Sticks and Stones

The Mud Trail

Our afternoons are usually spent outdoors.  Especially Bob enjoys getting outside.  All three of these boys have discovered a common hobby - collecting sticks.  Nowadays it is not unusual to find piles of sticks at our front door.  Even when I pick Sidney and Spencer up at day care, the walk to the car always includes collecting sticks.  Today, I had to ensure there was enough space in the trunk so that Spencer's stick would fit inside.  And promptly, after arriving at home and getting out of the car, the stick was taken out of the trunk and landed on the door step.

Sometimes there are quarraels about whose stick it is.  This one is Bob's.

However, sticks alone are not enough and boys being boys - Sidney and Spencer need to bring tools with on their walks.  They request to walk on the "mud" trail (a small path between two fields filled with puddles, mud, and a small stream with stones that can be thrown into it)    Once on the trail there is a whole host of sticks to choose from.  Once the boys have sticks (and have dipped them in mud and puddles) - I turn back to see them both sitting on the ground - tools in hand.  They call to me "Mama - we're working", "Mama - I am fixing it"

Some pictures of the " Men at Work"