Little Oasis

 Some days I love out little yard.

 It is fenced in, filled with things to do, and (during the day) it is pretty quiet for a city backyard.

 Maggie spent half the morning watering all the plants in pots, the veggie garden, and mostly the grass between as she ran back and forth.

 I will never get tired of watching this pigtailed little girl in boots!

 We have put so much time into this yard, including the deck Troy built, the swing set, finding the right (extra long, Amish made) picnic table, and recently building a raised 4x20 vegetable garden.

 We have been blessed with a sweet water table (thanks Christy!), a little tykes house (thanks Kay!), and even a free trampoline (Thanks Mark and Carolyn!)!

 There are many things we would love to change, such as:

1. Have a place our kids can learn to ride a bike (on our own property that is not near a busy street).

2. Have more than a chain link fence separating our yard from the alley (and the not pretty sight of backs of row homes).

3. Change the awkward placement of the shed.

4. Live far enough away from neighbors so we can't hear everything from fights, parties, and even the "ding" of their microwave. (Can you imagine how loud we must sound in their home?!?!)

 But those are small things compared to the fun our children have in our backyard.

I know God gave us this house for the early years of our children's lives.

How else could we experience so much joy when it is not the "Dream Home" of this hayseed and husband?

When I'm getting frustrated with city life, I need to remember how blessed I am!

As long as they sleep

My kids get to have "Slumber Parties" on weekends.  

(So if you ever hear them say, "Do you want to sleep with me?" try not to laugh.  

We are working on breaking that habit and saying slumber party instead.)

Sigh.

All kids in big beds get to switch beds, share beds, camp out on the floor, whatever they like, 

as long as they are in a kid bedroom and quiet.  

They think it is amazing.

 One Friday night, Troy and I made the rounds to check on the sleeping kids and saw this.

 Ginnie and Livie ended up together in the top bunk.

(We never know where they will land ahead of time.)

Before you think, "Poor Ginnie," understand that she is usually the one kicking others in their necks.

I can vouch for that personally.

All's fair in slumber party rules!

postmistress

Virginia loves to write notes.

 Never mind that she can't read or write yet...

 She will cut and color anything.

(And you have seen evidence here and here to prove the word anything!)

 When she discovered the world of envelopes, her obsession to cut and color became more directed.

 She now wants to be a mail lady.

 I get multiple envies a day.

 Filled with cut out coloring book pages, original drawings, 

and sometimes just glued magazine cut outs.

It makes me wonder what her love language is/will be- words of affirmation? gifts?

Daddy's little helpers

I'd love to say the kids help Troy bake because they love culinary arts....

 But I have a feeling it is mostly about the perks.

 George gets the beater.

 Virginia is waiting patiently for the spatula.

  I love these sweet little faces!

Little Ladies

Every year we learn about a life cycle of some kind of animal.

We have watched butterflies, and tadpoles.

 This year is Ladybugs!

 We just did the quick kit from insect lore and ordered the little buggies in pupa stage.

 We were surprised to see familiar buggers that we had no idea were baby ladybugs!

 I forgot to take pictures of the transformation, but it was pretty awesome.  

The kids were excited to release them into the rose garden, especially after we read that ladybugs love to feed on aphids. 

 I might have to get these things every year!

Do your job little Ladybugs!  

I want kids who love to learn with the bonus of pretty roses!

What we have been up to....

 A little home improvement....

 A little playing around....

 Maybe a lot of playing around...

 Lounging in the Spring air....

 Eating some serious cake....

 Even more playing around.... 

(Yes, that is George)

 Packing up for local outings galore....

 Eating at our favorite farmers market...

 Enjoying summer cuisine....

 Livia learning culinary techniques....

 Finished up school....

 Holiday festivities....

 Field trips with friends.....

 Lots of holiday festivity repeats, just for the fun of it.....

 More lounging in the yard....

 More of Livia's culinary experiments.....

 Pinewood Derby......

 More Easter loveliness....

 and more......

 and more.....

 and more....

 family portraits......

 and more family.....

 Birthday celebrations.....

 presents.....

  Explorations in D.C.....

 Astronaut Ice cream....

 More presents.....

 Special dinners out.....

The end