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…

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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.