Aunt Stephanie is here to visit!

I got a clock...

...and Andrew put it up for me. Then the armoire had to be moved to underneath it. Then the couch had to come up from the basement. And the dining room needed to be switched to the family room and the basement needed to be turned into the playroom. Pretty much because of the clock every piece of furniture got moved. Except the piano. So today we had some people over for homemade soup after church and had them help us move the piano. :o)! Free labor! I think it will be a lot easier to host a lot of people here. Now we just need chairs for the table so we don't have to move the kitchen ones to the dining table every time, and to solve our lighting issues. Thanks for helping move my piano, Andrew. He sure loves me a lot!

The living room:My new music room (took picture last night before the piano was moved up):

The new dining room (I put an old sheet over the table to see if I could turn it into table cloths and it became a great tunnel for the boys to crawl through!):

Rock Hunt

Our neighbors have a beautifully landscaped yard done with rocks. For those of you who saw my garden up in OH I was able to use rocks for borders also, and loved the look. Our neighbors told us that they found all their rocks by canvassing country roads south of here, and encouraged us to do the same. So yesterday I loaded the boys up w/ snacks and sippy cups and we were on our way. Once we got south of town, sure enough we found a rock. Popped it in the back of the van, and kept hunting. We drove all over the back roads, hit both sides of 75, saw the historic monument where Lewis and Clarke saw the confluence of the Missouri and Platte rivers, paid $1.25 to cross into Iowa and drove around the back roads there (the old river valley with the bluffs on either side are really interesting from that perspective), stopped at an antique store, drove up to Council Bluffs to have a hot dog for lunch, stopped at Hobby Lobby to get some beading supplies that I haven't been able to find at Michaels, and drove home with 2 little boys napping in the car. Total rocks found: 1. Money spent on the tank of gas and a new clock for our living room: I don't know but way more than the rock hunt was worth, I am sure. :o)!

Garden: Good News. Bad News.

Good News:Bad News:Lines of Defense:

Good News: The first flowers of the year - crocus' blooming in my garden! Yay! Bulbs are popping up everywhere. Last count it was more than 80 and more everyday. Very exciting.

Bad News: The bunnies (I think) have been nibbling on my tulips. They even ate some of them to the ground while we were at church on Sunday. So I fenced them in and sprayed liquid fence on them quite librally. And I am STILL finding some of them nibbled on!!!! AUGGGGG!!!!! If I were the cussing kind I would have some choice words for yall about now. I sprayed the liquid fence AGAIN. My garden and I are going to have to be very creative to get around those sneaky bunnies!

Crazy Day.

Wednesday we went to the gym to work out with our friends. After working out the kids played in the basketball area for a while. Then we came home and had lunch and naptime. Pretty normal day - we decided to take advantage of the warm weather and spend some time working outside. I started moving pavers, laying out garden areas, taking down a fence, moving brush and rocks... Then some of the LDS missionaries stopped by to help out for a few minutes - in their suits. The boys and I made them some lemonade to thank them, and then they headed over to the neighbors for dinner. While we were eating dinner Andrew says, "What is that squirrel carrying? It is a dog toy!" He had found a dog toy unearthed by our busyness and was making off with it. It was a rope that was as long as he was. We watched him climb the tree with it, untangling it a few times, up to the very top - and jump with it to the next tree over. Where it became stuck solid. He was trembling as he pulled on it trying to break it loose, but couldn't get it. So he decided to pull it apart piece by piece to line his nest. You can see the squirrel and the dangling dog toy at the very top of this picture, and the nest is in the v of the tree at the bottom center of the picture. This nest was very small all winter and now it is really big. I am wondering if a couple of the squirrels have moved in together. The old nest right outside our bedroom window looked like it has been taken over by blackbirds making a nest last evening, but I haven't seen them there this morning (bottom picture).

After dinner I went to move the wood to over by the fence line, only to discover that I think the wood was infested with termites. Dumb new homeowner mistake. Made Andrew help me move it quick and I will have to call the pest control guys to come out and take care of it. Live and learn. :o)!

Hanging Out.

Mommy and the boys have been having fun hanging out this week. Daddy came home from work with new uniforms, so we tried on all his hats. Then Mommy laid down on the couch because she had a hard day. The boys got her a pillow, then a blanket, then lots of stuffed animals to make her feel better. Very cute! We have been trying to be outside as often as possible - the weather has been more sunny, but cold and windy, or else overcast. We even had a major storm and tornados just to the west of us the other night. Crazy weather. We are headed out to run errands and play with our friend Emily today.

Hair.

Seth doesn't like Mommy to put gel in his hair.

