My boys have been making homemade bows and arrows for themselves for as long as I can remember. This week, Keats decided to make some for his sisters. He is typically very patient with them, and has earned the title, “Best Big Brother,” from Beatrix. Beatrix uses that title to get what she wants. So for instance, she wants Keats to help her with something, but he’s busy and says, “No, not right now.” Beatrix responds with, “But you’re my Best Big Brother!” Maintaining that title is very important to Keats for some reason, so he drops what he’s doing and helps her.
Larkspur only required a little bit of help, learning to shoot her arrows.
Beatrix was more high maintenance. We all crowded around the computer last night, the kids dying laughing over this series of photos of Beatrix trying to shoot an arrow. Keats would help her get ready…
she would pull back with all her might…
She’s a good sport though and didn’t get frustrated. I’m glad she can laugh at herself. That’s an important skill to have.
Tracy says
Ah ‘best big brother’ is lovely, it did make me smile. Good girl for keeping on trying until she did it 🙂
Lisa McK @etcblog says
Also, think you could convince Keats to write a guest blog about how he makes the bows and arrows? What’s the best material? Do you need a curved stick for the bow? etc., etc.
Lisa McK @etcblog says
Beatrix has the best hair of anyone on the entire Internet.
Nadja says
Sebastian is like that…he’ll give in to Gemma wanting to play in his room with his Legos or something while he’s doing something else. It really gets on my Gabriel’s nerves, as he shares the room with Sebastian and doesn’t always relish Gemma in the room!
I love those photos, and yes, the ability to laugh at one’s self is sorely missing in too many people.
molly says
That’s just awesome. Wish I had half the patience (of Keats OR Beatrix!).
Molly
PS: Ordinarily, I would never pump a Disney film, but I must say, Merida comes to mind…
tara says
Oh how fun! That’s awesome Beatrix can laugh at herself. I always love when kids are able to do that. It took me YEARS (okay, I’m still working on it…). I would totally want to maintain my title as Best Big Brother if I were Keats too!
Becca says
Aw sweet! I’m going to have to show my son this. He would love to make his own bow and arrows.
Brenda from Dwyer's Farmhouse says
Beautiful post. They are so very blessed to have him as a big brother.
Lisa Eggers says
My favorite thing about this post is Beatrix’s fuzzy sleepy hair in the back, so charming! She sure looks like a little firecracker (I have one of those too, her name is Mimi! 🙂
I love the name Larkspur, I promise not to steal it for any future daughters (even though I might want to!).
Peggy says
Completely warms my heart!
Jo says
oh bless! What a sweet post!
Naomi H says
favourite.blogpost.ever. Best big brother helping younger sisters, bed head, laughing instead of getting frustrated – it just warms my heart and I hope my kids do the same as they get older (well, we’ve got bedhead down).
Diana says
I so enjoy your photography. Today, well done Beatrix. Keats has such a kind heart.
Erin says
Precious! What a victory smile.
amanda says
Bea’s bedhead has to be the best ever. Really.
And I loved seeing this post as my kids are fond of taking bits from the crepe myrtles to make their bows and arrows – resourceful and creative 🙂
Leah says
Love these pictures!! My girls do the same thing with the “best big brother” except their big brother is the only brother in our family. It cracks me up every time they say it 🙂
Tonya says
I just asked Nolan (age 17) yesterday to please work with Abraham (age 5) to make a bow this spring – there has been many bows and arrows made in our home over the years.
C says
Can I say how relieved I am to know that my children are not the only ones going about their day with bed head?
okgal says
Going to try with my children.
dairygran says
How very interesting.
a little crafty nest says
Ginny, My oldest would be in good company with your boys! He is so into bows and arrows…passionate, really. For his birthday two years ago, my husband made him a bow and arrow set and I made a quiver. I am a little shy to share it like this, but I thought your boys might want to make a quiver…it is far easier than I thought and very very beautiful. If you are interested, you can see it here http://alittlecraftynest.typepad.com/a-little-crafty-nest/2011/11/all-a-quiver-a-tutorial.html
I also think it’s great your daughter can laugh at herself…we should all be so free!
xo Jules
Lisa G. says
Now that I look at it again, that tunic she’s wearing is rather Robin Hood-y looking, isn’t it? Great!
Lisa G. says
Great photos, Ginny!! Keats is an angel, God bless his good heart. I think I’d end up laughing if I couldn’t get it either, but he doesn’t seem aggravated by her several failures.
That puff of blonde fuzz on the back of her head is also comical!
Grace says
Oh! So cute.
Sue says
Such wonderful photos, adorable children and beautiful memories – parenting brings so many blessings x
Michelle says
Does Keats have a tutorial for us? I’d love to make one for Athena. I am serious, by the way.
Ginny says
The boys use flexible new wood for the bows (we have young honey locust trees here that work well,) bend them and attach mason’s string. The bows don’t last forever, because once the wood dries out it breaks. They use pieces of dried out ornamental grass for the arrows, adding chicken feathers at one end, and points cut from can lids on the other. The can lids part scares me just a little!
Michelle says
Thank you kindly.
Amy says
Ginny,
Lots of interest in this post at my house! My son wants to know what they used for bow string. We have tried lots of strings over the years, but haven’t found the perfect string. Great pictures of a helping big brother.
Thanks!
Ginny says
Jonny says it’s called brick mason’s string. Like this: http://www.amazon.com/Lehigh-Secure-NST181RL-Reloadable-800-Foot/dp/B0009WG67A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362063158&sr=8-1&keywords=mason+string
You can buy it at the hardware store.
Amy says
Thank you. We will give it a try.
Kimberlee says
Even Queen Susan had to start somewhere. Hooray for bows and arrows and big brothers!
Jenny says
I have pictures just like these. It’s so much fun to watch them make their own bows and arrows and then to watch them make them work as they wander around playing.
Nahuatl Vargas says
How beautiful pictures of her, laughing, trying and her brother helping, cute memories, so good you have them in pictures.
Heather says
Persistence is definitely a good trait. I notice that my oldest shines when labeled best big brother.