My Blisters Have Blisters!

For my birthday Bryce put up deer fencing so I could buy and plant some new plants! We had so much fun at the nursery, it was a wonderland. The boys loved all the water fountains and pond. Danny was drenched by the time we left!
Yesterday we put up the deer fence at the top of the hill. Hopefully the retaining wall at the bottom is high enough to deter the deer from the bottom. We planted an avocado tree and I am so happy to have my own avocado tree because I LOVE avocado! We also spent hours trying to weed the hillside and get rid of all the scotch broom, stinging nettle, blackberries and poison oak.
Today Bryce was back to work so it was up to me to put in the rest of the plants. I got some ground covers to help the barren look of the hillside and to train over the edge of the retaining walls. I also got some clematis and star jasmine to train to climb up the walls. Just for fun I also got some catmint and lavender that is pink! We also got a blueberry bush that I am so excited about (we sampled some of the blueberries at the nursery and they are very yummy!) I am also trying some wildflower/butterfly mixes from seeds.
And finally because we are finally in a permanent home I took some of my plants that have been moving around with us in buckets and gave them a home in the ground.
I was going to do some more weeding too but my hands and feet are protesting too much! It was a lot of work but it looks so much nicer outside now! It just doesn't feel like home to me if I don't have pretty flowers :)

The Fork and The Spoon

Okay, this is just too cute! It really appeals to my sense of whimsy and romance. I found it on the Creature Comforts blog which a is such as source of inspiration for me!

"The Girl in a Whirl"

I got this email from sister in law, Heidi, today and I had to share it. I just love it!

If you, or someone you know has ever felt overwhelmed by all they feel they need to do, Vickie Gunther of Redlands, California, wrote a hilarious poem, Dr. Seuss style, about how much LDS women try to take on. David B. Marsh used it at Women's Conference, and Vickie has given permission to share it.

The Girl in a Whirl by 'Dr. Sue' (a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!

You could do what I do if you only knew how.

I study the scriptures one hour each day;

I bake, I upholster, I scrub, and I pray.

I always keep all the commandments completely;

I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.

I help in their classrooms! I sew all they wear!

I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair!

I memorize names of the General Authorities;

I focus on things to be done by priorities.

I play the piano! I bless with my talents!

My toilets all sparkle! My checkbooks all balance!

Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;

I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)

I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,

I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;

Our t-shirts are ironed! My toenails are polished!

Our family home evenings are always delightful;

The lessons I give are both fun and insightful

I do genealogy faithfully, too.

It's easy to do all the things that I do!

I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;

I know all the names of each youth in my stake!

I read to my children! I help all my neighbors!

I bless the community, too, with my labors.

I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;

My visiting teaching is done the first day!

(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.

It's the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)

I chart resolutions and check off each goal;

I seek each "lost lamb" on my Primary roll.

I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,

I write in my journal! I sing in the choir!

Each day, I write "thank you's" to those I admire.

My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!

My kids get straight A's! And their bedrooms are clean!

I have a home business to help make some money;

I always look beautifully groomed for my honey

I go to the temple at least once a week;

I change the car's tires! I fix the sink's leak!

I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;

I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.

I make sure I rotate our two-years' supply;

My shopping for Christmas is done by July!

These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;

You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them!

It's easy to do all the things that I do!

If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

It's easy!" she said.

And then she dropped dead.

Memorial Day

May 25, 2009
Civil War Reenactment
Roaring Camp Railroad
Felton, CA

Bryce and I have wanted to go to this reenactment for the last 10 years but have never had the chance. Well this year we finally made it and it was wonderful! We really enjoyed the camps. Everyone was really friendly and loved sharing information. We learned about the Maine Co., the weapons they used, how they washed their clothes, how buttons and little tin soldiers were made. I never did find the candle making though, and I was looking forward to that! There is a very precise way to stack the guns to get them to stand like this, and you have to be just as precise to get them back out! Austin took his toy rifle with him but he kept insisting that Danny needed a gun too. It was part of his master plan, to get a new gun for himself he would give his old one to Danny! The boys played with their guns all day! Austin went around shooting at the enemy while Danny used his to draw in the dirt.

I took Austin and Danny on the steam train to Bear Mountain and they loved it! We sat at the very back and got to look out the back door. The train has to do a switchback on the mountain and we ended up being the front of the train for part of the trip! There was a skirmish at the top of the mountain and Austin was very concerned that they would try to get on the train. I guess it is a good thing he had his new gun and felt he could protect us!

