My Life as of Late.....

1. I clean up messes. wet ones. dry ones. colorful ones. It's practically another full time job.

2. I play hide and seek with Audrey's used pull-up. If a room smells like pee....chances are, there's a used pull-up somewhere in there.

3. Finally purchasing a bread maker that will make gluten free bread. Sandwiches again for lunch!

4. Preschool is beginning to be a subject that irritates me.

5. I still don't get a full night's rest, nor have I for about 18 months. I have given up caffeine. I'm crabby most days.

5a. Sharing my bed with an 18 month old. I wake up frequently and often my neck is stiff.

6. We are moving Allie to a new room to a big girl bed.

7. Checking the garden everyday for ripe tomatoes & peppers. Trying to be patient. Hoping the bugs don't eat all my herbs before I can make salsa.

8. photography continues to be a hobby for me, by choice.

9. getting up about 5-7 times a night to use the bathroom. gotta love that first trimester.

10. power struggles with my 3 year old.

My Little Kookaburra

This Saturday will be Audrey's first dance/ballet recital. Tonight was pictures. They had to come in full costume with hair/make-up done. We only did lip gloss for pictures but I do plan to put make-up on her for the recital. They took a group picture and individual ones. Now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Saturday, but I will not be surprised if she stands there much like she did tonight, staring at all the adults trying to get her to smile, barely looking up, with her finger in her mouth. She's not only shy, but stubborn. The photographer looks at me and says, "Make her smile, Mom" and I thought, well, give me your camera and I will! She's not used to having other people take her picture and I'm a little lost in that realm if I'm not behind the lens. She didn't pose like the other girls but I think we got a small smile in the end. Glad I didn't order too many!

She's doing better in the last few weeks with her reserved behavior. She talked up a storm with their pediatrician and all the nurses  a few weeks ago. And even though she's never been that friendly in that environment, those were people that she's seen for three years. It seems to be people and things that are brand new. She won't just jump in the water without wading in it first. Overall, not a bad thing.

I grabbed the wrong lens tonight, but here are some pictures of Audrey in her Kookaburra outfit.

Audrey with the other Kookaburras

the little girls gathered around some of the older dancers. I have no idea what they were talking about
but Audrey seemed pretty interested in what they were saying.

Sarah

Audrey plants her flowers

Maybe someday my daughter's first gardening project will adorn my kitchen table as I chat with a few friends over coffee. But for now, we watch and wait for it to grow.

Sarah

Planting

Finally. Our vegetables and herbs  are planted. Jeremy came home a little early today and got everything transfered from the pots to the garden. I'm crossing my fingers for enough tomatoes and cilantro for salsa. We are growing onions, but separately. Jeremy had a client that  grows onions so we did not buy them with the rest. 

If I had my choice, unlimited yard and a maid, I'd have a strawberry patch. Oh how I miss locally grown strawberries. They are 100 times better than the quarts you buy at the store. We got a small sample a few years ago from a local farmer and they were hands down the best strawberries I've ever had. We simply don't have room. I hope to find some at the Farmer's Markets this year! 

In our garden:

Roma Tomatoes

Beefsteak Tomatoes

Green Peppers

Red Peppers

Yellow Peppers

Cucumbers

Jalapeno Peppers

Hot Red Peppers

Cilantro

Oregano

Peppermint

Parsley

Basil

and Lemon Verbena. 

The Verbena was our impromptu buy at the greenhouse. It doesn't grow lemons, but the leaves are aromatic and can be used in teas, spices, or potpourri. You know, because I make my own potpourri! Ha! If I had that kind of time on my hands I probably wouldn't have anything to blog about.

garden, day one

tomatoes

peppermint, oregano, basil

lemon verbena

Sarah

Sprinkler and popsicles

How odd that my kids be outside with stocking hats on Monday and playing in the sprinkler and eating popsicles on Tuesday? Like I said, the weather this spring has been nothing short of hormonal.

This was the second or third hot day in a row. Our neighbors invited Auds and Allie over to play in the sprinkler...yes, please!  It was hot! And our little purple plastic wading pool wasn't open for the season yet. Allie, fighting her second ear infection chose not to get wet, but enjoyed watching the other kids play. Audrey (still despising water in her eyes) ran through the sprinkler ever so carefully, as to not let any of the water touch her head.

