The Big Reveal!

Our story today begins with a bucket.  A dirty, blue bucket, to be exact.  Please note the hastening, tiny footsteps advancing toward said bucket, which will shortly be revealed as one of the heroes of today's (far less than epic) tale.

 

On this particular day, there was much "grown up" work to be done in Robinson County, which left young Eli with the options of either boredom or creative genius. Lucky for us, young Eli is not the type to succumb to boredom.

What better to do with a dirty, blue bucket (when your seat is roughly the size of 2 hamburger buns) than to sit in it!  Granted, young Eli's shorts were filthy when he finished, but he had a great time, entertained himself, and didn't wander far in the process!

Meanwhile, young Eli's father put some of the final touches on his BIG project.  A backyard pergola! (Photo: Before Trim)

In just a couple of weekends, Jason pretty well single-handedly built the pergola, from start to finish.  It was his idea, his design, his dream...and I LOVE it.  I can only imagine the years of use it will get, from backyard BBQs, to youth group devos, to family picnics...my mind is running wild with possibility.

 (After Trim)

I feel immensely blessed to have such a handy (and thoughtful) husband!

We also planted some "Carolina Jessamine (Jess-uh-MY-n)" vines that will soon provide a beautiful (and cool) canopy of shade.   We chose these specific plants because 1) they are supposed to be very fast-growing, 2), we love their foliage, 3)they are hardy, 4) they were highly recommended for our area in this book, which has become one my favorite gardening references,  and 5) they bloom!!

Close-up of the Carolina Jessamine.  In early spring, the vines should have abundant, yellow trumpet-shaped blooms.  (I'm looking really forward to seeing them for the first time next year!)

Close-up view from the side door of the house.  I can't wait to see how different it looks once it's all grown up with vines!

Our next project will be to add lighting so we can enjoy it in the cool evenings, as well!  Jason's also considering adding some bench seats in a couple of places to help maximize our seating options. 

So, there you have it...the big (at least in size) top-secret project!

First Swim of the Season, and More of Norah's Art

While Gramps and Granddad were on their way home from a weekend trip, we sneaked over and had our inaugural swim of the season.  (Sorry, Gramps...but we did scrub the pool while we were there as penance for our sneakiness)

The kids were beyond excited.  They have been asking for WEEKS when we could go swimming.


They even humored us by posing for a few photos before we hit the pool.

We picked up the life jackets at a Walmart near South Padre last summer.  The first time we used the, turned out to be our last swim of the season (it was September and starting to cool off here).

Norah was thrilled to get to wear hers again.

And Eli was  just happy to be doing what Norah was doing, as is usually the case.

Norah also graced our fridge with some new artwork today, so I thought I'd share.  Things that I love about her art these days:

1. Excellent use of color.  Sometimes it is imitation of real-life color, other times it is completely fantasy-inspired...either way, she has a great eye for color.
2. Stick figure gender can be determined by a)whether or not said figure is wearing a dress or b)whether or not said figure has eyelashes
3. She can work a single piece of paper for HOURS (remember those flamingo pictures?).  Lots of details which are SO funny to hear her explain if you ask.  (Like today, she drew about 20 female stick figures and when I asked why there were no boys, she  explained that "they all died", as if it were no big deal...have I mentioned she is pretty anti-boy right now?)  This is a big improvement over the  previous phase of thinking she needed 20 sheets a day, sometimes only putting a small circle in the center before labeling it "done."
4. All "finished" pieces are put (by the artist, herself) on the fridge.  I love that she knows the refrigerator is our "gallery", and proudly displays each work of art.  (Plus, it sure beats finding tons of loose leaf on the floor or spread out all over the table.)

Alright, that's enough for now...I will try to be back soon with the big reveal for the "top secret (non baby) project" I alluded to earlier, so stay tuned!

What's Going On Around Here

I know I've been slacking on the updates. Sorry about that. So here is what you've been missing in Robinson County...

Norah is still doing great with her reading (and is LOVING sharing her new-found skill with her brother). I walked in on them the other morning and found Norah reading Eli his favorite book in his room. So sweet.



