Garden 2011

This represents our third attempt at gardening in Kansas. Our local deer population have proven to be prolific consumers of our produce. After extensive research and contemplation, we went with deer netting. By running the netting around the perimeter of the raised garden bed with tomato cages providing height at the corners, our garden is now protected.

Swingset

We got a swingset about a month ago. Previous to this, the girls' main source of entertainment while outside was trying to run out into the street. While this continues to be a source of much joy to them, the swingset has provided an alternative.

We got an infant swing for Kate, but Maggie has made sure to get used out of it as well. This has forced Kate to learn how to stay on the big girl swing. They also enjoy the slide.

15 Minutes

In fifteen minutes, I can...

Pray and read my scriptures. Run a mile or two. Or take a shower and dress.

Clean the tub. Scrub the toilets. Or organize a closet.

Chop veggies for dinner. Cook up a stir-fry. Or mix a batch of cookies.

Load the dishwasher. Pick up the living room. Or fold a load of laundry.

Write a blog post. Make a journal entry. Or plan a Sunday lesson.

Read a story to my daughters. Do a puzzle with Maggie. Play a game with Kate. Or talk to Mike about how the day went.

So what's my problem? Activation energy. Staying motivated. Not getting overwhelmed or discouraged by all the fifteen minuteses I know I'm going to need. Learning to focus on one task at a time and not spend time dreading chores instead of doing them. Planning and choosing my activities wisely.

Because when I put my mind to it, just fifteen minutes can really change a lot. Know what I mean?

Post-edit: I should add, in less than fifteen minutes, my kids can also do a lot. Of damage usually. How come activation energy comes so easily to them? But you all know how that goes. :)

Winter Pastimes

Well, it's another cold and rainy day, so we are back to our bag of tricks. Here are some things we have been doing to fight the winter blues. (These pics range from January to present.)

1. Celebrating Mike's birthday a few weeks ago. Yay for a wonderful husband and father--we're pretty lucky! (Yep, that's 27 candles.)

2. Climbing. Who needs a jungle gym or playground when your home furniture can suit the same purpose. I am forever removing Kate from tables and desks. (And sometimes Maggie too.)

3. Forts, puzzles, and books. My girls LOVE to read and do puzzles and we have done a bunch this winter--at home, at the library, and in their fort.

4. Painting--the kitchen walls (finally!), in the bath, and on paper. My girls LOVE to paint.

My favorite is making bath paint by mixing shaving cream with a drop or two of food coloring. I mix a bunch of different colors in an old veggie tray and the girls paint with their fingers or a paint brush on the bathtub wall for ages. And it's so easy to clean up. Just rinse. (We've also tried and liked the soap, cornstarch, food dye solution, but it is more of a pain to rinse off because it bubbles so much. But equally fun.)

5. Playdough and the bean box. (I am learning to put a big tablecloth underneath them when they play with either. And Kate still has to be watched to make sure she doesn't pop any in her mouth, so they are not completely self-sufficient activities.)

6. Playing pretend. This was a backpack expedition started by Kate's enthusiasm for wearing a backpack and fueled by Maggie's desire to never be left out. We play a lot of things. Little Bear, Princesses, Kipper, Dora, going to the beach...obviously, we also watch TV. Maggie always assigns the roles. Kate hasn't told us if she minds.

7. Helping with chores. Cleaning the floor. Feeding Kate. Unloading the dishes. Making the bed. Brushing teeth (Maggie always takes initiative. She gets them both in there, doses out toothpaste for Kate first, and then does hers. It's adorable). And unpictured: Helping with laundry (they are especially cute at this, taking laundry from the pile, climbing on their stepstool and tossing over their heads to get it in the washer).

They really do it all. I'm thinking of hiring them out.

The End.

Califor-ni-ay!

It's hard to believe we were there a week ago. Mike served his mission in Long Beach, California. A couple he taught while there wanted him to be at their sealing in the San Diego Temple. This proved a good excuse for a family vacay to California! Thanks for including us Mike!!

We got in late last Wednesday night. As rain was expected on both Friday and Saturday, we hurried to Disneyland on Thursday morning for a full day of fun. Since the girls are both under three, they were free, so it was a perfect time to go. :)

The girls both loved it. Except when Mom made them go on three scary rides in a row...In my defense, I didn't know they would be scary. I thought they would be gentle cart rides with cute displays from Disney movies, not scary pictures from Disney movies accompanied by terrifying music. I kept thinking, oh this one can't be scary...but then it would be again. I think the Snow White, Pinocchio, and Mr. Toad rides were made during Disneyland's dark phase. But we won't talk anymore about that.

I think all of us appreciated It's A Small World and I would pick it as our family favorite, though both the girls loved the teacups and Maggie loved Dumbo as well (though Kate wasn't as sure about the flying). And it was great to get back on Space Mountain (Mike and I took turns). I rode it with my cousin when I was five years old about six times and loved it. I was glad to find it was just as fun as an adult.

And oh the princesses. Maggie was so starstruck when she saw Snow White that she broke into a grin and her jaw dropped a little. She couldn't even talk at first. We asked her who it was and all she could do was smile. And then did this funny little excited hop to get over to her. And afterwards she kept talking about the princesses. So yeah, Disney was a success.

Friday, we visited with some friends of Mike's (the Weight's), drove by the lovely Newport Beach temple, took a trip down memory lane to see my grandparents' old place, and visited with my cousins for dinner.

It was fun to see my aunt and uncle again and my cousin Jessica and her darling little boy. It had been over five years. And he was such a good host to my little girls. It was fun to watch them play and think of my early days in California when I was about Maggie's size and played in the very same rooms with my cousins.

Saturday, we visited my grandfather's grave. He passed away when I was in high school and I am so thankful for his tremendous example. I still miss him and was lucky to have so many memories of him. Walking to the library, reading side-by-side (our own books of course), getting ice cream or slurpees, watching him read his scriptures hours on end, making milk shakes. He was a good man. And now Maggie thinks my grandpa is a stone in the ground. She kept pointing to it and saying, "That's Mom's grandpa, Kate." Which is technically what I told her.

Then that evening was the Bramlage sealing. So happy for them. And so glad Mike got to be there for them. The girls and I found a park to play at too and they got to try a tire swing for the first time, so happy day all around.

Sunday, we attended sacrament meeting in San Diego and then took a walk on the beach and visited the Church's Mormon Battalion Historic Site which was so awesome! And beautiful too. I highly recommend it. I think it may be one of the coolest visitor's centers I have ever been to. Free fun. Can't beat that.

And by the way, the girls loved the beach. Kate especially was so cute rushing up to meet the waves and rushing back when they touched her toes. And she liked finding rocks and shells to throw in the water. It was also cute when she was trying to brush the sand off her feet. Maggie was a little more cautious, but loved it too. She enjoyed looking for shells and burying her feet in the sand. I dropped our camera (luckily it was the point-and-shoot) in the sand; it almost bit the dust but miraculously came back. I'm pretty sure it was because even though I was sorely tempted by the frozen banana stand I refrained since it was Sunday. See. Obedience pays off. Maybe I would see more miracles if I were more obedient. :)

And even though it was cool (for Cali) throughout our trip, we did manage go in our hotel pool and hot tub a couple times. The girls had so much fun! :)