Weekends

Spring weekends=planting and gardening

It means that there will be hard work....and I'm so lucky that my girls find pure joy in doing the work and getting dirty...because they KNOW what comes of it:)

(a tutu is a daily thing, in case you were wondering:)

Care and gentleness...and patience.

And a whole lot of silliness...

And it isn't always easy and fun...sometimes you just want to cry.

But all the care and waiting and patience is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 

worth it in the end. 

 The reward comes, 

when you peak into the leaves and see those first fruits of your labors.

What I absolutely LOVE about this homegrown goodness...

is that I don't find myself hunting for the reddest, roundest tomatoes...

Or the most perfectly shaped strawberries...or green peppers.

Shape and color..."perfection" don't matter, 

because I KNOW that it is just gonna be the sweetest, best thing I ever tasted!

Aubrey isn't much into the gardening and dirt yet, but she is into this sandbox, which by the way hasn't held sand in 3 years.  It holds summer water and she seemed to know that something was missing.

And once there was water, she was perfectly happy.

It is a perfectly good way to practice cruising too in case anyone is wondering.

Of all my girls, she is the only one who has willingly kept her summer hat on and I"m so grateful!

BUT THE FUN IS OVER WHEN 

SISTER GETS A HOLD OF THE HOSE!

(picture taking ended her, because someone needed to rescue the baby drowning by the hand of her sister)

Aubrey forgave her once she dried out!

More things that happen...

Remember last weeks post, about things that happen?  Here are some more...

Sometimes, big sisters decide that they will NOT stay in the kitchen with breakfast scone, will get distracted (easily) and  leave it on coffee table to go do something else.  Little sister (who is very sly) will wait for that moment and then quietly and quickly HELP HERSELF.  Can you blame her...they were chocolate chip!

Someone might find a new place to sit and relax...and empty the dishwasher!  

Much easier to reach everything when you are sitting on the door!

*New recommendation is to skip going to the bathroom all together!  

Things that happen...

Mom's go to the bathroom too!  We have needs too!  And sometimes, we just like to shut the door!

These are the things that might happen when the door is closed...  

"Someone" may reorganize your cupboards...

"Someone" may try on your glasses and rings...

"Someone" may decide that she wants to play video games on the X-Box...

"Someone" might empty the dishwasher for you:)

"Someone" might dress up their little sister in a teddy bear vest...

Guaranteed that the little sister will not like this!

And "someone" who thinks that she is really bigger than she is, might try to pour her own juice...

But when that fails, she is big enough to take it upon herself to start cleaning up!  

Or maybe fear made her do it!

(Quote:  "It's ok Mom, I'm cleaning it up!")

Maybe it would be better to leave the door open next time!

Wordless Wednesday--My Little Texans:)

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder....

I have come to appreciate friends...play dates...ADULT conversation (that isn't a doctor or therapist:)  These are all BLESSINGS in my life and I appreciate them more now that Aubrey is here...

Last year, we were SUPER germaphobic as she prepared for surgery and then recovered.  We had a lovely summer and fall, when it happened.  GERMS!  They landed Aubrey in the hospital and then most outside contact was done for.  No play dates with other kids, no handing her around at functions.  We became super germaphobic again...we had to...we couldn't keep ending up in the hospital.

Mid March was our last synagis shot...so come mid April, we had the green light to play with friends again.  She might still get sick, but she NEEDS to be with other kids:)  So with such low risk, we headed to playgroup with friends...and we are happy...no matter how many tears over unshared toys...or stolen toys...or unfairness...we are happy to be with OUR friends again.  We appreciate them more now than we did before...we love our friends...

 and we love to try out boy toys at all the other houses:)

 Who didn't have a BIG WHEEL when they were growing up?!?!

 And our love (obsession) with bubbles is ongoing.  And the pink tutu that twirls as you spin your bubbles, and the red sparkle shoes, does in fact make blowing bubbles better!  

 Ella has also found a deep love for tools and "building".  I'm sure that Woody will spend many weekends in the next few months at home depot with his big girls...sporting the orange aprons...busy building banks and birdhouse and bird feeders...

Aubrey found a great friend last week...his name is Ace and he is the most gentle and loving dog.  

He put his paw out and she new exactly what to do...shake and make introductions.

 He patiently let her explore his eyes and nose.

 And then she gently gave him a nice pat on the back.

 We love Ace and can't wait to see him again.

And we are really looking forward to time with Gramma and Granddad Smith's golden, Rocky, this summer.

I think he and Aubrey will be fast friends too.

So here's to appreciating your friends, no matter how big or furry and for adult conversation!

Good News!

Hey everybody!  Good news from my cardiologist yesterday.  I tipped the scales over 17lbs!  And my heart sounded great!  I had an echo in November that showed improvement (I have some leakage still from surgery--not much, but just a little).  And it had improved again in December!  (they did one when I was sick in the hospital) She thinks that I can go off my meds!  Half doses for 4 weeks, then nothing!  We will follow up with an echo after that to make sure I'm doing ok.  Yeah for fewer things to do each day and think about when on vacation!!!