It seems like it hasn't rained here in months. I'm sure it has, but it's really really dry.

 Because of that the grass hoppers are everywhere. Houston loves to chase and catch them and is really pretty good at it.

 Heath is a little chicken he watches Houston go after them and will get up close too but when it comes to actually touching them he won't do it. He just sits by and says, "Get it Houten, don't squish it Houten, don't eat it Houten." (don't worry I get them away from Houston before they get to the mouth...usually)

 We have a bunch of lizards that are living in our cellar right now. The door to the cellar is right by the window in our living room and more often than not when you look out the window there is a lizard sunbathing on the cellar door. Usually it's a Prarie Lizard, but sometimes it's a five lined skink.(the ones with a blue tail)   

There are several pictures of me as a little girl smiling in this very fashion. 

 While my wonderful neighbor was over one day she felt something touch her shoulder and looked and there was a humming bird humming right in her face. He just sat there and looked at her for a minute, then went on his way. (She was wearing a bright red shirt.)

 We had a nest of meadowlarks grow up and take off. The other day they were all over the yard I guess figuring out what to do with themselves with their new found freedom. They are so beautiful with their bright yellow bellies. It was sure fun to watch.

Heath has figured out how to unlock and open the front door : (   Sunday we were in the kitchen while the boys were playing in the living room and we heard a clank. So we went to investigate and Heath was sitting on a chair on the porch and Houston was trying to negotiate the screen door to get out there too. 

We had a good talk about how you can't go outside without Mommy or Daddy and a timeout, but today while I was in the kitchen I heard him messing with the door again, so I ran in there and caught him just as he was opening up the screen door. (the door had been locked this time too) So as a quick fix we put one of those "childproof" doorknob covers on, but Heath can get those off and open the door to the bedrooms, it just takes him a bit longer. So... we're trying to figure out what to do now... I worry about living in St Louis soon and him being able to open doors. We're going to have to put another lock on our doors up high I guess. 

We sure are going to miss our great outdoors.