Peer Pressure

I don't know what's gotten into my friends lately, but they've all been annoyingly productive as of late (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!). And if they didn't blog about it, it wouldn't make me feel so gosh darn lazy. But there they go, boasting and posting about all the the blood, sweat and style they have been putting into their projects and DIY labors of love. One particular project that seems to be popular this time of year are home grown gardens...and my mouth waters as I see these beautiful beds brimming with the promise of fresh fruits, veggies and herbs.

So. Fine. I finally gave into the peer pressure. And if you know me, (which of course you do or you wouldn't be reading my super secretive blog) you know I don't give in easily to peer pressure. My sister has been begging me to adopt a seedling or two from her, and I just recently succumbed and took home a tiny little cherry tomato plant. I had a pot at home for it, but needed to pick up some potting soil and a tomato cage. I decided to bring Harlie with me to Green Acres because I knew she'd love looking at all the pretty flowers. What's funny is that what she ended up loving the most was a big metal gorilla sculpture.

So we went, and then we came back with just a few other things, because Harlie's two and I forgot about the "I want this Mama", and "look at this, I want this one and this one and this one MAMA!"

Too make a long story even longer, in addition to our cherry tomato plant we ended up with a strawberry plant, and a trifecta of herbs; purple sage, basil and cilantro.

And just look at my adorable new babies!



Thanks gals, for the inspiration! I like having a new project. God, I hope I don't kill them all.

Highlights

I thought a good way to improve my overall mood and outlook on life these days, amid the challenges that continue to face us, would be to write about a positive experience each week. A highlight or event, that made me smile, helped me to relax, encouraged me or just made life better.

So this week, my highlight came in the form of two text messages sent to me by Scott on Friday afternoon. He had taken the day off, and I was at work on a day when we were just being slammed with calls and I couldn't wait to get home and start my vacation. As I stepped out into the sunshine on my 30 min. lunch break, I found these on my cell phone:



I knew that Scott was planning on taking the kids to the California Railroad Museum and I was happy that Austin and Harlie would be spending some time together before he left for his mom's for most of the summer. Later, I found out that Scott decided to make it a train themed day and take the lightrail downtown. This proved to be a wise choice since the Jazz Festival would have made it diffcult and costly to find decent parking.

Of course I wished I had been there with them, but instead of just feeling resentment because I had to be at stupid work, I was just so happy that they were all having a good time and that Scott was enjoying his long awaited day off with his kids. I was glad that Harlie was able to hang out with her big bro who only usually ever graces her with his presence at the dinner table, and I was happy for Austin that finals were over and he could now celebrate summer!

Seven

They say to keep your marriage healthy, you need to constantly work on it.



I'd volunteer for overtime if I could do this everyday.

Cheers honey! Best date ever.

Some things never change

Me: So Aust, are you getting too old for this yet? (handing him the KIDS National Geographic magazine that had come in the mail.)

Austin: When you spend most of your childhood doing something, like I grew up reading this magazine, you just always like it, so no.

Ain't that the truth?

In good hands...

Harlie had her first day of not-at-her-auntie's-house daycare today. After much internet searching and thoughtful consideration, we settled on a new in-home daycare center that the sister of my childhood friend was opening, just a few miles from our home.

Harlie has been excited to start "preschool" like her big cousin Mazzy, so to help her prepare, we took her to Target to pick out her very own backpack.



Unfortunately, my attempts to capture a photo of Harlie dressed for her big first day were thwarted by the GROUCH MONSTER that inhabits her body most weekday mornings.

In the weeks leading up to today, I was filled with anxiety, wishing and hoping and praying that she would be comfortable in her new environment and that she would not be the "wierd" one or "bad" one of all the kids.

Lucky for me, the day was a huge success...and I think this new arrangement is going to work out just fine. Fingers Crossed!

Easter Slideshow

Kids can turn your life upside down and inside out, but this right here is why it's all worth it. Yes, even when they are trying to use you as a human rock wall in church.

Click to View Easter Slideshow

Seeing the joy in your child's smile can fill your soul like nothing else can.

Food Faves II

A little over a year ago I posted about the kids' favorite foods and how my own childhood favorites bring me joy. Now, recently Austin has discovered a very unique new food fave and it looks like this, or a variation of this:



A plain bagel slathered with crunchy peanut butter, bbq sauce and Sunchips. YUM, right? The concoction changes all the time...whatever condiments he can find in the fridge are fair game and the crunchier the better. I can get down with that, since, as I've mentioned before, I'm in heaven once you slap on some potato chips or Nacho Cheese Doritos onto a tuna fish or egg salad sandwich. But guys, the other day, he took a See's Candy nougat and walnut St Patricks Day "potato" that is coated in cocoa powder and doused it in worcestershire sauce and soy sauce.

The dude needs an intervention.

Harlie, on the other hand has adopted some more conventional favorite foods. Currently her favorite breakfast food is waffles and if given the chance would probably eat soup or pizza every night for dinner. She also still enjoys avocado, frozen blueberries and yogurt as much as she did as a baby. And boy does she loooooove chocolate, almost as much as I love hearing her say "chocolate."

Springtime with Stinkerbell

Wishing all my days were sprinkled with ladybugs, dandelions and Toy Story snuggles.

Sizzle to Fizzle

What started out so great last weekend...











ended so so bad...



But it was fun while it lasted. Happy 36th birthday baby! Here's to our wacky wonderful unpredictable crazy making life!!!!

Someone used the potty!

Tonight, as we were chatting in the living room with Scott's dad, who was in town visiting from Mexico, I caught a whiff of what I thought was a poopy diaper and whispered to Scott "Your turn!" Although, as it turns out the smell was just a teaser, but a clear sign that a dirty diaper was on it's way. Then Steve made mention of how potty training was probably on the horizon and Scott laughed and said, "Uh yeah, we thought she'd be potty trained by now". Harlie could tell we were talking about her and so we asked if she needed to use the potty. She hopped right off the couch and ran to the toilet, as Scott followed. Shortly after, I heard Scott cheer, so I raced to the bathroom, thinking there's no way she actually did it. As I rounded the corner, I saw Harlie's huge smile and the proof in the potty. Hooray! And then as I bent down to congratulate her, Harlie says to me "Mama, wanna smell it?"