Ten Months...

...and she has broken the streak.

Each of her older siblings had begun to walk between 9 and 10 months, and I really thought Caroline would, too. But she's still dropping to her knees when she wants to get somewhere. Maybe she just wants to hold onto being the baby for as long as she can. Everyone loves to carry her about, so I guess we can't blame her.

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It's now the time of year for yard work to begin around here, and I bet you can imagine the groaning we hear on a Saturday morning when it's time to get busy.

However, something happened between the time the announcement was made to those unwilling laborers and the time these photos were taken. Any guesses?

No, no bribery.

No threats either.

Just a few words from a wise dad who knows his children well. When I walked out the front door to check on the progress, I found Cade furiously swinging the mattock. I asked Stephen how things were going, and he informed me that Cade was digging a moat around the castle because the enemies were soon to attack. He was working hard to get it done before they arrived.

Amazing. I have never seen the boy work so hard. But kindle his imagination, and, wow, look at him go!!

Luke absolutely wanted in on the action then when he saw what fun Cade was having. In fact, they were actually disputing whose turn it should be. But between the two of them, they dug the trench all the way around one side of the house (castle).  

 

And not to worry, Daddy had a task for Little Miss Cupcake too. She was to protect the pretty flowers by ripping out the big, bad weeds. Gotta keep the flowers safe! She worked hard at that...for a little while anyway.

And as for the photo below, she also worked hard to get that shovel in the ground just right so she could stand on it. But I bet you know where this story is going... 

Yeah, you got it. Rakes and shovels...they're all alike, right?