I have been sewing...a lot. Norah chose some wild peacock fabric and asked for a "twirly dress". I paired it with a tank top, which I cut off, using the cut-off lower portion to make ruffles down the front, and made the rest of the dress up as a went along. Not my normal style...I'm usually a pattern or at least tutorial kind of girl. But I think I am in love with making my own rules for sewing, so there may be more to come!


Mom and I have been churning out lots of cute dolls and other sewing projects for the Pigtails and Puddles esty shop (which I hope to open pretty soon...I just wanted to have a "semi-full inventory" at least in the beginning, so I've been holding out on some of what I've been up to...but if you're really interested, feel free to check the Pigtails and Puddles blog for a few hints)


Jason and I did a little landscaping in the front yard, and I am LOVING it. We planted 4 pink (I say they're red) knockout rose bushes, 3 "iceburg" (white) tea rose bushes, some sage (which, although it is blooming wonderfully, I disappointingly must report that it does not, smell anything like perfume), and some white verbena...which, so far, has been the only plant that does not seem to be absolutely thriving (I'm hoping after it gets established it will take off...verbena is supposed to be one of the easiest plants to grow around here).

I've been amazed at how quickly I've delved into gardening. (We'll see if it lasts once the summer temperatures hit). I love getting out early in the morning to water and weed, dead-heading the rose bushes and watching, with wonder, as they put out new growth (the red leaves) and (best of all) new buds.

The white and red roses have been alternately blooming. One week we have all red blooms, and just as they fade, the white bushes start blooming up a storm. Occasionally they will both have a few at the same time. I love having flowers to watch out my window, greet me when I get home, and tend to each day!

In other news, Norah's flamingo obsession....er...I mean, interest, continues. These are just a sampling of her portfolio (there have been many other flamingo art sightings in Robinson County. (I'm just holding my breath til she asks for a "Flamingo Costume" for Halloween...wouldn't that be a hat trick?).

And we have one other big project (it is NOT, I repeat, NOT another baby) that I hope to share photos of soon, so stay tuned and maybe I'll update the blog again soon!

Colors and a new Eli-ism

The photo was one of several color sorting/recognition exercises I've done with Eli in recent days. He is a WHIZ at numbers, but for some reason, he has been really slow at learning his colors. (at least it seems slow to me, since Norah definitely knew all of her colors by the time she was 2, and Eli is approaching 2 and a half with little improvement)

Just when I was starting to think he was color blind (seriously), I noticed that he was able to distinguish between different colors. For example, we each have a different colored toothbrush holder, and he knows which one belongs to whom. He can't say the color associated with the holder, but he can grab the blue one if I ask for "daddy's" or the pink one if I ask for "Norah's", or the green one for himself, etc. (Mine is purple, in case you were wondering, and no, it's not my favorite...it was just all that was left after everyone else picked).

He's pretty good about picking the right color out of a lineup if I ask him, "which one is red"...but just struggles with having to come up with color names on his own.

So, I decided that since he was capable of making the distinction, we would work on color-recognition a little more intensively, starting with one of his FAVORITE things that is in abundance all over our house....matchbox cars! Mimi found this fun little hanging matchbox car holder and gave it to Eli for Christmas. Unfortunately, he prefers to keep them spread out all over the house.

At any rate, I put one car of each color in the first pocket of each row, and then had him sort through some of his cars, matching the colors to the rows, while I talked to him about the name of the color he was working on each time.

His other favorite color exercise this week was with jellybeans. I bought a little bag and each day choose 4 colors for him, and 4 for Norah. He has to name the colors before he can eat his, as well as before I will give his sister hers. (This has helped Norah be even more supportive of helping him learn...not that she wasn't before---she loves to help teach)

On an un-related, but funny note. Eli has given Robinson County a new catch phrase that makes me smile...

E: I'm hungwee, Mom.
A: Eli, you just ate breakfast 30 minutes ago. You can have lunch in a few more hours. Go play.

