, gets the "Why Me?" Award. Sawyer, who has the most astute eyes and could find those nits faster than they could be pulled, gets the "Xray Vision" Award. Cooper, who tried everything from tweezers to scissors, gets the "Not Outwitted by the Nit Wits" Award. Porter, who was conveniently gone everyday all day gets the "Perfect Planner" Award. Hunter, who stayed up late on the first night and did a duty no one wanted, a lot, gets the "Mr. Sympathy" Award. Tanner, who started weak and finished strong, gets "Most Improved" Award. And Jarrod, who chose to still sleep with me in the same bed, gets the "Courage Under Attack" Award. As a side note, not ever having experienced this plague of all plagues, have determined that Rid needs to be rid of, Listerine soaks are pretty effective, as are Vinegar, but Denorex shampoo wins the award for delousing the louse.

Halloween Is Coming!

How spooky is it to find THAT on your bed in the morning?

Hunter's Eagle Scout Project

Jarrod building the garden boxes with the boys.

Tanner hanging the bird feeder

Hunter speaking with a reporter regarding his project.

Mulching the garden boxes. There are three of them.

There's a family of turtles living in the empty courtyard. Hopefully they'll enjoy their new home.

Any excuse to climb a tree, Cooper decided to check on the bird feeder.

Cooper's friend, Adam, who helped dig holes and erect the three new bird houses.

Sanding the three picnic tables was quite laborious! There was a big difference, though, when the old layers were removed. Sawyer was the sand-a-holic. He worked hard on every table.

Mixing, pouring and impressing the area with animal tracks.

Hunter building the weather station, complete with therometer, rain gauge and humidity gauge.

Winter plantings in the garden box, until they can be used by the students in the spring.

This shows the three birdhouses, bird feeder, and weather station. In the far left corner you can see the edge of the sandbox, built to hold sand and fossils.

Missing a few pictures, including the varnished tree stump, fossil box, and entire courtyard, but hopefully the pictures paint a clear picture. It was a worthwhile project. He garnered 92 hours over the weekend in labor alone.

Camping Treasures

It's another monthly Boy Scout campout! Cooper likes to go with his older brothers and Dad. He scored on some marshmallows and had smores.

He caught fireflies and made his own glow stick.

He also caught a frog. But mostly he filled his pockets with Dad and brother time.

Balancing

I feel like Pandora's Box has been opened.

Miller has discovered the big boys' scooter, and isn't happy riding in the wagon anymore when we walk the dog.

He goes up hills and down hills. Is he suppose to be able to do this before he's 3?

Going to the Dogs

Meet Lolly, a boxer. All you boxer lovers out there, eat your hearts out!

Ranger was asked to babysit her today. There were lots of sniffs.

This is his peck on the cheek.

This is her hug.

Panting from playtime.

He took her on our walk. She's a puller.

Ranger had a good day. Lolly's not a napper, so he's VERY tired.

But come back soon!

It's That Time of the Year!

Long john pajamas, hats in the house...

bathrobes, slippers, fires in the fireplace...it got cold!

Remembering Linus

See the similarities? Do you remember Linus? Tanner doesn't. But he's just like him.

The October Cauldron

You might think there's a gaggle of witches doing the stirring...
Perhaps you were expecting a snake to slither on by.
A frog would not look out of place!
It's a steamy, bubbly, frothy concoction...

It's APPLE BUTTER!

The major fundraiser for summer camp.

Applesauce, sugar and cinnamon!

The fire was lit at 3:00 a.m., and the boys arrived when the sun was up.