Quotes

Last weekend, while at the Mitchell's house for the pot-luck dinner, Allison went missing and our friend, Katie, found her in the bathroom, splashing in the toilet. I came in and said, "Allison, don't wash your hands in the toilet!"

Katie laughed and said, "I'd love to know the things you say in your house on an average week." So this past week, I wrote down when something ridiculous came out of mouth.

Here are the highlights:

1. I will buy a cage and put you in it!

2. Did you get that gum out of the garbage?

3. Stop breaking everything I love!

4. Alli, we don't sit on chairs that are stacked on other chairs.

5. Your Dad's earplugs are NOT bubble gum!

6. What is right with you?

7. Allison, birdbaths are NOT drinking fountains!

8. Scream all you want! I'm taking away the super-glue!

9.What's in your hair? Is that Windex?

10. If you're screaming like that you best be on FIRE!

....and my favorite, that I ask almost every day.

11. Where are your pants?/shoes?/diaper?

*She does have her diaper on in this picture, she was mid pants escape.

Friends

Our friend, Mark Clifton (JM) lost his father this week. I didn't know Harry Clifton (besides a few hellos) but Nathan had visited him and spent time with him through JM. Nathan called JM the night his father died and Nathan was so upset.

I love seeing how much he cares and respects JM as a friend and mentor.

Thankfully, Nathan had today off and was able to travel to Independence, Missouri for the funeral. Nathan said it was a wonderful funeral because he lived a full life, knew where he was going, and who was waiting for him (his loving wife, Fern).

Nathan got home during Allison's nap time and we spent the afternoon cleaning and catching up (Nathan has worked the last 13 days). When Allison woke up we were debating what to do for dinner when our friend, Lisa, invited us over for dinner. We happily agreed and spent the next few hours chatting and enjoying a delicious meal followed by the best bread pudding I've ever had.

Kyle and Lisa's daughter is a year younger than Allison and it's so interesting to watch them together because Allison steps over Lucy like she's just a baby, while Lucy keeps trying to follow Allison and play along. Then I think of how Allison stares at the older girls and just wants to be included.

Allison and Nathan were playing and Nathan began tossing Allison. Lucy saw this and promptly went over to her Dad and held out her arms. They were some cute flying lady babies.

Muffins

Nathan had a pot-luck breakfast at work today and he asked me if I could make something.

I offered to make my never-fail blueberry muffins. They are so tasty and I make them at least once a week.

I got up at 4am with Nathan - which was fine with me because Allison has slept in our bed for the past 2 nights (from 2am on), which is something that she has never done and it's horrible. I was wide awake so it was no problem to escape Allison's feet on my face and head to the kitchen.

I even stayed up after Nathan left because I felt so productive. I answered emails, finished a sewing project, made granola, took a shower, then read a few chapters in my book before she even woke up!

Here is Nathan off to work with my homemade casserole/ muffin tin carrier.

Nathan said the muffins were a huge hit, "your dish was the only one that was empty!" and I know he was thankful that I made them for him. I wonder what he would have made if I hadn't offered...

Gardening

I've never been someone who liked outdoor work. I prefer to be indoors no matter what. It could be the most amazing day and I'd rather be shaded room with a lamp. Part of living at our place is to keep the lawn and yard attractive because the of the rental unit on the property. I did 2 flower beds last year and filled them with hostas. I could only work close to the porch because Allison wasn't walking and wouldn't let me out of her sight.

The property is really beautiful but needed maintenance. Clearly someone used to put a lot of work into the gardening because there is so much stone (of all sizes and styles), bricks, and plants all over the property. I was cleaning out the back part of the property and kept hitting large landscape rocks that had been discarded. I used them to create flowerbeds and areas under trees.


The guest house had a large day lily that was over taking the steps so I split it, and along with a whole wheel barrel full of the same thing (gifted to me by our neighbor) I lined the house. My neighbor, Lois, said I was welcome to the "ditch lilies", and that "if you ever want to torment an enemy, give them ditch lilies." I was happy to have them because I wanted something that would spread and fill out the area since grass won't grow close to the house and it was getting really muddy.

I used bricks that I found around the yard (and buried in the back of the property) to make the edging. I would have loved to have had more landscape rock but I like using what's already available. Plus, it was simple and can easily be changed later.