10-minutes later...
E: Mom, I'm hungwee a wittle bit stronger.
A: (caves and gives him a string cheese chaser to the blueberry pancake and sausage breakfast he consumed less than an hour before)

He has used the phrase, "I'm hungry a little bit stronger" to describe himself multiple times this week...though I assure you we do feed him regularly. It makes me laugh a little each time, just because of his choice of words. If you know Eli, you know he has a big vocabulary for a little guy, and good conversational skills...I just thought it was humorous that while the word "more" (as in "more hungry" or even "more hungrier") is definitely in his repertoire, he chose "stronger", instead. I guess it is a pretty intense hunger he's describing...

From the Mouthes of Babes..Hymnal Edition

In church yesterday we sang a song called "Break my Heart". The lyrics to the second verse are read, "My sins are great, but I can see the glory set for me. Show me Father where to start and gently break my heart."

Congregation: (singing) "My sins are great..."
N: "SINS ARE BAD!!!!!" (incredulously shouted at the top of her lungs, with a look on her face that said, "What is WRONG with you people?)

I think about 3 rows in front and behind us all stopped singing at this point because they couldn't control their laughter. Proof positive that even if you think your kids aren't paying attention in church, they are always listening!

From the Mouthes of Babes...TMI Edition

After enduring 4 years of our telling her to "Eat-up so you can grow healthy and strong"...
N: Mommy, how does food help us grow if it just turns into poo-poo? And for the record, neither Jason nor myself have ever explained the digestive process to her, so this came completely out of left field, for me.

On another dining occasion...
A: Norah, if you don't finish your dinner, you can't have anything else to eat tonight.
N: (after some deliberation) I can still have breakfast in the morning, though, right?

N: Mommy, how did Helen's mommy get two babies in her tummy?
A: Well, Norah, Helen's family has been praying for a while that they could have another brother or sister for Helen and Isaac, and God answered their prayers.
N: Dear God, please put another baby in my Mommy's tummy....Oh! A GIRL baby. Amen.



E: You're my best fwend, Mom.
(within the same 5 minute period)
E: Norwah, you're my best fwend.
(and later that same night)
E: Dad, we're best fwends. (What made this instance particularly funny was that Jason had just opened a Snickers bar, and Eli completely changed direction and felt the need to declare his allegiance to his father at the exact moment that he heard the wrapper crinkle)
Maybe we have a future politician on our hands?

A couple of weeks ago Eli was stricken with an awful stomach bug that kept him occupied for the better part of 7 hours one night. After round one, I kept watch over him in his room, with a tiny pot in-hand. (Poor kid, couldn't make it to the bathroom in time to get sick, so I had to come up with a portable/easily washable solution) After hour 3 of his 30-minute vomiting schedule, he took issue with me, and the pot.
E: No, Mommy! I don't want to throw up anymore. Take dat pot out of heewuh"

I should also add that each time he would finish throwing up, Eli would instantly go from angry/frustrated to perfectly content, saying some hilarious comment to break the ice. HEre are some of the ones I remember...

E: Mom, can I snuggle with my drink? (I had given him a little water to rinse his mouth out)
A: Sure, if it helps you feel better.
E: Thanks, Mom. (fast asleep, snuggling said drink within 30 seconds, flat)

E: I have a question, Mom.
A: What's your question, bud?
E: What's Norwah doing?
A: She's sleeping.
E:Ok.

E: I have a question, Mom.
A: What's your question, Eli?
E: Can we watch a little show?
A: No, buddy, it's very late, we need to go back to sleep.
E: All-wite.

E: I have a question, Mom.
A: OK, what's your question?
E: Can I wake up Norwah?
A: No. She needs her rest.
E: Does Daddy need to rest too?

Things I Love About Spring...

Spring has sprung in Robinson County, and I would be remiss if I didn't take time to note a few things that I'm loving about this, all too short season. For example: Heart-felt, hand-picked bouquets of flowers...

and sticks...




















and leaves...




















Watching the kids invent ways to swing without being pushed...















And hearing the chorus of "higher, Mommy!" when I do push them.














Seeing precious little girls get all gussied up...














to go to a fancy backyard tea party...
















Pretty flowers outside my front window...




And pretty blooms inside my kitchen windowsill.

It's funny...I used to think these "weed flowers" were so ugly. But when accepted as a "treasure" token of love and genuine thoughtfullness, I have to say they might be one of my favorite flowers in all the world.