Progress in the Garden

After finally getting some sunshine here, my garden is getting a little out of hand!  Happily growing everyday, the plants need tying up or pruning all the time.  I do a little work, and then the next day it seems like I need to do it all over again!  (Kind of like housework, but more fun!)

The tomatoes, above, are the biggest plants I've got as they were store bought.  All have tomatoes on them already, though the short Roma on the end I was a little worried about.  It seems to have a few after this weekend.

This is the rest of the garden.  You can't really tell what's what, but everything is just getting bigger and bigger.  We'll see if I'm able to contain it or at least minimize the craziness!  Most of the tomato plants have at least a few little tomatoes starting, and lots of buds to follow.  And we finally have cucumber plants beginning to take shape.  The nasty slugs kept eating the sprouts, so I crushed up some egg shells and sprinkled them around the cucumber sprouts.  Seems to have worked so far, as they still look chomp-free.

We've given lettuce and peas to friends because there is no way we can eat it all.  We've enjoyed raspberries freshly picked - the boys' favorite - and strawberries.  We've got a few blueberries that just need to turn blue, and I've been able to cut flowers and bring them inside too.  It makes me smile to see everything grow and develop day by day.  And I love watching the boys pick peas or carrots or anything really!  They're so proud of themselves, in kind of a mischievous way.  Love it!

Ode to Oroville

 On the way to Oroville, WA for camping... the madness continues!  

We had a fabulous trip with lots of friends and tons of kids... who all had bikes!  As soon as we arrived, Graeme put on his helmet and disappeared.  

Before I noticed (in the span of maybe two minutes), he'd made his way across the campsite, through the parking lot, taken his helmet off, and was headed toward the beach.  Both boys are getting better about following the rules with their bikes, but we had to keep pretty close watch on the little one.

It was a 5+ hour car ride and the boys were wonderful!  

At one point, we asked Gavin how he was and he responded: "I'm just enjoying the great car ride!"

I just love this picture of Graeme! 

Snack time after a little adventure to Blue Lake!

Dare we go in?  

Alas, neither of them spent much time in the lake.  Graeme's favorite water spot was the shower/foot wash with its own murky, sandy puddle.  Who needs a beach and beautiful lake?  

Snapshots of San Diego

In June, the boys and I went to San Diego to visit my parents while Craig was on his golf trip.  Peyton and Morgan came out to visit too, so the cousins (and I) had some fun play time together.  And we got some time with Celeste too, though I don't have any pictures of that yet.

This is what "summer" looked like for us before we left: 

Hopeful swim trunks, water shoes, and necessary rain jacket.  Warmish, but still rainy.

 Ahhh... the beach.  The boys loved the sand, water, crabs, and chasing the seagulls (Graeme especially).

We also ended up going to Disneyland (thank you Lora!) and the boys had fun there too.  It was the craziest I've ever seen Disneyland, though I haven't been there in ages.  My mom, my friend Lora, and I had 7 kids between us.  I'm pretty sure my mom spent the day counting to seven to make sure everyone was still with us.  Hopefully she had a little bit of fun too!  The boys' favorite was Autopia... but it was hard to get great pictures of them as they weren't the smoothest of drivers.

Mandatory picture in front of Cinderella's castle.  Gavin was sitting on the curb just beside us.  A little grumpy.  He hadn't seen Mickey yet: "Where's Mickey?  I want to see Mickey Mouse!"  I hadn't realized how little you actually see of Mickey once you get past the front entrance.

Finally!  We went to Mickey's house and it made Gavin's day.  Graeme and Mitchell loved it too.  And everyone in the line behind us ooh'd and aah'd because these three were so freakin' cute.  When they left, Graeme said: "Thank you Mickey!  Have a nice day!" 

Next up, Legoland.  Even though they liked Disneyland, Legoland was pretty much made for them.  We didn't even get through a third of the park and they loved everything!  

Graeme waiting in line with Mummy.  

(He was lucky to be just tall enough to go on the car ride!)

Checking out the dinosaurs.  

Graeme played in the little water fountain for almost two hours.  Everyone else went off to drive the cars, and I just watched him.  Other kids came and went, but Graeme was completely content.  He'd jump on the little round pad and a circle of water would shoot up.  He'd yell:  "My lucky water came back!" and then run through it around in a circle.  Pure joy.  

And a very soggy diaper.

Another favorite... the train!  

Particularly special with cool big kid cousins Pey and Mo!

And one last snuggle before we had to go home.  

I actually think Graeme is driving Mater (his new race Mater from Disneyland no less) on Morgan's back.

