Smells Like Sunscreen...

Outside...

We've been doing a lot outside lately, which for me means I completely abandon all my responsibilities inside. I just can't figure out how those superwomen do it ALL. Needless to say I just haven't been blogging.


We have been having a lot of fun with springtime outdoor projects. Our list includes...

• Planting a little mini orchard (a plum, a pear, a peach, and two apple trees)



• Planting blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries



• Putting in our little pumpkin patch



• Tilling and preparing (including dog proofing) our little attempt of a garden



• Planting shrubs and putting down grass seed... which I have been obsessing over watching grow little by little



• Aerating the backyard



• And making a really really really long wish list of things we wish we could do... someday.

To Tony's personal list I would add BIKING, BIKING, BIKING. He is gearing up for a charity ride in May called "Reach the Beach" and he has set a 3000 mile goal for the riding season this year. Do I wonder if he will make it??? Absolutely not, he is way too determined to not reach it. I am hoping Kylee's current strongwilledness grows into that same brute determination.

One of my least proud moments lately has been sending Kylee to pretty school like this...

Yep, that's right BARE FOOT. I, of course, was running late, so her wonderful teachers put her in a pair of socks for the day and sent me on my way. She had gotten into the car herself and I didn't notice her lack of foot attire when I was buckling her car seat... OOOPS!

One of our most proud moments lately was watching Kyndra participate in the annual Lincoln School Egg Drop Contest. Her egg survived, which was exciting, but even more exciting was watching her support her friends whose eggs didn't make it. She is truly a tender heart.

Well time to get back outside... today's plans include pressure washing YEAH!

Loved To Hear Her Cry...

Usually I can hardly stand to hear my dear friend Taunya cry. It truly breaks my heart, because she is deserving of nothing more than complete happiness in my book. I haven't heard her cry many times at all in our 12+ year friendship. She is just so easy going and accepting of everything and anyone, which those of you who know her are well aware of and those who have barely met her could tell right away I'm sure. Well, when I got the call yesterday at 3:15 and she was crying my heart did not break in fact I think it about swelled out of my chest when I heard her say the words, "I'm pregnant". It has been seven years to the month of March since she and her husband, Tony, started trying. I know this because our plan was to get pregnant at the same time, since we were born in the same hospital and then later met in Spanish class at Western (where I did occasionally have to borrow her homework, because the dog ate mine). We went on to marry police officer boys named Tony (our nuptials were two weeks apart), move to Eastern Oregon, and teach third grade. There were some other uncanny similarities along the way, but those were the biggies. So the plan was to have babies at the same time, but it didn't work out as we had planned. As I enjoyed my girls I prayed and prayed for Taunya and Tony to be blessed with children. I can close my eyes and completely envision the amazing mother Taunya is going to be and now that vision is only nine short months away. Let the shopping begin!!!

Taunya & baby Kyndra

Bring On The Birds...

Friday night Tony and I got to talking about all of the things we should be doing this weekend. The list was long, but we were easily taken off track when I mentioned I would really like to have some bird houses around our place. I have so many fond memories from my grandparent's home that include birds. There were hummingbird feeders, bird bathes, and houses a plenty. My grandma had a stack of bird books by her big picture window and she and I would watch and study the birds all day. Tony easily obliged my whim and we left behind all hopes of a spotless home for yet another weekend. We got online and searched for the best plans we could find for some kid friendly bird houses (just think only two years ago we were searching for house plans for US). Three houses ranked pretty high, but the coffee can version won out. We invited the neighbor girls to join our little building extravaganza (hopefully we will get an extended family of birds to move into the neighborhood). Bird word should spread pretty quickly that we are friend to all feathered creatures on our little drive.

We didn't have enough coffee cans so Tony scoured two local recycle centers for supplies (you know those coffee cans don't fit through the openings in the bins). He picked up the rest of the supplies at Tum-a-lum and started cutting pieces. I heard all the usual, "this would be so much easier with a table saw." I assured him the bird houses didn't have to be "that" precise. We gave the pieces a quick coat of paint and we were ready to go (don't worry our chores didn't go anywhere).

