Landscaping and grandparents…

"The landscape you grow up in speaks to you in a way that nowhere else does."
-Molly Parker

This was a weekend of landscaping so our pictures are light because our hands were constantly in the dirt.  We pulled around 7 bushes, cleared roots, planted plants, and spread mulch.  While we were doing the hard labor, the kids had a picnic.  When they got bored of that, they boxed up Isla as a surprise gift and gave her to us.  When that novelty wore off, Ashlyn invited a girl from the neighborhood inside to help make a candy making kit.  It was a lot of work (for us, not the kids), but I have to admit the front yard looks a lot better.

On Sunday morning PePa came over for breakfast.  We made cinnamon rolls to go along with the eggs and bacon, and maybe the sugar worked quickly on the kids because they ended up throwing bouncy balls all over the house.  We did our best to keep up, but if we turned our back even for a second a ball would inevitably bounce off the back of our heads.

Sunday afternoon was spent tidying up the garden and cleaning up the mess we made on Saturday.  Nina and Papa came over to play with the kids later in the afternoon, which was a good thing because trying to clean things up with kids is very much a “two steps forward, one step back” scenario.  With Isla it’s more like “two steps forward, one step back, then one step sideways, then left foot green, followed by falling over” scenario.

Green and golf balls…

"Bricks and mortar make a house, but the laughter of children makes a home."
-Irish Proverb

St. Patrick’s Day is a green day, and Mom tried to get the kids to take a picture with their outfits.  James would at first have nothing to do with it, but eventually he was talked into at least sitting down.  Then Ashlyn read his shirt and tried to follow the instructions, much to James’ dismay.  That ended the first attempt at pictures.

Luckily the second attempt before they left went better.

For dinner we made what I think is a traditional Irish stew with lamb, carrots, potatoes, and onions.  The kids weren’t too sure about the lamb

After a fun filled St. Patrick’s Day, James went off to a birthday party at the Living Science Center in Arlington.  He went on a nature hike, pet a bunny, fed a possum, and looked at various animals both real and alive.  He was pretty excited about the goody bag too.

With the weather being so good this weekend we wanted to get out with the kids and do something fun.  When we realized we’ve never taken them to play mini-golf, we immediately loaded up the van and headed to Putt-Putt.  We weren’t sure what the kids would think, but they ended up having a lot of fun.  James took off and was usually 3 holes in front of us, Isla mostly wanted to pick up the golf balls as we went through the course, and Ashlyn did her best to hit the ball off into the little river that ran through the course.  Luckily we left without being banned, and given how much fun we had I’m sure we’ll be back.

Pucks and gardens…

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."
-Margaret Atwood

Spring has arrived, and with it comes the work required to get the yard ready.  We started by leveling the bricks in the front yard and changing the shape of the area with the bushes.  The kids were entertained for a few minutes by playing with all the bugs that crawled out as we moved the bricks, but eventually they moved on to more creative endeavors.  They stayed outside the entire time at least, and since no children were injured, I’d call it a success.

The kids are enjoying the next level of hockey.  Ashlyn is already skating around and scoring goals, but she has the advantage of age and practice on skates.  James is learning as he goes, but chose to give up the buckets that helped him stay up and is getting better every day with this skates and stick.  It’s tough for him, since the gear is really meant for older kids, but we’re proud of him getting out there, trying, and improving every time.

With the front yard mostly ready, it was time for the backyard on Sunday.  The garden was tilled, vegetables planted, and the kids got to plant seeds for the flowers they chose at the feed store.  Ashlyn chose sunflowers, James chose a bush with white flowers, and Isla liked the daises.  Now let’s hope we don’t get the floods like we did last year.

Happy birthday Dr. Seuss!

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
-Dr. Seuss

This was a week for Dr. Seuss.  Each year our library does a special birthday party for Dr. Seuss, but they were impatient.  Ashlyn and James made the hats from Cat in the Hat and did a pretty good job sizing them for everyone.  Then they had to watch the movie of course, and Ashlyn made a giant birthday card.  Who knew they liked Dr. Seuss so much?  We didn’t get cards near that large, which tells us where we rate.

The month of Little Rookies is over and the kids have graduated to the next class where they will concentrate on learning how to skate.  Both kids decided they want to continue skating.  Ashlyn likes the idea because it’s closer to figure skating and James wants to continue because he likes sliding around on the ice.  He has my coordination, poor guy.

The Dr. Seuss event at the library was fun as has been every year we’ve taken the kids.  They brought their homemade hats to wear, but traded them for hats they made there.  Isla did not make a hat but had fun playing with the books in the kid’s area.  They had cake, played basketball with a guy on stilts, and got Dr. Seuss tattoos.