A Guinea Pig and a Kitty

Have you ever seen a guinea pig and a kitty paint?

Now you have.

And don't try to explain to Ethan that he's not a guinea pig. And don't try to explain to Jack that he's not a kitty. It would just be a futile attempt at common sense, something that is largely lost on these two. Plus, it is quite fun to paint with a guinea pig and a kitty, especially when Ethan has crowned you the guinea pig Mama.

New Duds

The boys received some darling clothes from their Grandma Lyon, and since she's not here to see them, I tried to make them stand still for half a second so I could get a photo.

Jack's shorts are a bit long, but with my propensity for shrinking the laundry, and Jack's tendency to grow way too fast, they should be a perfect fit in just a few weeks.

Ethan, especially, likes these clothes. When I got him dressed yesterday in his new Jeep shirt he asked, "Don't I look handsome?" And, today, while I was dressing Jack he was pretending to be a kitty. Ethan told him that he was a handsome kitty.

Thanks, Grandma Lyon!

Mother's Day

Well, I was really hoping to get this post up a bit sooner, but I wasn't counting on a week full of fevers, coughs, and visits to the doctor. Jack started the trend Monday morning with a fever and a few spots on his face. By Wednesday, Jack was considerably better, but Ethan wound up at the doctor with 105 degree fever and a double ear infection. It was one of the saddest things I've ever seen, my sweet boy so flushed and limp, shivering on the couch. Thank God for antibiotics and tylenol and one great family practice- I really love our doctor's office. Ethan is so much better today, and I am grateful.




Back to Mother's Day-


I really, really love Mother's Day. I know it is a made up holiday, but it has become one of my favorite days of the year. Todd always manages to make it so special, and this year was no exception.

Todd got up with the boys, and made breakfast while I slept! Jack and Ethan woke me up later, Ethan with a carefully rehearsed, "Happy Mother's Day! I love you!" and a beautiful card the boys had drawn on. Todd came to get me for breakfast, bringing with him a Starbucks latte. (Our coffee pot broke a couple months ago, which led me to discover how much I love lattes, but now that we can make coffee at home again, I can rarely justify spending $3 on a cup of coffee. But I really miss my lattes!)

I went downstairs to find this waiting for me.

Really, could you imagine a better breakfast?

And, in my excitement over the food, it took me a moment to notice these.

Truly one of the most beautiful boquets of flowers I have ever seen. This picture doesn't really do them justice. Magenta roses, yellow orchids, mixed in with almost neon green flowers whose name I don't know, made one of the most striking combinations I have seen.

We later made our traditional trip to the nursery, where Todd entertained the boys while I browsed among the plants to my heart's content. I chose a few annuals for the pots, a couple cucumber plants, and more seeds. Todd got his pepper plants that he loves so much- and now that I suddenly have this love for spicy food, I think we might actually be able to use them this year.

Back at home, with the boys tucked in for naps and another latte in my hand, I spent the afternoon reading in my rocking chair, a true luxury.


But wait, there's more!


After naps, off to mini golf. It was such a cold day that there were only a couple other families there, which meant we could move through the course at our own pace. This is a very good thing when golfing with a three year old and a one year old.

And what is golf without icecream? Those two just seem to be linked in my mind, so off we went to Coldstone, armed with our Mother's Day coupons. I'm so glad my boys love icecream as much as I do.

Then, back home, boys to bed, my favorite Thai takeout, watching the Celebrity Apprentice Finale with my husband. Really, I couldn't have asked for anything more.

So, while the boys are still so little, it is Todd who makes this day so amazingly wonderful, who made me a mother in the first place. I am so grateful for him, for my boys, and this life we have together.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers, who work so hard for your kids, no matter what age they are. And especially to my mother, who has demonstrated how to daily give up your rights to yourself for your kids, cheerfully and gratefully. Who is so inspiring in this world that looks upon children as burdens, or accessories, not usually as true gifts from God. Who raised nine children with so much love and grace, with the goal of making them feel special, not trying to get them up and out of the house so that she could have some time and money to do things for herself, which seems to be such a common attitude these days. Truly she is a blessing.

Seedling Update

Just because I'm having fun chronicling these seeds...

Here are our seedlings at the end of Week 4...

And at the end of Week 5

Bread and Dirt

Yesterday we spent the day with the basics- baking some bread, digging some dirt. What a great day.

The morning started with sprinkling some yeast and salt over warm water.

Mixing in some flour.

Waiting for the soft, wet dough to rise.

After a few hours in the refrigerator, it was ready to be shaped, to rest.

Floured and scored.

Removed to the oven.

Retrieved, brown and crusty.

Sliced and eaten, enjoyed.

I used the method from "Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day." Deb had made a batch of dough for me before, but this was my first go at it. So easy! After the dough finishes rising about 2 hours on the counter, it is ready to be stored in the refrigerator, for up to two weeks, just waiting to be formed into boule loaves, rolls, pizzas, even "sticky pecan caramel rolls."

If anyone is interested in making this (Christy? You know you'll love it), here is the link to the article I used.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Artisan-Bread-In-Five-Minutes-A-Day.aspx


Onto the garden.






The boys and I enjoyed the beautifully overcast afternoon digging in the dirt. I needed to collect soil samples to test to make sure that the beds are ready for planting. Ethan needed to find squirmy wormies, and Jack just needed to get dirty.



I was dropping some of my samples off inside when Ethan came running up to me.

Mom, I need some water for my flower.

Ok, Ethan, here you go.

When I went back out, there he was.

Watering his flower.

Oh, he was thirsty. Doesn't that look like a beauty?

There's two for you.

(meaning, here's another flower, to add to the other I already gave you.)

Didn't I tell you it was a pretty great day?

After the flower was cared for, Ethan moved on to his real love, worms. He found some beauties.

1. A couple of the garden beds that I had weeded just a week or two ago, full of weeds already, and one full of strawberry plants that will unfortunately be removed- we just can't give up that much space.

2. One of the unsuspecting strawberry blossoms.

3. A butternut squash from last season provided a winter of feasting to our little squirrel.

Jack trying to see the neighbor's dog. That boy loves dogs.

Today, Ethan helped test the soil.

All in all, life is pretty amazing. Also pretty amazing- how God is able to reveal Himself so clearly, so deeply, so quietly through the days spent with my children, even through time in the garden.

It was a pretty great day .