Sunday was the day for letting loose with paint, brushes, and stamps. Five adorable little girls painted five adorable little bird houses. After the paint was dry the daddies helped nail the little condos together and there you have it... Bring on the birds. Cleaning windows and scrubbing molding will be so much more fun as I watch a mama bird bring snacks to her babies... right.

The Glasses...

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to go to a PBS (positive behavior support) conference in Eugene with an awesome group of ladies. One of them was Kyndra's school counselor, whom she is quite fond of. As I was publicly displaying my angst over being away from my family for the first time, the counselor began to talk about my sweet Kyndra. During the conversation she mentioned Kyndra getting new glasses. I assured her she didn't, but she said she was sure she had seen Kyndra wearing blue glasses in class while she was doing her work. I thought perhaps all the kids had on glasses for Dr. Suess week, but she said that wasn't the case. When I got home from the conference I peeked through Kyndra's backpack and found the doctor kit glasses in a secret pocket. The same doctor kit glasses that she has worn every chance she has gotten for the last six months (unless dad is around, he is quite done with the doctor glasses). I asked Kyndra if her "glasses" were a distraction to the other kids. She thought maybe they were, but her teacher told her she was just too cute and didn't make her take them off.

Her teacher has also recently warned us that Kyndra tells her "everything". The last thing she shared was about when we were teasing her that she was going to have to scrub the toilets before grandma and grandpa came because mom and dad didn't love that chore (who are we kidding we don't love any chore). She fretted all day at school about having to go home and scrub the toilets. Mrs. P shared that little tale with Tony as he picked Kyndra up in the ever so famous car line.

Anyway "the glasses" have definitely made the family memory banks. She insisted on putting them on Sparky for the photo shoot. He is our first garage sale buy of the year... let the floodgates open... AHHHHHH!!! She is awfully cute :)

Lately...

Jazmyn won't leave Tony's side, making some tasks a little difficult. They are both missing their buddy.

The girls have gotten to spend a lot of days with daddy while I am at work. I wish I was with them all day every day, but I know how blessed we are that Tony is able to keep them home a few days a week. They are always busy, busy, busy. They get all those weekday errands done, bring me all the things I have forgotten at home, and simply play the day away. They have also had a couple of bake-a-thons. They are in such good hands :)

We have been Dr. Suessing our time away. Kyndra is really beginning to love to read and the big Suess birthday has her all excited.

Tony spent Friday night and Saturday at a mens' conference for church. His dad came over and they had a great time.

I have had a black eye that just won't photograph quite right. Something was wrong with my cat like reflexes the other day when I asked Kyndra to get me the phone. She decided to toss it to me and I caught it with my eye. It is a lovely shade of green today.

Kyndra has been taking clay classes and is LOVING them.

Kylee is taking a creative movement class for toddlers. She is loving it as well, but she is beginning to give her teacher a run for her money. Just can't quite follow those silly little rules.

Other than that LATELY we have just been hanging out :)

Dancing The Night Away...

FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY Tony was able to take Kyndra to the Daddy Daughter Dance. He asked if he could bring her two years ago and was told absolutely not! It was even suggested to him by the powers that be that he should just turn on some music and dance in the living room... WELL, humph. So, they waited and did lots of dancing in the living room (which was already happening well before it was suggested to him). Kyndra's most insistent response was that it was worth the wait by a mile. She had a blast... all of it, the getting ready, the dinner at Comos, and the endless boogeying. She said her favorite dance was Cotton Eyed Joe (she called it Where Did We Come From, Where Did We Go). I would have given anything to see those two busting a move on the floor to that tune. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow. I couldn't be prouder of the little girl daddy that Tony has become... gulp :) I know time will only go too fast until I am blogging about that first prom night.

Kylee stayed with me and grooved to her own drummer, wait a minute that is what she ALWAYS does. She put together this little outfit and put on quite a show for me, then she and I went to a friends house for pizza and cookie decorating. Fun times for all!