Flowers, garden...weeding!

Last summer we planted a very small garden of only tomatoes and a couple of bell pepper plants. (we tried onions and carrots but neither were successful!) This summer we really wanted to do more, so Joe tilled and marked off a large area in the backyard, outside the fence. We have quite a few things planted so we are just hoping to yield some YUMMY results. :) I am so determined to do all in my power to ensure that we yield those results that I have taken up weeding. Yes, weeding. I have become obsessive over it and honestly, I don't know why I didn't pick up on it sooner! I remember in summers past taking Sydney outside and just sitting there, wondering "how could anyone spend so much time out here doing yard 'stuff'"--pathetic I know. Well I have figured it out. Give me my gardening gloves, a five gallon bucket, and just a few minutes of uninterrupted time (HA!) and I will get on a roll with those weeds. I am obsessive compulsive about very few things but weeding has become one of them!

So we are still somewhat beginners in the gardening bit, but we have also bought several flowering plants and just today did a small landscaping project around our mailbox for some curb appeal! Cherish these photos and really let them sink in...I am notorious for killing pretty much all living things (non-human/animal of course ;) )--so I am going to do what I can to ensure they stay alive, but I do not have the best track record when it comes to plants!

My nap-time project yesterday (with Sydney)

Our curb appeal project today!

The daisies Sydney got from Papa Rod--they HAVE survived! Except for that one stem, right in the middle that used to bear a blossom....we are thinking our 4 legged child is the culprit involved in its disappearance.
My failed attempt at a close-up of the pretty pink blossom!

say what?!

We get Joe at home for two whole days!? Thank you Wolf Creek for being ever so generous!

yet another example of sibling love

Today at lunch Gavin finished eating before Sydney (shocking, I know). He hopped down and picked up the leash of this adorable, fluffy little stuffed dog. Some background on this dog:

• Sydney received it as a Christmas gift from Aunt Donna and Uncle Deryl
• "She" was initially named for Sydney's dear Aunt Bailey...we thought "Bailey" had stuck, but when asked today Sydney stated that the dog did not have a name. (you lucked out Bail!)
  
• "She" goes through spurts of popularity in this house and today just happened to be her lucky day because both, yes both, children wanted to play with her.

Here she is; the object of their affection.

So, back to the beginning--Gavin finished lunch first and this puppy just happened to be laying right next to his chair. He picked up the end of her leash and started walking her around the hallway and kitchen area. Sydney promptly finished her lunch and ripped, yes ripped, the leash out of Gavin's hand. Which lead to tears from him. Which lead to me explaining that he had "her" first so she needed to give it back. Which lead to tears from her (why I don't know--she's 3, that's all there is to say). Here is what happened following this lovely exchange--Gavin knew she wanted that dog. He also knew that it was "his turn"...so he strolled past her every chance he got. Would stop....would stare....would smile...and keep right on strolling. Sydney of course was just beside herself and you will hear her protests in the background of this video.

After a time, Gavin dropped the leash by the table and took off after something else (a cabinet door I think?). Sydney saw her opportunity, looked at me, then grabbed the leash. Seeing this, Gavin of course was instantly interested in the dog again. And so began another exchange (though not as wordy as above). G ripped the leash out of S's hand....she cries....I grab the leash from G, return to S....he cries. S stares, strolls, smiles....G follows, fusses, and frowns. (Not really did he frown, but it fit and I like alliteration!) Here's what the inverse video looks like...it's a stand-off!



Life really is exciting with these two. In every single meaning of the word!

rEaDiNg!

Sydney has always loved to be read to and now she can read a few books herself (from memory of course)! Gavin is slowly starting to become interested in books. If I'm in the kitchen cooking and he wonders off, 9 times out of 10 he has wondered in to his room and has begun flipping through a book! (Which I just LOVE!) When I'm reading with Sydney, he doesn't slow down long enough to sit through the whole thing, but he'll walk by and smile at the pictures and occasionally (okay-rarely), will plop down in my lap for a spell to listen. With that said, both of my kids love books in their own unique way.

They love to read, just maybe not when they are supposed to....

or where they're supposed to.

But in the end...it doesn't really matter to me!

