Spider, funny hat, and watercolor work of art

We found a large spider living above our sliding glass door entry. He had quite a web. We couldn't even see him until we started to pull back his massive web. It was actually one of the boys who spotted the web. We released him outside and woke up this morning to see it had made a beautiful web over looking our backyard. The flowers are on a vine covering the trellis by our back deck. A woman came by last week to pick up an item I posted on freecycle and there were a few small spiders on the underside of the item. She was a little skittish and so I dusted them off. She was surprised I didn't squash them. I told her they eat all sorts of bugs. The spiders around our house are totally harmless. We have never sprayed them in the 4 years we've lived here. Anyway, I'm sure she thought I was weird. But having kids who love bugs has made me this way!! LOL.

While I cooked dinner Holden sat at the kitchen table watercoloring (see photo of his painting). He added glitter to it. The paper he used came from a roll of paper we purchased from the local newspaper. I wrote birthday notes and sent pictures to an aunt, my grandmother, and a cousin this morning. Holden added some colorful markings to one of the letters and so did I. It is so fun to watch him paint or color at his leasure. I asked him if he prefers painting on plain paper or coloring books. He said plain paper. I buy him coloring books when he asks but he really does enjoy making his own creations. I have them hanging all over house.

After dinner we walked to the lake. Holden and Camden found a mud hole right away! LOL. Holden took a picture of me. After I looked at the photo I noticed a huge bush behind my head which looks more like a hat. Very funny!

Cliff has found about some decent job opportunities so he will most likely be heading out by Monday. One of the jobs is in Missouri. It would be only a few hours away.

It is absolutely gorgeous here today! It is supposed to get up to 80 degrees and it is sunny. I'll be meeting some friends at a park in Des Moines and then I have to get home because I am starting to watch a little friend of Holden's after school until his parents get him in the after school program. Kids in our town just started school yesterday.

Cliff is off running a few errands and I need to get a few more chores done. uggg. Chores are a bore. The same person who invented chores, jobs, and schools invented stationary living! Hahahah!