Last year I faced the struggle of trying to grow myrtle along a steep section of hill beside our driveway. It never took and by the end of the summer, we decided to sod it. It was a huge difference and it looked amazing. My Dad put it in while he was visiting last year and we still remark about what a huge difference it made.

At the end of the driveway (and just beside where we put the sod down last year) was a strange patch of grass that just didn't look right. It was patchy, it grew big and aggressive weeds, and it wasn't pleasant to have at the end of the driveway.

We decided to sod it. While Nathan went to get the sod (2 trips without my Dad's truck), I pulled all the weeds and mixed up the dirt.

Again, what a HUGE difference. Thankfully, the day after we put the sod in, it started to rain - and rained for a whole week. The grass settled in and now looks perfect.

I trimmed the tree after the week of bad rain, everything was growing out of control!

The next project to tackle was the patch of nothing that was left after a dead tree was cut down last year. We tried grass seed but it never took, plus the air conditioning and pipes next to the house where covered in weeds and again, nothing would grow next to the house. I didn't want to plant anything because my parents always told me to plant away from the house, but I didn't think it made sense to sod so close to the house. Instead, I edged with the natural line of no-growth, then around the air conditioner, and put in some pebbles. Then I used 6 rolls of sod to cover the patches of yard that were spotty.

This is the view the tenants have every time they walk the path to and from their house and I wanted to make sure that it was clean and pleasant.

 I've really enjoyed working outside even though Allison only wants to be outside when I'm giving her my undivided attention. We've had some battles, but I was able to work while she napped, so I was able to be productive. I'm thankful for the cool temperatures lately, and now that I'm finished the big jobs, I can go back to pulling weeds and watching my plants grow.

Pancake Mix

I Allison is old enough that I can trust her on the stairs without me watching her. I never leave her alone because the landing is small and that's where our pantry is (and she loves to take things off the shelf),  but if I need to go to the basement to switch over laundry or grab something, I know she'll be ok. I don't mind her playing the pantry because it's all sealed items...or so I thought. I completely forgot about the open box of pancake mix on a shelf just within her reach.

While I was putting the next load of laundry in, I realized how quiet the house was. I dropped everything and bolted for the stairs and saw this.

She had dumped out about half the box onto a wet floor (it was raining and we had been outside that morning) so the mix was sticking to the floor.

She started in with this fake cry because she knew I was mad.

I started to talk to her, asking her if she made the mess, "No" and if she was going to clean it up, "No". Then, when it didn't seem like I was too angry, she said, "Watch! and swept the mix off the landing, down the stairs (that have no back) and the mix sprinkled into the open box of winter clothes I had just packed away.

She started crying like a mad woman when I began to sweep up the mess. I guess she wasn't done playing.

Perfect Night

Nathan had to work all weekend, then he had to work until 8pm last night so we haven't seen much of him lately. Tonight he got home at 6pm and it felt like we had the whole night ahead of us! After a quick meal, we headed to the front porch to enjoy the amazing weather. It's been raining and overcast for the last week but tonight it was sunny, warm, and had a breeze. It was the perfect weather.

Allison loved having her Dad push her on the swing, watch the birds (on our new squirrel-proof feeder) and run in circles around the yard. I decided that I should probably take some photos of her since I haven't taken any in a few days.

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day

To start out the Memorial Day celebrations, we went to our pastor's house for a pot-luck dinner. I made my Mom's layered jello and topped it with strawberries and blueberries. It started to rain soon after we arrived so the 40 of us were a little cramped inside but it felt like family so it wasn't too bad.

While we were there I was able to hold baby Joshua. I forgot how little and squirmy babies are. I thought he was going to wiggle away from me (he's 3 weeks old) but I managed to keep him happy while his parents ate their dinner.

We found this flag in our landlord's basement and decided that we should hang it up and that this weekend was a perfect time to do it. Our neighbors immediately came over and commented on it, but (as I've said on the blog in the past) I cannot stand it when people fly another country's flag in the country they have chosen to live in.

Since every holiday brings a slew of sales, I decided to hit up Joann's to see what they had to offer. They had some great sales but I was only there to get two things - cushions and outdoor fabric. We have two chairs on the front porch that are comfortable but would be better with a cushion.