(one) Word Wednesday

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bliss

Sibling Love

When I was pregnant with Gavin, most of you know, we had not found whether we were having a boy or a girl. So it was somewhat difficult to imagine our family plus another little one when I didn't know who to picture! I looked forward to seeing Sydney in her new role of "big sister" but had worries about that of course too. Plus, there was the nervous feeling of whether or not I would be able to love this new little person as much as I loved Sydney (which in and of itself was an unimaginable amount). Everyone told me I would but you just can't help but wonder how it's possible to have such an immense amount of love for TWO little people. Anyhow, Gavin arrived and my worries immediately diminished. It was instant love, just like it had been with Sydney. Then came the fun part....balancing a toddler and a newborn. :) I won't lie or sugar coat....it was harder than I ever imagined; but like with everything else we moms do, we just go with it and do it (and look back and wonder HOW we did it!) We are at such an extremely fun stage right now with our kids--Gavin is interacting with Sydney and playing and being goofy and Sydney just loves her little brother to pieces (most moments of the day!) This was one of those moments and I am so glad to have captured it (sorry facebook friends-you get to see it again!). I was fixing supper and my two little loves were loving on each other...well, kind of. **Watch closely....Gavin is sure to let Sydney know his true feelings. :)**

Summer time! LONG update about us to jump start the summer:)

Now that school is out for the summer, my hope is to get back on the wagon with this blog! My posts have been so sporadic, I will try to play catch up. My hope is that this post will be the fresh start of summer blogging. :)

What we've been up to:
Joe has been working the outage at Wolf Creek since the beginning of March. If you don't know what the outage is, no need to, just know that it sucks--in more ways than one! Poor Joe is at work by 6 (at the latest) and gets home every night around 7:30. There is really no end in sight, the completion date has been moved back to June 3rd, which means nothing to anyone because it's been moved back multiple times already. We have been "done" with the outage for quite some time now...it's really wearing on everyone involved! Another wife referred to herself as a Wolf Creek widow and that's just how I feel! Anyhow--no more whining--we are blessed that he has a secure job with benefits, etc. We are just reeeeally looking forward to the end of it!

Sydney is playing the part of 3 year old just perfectly. We have the wonderful, imaginative stories--we have the loves and snuggles--and we have the slamming doors, stomping, pouting, and shouting---among other things. :) She has always loved to read books and has memorized many of her favorites. The other night however, she shocked Joe and I by reading the entire Disney Princess Bride book on her own. We pointed to the words (and while I do realize it is all memorization at this point, I figure it doesn't hurt to direct her attention to the words!) She was so proud of herself! She loves playing dress-up and playing "Moms and Dads." No one else has the chance to play Mom--that is always, strictly, her role. She plays it well too. :) It's an opportunity for me to just sit back and realize that she really does listen to what I say, even when she is pitching a fit!

Gavin--oh Gavin. He is the extreme opposite of his big sister. I am so thankful that I get to experience having a little girl and a little boy because I am amazed every day at just how different they are. It has been so exciting to see what Gavin picks up on and to see firsthand the truth behind the saying "he is all boy." Because he definitely is! His motor starts going when he sees his car/tractor/truck and even the other day he heard Sydney say the word "tractor" and he started making the noise! He would rather launch things across the room than look at a book--if he does look at a book it is while he is walking past us reading. He loves destroying block towers, lego creations, book shelves, my bread cabinets in the kitchen, you name it. If it's in order he will shake things up. :) He is still a little lovebug and will just randomly walk over and give a snuggle, but it is short lived, so I take what I can get!

Me--well I am just glad that I now have no set routine, no mornings that are rushed. My babies can sleep in if they want or be up with the birds if they want! I can enjoy my morning coffee at my leisure and have another cup if I want to. :) I also have a few new goals for myself this summer. For the past several months I have been exercising and just trying to be healthier overall. I started in January exercising every day and using the website http://www.myfitnesspal.com to track my calories and exercise and reached my goal weight last month. Knowing that I had accomplished that goal I felt the need to challenge myself again--how? I am still kind of unsure, but I am seriously considering beginning a running program. Currently I am doing another little fitness challenge using a video of Jillian Michaels called "Ripped in 30." I can't wait until I know the moves well enough that I can mute her and just listen to my Pandora stations while I exercise. :) It's been a great journey and it is a huge ego boost to know that I (finally) put my mind to something and was successful!

With all of that said....I am hoping to update a lot more this summer! It should be a bit more eventful than last summer. :) Here are a few recent pictures of the kids!

One morning Sydney wanted to hold her little brother--lucky for her he had just started drinking his bottle so he was more willing to sit still with her!
Sydney and Gavin at Aunt Deanna and Uncle Jim's farm