Incredible Helpers

No, not Gavin and Graeme.  They believe themselves to be incredible helpers, and they are getting the hang of it.  (Gavin actually helped cut veggies tonight for our salad.)  However, I'm talking about ladybugs.  I knew they were supposed to be helpful in the garden, eating bad bugs, etc.  They proved themselves today, for sure!

I've noticed in the last few weeks that we've had a number of ladybugs attracted to our massive parsley plants.  (No, we don't eat tons of parsley - it just grew back really, really big this year.)  This morning, though, I wanted to cut back the parsley to give the other veggies and smaller plants some sun and air.  Hmmm... I don't want to compost the ladybugs though.

Solution?  I transplanted about 5 ladybugs (2 mating, in fact, hopefully I didn't disturb things) to a little pot of 3 peppers that were completely covered in aphids.  Now, I've got little peppers throughout the garden, as well as a strawberry patch.  So I don't know why these were the ones attracting bugs.

Enter ladybugs.  The boys and I checked later this after noon.  Two plants virtually clean; one lady bug resting.  The third plant had some aphids left; ladybug still in action.  We actually got to watch him eat  few bugs!  It was pretty cool, you know, for the boys to watch.  They got to squish a few aphids too.  They pop a little.  So that's fun.

Checked later this evening: plant #3 clean.

Ladybugs rock.

Hey, Taco Time!

Now that Gavin can read, he's apparently quite fond of Taco Time.  He sees it everywhere we go - around town or on freeway exit signs - and he always wants to go.  We never do, and he's never been there before.  He can figure out, however, that they have tacos there.  And he likes tacos.

I'm learning things can get a little trickier once your children learn to read.  We passed an ice cream shop twice today, and it didn't escape him.  Again, we didn't go... but sheesh... I didn't think about this aspect of reading.

But, just so you know he's not entirely motived by junk food, his new favorite food is purple cabbage.  We had some in salad the other night and Craig made him try at least one bite before he said he didn't like it.  Now, it's a favorite - even rivals shrimp (or so he says) as the best ever.  He's gobbled it up everyday since, and has tried to feed it to Graeme (who's not so enamored).

New Buds and Tomato Surprises

 After a wonderful day in the yard, I thought I'd post some images of what is growing so far.  Even though the weather has been cold and wet, most things are still hanging in there and doing quite well.

Here is the flower/herb garden, which so far really only has chives blooming.  We've got lots of strawberries in the patch to the left (you can only see the start)!  If I can keep the bugs away, then we should have lots to pick!

Since I started a lot indoors this year (and lots survived), I've got a lot of little tomato plants.  I've forgotten what survived and what didn't, so I really have no idea what will turn up if each of them actually produces.  We've got at least 20 plants.  One already has little buds on it though!  That made my day!

This made my day too... pea blossoms finally!  I have a bunch along the fence that haven't started blooming yet, but these have... yeah!  And, again, I forget what kind of peas these are as I planted a few different kinds.  It's hard to keep track of what's being planted when you have helpers that are 2 and 4 years old.

The first baby zucchini!  It looks like someone already took a little bit of it, so I'll have to keep tabs... Or, really, no one in my family will care if the bugs eat it, because they won't.  Unless it's mixed with chocolate.

While I was snapping pictures, I figured I'd show you what the ants have done to my radishes.  Sure, the slugs may have helped a bit, but this is ant damage.  All the way!  (And they destroyed that broccoli plant I mentioned. Not even worth taking a picture.)

I did go ahead and buy three tomato plants, because I didn't really know if mine would survive and/or produce if they did.  This is what they looked like now. Hopefully the sacks will hold up for the season and not topple over if the plants get too big.

In the end, lots of surprises for the season ahead.  And, if we get some sun this summer, we should have lots of fun veggies to pick.  (I'll plant beans this week too... for later in the season.)

Never Too Old

As I was driving away from the park today with the boys, I saw something I've never seen.  And I was impressed, even a little inspired.  An older man, probably mid 60's judging from the crown of white hair, was trying to learn to skateboard.  In a business suit.  He was clearly learning, because now that I frequent BMX and skate parks, I could see he certainly didn't have the skills.  (Never been on a skateboard, but I'm a total expert.)

Was it an attempt to relate to teenage son or daughter?  Maybe a crazy corporate training exercise or something?  In any case, kudos to that guy.  It was a good reminder to get over myself (yourself) and move forward.  What ever dreams or hobbies you loved when you were a kid and let go.  Or maybe dreams you had as a kid (or adult for that matter), but never followed or pursued.

Go get that skateboard and hop on... metaphorically, of course.  (As I'm not actually a fan of skateboarding.)

Maybe get that drum set.