I call this the old barn boot bench because it was in the porch where I always sat to put on my barn boots before I went out to work.

A few finish nails and some glue made it ready for yet another paint job.

The kids learned that just one coat didn't do the job.

Sure I helped too but it sure turned out nice looking and ready to put on many more boots and shoes. Probably not any more poopy barn boots though.

Lily the spinner

At first she started slow.

She said "My dress flies out really neat."

Then you know how it goes from there...

Until she's too dizzy to spin anymore.

Muffin Sleigh Ride

It didn't take long for Chad and Jacci to teach Muffin to give the kids some fast rides.

January Igloo

The December and January rains made ideal conditions for snow fort blocks.
I remember doing this with all by brothers when I was a kid.
With five boys and a couple of cousins helping we could make pretty extravagant forts.

These kids really got a work-out making this little "igloo" as they insisted on calling it.
Charli helped get it this far and went inside because it was getting cold.

But Peyton and Lily wanted to keep working on because they liked it so much.
Better hurry. The sun is setting.

While they were placing this block they pushed against each other too much and almost the whole wall tumbled down!
I had to pocket the camera for a while to assist reconstruction.

After the demolition, reconstruction and getting it back to this stage it was time to go inside.
I'm sure they will spend a lot more time by the igloo for the rest of the winter.