This past weekend we headed out to the University and the duck pond.

Jacob took my camera and bread and headed for the gophers,  I was impressed with how close he was able to get.  This just proves he CAN sit still when he wants to :-)

 Later that day we headed to the pond.  We took Bree, not really knowing how she would do.  She stays pretty close until she sees another animal, of any kind.  Jacob tried hooking her up to his raft.  Yep, that did not go well.

I think Jacob spent more time getting dirty than swimming.

Benjamin had a friend along and they were playing some sort of king of the raft.

Jacob took Bree for several sprints.  We have had to resort to a chain leash.  As you can see in the picture, she still puts it in her mouth.

There was a momma duck and her ducklings at the pond.  The boys got surprising close.  I think the duck was somewhat freaked out by all the people and trying to find a calm, quiet place to hang.

These are the times I wish I had a more powerful zoom lens....one day!

Yes, I counted 17, although I never got them accurately counted until I saw the picture...they move around quickly.

Bree had spotted them but was not able to get away from our heavy hand.  Some how though she finally did escape.  She jumped in the water and started swimming towards them.  Since it was only her second attempt that day to swim, she tired quickly and returned.  I am very thankful.  All I could think about was her getting a duck and then me being dragged through the coals on social media :-)

A quiet week thus far.  The boys have been  in their room for large parts of the day.  They are not willing to step up and take care of things around the house, so they can spend their first part of summer in their room.  On Wednesday Jacob heads to the cabin for a few days with his buddy Cam.  Then on Friday, JR and Benjamin will drive over to get Jacob and then all three of them will head north to a youth camp for the weekend.  So, it will be just Joseph and I for 2 1/2 days.

Joseph had a great time at his birthday party.  We went in search of the perfect gift.  He wanted to get her a necklace with sparkles and a heart on it.  I told him he should probably wait a few years for a gift like that.  He settled on a craft project, nail polish and hair stuff.  He was the only boy there but the girl's mom said he did awesome.