Some scenes from the camp, with the train passing by, and at the battlefield. The canons were incredibly loud and you felt them every bit as much as you heard them. They made some very cool smoke vortex rings that would float through the sky.

Bryce got to be in the battle. I cannot even begin to express how much he loved getting to be a part of it. He really enjoys history and black powder weapons.

My favorite picture of Bryce
After the battle all the kids were running around in a battle of their own. Austin did not like to die. He always wanted to be the leader and winning. It took him awhile to realize he needed to take his share of bullets too if he wanted to play with the other kids. Even Danny tried to get in on the action too!
We had such a good time that we are now looking into joining as a family and participating in some of the reenactments. The boys had so much fun and Austin learned a lot. I think it would be a great way to teach them some history. Plus it is something we can all do together as a family!
One final picture of the pretty roses that were growing in abundance along the fences.We finished the day at home with a BBQ and cheesecake! All in all it was a great way to spend my birthday!

Thought for the Day

Love this!
Snagged from Creature Comforts (link can be found on the right hand side)

Last Weekend

While at my mom's this past weekend, Austin, Danny and Maysie had fun playing on the back deck, trying to stay cool in the shade and little pool. I had fun snapping pictures of them! They are just so cute!
Before we headed out of town we had a family bbq at Nessa's new house and it was wonderful! Danny and Tyler amused themselves almost the whole time with Nessa's exercise ball. It was cute to watch them play together. I am really loving this picture of Danny and Grandma, he loved snuggling with her.

Happy Mother's Day

To all the beautiful mothers I know out there . . .
Thank you all for being such a wonderful example to me!

Feelin' Green

So I guess in the spirit of May (birthstone=emerald) I am in a green mood. I just bought some green shoes and I am loving them! Aren't they super cute! We also got the kitchen painted, green, again. Here is the before pic. It was daytime when I took this picture but the window was blocked by 3 huge redwoods! And here is the current picture. The cabinets are up next. Now that the weather is looking like it is going to stay nice I can get the doors off and outside to be sanded. They will then be painted white and a bit of trim and new hardware to update their look.
Some little random updates:
Danny and I were playing at the park and a little girl next to us called out for her momma. Danny looked at me , bewildered, that I didn't respond to her call of momma. It was cute.
He is finally saying so many words now, the clearest of which is Austin. His other favorites are Pippa, go,go,go, belly button, push and boots.
Austin has only 22 days left of school. The thought of him graduating kindergarten has me ready to cry!
Today I was brave and decided to let him walk down the road to the neighbors, to play with the other kids. He was so excited! He went tearing off down the road, only to return a minute later with all the kids in tow, so we ended up with an impromptu playdate here. Austin loved getting to play the little host and it was a lot of fun.
Another little Austin story (reminded to me by a story on a friends blog). He found a dead mouse that our kitty, Pippa, had brought home to us. What was the normal course of action for him? Did he decide to throw it away or let us know so that we could dispose of it properly? No, of course not! He took it by the tail and tried to tie it to a stick as a toy for Pippa. Lovely.
And one more thing - we got the 1st truckload of drainage rock for our driveway today!

Blue Balls, Red Shoes and Big Slides

We spent this afternoon at the "Skyball" park in Soquel and it was a beautiful day. The boys both had a lot of fun. Danny had no fear going down the super slide. He finally fits into the red Converse shoes that Auntie Nessa got him. I love the pop of red in all his pictures!

Here is Danny making some funny faces on the stairs:

And Austin getting ready to go down the seriously big slide:

Here are the boys in front of the balls:

And some shots of the boys that I really liked:And the shot of the day . . .

Author's Fair

Today we went to the Capitola for the local schools Author Fair. All the schools set up a table filled with books that the students have written. Austin has been very excited about this all week. He got to sit in the Author's chair and read his page from his classes' Halloween book. He got to talk into a microphone and he loved it!Below are some pictures generated through a site called photofunia. They have all sorts of fun effects!

Creative Chaos

This is my crafting desk. This is not how I want it to look, but it is a somewhat normal state of being for my desk. I know you have to have a little chaos for truly good creativity but this was just too much. I had to laugh. And then I had to share . . .