As I walked out tonight in the mystic garden

Help in the yard from these bozos is always a treat.

I know that I haven't been posting much, so let me catch you up:
Eli has had a "highly contagious virus" which resulted in mucho vomit and poop. Again.
Evan is sick with something different, but which consists of very flu like symptoms,

and me, well, I found a new recipe for homemade granola bars, have been making lots of homemade bread, and planting: lettuce, radishes, banana peppers, jalapenos, cilantro, parsley, one watermelon, eggplant, and broccoli. I hope they grow! My aunt Cindy started them for me and sent them. I've only ever grown tomatoes, peppers, garlic, and a few forgiving herbs, so I am thrilled to expand my operation.

Next on the horizon, wild yeast?? Can I do that?

My two year old is a joy, an everlasting fountain of surprises and delights. He is kind and innocent and inquisitive.

And, he is a terror. He is having a rough go of things this week, and I am reminded to breathe, speak kindly, and help him learn to express himself without screams and kicks. (I can't even always do that myself...) He is fond of saying this week with protruding lips, "I don't love anybody, " and "don't talk to me." He is regressing in potty training, meaning that the first words I heard this morning at 6 AM were, "I pooped in my undies." He also in a kids- say- the- dardnest- things- moment told our neighbor: " I have a wieners, but mommy doesn't, she pees from her butt.." Oh, and life rolls on...

But he was famous long ago

Idea copied from my friend's blog: Ollie's answers are in green and Eli's in red

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Pick up your toys.

Mmm, hmmm

2. What makes mom happy?
to love you

Stop crying

3. What makes mom sad?
not love mommy.

cry


4. How does your mom make you laugh?
tickle me, and that makes me fart and makes me squirt a little in my pants

you make me happy

5. What was your mom like as a child?
I wasn’t alive when you were a kid.mnjk

A mommy kid

6. How old is your mom?
30

5

7. How tall is your mom?
Don’t know, almost as high as the ceiling, actually not, but tall

Really high

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Sleep late

Cook

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Tell Daddy how much you miss me

cry

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Wood

11. What is your mom really good at?
Reading

Nothin’

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Building

Not hitting

13. What does your mom do for her job?
teach

Teach Spanish

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Salad

Food

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
I don’t know

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
DW

Rosie

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Play

How long do we have to do this?

play

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both brush teethes and we both cook

nothin’

19. How are you and your mom different?
I drink chocolate milk and you don’t, you drink soy milk

I don’t remember

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
You hug me a lot. I want to give you 29 hugs today

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Chattanooga, I like Chattanooga, is that all I need to do?

I tell them, "Mother took a trip"

Most of the time, I am in awe of how blessed I am. I know for sure that I don't deserve it, and I stand in amazement of my good fortune and happiness. One such example is us pictured above at the most fun we've had in a while. Evan certainly has some interests that bore me to tears, but his enthusiasm for live music is certainly not one of them. We drove 11 hours, sent the kids to the Grandparents, and spent the last 3 days sitting in a parking lot during the day and dancing our butts off in Hampton, Virginia.
Phish tour, baby.
It is a bit hard to check back into reality.....Don't make me.....
Much love goes to all those who help make my dream possible (Ethan, Danielle, MOM!!, Emo, and Papaw, Aaron...)Thanks guys.

Okay, a few more!

Our dogwood

Very uncommon for this area! If only it was Monday! The boys are warming their toes in a bubble bath waiting for the snow to get crisp enough for a snowman.