local wildlife

I have a hard time thinking of my kids as city kids, as I feel I am a country girl myself.

The fact that they all yell and point out the window when we travel somewhere and they see a cow reminds me that they are not growing up the same as I did.

We don't see a whole lot of wildlife up close, so we were excited to see a pair of ducks show up in our yard when it was still so rainy this month.
A few weeks later, this little guy showed up.

Can you see the longing in Cali's eyes?

Scott and I got to be the bad parents and turn him over to animal control, but they assured us he would be adopted if his owners didn't find him.

Prayers for pets have been uttered ever since.

Maybe one day.

making withdrawals

Scott and I have an imaginary bank account for each child where we say that they make deposits and withdrawals with their behavior.

They all manage to stay largely in the black because, what can I say, my kids are awesome.

This is an example of a deposit being made:

BUT, Natalie has also lately learned how to make some withdrawals.

She has began to SCREECH through every meal.

At first it was just when she wasn't getting what she wanted fast enough, but now it is just her habit to do it as long as she is sitting in her high chair. Even if she is putting food in her mouth and looks perfectly happy. (That is one reason why we loved her singing and sleeping in her high chair so much on Sunday. Truly a day of rest.)

It is driving me BONKERS.

I'm hoping that this phase ends soon.

But not this one:

She must know that she's put enough in her imaginary account that she could screech for a whole year, and not go bankrupt.

C'mon, Natalie, let's keep it saved up for a rainy day, like when you are a teenager.

you are getting sleeeeppy

Sundays are hard days because they usually mean no naps.

Thus by dinner time Natalie is ready to crash, and yesterday she did. In her jello.

She tried to sing to stay awake, but apparently it didn't work.

Watch the next one. We couldn't stop laughing.

note to self

Note to self: When Ian is calling from the bathroom, "Mommy, do I look weird?," go see why.

Note to self: Don't leave mascara within reach.

Note to self: Don't let Ian go to the bathroom by himself and unload an entire roll of toilet paper into the toilet.

Note to self: Don't reach over and flush the toilet while washing mascara off of your son's face without looking at the toilet and realizing that it is about to flood everywhere.

Note to self: Bathrooms should not be carpeted.

Note to self: Maybe Ian should not be allowed into the bathroom alone anymore.

Note to self: Don't leave the shampoos within reach.

Note to self: Remember to pay more attention to Ian.

mr. potter

Harry is still here with us, and he's fond of pb&j with the crusts cut off.

He also enjoys long walks, and will "Fwipendo!" any dog that barks at him along the way.

Cali just posted about him on her blog.

(I know it has been almost a year since she posted, and it is totally my fault. She asks about it, but needs me to help her out. She is very patient with me. )

let me explain

I love it when my kids explain things to me.

Kimi explained why bandaids help:

"The soft part of the bandaid is comfy and it calms down the owie."

Ian explained why he likes root beer:

"Its so bubbly and spiky and its too much and it makes my body CR-AZ-Y" (Imagine his eyes bugging out as he emphasizes the last word.)

school's out

School's out for the summer.

Cali came home on the last day and was nearly inconsolable because of how much she will miss her teacher. Since then she has written to her teacher, and her teacher has visted her once and written back to her. All in less than a week. She's quite a lady. (And Cali is quite a girl, in her letter to her teacher she thanked her for helping her feel better on the last day and said, "it was much appreciated.")

Two days before school got out I went to the school to walk with the first grade to a nearby park to play there for the day. There is nothing like being around other people's children to make you really appreciate your own. It was a fine day, and thanks to our police escort, we got there with out any first graders going missing or getting squashed.

Cali and her friends spent a lot of time building sand castles. One of the girls was helping by collecting every pinecone in sight and bringing them back. Note the other bored chaperone in the background. We had 3 hours to kill in the park.We also discovered that 50 kids to 1 parachute isn't a good ratio.

I was glad to have that chance to go be with Cali who still thinks I am cool and I have to appreciate that for as long as I can.

And as much as she loves her teachers, I'm glad to have her to myself for a few months.

you might have small children if. . .

you have to wipe the toothpaste off of the toilet seat before you can use the toilet

nemesis

These guys don't really have a tough reputation, but they are a bane of my existence in the summer.

Just ask my marigolds.

These poor guys were the first to go last year too.

I was hoping it was all due to the rains last year and they would escape this year.

No luck.I hate using chemicals, but in this case they may be called for.

For now they see a close up of the bottom of my flip-flop. It's not for the faint of heart.

(I have to close my eyes and hold my breath.)
Hello, my name is Jana the Gardner. You killed my marigolds. Prepare to die.

why not?

I don't enter all giveaways. Just those that seem like I would be deliriously happy if I won.

Usually I just enter Pioneer Woman's because she gives away things like Nikon D90's and KitchenAids. Oh, to have the power to give things like that away.

Anyways, I saw a giveaway for a Bosch Mixer this morning. That is another thing I have been dreaming of so I figured writing this post for an entry couldn't hurt.

Here's the website if you want to check it out yourself. Deals to Meals Bosch Giveaway

I have pretty much accepted the fact that I won't win, but that one time in high school when I was drawn to win that cd player in a raffle gave me some kind of false hope concerning these matters.

it came

Yesterday was the day I have long been hoping, and wishing, and saving, and waiting for.

The UPS man dropped this off on my steps:
BAAAAAHHH! I was so excited! (Please excuse my chipped fingernail polish.)

So I ripped it open and after patiently staring at the battery charger for 2 hours, Kimi and I were off to take some pictures.

These are all SOOC (that's straight out of the camera with no editing, I'm learning a new language) and my first shots with my DSLR so I know they aren't the best, but I knew I was in love.
We found some flowers
and some flip flops.

Along with many other things, but I hate to bore you.

Something tells me these kids are going to have to get used to seeing a camera lens pointed at them a whole lot more.

(Harry Potter has a cold, please excuse his messy face.)

memorable memorial

I read another mother's account once of the perfect outing with the kids. They went and had a day of fun and there was no whining, no crying, no fighting, no complaining. She said that she was glad to have that one perfect memory to always think about.

I thought maybe they had entered the Twilight Zone.

If that is so, we found our own portal to the Twilight Zone on Monday, because now I am happy to report we had our own perfect outing for Memorial Day.

This is the true account of my own perfect day:
We had a picnic lunch and played at the playground for a while. Natalie got to try swings for the first time.

After we did that we were off to the main event for the kids: carnival rides.

Cali could barely squeeze her knees into the plane.

I guess this is the last year for that ride for her.

Then came the part that surprised me.

Do you see Cali peeking over her bar on the Ferris Wheel?

Cali and Kimi rode it together. Ian and Scott went in another seat. I thought for sure we would get someone crying and want to get down when they got stopped on top, (that's why I don't ride it) but they all loved it.





Then it was off to the Merry-Go-Round.
After some more time walking around in the park and playing on the playground it got pretty hot and we took the kids home.

On the way, Scott decided to introduce them to what they called "smurpees."

It was unanimously voted in as a new part of our Memorial Day traditions.
The End.