 

 

Joann's was insanely busy (and we got there at 9:30am). There weren't any carts by 10am! I quickly found what I was looking for and we escaped with only $12 damage.

Tag

Shutterfly had another freebie give away and I picked this luggage tag. I put Allison's picture on one side and Nathan and my address, and phone numbers on the reverse. I'm going to put it on Allison's diaper bag. Even though we don't go anywhere where we might get separated, it will help her get the right sippy cup at church!

More Babes

My friend April asked me if I wanted to visit today and I brought along my camera. Her baby, Greer, is 4 months and I wanted to take a few pictures. Greer has moved out of the new baby stage and is starting to come into her own. She is so fun and a really good baby. She is at the stage where she is constantly sticking out her tongue so it took a lot of patience to get a photo without it, but it was worth it.

April and I chatted and caught up and it's good to have the kind of friend where you plan to leave at 12 but don't look at your watch until it 12:45.

Drum

Allison really does march to the beat of her own drum. Sometimes I wish she would let me put a bow in her hair or wear a dress but it's just not that important to me.

On this day she wore sunglasses, winter boots, sweat pants, a pajama top, and my apron that MY grandmother had made me (she wore it inside out). She wore this OUT. I didn't have the energy to fight it and it makes people smile. Last week she insisted on wearing one mitten to every store. Nearly every person who saw us made a comment and smiled.

On this day, Allison discovered that all my costume jewelry is hanging in my closet. I heard a strange noise and when I went into my room, I saw that she had on nearly every item.

She took a nap wearing a 5-stacked bracelet (and looked good doing it).

Tantrum

Allison had her two year checkup when we got back to KC and while her doctor was impressed at how well she's doing, he was not impressed with her behavior. I told him I didn't know how to work with her and he told me that it was "time to start disciplining her." I don't know why I didn't think about punishing her when she whines. I would ask, then tell, her to stop, but I never thought about punishment.

Then he told me to just ignore her when she's yelling/ being crazy. He did it while we were in the office and (eventually) she just found something else to do.

I've been working on giving her time-outs every time she whines and she is getting better, but now she is finding new ways to test me.

Today, I was weeding the garden in the front yard. She was getting too close to the yard so I told her to back and when she kept inching forward, I pulled her back. SHE.LOST. HER. MIND. She screamed, cried, kicked, took off all her clothes (diaper included) while she rolled in the grass crying like a maniac. I sat on the porch and watched the scene. A motorist and a cyclist actually stopped to see if everything was ok.

She didn't tire herself out and once she started throwing up, I knew it had gone too far. I brought her in the house, put new clothes on her and let her finish crying inside the house. I put a blanket over her to muffle the sounds - and eventually she passed out of the hardwood floor.

Sunday Pies

We had our small group meeting tonight and I decided to make some blueberry tarts. I used a can of filling (I've never made it from scratch) and my delicous - you don't want to know what's in this - pie crust.

They were a big hit and really easy to make.

Since I've been back I've been doing a lot of housecleaning and organizing and I've been going through all of my old Canadian Living magazines and tearing out recipes I want to make. We're had some interesting dinners lately but I feel like it pulled me out of a food slump. It also helped to have the entire week's meals planned because it was easy to shop and I never had to debate what to make each night.

JR

Today was the three year anniversary of JR's passing. I'm glad that Nathan had the day off and we could spend it together as a family. While we were outside doing yard work, a delivery van from my favorite flower place, Randy Neal Flowers, pulled up. Martin and Marlene sent us this beautiful bouquet. Allison immediately insisted on smelling every flower.

We also received thoughtful messages and cards. It's always the same 5 or 6 people who say something, and I wonder when it will stop. Half of me knows that time moves on and I've moved (slightly) away from needing people to remember, but the other half is so grateful that I have friends who remembered me when I was pregnant and saw his pictures and know that he was real.

It was good to be with Nathan today since we couldn't be together last month on JR's birthday. We put our energy into working around the house. It's been raining most days and everything is lush and growing like crazy. Today we decided to put some sod down at the end of the driveway since grass never seems to grow there. Allison enjoyed spraying us with the hose.