Backyard Happenings

Ava and I enjoyed some time in our backyard yesterday. I am dreading the approaching cold weather and enjoying the remaining warm days.

   We played on the swing set for quite awhile. And by playing I mean Ava climbed all over it and I ran around frantically making sure she didn't fall off.

The dogs played and the chickens ate worms. I let the chickens out of their fenced area and Ava ran like she was being chased by a pack of vicious dogs.

We picked flowers for a good 25 minutes. Who knew it could be so entertaining. 

Playing with the wind chimes has become a ritual when we visit Kevin's garden.

Pancho's attempt at a smile. I suspect he has a slight attitude about having his photo taken. That stripe on his head = food Ava dropped on him.

Ava and Duke are constantly clashing over his dog toys. He knows he has to be gentle with her, but he will stalk his toy until she gets bored and moves on to something else.

As I looked at our patio overgrown with weeds and scattered with toys, I was thinking about how someday our kids will be grown and on their own and we will have all the time in the world to do yard work.  For now I love just walking around the back yard, with grass past my ankles, playing with Ava.

Blueberries

Ava loves her some frozen blueberries. I am still trying to think of a way to eat them that is less messy. For now we eat them on the deck.

Marathon Man

As I mentioned before, Matt ran a marathon on Sunday. This is his second time and he beat last year's time by a few minutes. I packed up the kids and got to the race in time to see him finish. I forgot the camera, but it wouldn't have mattered as we later discovered the battery was dead. But, my good friend Liza came along and was kind enough to share these pictures that she took.

We anxiously awaited Matt's arrival. Keaton and Brent came down to watch. I'm pretty sure Keaton was there for the free grapes and bananas.

Matt finished just a smidge above four hours. He claims that he won't do another race this long. I don't believe him.

I love the look of concern on Emily's face here. Or maybe she is just wondering why in the world someone would run that far. On purpose.

Ava was good almost the whole time we were there. She rarely gets banished to the stroller, but she didn't seem to mind.

Reality sets in…. I told him to get up, we have apples to pick!

  Looking at worms post race. Ava has already claimed the medal. She worked hard for that you know. Sitting in the stroller eating crackers is exhausting.

Emily and Jeni post race. Jeni finished her first marathon! 

Matt and three co-workers who all ran the marathon. 

We all had a great time watching Matt and our friends finish the race. Way to go everyone!

Pickers

Sunday was the perfect day to go apple picking. Matt had just finished running the marathon and was a real trooper when I told him we were not going to pass up the marvelous weather. The last few weekends that I have wanted to go it has been raining, so I told him to buck up and pretend that he didn't just run 26.2 miles, we have apples to pick. Not my fault… blame mother nature.

When we got there I took out my camera and realized the battery was dead. I gave Matt a spanking because, doesn't he know HE is responsible for making sure the battery gets charged? So we used the little camera that Emily brought along.

Don't worry , I yelled at her to get out of the tree after I took this.

Ava was fascinated by the donkeys. Maybe I should buy her one for Christmas. I'm serious.

The apple orchard requires that you purchase 20 pounds of apples if you pick your own. Emily had that secured in about 5 minutes. She would pick apples all day long.

Ava just wanted to eat apples. This one hit the ground several times and I am pretty sure some grass was eaten as well. It's all organic, right?

So, the look on my face here…… I was trying to not squint and still smile. FAIL.

  

We had such a great time. I am so glad Brent, Joanna, and Keaton were able to come with us. Now I just have to figure out what to do with twenty pounds of apples.

Pants on Fire

I know I said I would be better about doing more blog posts. What can I say, other than I lie….

I recently moved my laptop down to the basement so that I would not be tempted to waste my life on Facebook, message boards, and foot fetish websites.  So while I spent far less time on the computer, I have to make more of an effort to take the time to keep this blog updated.

Also, Ava has been running me ragged. I am not sure why toddlers are allowed to walk… who do I need to write to about this? Not only does she walk, she runs, climbs, eats a lot, screams, and poops her pants. And she has the nerve to threaten to never sleep through the night. Good thing she smiles at me like this:

And then follows with this:

Matt got the bathroom painted last night. I chose a color called coffee, which, I literally spent thirty seconds picking out. I figured with a name like that I couldn't go wrong. I will post pictures of the finished bathroom later, it turned out a nice shade of brown. It makes me want to poop, which is good for a bathroom, I guess. Matt had a little too much fun with the tape, I am not sure what he was doing, I'll let you be the judge…

Emily had another soccer game this morning. They lost, but it was a good effort.

