i have no cute and sassy title for this post. the end.

my children, God bless them, have a enormous love for animals.

 this is a trait they did NOT get from their parents. sad, but true.

the thought of a dog curling up in bed with me, a cat rubbing against my leg or a gerbil, um, gerbilling in my house does NOT appeal to me.

however, when my children come to me with a wounded animal, my heart breaks.

not for the animal but for the broken hearts of my kids.

a few weeks back i was torn.

what's a mom to feel when her eldest shoots a bird, meaning to kill it, only to just wound it?

jack says "we can 'fix' it guys!"

"boys, please, just put it out of it's misery already".

fortunately, time (very little) took care of that.

however, not before my babes made a bed for it, feed it apple peels and hugged it.

uhg.

that's all i have to say about that.

we are now into the full swing of fall.

school has started.

i've begun to start on those projects i've been putting off for months.

like sorting thru their school papers from last spring. (the downside of having a spare room, with a door. out of sight, out of mind.)

before Summer officially ended, we had one last outing at Birch Bay with my family.

sweet times.

my brothers played football for hours with the kiddos.

i love watching them love them.

teachers letters have arrived!!

everyone was thrilled. including their mama.

nice socks jack.

in the midst of my fall purging, i can across the kitchen set that i had as a kid.

what's a gal, who only produces boys, to do with a girly kitchen set that has been sitting in a box for 30 years?

of course, take a picture and pass it on.

below is a pic of my failed attempt at becoming the Pioneer woman.

no point in making a 2 gallon batch of iced tea, when NO one else in your house drinks it.

probably should have thought of that before i used up 15 tea bags.