Garden update: With the exception of one bare patch in the middle where I didn’t plant anything, my garden now looks like a small jungle.  The carrots are growing, but underground of course.  Not really sure when to pull them up, but the last one I tried was pretty small still so I guess I’ll wait a little while before trying again.  The tomato plants are tall and have a few flowers.  I think that’s a good thing?  Don’t really know.  The zucchini plants are huge and out of control, but I can see exactly two little zucchinis growing, which makes me happy.  The herbs are doing great.  Our CSA has been giving us a potted herb each week, too, so I’ve been adding those to the garden as they come.  I’m hoping there’s lots of rain in the next couple of weeks so things will keep growing while we’re gone. 

Oh yes, we’re going on vacation this week!  It will be a very busy time, so we’re hoping that we actually get a chance to relax for a little while.  We drive to Michigan on Wednesday, then on to Chicago (minus the kiddos), then up to northern Michigan to join the Flemings (and our kids) in Alpena, then back down to Brighton to spend time with the Panning clan, then finally home sometime around the 4th of July.  whew! 

I haven’t started packing yet, but I’ve been busy at my sewing machine.  I made the kids a couple of travel items (small pillow with matching blanket for the car) and I’ve got a few other little projects I’m trying to get done before we go.  Maybe someday I’ll take pictures and give you a “What my sewing machines have been up to” sort of post. 

The kids: I love that the kids are such good friends with each other.  Sure they fight over toys on occasion, but they love to just chase each other around the the house and screech at each other.  And jump on the bed.  And do all sorts of other crazy things that I don’t even know about.  Of course I love them both, but having them both TOGETHER is even more fun than just one. 

Except when they’re both chasing ME around the house shoving books in my face and demanding that I read to them.  Lucy has figured out “ree” instead of just “rrr,” so now I get “Gook!  Ree! Ree! Ree!” while she forces my hand to accept the book and plops herself down on my lap.  She also loves shoes and is constantly bringing her shoes to me so I will put them on her feet.  This really is a fun age, though.  She’s just having so much fun exploring the world as a toddler and we’re constantly amazed by the little PERSON she’s becoming.  Just wait til you hear her laugh…

***

See you back here in July!

***also: I just bought a new cell phone to replace the one that’s been missing for two weeks.  I apologize if any of you have tried to call in the last two weeks (unlikely), but given the current state of things I can’t even check my voicemail remotely so I have no way of knowing what’s been going on with the phone.  It’s not all bad… The reason I can’t check my voicemail is that the 1000 minutes I bought last summer have finally expired.  I have no idea how many were left, but I know I never ran out!  Even if I add in the cost of the new (cheap) phone, it’s still only $10/month.  Haha… maybe I should just get a new phone every year!  In any case, it should be here and activated in a few days.  In the meantime, call the house or my husband if you need to talk to us. 

Friday (better late than never)

1.  Fun on the farm!  The farm where we have a CSA share is also great entertainment for the kids.  On our first visit there, Henry discovered this huge “jumping pillow” and couldn’t get enough of it.  The kids (and Mom) are also fans of the “corn bin,” which is nice and cool inside even on a hot day. 

 

2.  Henry has discovered “golf.”  (also on the farm)

 

3.  I took the kids out for pizza the other day.  We had a fun (if chaotic) time, but I wish I had my camera with me.  Both kids decided that the slice of lemon on my water glass must be a special treat and insisted on trying it.  Henry quickly figured out that it was not such a treat, but Lucy repeatedly asked to try it again.  And every time, she made a wonderful face and then laughed.  It was a nice way to pass the time while we waited for our food. 

4.  Lucy now follows me around the house with a book in her hand pleading with me to “rrr” the “gook.”  It took her awhile to show much of an interest in books, but she can’t get enough of them at the moment.  Now it’s just a question of which kid gets to my lap first. 

5.  And finally, here’s a peek into our (mostly finished) bathroom.  Highlights include the new tile floor, the pedestal sink, and the custom cabinet built by our in-house carpenter.  This is the third bathroom that Matt and I have painted blue since we’ve been married. 

Friday!

1.  Start with Lucy today.  This sweet little girl has officially become a toddler and is developing a sweet, funny personality to go with her new status.  She can say a lot of things and surprises me by how much she knows.  The other day we were getting ready to go out and I was putting on my shoes.  Lucy was in the middle of the living room and said “Lucy’s shoe,” then got down on the floor and pulled one of her shoes out from under the couch. 

2.  Her current obsession is her belly button.  Please don’t dress her in a onesie… she’d be lost if she couldn’t stick her finger in her belly button! 

3.  Henry has started telling jokes.  Well, really just one.  It started with this book (Blue Hat, Green Hat), which Matt likes to make fun of by stringing together three random things and adding “oops” at the end.  Henry thinks this is the FUNNIEST thing ever and likes to make up his own versions.  So a joke from Henry might sound like: “Ceiling, floor, window… oops!” or “Car, hamburger… oops!”  (followed by hysterical laughter, of course).  Here’s a page from the book:

 

4.  You want to see one?  Let me edit a video and get that up for you in a little bit.  Ok, here goes:

5.  Our bathroom is getting a makeover!  We’re not finished yet so I can’t show you a finished product, but I can show you this “before” shot (from when we bought the house) and the other is a picture of a bathroom we loved.  We’re not exactly copying it, but it has provided some inspiration for us.  Hopefully we’ll have some pictures next weekend!