Kid Garden: Part 1

I started the kid garden today. It's not really ALL a garden, but I don't know what else to call it. Andrew hauled the lumber over from the vacant lot and sadly about half of it was rotten, so it took me a good thirty minutes playing around with different designs and figuring out where to "build" it. Finally I just decided on a basic square and put it in the shade, near the sand table.

 I made a dirt section with toy animals and cars, then there is the flower section (mostly pretty weeds in jars that we can collect and replace every few days), the water table and a little area that is waiting for a tomato plant. I also want to add some rocks, sticks, windmills, a cute welcome sign and some flagstone in the entryway between the trees. But so far, so good! I hope the boys enjoy it.

Maddox and his telescope. 

I had one extra piece of wood so I staked it in the ground and the boys love their new "balance beam." They stand on the stump, wait for the "ready, set, go," and then the wobble across to the finish line. 

Please excuse the fact that Maddox is wearing a pajama top with cargo shorts. It was pretty early. In fact, I was bra-less and wearing Andrew's flip-flops and my sweatpants. Hopefully the neighbors didn't look too close. 

a garden fit for a kid

I worked in the yard all weekend. It was hours of blood, sweat, and tears. Maybe that is a little dramatic, but I have the scratches and splinters (thank you knockout roses) to prove it.

Our yard is big and needs a lot of work. It will take time to get it how I want it, but I've started the gardening thing and now I can't stop. Today the boys watched me when they needed a break from the pool, sprinkler and their quickly melting ice cream cones.

They were very tempted to pull at my flowers, "help" me dig (picture Jude lifting the giant shovel in a mere 1/2 second) and play in the dirt. But of course, I had to say, "Don't pull my flowers! Leave them alone! Go play!"

And then tonight, the thought hit me. I should make them their own little garden, where they can help and go crazy and do what they want to do. There is a perfect spot next to where they love to play. And there is even an already-built flower bed behind the vacant lot next to us that I am going to move to our yard. (It's not stealing! The house burned down three years ago so no one lives there.)

I'm thinking of getting some edible plants, putting some rocks in there, just making it eclectic and cute. I am more excited about doing a kid garden than my grown up garden! Here's some ideas I found online. Pretty cute, huh? Stay tuned.

My Little Sickies

Maddox thinks that all doctors are supposed to blow you big soap bubbles because, well, his doctor (Dr. Rigby) does it - each and every time we visit. But today we had to see Dr. Sheldon and there were no bubbles. What a letdown! But I think the Elmo sticker cheered Maddox up. And Jude, while sick with the same snotty/coughing thing, has never quit smiling. He smiles when he tries to blow his nose (see below), when he runs away from us at the doctor's office, when he steals my guacamole at Moe's, when he tries to climb out the shopping cart. 

Yep.

Always getting into mischief...and smiling about it.

I made a very primitive chart to keep up with all the medicines the boys were prescribed. They each have THREE, for a total of six medicine bottles in my cabinet and fridge. And of course they have a different dose for each bottle.

Tomorrow, Andrew is on dayshift and that means I get to conquer breakfast alone. I'm prepared, though. I have the coffee ready to go (very important step), the sippies filled, the quiche cooking, and my clothes laid out. Did I mention that the roofers are coming at 7:30 am?

Hmm, I think it is time to redo the boys' silhouettes. Jude has a neck now. 

The time is flying by, isn't it?

Hello Beach! It's Been Awhile

Usually breakfast is a hectic time.

Make the boys juice, put them in their boosters, make them breakfast, feed the cat, clean up, make the coffee, try to eat something, clean the litter box, answer the question "Can we go out now?" over and over and over with, "In a few minutes. We just woke up!"

To be honest, I kind of dread breakfast. But today it was great!

We got up at 6:30 and dealt with the carpet cleaners (and a giant lizard they let in), the leaking kitchen sink fixer (who is very hard to understand, because he lacks teeth), and the roofers (who will be back Wednesday at 7:30 am) all by 9:00!

Then, bags packed, we were out the door and off to IHOP for a late breakfast.

Jude insisted on using a big boy fork and he did pretty well. 

After gaining a pound (or two), we hit the soundside beach for the first time this year.

We met up with our good friends Erika and little Ava. The kids played in the sand and water and we could actually talk (much unlike last summer when our infants kept eating the sand and whining).

It was a good Friday. And I'm really happy the weekend is here. It was one of those weeks where every little thing went wrong until I thought, "I can't take any more! I really can't!" 

And then...Friday rolled around and all is well (for now).

Bippy's = A Yummy Mess

Bippy's is one of the best places in the world. Really. I'm talking cake batter frozen yogurt mixed with chocolate chip cookie dough, brownie bites and caramel. Or how about Maddox's concoction of cheesecake yogurt and gummy bears? There is something for every taste bud and wild craving. We sure do love it!

Funny faces

Drip, drip, drip

This weekend we had planned our debut beach trip, but instead we sat inside (with the exception of some antiquing with Yani, Cupcakes by the Beach, and a Target run) watching the monsoon outside. And then, the monsoon came INSIDE. I walked into the closet off the laundry room to discover a mini lake and water pouring out from under the molding. Oh, yes, I about panicked. How much can a girl take? Rats to flooding?

Thankfully, the rain stopped Sunday and we are waiting for a contractor to come fix the leak in the roof. But what about the water damage inside the house (ahem, I poked the soft-looking ceiling and my finger went right through! Hello rotten wood)? We are still waiting to see what they plan to do about that. I'm just glad the problem isn't in the main part of the house! But still. And on top of that, we have developed a leak under our kitchen sink and are (yes, you guessed it!) waiting for someone to come fix it. Now whoever said base housing wasn't glorious? Ha. Maybe we have learned our lesson about base housing. Even still, we do love our house and I'm hoping the troubles end when these water problems are fixed!

And maybe, just maybe, we will make it to the beach next weekend. In the meantime, we wait....

The National Anthem was playing and Maddox said, "Mom, I'm showin' respect."

We are Target buddies. ♥

Hello, giant cupcake. 

My kids don't play with toys very long. Instead, they like to play with my things. 

Boy Toys

The boys love to be outside. And they love tools. We went to the mall today and Andrew came out looking like Santa Claus, carrying a giant bag of toys. Chainsaw, leaf blower, toolbox. The boys are in heaven (and so am I). It isn't too often I can sit in a chair outside and watch them play. Usually I am chasing you-know-who out of the road, out of the woods, away from the water spigot, or away from the dogs next door. But...not today. 

Happy Friday everyone!