scenes from spring break

 Building a barn for Pet and Patty (yes: of the Little House books we've been reading)... 

note the distressed finish of our coffee table.  People pay good money for such a custom patina.   

We didn't have to.

This is Jessie.  My great Aunt Sally (Papa Jack's sister) made her for me when I was a wee lass.

My younger lass is smitten.

 Elementary electronics via Snap Circuits.  The lads were gleeful each time they launched that spinning red wheel off its axis. 
The band-aid is from an unrelated (and minor) injury.

 Safety first: no long hair in the Snap Circuit area by order of safety marshal younger lad. 

Did I mention several of us have had the stomach flu this week?  (We're on the mend.)  Or that it's been raining buckets?  (not that I'm not grateful for the much-needed rain; it might be the last we get for a while!)

something up our sleeves

Home for Spring Break during what appears to be monsoon season, the elder lad and I were discussing the day's agenda. After lunch and siesta time, I told him, I "might have something up my sleeve."

"Is that an expression?" he wanted to know.

"Yes. It means I might have a surprise for you," I answered, giving rise to a guessing game.

Ice cream! The children's museum!

Nope. A program at the library given by one of the docents from the air and space museum, which ranks right up there with those other places in the lads' estimation but was farther than I planned to travel today.

As we were loading up to go, the elder lass began to fuss, asking for my help. "I have something up my sleeve!" she lamented.

The elder lad was quick to note the difference. Upon discovering a postage stamp up his sister's sleeve, he announced "She really does! How'd that get there?!"