Seth doesn't like anyone to wash his hair.


Seth doesn't like Mommy to cut his hair.

So it is gone. He gets a Daddy haircut.

Family Day.

Yesterday we had a family outing to a great park. There was a lot to see and do - a huge observation tower (where we could see for miles), playgrounds, a greenhouse, horses. The horse that came over to see us let us pet him, and tried to steal Gavin's graham cracker that I forgot he was holding. It was a peaceful day. Gavin even spotted a wild turkey for us to watch while we were eating dinner! We will be going back again soon.

Self Portrait.

Green Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We had a play date with green pancakes (Thank you, Mrs. Amber) and lots of fun playing together.I had to bribe Gavin to get this picture. He looks thrilled, doesn't he!?!

Hiking.

The only good photo I got before my camera died last Sunday.

Seth wearing his first tie.

This was last weekend when we went to a wedding. Isn't he handsome!

Busy

I was out of the house 4 nights last week - CRAZY!!!! I don't remember being that busy since we moved here. This is what I was up to: wedding shower, AF spouses Bunko night, volunteering downtown, wedding. Sunday I was leader for the youth group age kids during sunday school, and in the nursery during the service hour. We finally got some time as a family and went hiking on Sunday late afternoon. It was beautiful. The boys were racing down the sidewalk. I forgot our camera in the unlocked car, and remembered about the halfway point. A ran back and got if for me. I took about 4 pictures and the battery died - HA! No pictures for you. But we had a great time playing and being outside.

Today -
I got my first sunburn of the year - just a hint of pink on my shoulders - I think it might have hit 80!
We got to see a police car an ambulance at the house across the street (my friend has MS and had fallen from hitting her kids' shoes and couldn't get up without help - hopefully next time she will call me!)
We got a new microwave installed and had fun watching the repairman!
I mopped my kitchen floor!
I tracked mud in the house on my boots - including the kitchen floor I mopped earlier!
We played outside ALL afternoon with some of the neighbor kids and our friends Emily and Blake (whose dad is deployed - I finally got Amber to take some time for herself, so I feel like I really accomplished something today)!
We played with the water table, 2 empty (to begin with) baby pools, and lots of toys for floating, magnetic fishing, moving water around!
We gardened (cut back dead plants and dug rocks out of the garden - the neighbor girls think this is really great fun)!
We played on our backyard playground!
We (not including any adults) made mud pies at the bottom of the slide for an hour!
We (Seth and Gavin) were brought into the house naked and powerwashed in the bathtub!
(Camera battery still charging - no pictures, sorry!)
Tomorrow morning is pancake breakfast with our TX friends - yum, yum, and super yum!

Youth Group Wedding Shower

Meet Becky and J.T. - the youth pastor and soon to be wife at our church. We had a wedding shower for them on Wed. night. They had to get dressed up and shop for a gift with the youth group kids on Wed. night.And pay in coins! Here is the whole crew. Good times!

Random.

When I was dumping out the remains in the bird feeder to refill it I found a whole peanut in the bottom. Not there before. Not part of the bird seed. I am guessing the squirrel who plants corn in our yard must have figured out some way to get that peanut in there!

Seth was able to pick out the letters to spell CAT and DOG by their sounds in the bathtub this week.

Gavin and Seth were helping Mommy empty the dishwasher and put things away before dinner last night. When they were done Seth took off, and I finally looked over to see what Gavin was up to. He had taken it upon himself to set the table for dinner and was putting clean plates on the table!!!! Thats my boy!

We found out that we are going to have a new NEPHEW this summer! Yay for boys! Congratulations Steve and Angie!

Our backyard bunny has been watching us. She comes up onto the back deck, and was a few feet away outside the back door once (did I already post about that?).

I am starting to collect seeds for our garden. Now I just have to get the garden bed ready. Warm weather come soon!

I started volunteering at the crisis center for Child Saving Institute. I really thankful for the opportunity to love on these kids for one night a week. It makes me realize how important what I do every day of the week with my boys is.

Here is where I am at right now: I am thankful in a way that words don't do justice for Everything that God has blessed me with. I have been blessed, not for myself, but so that I can be more generous with what I have been given. I am on this crazy journey to figure out how to live Jesus in practical ways every day, what true generosity looks like. Much has been given to me, and much is expected. If God is in control of everything and has promised to provide for all my needs, then now in this time of financial stress in our nation, now in this time of global hunger in our world, now is the time to give. Of myself, of my resources, of my time. And I need to keep my priorities straight and put my family first, too. I don't want to live in fear and being overwhelmed, but in freedom, Love.

T is for Trouble Twosome.