And finally, here is a picture of Ava with underwear on her head.

And if that wasn't enough, she couldn't get them off….

More Tidbits

I promise that one of these days I will sit down and write an actual blog post. You know, with a point. But for now, my incoherent ramblings with have to suffice.

I took Ava to story time again today. It was pirate day. She was given the pirate name Antonia Azriel Blackpearl. That is what I will call her when she is being a royal turd. Like today in the optometrists office. I was the mom with the out of control toddler rolling and screaming on the floor. I yelled at Antonia to behave, but she didn't listen.

We were at the eye doctor for an exam for Emily. Turns out she is very near sighted. She needs to be wearing glasses. We picked out frames and scheduled an appointment for fitting contacts because, apparently, it will ruin her life if she has to wear glasses to school.  Luckily they now make contacts that you use for one day and throw away. No messing with solution and cases and such. After I spent two million dollars paying for all of the things necessary for my child to see, we left with Antonia Blackpearl under my arm shrieking at the top of her lungs.

On the agenda for tonight: wine, Modern Family, bed.

Tidbits

We had a busy weekend of cleaning, birthday parties, invitation making, doing laundry, and some relaxing.

Hold on to your hats ladies and gents…. I purchased a Shark steam mop. I steam mopped all the floors and lets just say if I wasn't already taken, me and the steam mop would get hitched.

Ava has a new word. Money. She carries around change and exclaims, "Money?" No worries, I watch her carefully and she doesn't put them in her mouth. Also, I have decided to loosen my rules on no t.v.  The sweet 30 minutes of Sesame Street has allowed me to do this blog post. She is learning about pollination this morning.

Emily is busy with softball, soccer, school, friends, and her French horn. Speaking of the French horn, here is a conversation we had last night.

Me: You still need to practice your French horn.

Emily: Whyyyyyyy? ( really whiney)

Me: You need to practice 5 days a week and I haven't heard that horn in a few days.

Emily: I need to read my new magazine, I will practice later.

Me: No, you will practice tonight.

Emily: More whining.

Me: Look. For what I pay for that instrument, I could hire someone to clean the house. Now practice or I am taking it back tomorrow.

A few minutes later I heard the beautiful sounds of a French horn coming from her room. Ok, not really, but she is practicing none the less.

I will leave you today with a picture of my youngest sitting on a bottle of ketchup. I told you she was a genius….

Fridays with Kevin

Kevin was almost eight months old in this picture. We were at one of Emily's t-ball games. 

Story Time

Ava and I went to her first Mommy & Me story time yesterday. I had to hold back the tears when we first arrived. This was the same story time that I attended with Kevin.  He loved story time and I am sure Ava will too. She was really well behaved and other than trying to eat the crayons at craft time, she was very cooperative.

Self Feeder

We never fed Ava pureed food. She fed herself starting at around six months. She did great and now eats almost anything we giver her. I had one lonely container of organic prunes that I purchased back when she went on a fourteen day poop strike.  I decided to give her the prunes and a spoon and let her go to town.

She had a great time painting with prunes and was only mildly upset when I told her she had to clean up the mess.

Pink Bag of Shame

My grandmother was kind enough to send this lovely pink bag for Pancho. Now he can go the vet's office in style. I thought he loved it.

I was woken up at three this morning by the little dog standing over me. He whispered in my ear in his heavy Mexican accent, "Bitch, if you put me in that bag again, me shitting in your bed will be the least of your problems. Now get me a shot of tequila." 

Yikes! Who knew a three pound dog could have such a foul mouth….

Soccer Saturday

Today marked the first of six Saturdays of soccer games. The weather held out and it ended up being perfect for playing. Not too cold or hot, and the sun came out.

  Ava kept busy putting all of the soccer balls in my lap. She would then take them all back and start the process over again. I suspect we have a genius on our hands….

I am not sure where she gets her athleticism from. Certainly not her mother……

Eatin' freeze dried fruit

Fridays with Kevin

This picture was taken at the last Heart Friends picnic that we attended with Kevin. For a kid that didn't like to eat, he was pretty excited about the cookies.