What we do for fun...

Just a quite evening at home.  Seems we are not home much but tonight the boys had a blast.

great concentration

A whole shooting range in the hallway

Even a target!

Action shot

Out with the Old

Twelve years ago we were given an upright piano.  This piano served us for so may wonderful years of children plunking and banging.  We were recently informed that our piano is beyond repair, untunable, ready for the dump!! Well- I know I don't have an ear for music- but I thought it was ok...nope!  So the endeavor began to find a new piano. So here are some pics of saying goodbye to our old friend......(mind you this was 2 weeks ago and they have said nothing since because the new piano sounds so wonderful)

so serious

so dramatic

so emotional

you would think we were saying goodbye to an old friend??

And the new prize :)

Winter Wonderland...Finally

We finally got some snow this winter!!!!  This has been long awaited in our family.  The only disappointing part about getting snow in this area is that it usually disappears the next day and there is hardly any accumulation.  Not so this time!! In fact- the snow has just begun to melt today, almost a whole week later.

The joys of children staying out in the snow for hours still occurs in this family.  I really don't know how they do it.  One day- Sammy and Annabelle were taken by friends to sled all afternoon, upon returning, they never even made it into the house.  It wasn't until 2 hours later, 1 hour into darkness, that I was able to get them inside.  Meanwhile I wanted nothing more than to crawl under my electric blanket with my Kindle...I really am getting old!  Sammy tried to convince me that he should be able to spend the night in his snow fort, since his whole body fit in it!

School has been underway, barely.   I cringe when friends tell me how their children are on the bus to school by 6:20am....I pray my children never have to go to school- I don't think any of us would make it.  Winter seems to bring sleepiness among the Hock household.  We are waking around 7:15, children even later-----for Pete's sake- it is still dark then!! I know- I am not doing them any justice, and every night I commit to getting everyone up early the next morning.....it just doesn't happen! We have been getting things done though--- making fudge to demonstrate igneous rock, paper Indian villages with totem poles and all, writing and reading lots, it has all got to count for something, right? :)

I also took a short photography class last week, to be able to use my camera better.  I am trying and you all will get to see the results.  She told me never to use the "green box" or the flash again.  this takes a bit of the spontaneity out of picture taking for me but I am working on it.

We are running out of Hot Chocolate these days!

can't get the focus right

fun with neighbors

ok--so definitely cannot get the sports pics right

Fun art project

my boy!!!!!

Annabelle is about to have her first gymnastic meet and she is working so hard to get her final skill- The round off back handspring...she got it on the tramp