Friday Favorites

I am quite behind in my task of documenting our lives, so I thought I would snap some pictures this morning of three things we love right now.

First, the big flower pot. Christian helped me plant this. I put it right in front of the french doors in the kitchen. We have "landscaped" the front yard, but the backyard is lacking in color. I love, love, love looking out at the flowers. I will have a hard time closing the blinds and shutting this view out.
When I was pregnant with Andrew I started using a body pillow. Mike thought it was ridiculous having such a large pillow. He joked that it felt like a third person was in our bed. Well, I encouraged him to try it (great for the back) and he liked it. Now, I no longer use one, but he can't sleep without one. I was at Costco a few weeks ago and found the softest body pillow ever. I thought I would surprise him with it. His response was underwhelming to say the least. Apparently he does not appreciate the snuggly piece of heaven that is this pillow. His children, however, are snuggly connoisseurs. They all adore "fluffy." Fluffy has not spent a night in our bed (except for one night that Bev brought it in with her in the middle of the night.) They take turns sleeping with it.

We love strawberries. I can't go to Costco and not get some. We eat most of them within a day or two, and I freeze the rest to use for smoothies. Andrew won't eat them plain, but loves them in smoothies. Bev won't eat them in smoothies--only likes them plain. Jess and Kiki will eat them however they are served.

R & R Time

You know how I posted about loving that field next door? Well, I do, but it aids in generating a lot of laundry. I haven't done any laundry in a few days. If I don't do a load or two a day then I have to play major catch up.

I think I posted about Mike joking that we will know it is time to do laundry when the clothes are spilling out the upstairs door of the laundry chute. Now, they weren't technically spilling out, but they were packed in so tightly that I had to pry them out with my yardstick.
Mike was a doll and took the kids to karate so I could have a little mommy time. I guess I can sit on my duff and do sudoku and watch Oprah tomorrow--the kids are all out of clean undies.

Enjoying "Life in the Country"

After putting grass down in the Fall, we were outside enjoying it when Andrew propped his hands behind his head and relaxed back on the grass and exclaimed, "I really like living out here in the country." That indicates what city slickers my kids are if they think this is the country. With the nice weather lately, they have been outside every day, for most of the day. Last night I went out and took some pictures.

Look at those freckles. When we got back from Hawaii I noticed that Christian had just started getting his. The genes dictate that freckles will appear--Christian got them later than the other two.

Christian had his gear--a sword and a walkie-talkie.

Andrew was looking for the fox.

Brothers out exploring.

Everyday, Christian comes in the house with a new scratch or scar. Thank goodness Band-Aids heal quickly (I think we keep them in business--Mike would add that we also keep Rubbermaid in business too--I love me some plastic organizing boxes.)

Jessie does venture out in the field, but last night she enjoyed blowing bubbles and asking the boys if they had found the fox yet.

Home from Paradise

Mike and I got home Sunday--just in time to celebrate Mother's Day. I have been readjusting to this time zone, fighting off a bout of the swine flu (the doctor said it wasn't, but I'm not convinced,) trying to get the kids to stop calling me grandma, and finishing Angels and Demons (loved it--a lot--the movie comes out Friday--I am trying to find a way to get to it this weekend.)

We had a great time. I really like the place we stayed--it was the same place as last summer. It is called The Mauian and it is on Napili Bay.
This is the view from the lanai--you just walk a few steps and you are right on the beach.

Mike played with a skimboard--it was interesting watching him. There was a lot of falling involved.

The first morning we were there we got up at 2 a.m. and caught a shuttle to the Haleakala Crater to watch the sunrise. It was incredible--really cold--but incredible. I went there 15 years ago while on vacation with my mom's family--it was fun to do again.

We were above the clouds.

We then biked down from the crater--we actually coasted down. It was 26 miles down with 35 switchbacks. The guide told us that at one point we were going 30 mph. I have to admit it was a little scary at first, but the views were amazing.

Saturday, before we left, we did ziplining at Piiholo Ranch.

It is in a rainforest, and yes, it did rain. We both liked it a lot.

That is Mike.

That is me.

It was a great trip, but it is always nice to come home. A special thanks to Landon and Natalie and Mom and Dad for watching the rascals. We couldn't have gone without you.

Expressing Herself

This morning, this greeted us:
It reads:
"Oh-No
Mom and Dad are going to Hawaii without us!
No Fair!
Last time they took me and Andrew with them!
Oh well, let's get back to the story.
It's just not fair.
This is Mom's fourth or fifth time going to Hawaii.
Not fair!
Oh well."

Tender Mercies

Saturday was Beverly's baptism. She told me Friday night that she really hoped it wouldn't rain on her special day. Well, Saturday morning it rained a ton. Andrew and Mike came home from flag football soaked to the bone. But, as the day went on, the weather became better. As we left the baptism and headed home we saw this:

I can't even say how much I love rainbows--seeing this one made me cry. Such a beautiful one for such a special day.

The closing song of the baptism service was this:

I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain
And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again.
I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

Everything went so well. She was really excited for this day. I still have a hard time realizing that she is growing up so fast. But, we couldn't ask for a better girl. She is so sweet and smart and loving. We are really blessed to have her.

Thanks to all of our friends and family for helping us celebrate her big day. We are so lucky to have such great people in our lives.

"We won't have to go to the store ever again."

That is what Kiki said after planting our small garden yesterday.

He and Bev have been the most excited about it. I am hoping it will get them excited about eating veggies. We did pumpkins and sunflowers, squash, carrots, corn, beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, italian parsley and basil, and strawberries. We want a few more things, but that will be another day.
They just love getting in the dirt--they especially loved watering.

As you can see by the look on her face, she didn't quite get into the activity.

This girl loves getting those toes in some dirt.

As he planted the beans, Kiki told them to "grow really big."

We only had one casualty--I don't know if she fell asleep because she was tired or bored.

This garden should be a fun adventure. I have really never done a formal garden before, so we will see if we have success. I've got to get a zucchini plant, that way we know we will produce something.