Whether it was Daddy working long hours this week, daylight savings time change, or just the wimsy of my 2 and 3 1/2 year old... lets just say this has been a long challenging week for Mama. Yesterday I decided to take a few pictures. Here is a litle bit of the aftermath of the MoonSand war that took place while Mommy was trying to get dressed. (They decided to jump on their beds - another no no- while Mommy was cleaning up this mess...)

The boys wanted a drink and headed up from the basement. I was delayed by maybe a minute. I come upstairs to find this: Gavin with a cup and the (thankfully empty) juice jug, and Seth on the counter eating graham crackers he got for himself out of the cupboard. Who knew he was big enough to do that!?! Anyhow, we are planning some fun time with Daddy this weekend before he finally starts his class on Monday. A Circle Party that the boys have helped plan. They told Daddy about it, so I guess it is no longer a surprise party. :o)! And hiking and ...

Highlighter Boy

Whirling Dervishes

Making Beds!

Yesterday I decided it is time to teach Seth and Gavin how to make their beds. They even got decorative throw pillows at Target in honor of the occasion. Gavin picked a tiger, and Seth picked a monkey. This morning was the first time they made their beds. I wanted to take their pictures in honor of the occasion. Seth was proud, and Gavin just wanted Mommy to hold him and cried (the minute the picture was done, he was done crying and didn't want to be held anymore...):

Brothers in Overalls.

Daddy's Helpers.

Not spikey hair.

Seth doesn't like to have spikey hair. We are talking total meltdown. I told him that Mommy gets to decide how he wears his hair on Sundays. He needs to get used to me doing something with it sometimes, so this is practice. Last Sunday I just slicked it back (with Aloe Vera gel - it is great for moisurizing the boys' scalps in the wintertime). This Sunday I decided to make him practice being outside his comfort zone. He started pleading with me: no spikey hair, please, no spikey hair. So he got a faux hawk instead. It was really really cute and he got a million compliments. But he still doesn't like having spikey hair. Bummer. I hoped if everyone else liked it he might change his mind. :o)! Gavin looked cute with his spikey hair, too. He didn't really mind it at all, and he likes the extra attention - he is SUCH a flirt!

Singing and Reading.

Lately we have caught Gavin sitting at the piano singing or strumming my guitar singing. Today he was sitting on the stairs reading Sneetches (reading gibberish since he can't read yet). It is really cute to watch him, but if he catches you he gets self-conscious and stops.

Not Morning People!

We have been really working with Gavin on staying in bed and being quiet when he wakes up in the morning (he would be more than happy to start his day at 4am!) This morning I heard him stirring, but he was being quiet for once and I fell back asleep as it was not time to get up yet. Suddenly I am woken up by Gavin screaming. I rush into his room and he says, "Brother hit me!" I guess brother didn't like being woken up early, either. Poor Gavin, mornings are so hard for him since none of the rest of us cooperate with getting up early!

Beccy's Reading Recommendations.

I love reading to relax. (I do, however, really miss having a bathtub to soak in!) I joined paperback book swap online and used the Honey for a Woman's Heart book by Gladys Hunt (thank you, Mom!) to find some new good books to read. I have read a lot of different books since Christmas: Deptford Trilogy, Kristen Lavransdatter, Tess of the D'Urbervilles... Anyhow, I came across a couple that I really really enjoyed and thought I would pass them along:

Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns - after having lived in rural Georgia, I really really enjoyed this book. The best way I can think to describe it might be a Norman Rockwell in words. Just a good read.

Cordelia Underwood by Van Reid - New England, turn of the century, friendship and adventure, love and mysteries. This one was just plain fun and I am looking forward to reading the rest of these books (the plot continues in at least one more book.)

Fascination.

Lately, Seth has had a lot of questions about where babies come from, and how they are born. I have tried to give him accurate, but age appropriate answers. Today he is coloring pictures to mail to people and decided to draw a picture of when he was a baby. Then we hear this: "How do I draw a birth canal?" Let's try drawing yourself after you were born, kid!!!????

Thanks, Andrew.

He just put batteries back into Gavin's car - it makes LOUD siren noises, songs, cell phone ringing noises... (When we brought it back after Christmas - last year - we "forgot" to put the batteries back in. Andrew's comment: "I forgot how loud it was." Thanks, buddy!)

Mommy's Magic Powers.

I have magic powers.
Yes, I do.
I can push magic buttons and car doors open and close.
I can kiss my boys when they "bonk" and they are instantly healed.
And I can turn deer into porcupines. :o)! (ground venison into meatballs w/ rice in them for those of you who haven't had the priviledge of eating them)

It is good to be so powerful.