Its Planted...

We got our little garden planted. I think it will lots of fun this year. Thanks to Jared adding two new Garden Boxes we were able to plant a few more things this year.  We planted tomatoes, peppers,  green onions, carrots, parsnips, lettuce, beans, peas, pumpkins, watermelon, cantaloupe and zucchini.  We just need to find a place to put our strawberries and I'm looking for a Tomatillo plant.  Gia was a big helper as you can see.

I absolutely look forward to planting a garden every year.  I think it must be in my blood.  Both of my grandmas and my dad planted a huge garden every year.  When I was young,  I loved to help my dad in the garden.  I loved to eat radishes and peppers right out of the garden.  I was the only the only child to eat cooked spinach out the garden with my dad.  I'm not even sure I liked spinach as a child.  I just wanted to like it because my dad did and the other kids thought it was gross.  So you can see I had the garden planting build up to almost a sacred event.  How many times do we do that and are let down???

I'd like to say it was the lovely, best family day I had built up in my head.. But... There were a few bright spots.  We got it done. To start the event off,  I lost the seeds I had bought months back.  I had to go to the store and buy more.  Thank goodness they were 1/2 off. ( of course I found them later that night) By the time we got going it was afternoon and the temperature was near 80.  I know that won't seem hot in a months or so.  But, last Saturday it felt like 100 degrees.  We were all getting a little hot and grumpy.   That called for a break and a trip to Dairy Queen for dinner.  Gia had a great time there.  She knew right away she wanted a hamburger and fries.  But, mostly ate fries and Jared's chicken and texas toast.  We topped off our dinner with our traditional DQ ice cream cones.  We had cooled off and so had the temperature outside. 

We returned to our Garden planting with renewed vigor and smiles on our faces.  Okay, I might be over doing the smile thing.  But, we weren't arguing and the garden got planted.  Its a good thing the garden lasts all summer long.  We have lots of chances for  better days and memories.  Though I guess if next year or even next week, well actually as I sit here writing I just look at the pictures of Gia and Jared in the garden,  I  forget  dimmer parts of the day and remember fondly the time I spent with my sweet family.  Somehow, time has away of letting your remember the most shining parts of your life it you let it.  

Off to the Races

Okay Monday  we had another fun family night. We only had about 5 minutes for our little activity after the lesson because we were running late. We hurried outside to have our sack races.    It seems like the older I get,  true big belly laughs are fewer and farther between.  I don't think I've laughed this hard in a long time.

We all got in our sacks and headed for the starting line.  Of course Jared decided the starting line was where he was standing.  Gia and I were already struggling by the time we got done helping each other there.

 And then we were off ( well kind of).  Gia and I were laughing so hard that we couldn't make it off the starting line. Gia was laughing because I was laughing. Afterward Jared asked her why she was laughing.  She replied, with a bewildered look on her face, "I don't know" .  

I was laughing at Jared.  I wish I had a video of Jared hopping around in his sack.  He looked so funny,  I mean cute, in the little sack, hopping as fast as he could.   He could barley reach the little handles. 

What a great daddy!  He is willing to be silly with us.  Laughter sure has the ability to elevate your mood.  I smiled and had a little giggle the rest of the evening.  I need to figure out how to laugh more often.  It seems like I get so caught up in getting things done like cleaning the house, getting the groceries, getting  Gia showered,  clothed, fed, teeth brushed, and keeping clean panties on her, that I forget to look for the humor in life.

Today, (Wednesday May,19) Gia taught me something about finding humor in unlikely places.   We walked down the hill to Ann Morrison  park.  We had a lovely time playing in the water etc.  I was sitting there thinking what a perfect time we were having in perfect 75 degree weather dipping our feet in the river.  When all of the sudden, I looked down at the same time Gia bent over.  I had to do a double take.  Was that poop I was seeing all smooshed up on  her back?  It was!  In the park bathroom, which is one of my least favorite places, as I was wetting toilet paper trying to get all that I could off her, and trying to decide what to do with the panties, ( by the way, I just threw them away)  She said, "Mommy", as she started to giggle, "this is so funny."  She could see the humor in that right away.  I'm still trying.  Perhaps in a year or so when I re-read this I will laugh. For now,  I'm good with the sack race.

...And Daddy Gets the Prize

Mother Daughter Fun!

It seems like Gia and I have been so busy.  You might think how can a little girl be busy?  If I'm busy she is busy. We go just about everywhere together.  Between shopping for groceries and playing with cousins and friends, visiting grandma, playing at the park, going to story time etc.  We are just worn out sometimes.

The week before Mother's Day Gia and I had a mommy and daughter hair day.  It was a lot of fun,  except when they wanted to blow dry her hair.  She had that 'I'm trying to be brave' look on her face.  But, she kept shrinking smaller and smaller, further away from the blow dryer.  I held her hand (and the rest of her body up so the blow dryer could kind of reach her).  She was happy when all was done.  Her hair is cute, and so is she for that matter. It wouldn't matter what we did to her hair, her smile and bright personality always make her cute. 

Later we went the mall to show off our new 'dews',   picked out a Birthday present for Alix and ate gelato with fancy little spoons that gia insisted we keep for later use.  What a wonderful day!  I couldn't have been a happier mother to have such a wonderful daugher.  Heavenly Father certainly knew what he was doing when he paired us together.

Mother's Day week-end was busy for me because I had dress rehearsals and performances Friday and Saturday and a relief society lesson to teach on Sunday.  Saturday when I finished my performance and hurried to the last part of  Alix's Birthday party.  Gia ran to me with a huge smile and said, " Mommy, I'm so happy to see you.".  She gave me a big hug.  Then ran to quickly ran away to pay with her cousins.  What else can a mom ask for? 

Let's Go Fly a Kite Family Night

We had a lot of fun Monday at FHE.  After our lesson Jared noticed  the wind was blowing and on whim suggested that we fly Gia's dollar store kite for our activity.  The Kite didn't fly that well. But it certainly brought a lot of smiles and laughter.  Sometimes the things that happen spontaneously are the most fun and memorable.  Jared even had fun getting it out of the tree.

Though Jared is busy and we have limited family time.  Setting 30-45 minutes apart each Monday for a short lesson and activity has really given us some great family memories.  About a month ago, Gia made up her own soccer game that we all played in the living room. We don't have pictures but I'm sure you can imagine the three of us trying to dodge and push each other for the ball in our little living room.  Thank goodness for children that teach us how to have fun again.

Here are some pictures from Fly a Kite Family Night

Get Ready, Get Set, Go.

  

 












Gia throws the Kite...

 way up high
 
















Run Daddy Run

see daddy run fast















 

Success

Dora The Explorer flying at last