I found it very "Martha" of my friends to make and serve their own popsicles. That's on my list to conquer this summer.

If summer ever gets here.

poor Allie, clearly not feeling the best

homemade popsicle 

Sarah

Audrey's Flowers

On our trip to the greenhouse to buy plants for our garden, I hear Audrey say, "Look Dad, pink and purple, can I get these for my garden?" Jeremy, "Ask Mommy."

Well, what a great way to teach her a million different things. Sure! We let her get the "pink and purple" flowers which were actually perennials. We started them in a pot and will transplant them when ready. You had to soak the seeds overnight in water, which we did two days before they got planted.

Audrey picked out Russell's Lupine Mix....a.k.a. wildflowers. I'm not sure where we will put these in our landscaping yet, as they can get 3 feet tall. The bridesmaids bouquets for our wedding mimicked wildflowers. I love them!

I grew up in the country. I lived for a time next to my great Uncle John, who along with his wife Reva planted alongside the road various wildflowers. They were gorgeous. They made power walking up and down that road enjoyable, since in the country the scenery is the same, day in and day out. I miss those wildflowers and Uncle John and Aunt Reva will forever hold a special place in my heart. Every time I look at Audrey's flowers, I'll think of them and the farm.

adding them in the cup to soak overnight

Sarah

Mother's Day

Mother's Day 2011

I woke up to the aroma of freshly made coffee, with just the right amount of cream on my bedside table. The warm raspberry white chocolate scone my husband had gotten up early to make me for breakfast was divine. My two adorable girls come waltzing in my bedroom all dressed and hair done for church. My husband had ironed their dresses and braided their hair. Allie brought me a bouquet of spring flowers and Audrey sang me a song. I sat and listened and watched my wonderful children while my homemade breakfast melted in my mouth. When I get ready this morning I find I'd lost some weight and could fit into all my old clothes. I quickly get dressed and ready as the limo is waiting.........

You're right. I made that up. Instead my Mother's Day went more like this: 

My husband allowed me to sleep in both Saturday and Sunday. He did wake up before me to make breakfast. I had requested scones but my husband claimed he didn't know what a scone was. Instead he made a breakfast of: two kinds of bacon, sausage, fried eggs, coffee, hash browns and strawberries. 

We then went to church and spent the majority of the day outside working in our new garden and shopping for plants. I took a lot of pictures. 

For both our Mother's Day and Father's Day we got the armoire that matches our bedroom set. It's been discontinued. There were only five left anywhere, so we thought we should get it while we could. Therefore, no Stella and Dot necklace or diamonds for me this Mother's Day. 

I'm not in a sappy mood today so I'll leave it at this: I love being a Mom. 

Even without scones.   

Sarah

Our Little Garden, the beginnings

As part of our goals for 2011, we decided to plant a little garden in our backyard. My goal: homemade salsa and a few fresh herbs.

Day One 

My husband is nothing short of handy. He amazes me everyday at what he builds or fixes or magically creates in his little shop. So I wasn't surprised at all when in 5 minutes he created this bed for our garden. Knowing that rabbits run rampant around these parts we built our garden bed up 12 inches from the ground. We may still need to add wire in a few weeks. We'll see. 

To a communications major, like myself, it's called dirt. But to an agriculture major it's called mushroom compost, manure and top soil. We added said above, raked it in, added lots of water and let it settle for a few days. 

Day Two 

We needed more "dirt" 

A family trip to buy more mushroom compost, top soil and plants began. Hours later we came home with our vegetables, fill and two pairs of cute little princess gardening gloves for the girls. 

I'm from the school of thought that it's fun to play in the mud if it doesn't get in your fingernails. I'm sorry, but I think it's gross to go dig in the dirt and then go make lasagna. So, in an effort to get in touch  with my pioneer woman roots, I will garden, and garden with gloves. If I play my cards right, I may not have to play in the dirt at all. But I will love those vegetables as I look at them out my kitchen window everyday. I will take pictures of them. And when it comes time, I will pick the ripe tomatoes and harvest fresh herbs for dinner. 

"Oh my my, what a fancy glove"

Audrey showing off her gloves, which she never put on because she didn't want to get them dirty! 

We also found children's gardening tools and got each of them one so they could help

lots of water and then we let it sit for two days

our future salsa

Sarah