Slow but growing

I've wanted to grow a garden for quite some time. I thought about it last year, thought about it so long that I missed the entire growing season. I'm on schedule this year though. We've planted tomatoes, zucchini, green beans, peppers and a smattering of herbs. I feared the boys attacking the plants but they've actually done really good. Kedrick is just as excited about watching them grow. Both boys love to water. Brock seems to have a respect for the vegetables he has yet to develop for the flowers. His picking has been minimal. The other day I was out working in the garden and Kedrick said, "mom, you're a good girl, you are taking very good care of the plants." It made me beam. I went around the rest of the day feeling really good about myself and wanting to make sure I said things to my kids that made them feel the same way.

Remembering Memorial Day

We took a one day vacation for Memorial Day. Not even stopping to think what Memorial Day was about, we decided to head down to Pt. Loma to see the lighthouse and visit the tide-pools. It took us a while to figure out what all the traffic was about and why all the flags on all the graves. And then it donned on us. I felt clever for stumbling upon such an appropriate acitivity. It was humbling to look out over all the headstones of so many who have given their life for my freedom.

We had such a good time in the morning, we decided not to go home for naps and to make a day of it. We spent the afternoon touring all the ships along the waterfront. We finally used the tickets you gave us to the maritime museum Mom and Dad. Thank you!

By the time we headed home we were all hungry and had no plans for dinner. We stopped and got Thrifty Chocolate Malted Crunch ice-cream, took it home and made dinner out of it. The boys were in heaven! Who am I kidding, so was I!

I spy...

Santa Claus! (If you are not convinced, click on the picture so you can see it enlarged). At our local CostCo no less. I mean, it makes sense that he shops there but who'd have thought we'd see him? Brock was the one with the sharp eyes this time. Waiting in line for gas, he shouts out, "Look, Kizmuss!" I made a quick scan for what could possibly be saying Christmas to my little one and saw good ol' St. Nick filling up.

And that's not all we saw. While waiting for Kevin to finish something at work, he suggested I take the boys for a walk along the trails. I was hesitant because it is not an uncommon occurrence for snakes to be seen around where he works. He told me if I followed the trail I'd be able to see the ocean. We walked and walked and walked because I just didn't want to turn back before I saw the view. Finally, at the very end of the trail we walked up a little crest to catch a very tiny sliver of an ocean view. And right there, not too far off in front of us was a nice rattlesnake making its way across the trail! I was horrified. Kevin showed up just in time to seem me frantically scrambling down the hill with the boys. He got a good laugh that he got me to drag the boys that far by mentioning the so called "ocean view." I was not amused. And of course, he took the boys back up the hill to get a better view of the snake. Boys.

Tide Pools

During the warm weather and before the shark attacks, back in the days when the beach was a safe place, we visited the tide pools. We found no sharks but did find several large star fish, a sea slug and lots of sea enenemies. I am seriously traumatized by the recent attacks and though the odds of me stepping in the water and getting attacked are slim, I won't be venturing out far in the water this summer. When I was young I worried about flushing the toilet for fear I would trigger an earthquake. I've gotten over that one at least!

Quarantined

Flu again. Good grief. I think we already had our turn with this recently. We have enjoyed high fevers, throw-up and some phenomenal diarrhea. With it has come refusals to eat anything, the standard "I'm not feeling well so don't dare put me down" from our sweet Brock who also tends to vocalize his discomfort very loudly and dear Kedrick hasn't had the wherewithal to do anything but watch tv. I expect tomorrow we will be in the clear of all symptoms. I hate watching my kids feel so miserable and sadly my patience and energy to meet their levels of desired care are starting to wane. At the end of a very trying Monday, my visiting teacher brought over some much needed chocolate chip cookies. I set the boys down for dinner, went into the back and indulged in some amazing food therapy. There were four cookies left that I planned on either later sharing with my family or hoarding for myself depending on how the night went. Kedrick managed to find them, happily announced their discovery and came out and said, "this one's for Brockie, this one's for Daddy, this one's for Mommy, and this one's for Kedrick." He is so good at sharing. I felt like a shmuck. Good we have kids to teach us how to be nice!

Beach Bride

My oldest sister stands out singly as the most bride possessed being I know. I have no idea how much money she has spent on bridal magazines over the years but it is no small sum. April 10 she came and got herself hitched at the Wedding Bowl in La Jolla. Her biggest fear was that after all her life long dreaming and planning she was going to be an ugly bride. And she was. Just kidding. Far from it, she blew us all away and was absolutely stunning. The weather was amazing and wow, I can't say how much I loved her bridal bouquet. I can't wait to see her professional photos but for now we will suffice with some snapshots. For the past two months we have been up to our necks in wedding planning and talk and as fun as it was....it was nice to pry the phone away from my ear and my very patient husband is glad to have his wife back! Congratulations Annette and Fernando!

Funny Kids

Kevin was trying to explain the whole resurrection thing to Kedrick. Kevin was telling him how they buried him in the tomb but on the third day he came out of the tomb. Kedrick looked at the picture (apparently focusing on the small tomb door size), paused and then responded with a puzzled look, "oh, did he used to be little?"

Kedrick has me "tell" him stories not "read" him stories every night. He is sure to make that clear. One night I asked him if he had any stories in his head to tell me. "Nope, they all fell out mom."

We had just dropped off a friend at the airport. We explained to Kedrick that the airplane would take her back to Texas.

Kedrick: Oh, is that close to heaven?

Kevin: Some people think so.

Brock LOVES love. He can't get enough snuggle time and kisses. I kiss their owies. We have caught Brock banging his head on things so he could come get a kiss all better! You'd think he was starved for affection. Anyhow, we told him he could just ask.

Brock's favorite activity as of late is to jump off anything screaming, "to infinity and beyond." I'm sure he has no idea where the phrase comes from but regardless it makes him feel like a superhero.

We are in sacrament meeting. It is quiet. They just start passing the bread. Brock belts out, "I want chicken!" I was a bit embarrased, a few too many trips through the drive-thru I guess. At least everyone around us got a good laugh.

And lastly for this edition, Brock's latest communication tip... When you really need to get some one's attention and add emphasis to what you are saying, get up as close as you can and with eyes focused on their lips, talk into their mouth. He likes to make sure the message he is trying to get across is internalized.

Kedrick sharing Easter spoils with his cousins Madeline and Matthew.

Brock planning his attack strategy for the egg hunt.