When 5 + 3 = MESS!

Cousin Paul (and his parents), came to visit this weekend.

His mom and I left the dads in charge of three-year-old and the

five-year-old while we took a much needed trip to

the 10,000 square feet scrapbook store in town.

~~

When we got home,

this...

is...

what...

we...

discovered...

that a five-year-old plus a three-year-old

equals MESS!

At The Races

Last Saturday, we met Mom and Dad, John and Donna and Violet at the races. This was the perfect weekend to go. It wasn't too hot, the Monster Truck was there and they had awesome fireworks.

We all had a good time.

Emma got lots of new driver signatures on her racing hat.

Getting a closer look.

Violet, Mom and Dad

New grandparents, John and Donna.

Bob and Ryan (he's got quite the goofy look on his face)

Me and Emmalee

This thing was HUGE and very LOUD!

It was pretty cool to watch it run over cars and boats.

After the races, we went to the pit to see the cars and drivers

This girl is 15 years old...she won third place.

It's amazing that someone who can't legally drive on the road

can drive like this with the adult male drivers.

Emma got to sit in another of the female driver's cars.

This mother of three also got third place in a different class of cars.

Ryan's hat is almost full...there's not a lot of room to

write on his since it's black. This was the driver who took first.

Good reads

This was the view in our living room last Friday night about 10:30.

Bob was on one couch reading Book Three of the Fablehaven

series, and Ryan was on the other reading Book Two of the same

series. It must be really good to be enjoyed by both a 3?-year-old and a nine-year-old!

Happy third birthday, Aislyn!

On Saturday afternoon, Emmalee and I headed out to the country

to celebrate Aislyn's third birthday.

Em & Em

I love her sweet little cheeks and her pigtails.

Maverick really likes cake!

See that little girl there in the front with the red shirt on?

I don't know who she belongs to, but she's a little cheater!

See how far ahead she is? She went on "Get Set."

Someone really should talk to her parents!

Cake, presents, bubbles, friends and sunshine.

Could it get any better?

Getting a little help from Auntie Kyra

Progress

I worked in the yard a few hours both yesterday and today.

Afterwards, I took a little walk with the camera.

The photo above was taking while standing up on the deck

looking down on what will be our herb garden.

The prior owners had a second dog run here.

Unsurprisinging, weeds grow without any encouragement.

This is what it looked like after a bit of time this afternoon.

There's a climbing rose there on the corner. I've planted cooking herbs over on the left and some lavender over on the right. I'll fill in the rest within the next few days. I can't wait to watch as this bed grows!

Here's the view standing right next to the climbing rose on the

corner of the house looking over the back yard. Bob had just mowed...I love how fresh it looks.

This little shady spot is my favorite. On the back side of the

dog run under the deck, the prior owners had yet another

dog run. It's elevated and full of small rock.

I'm envisioning a fire pit and seating area.

In college, I made a bench that had a wooden planter on each side and the bench went from one to the other. I've always wanted to make one with three planters in the shape of an "L." Mmm....

Here's the row of lilac bushes.

See the damage that the climbing vine did to the one on

the right?

You can see the corner of the area where I want the

fire pit and seating. Wouldn't this be the perfect spot to

spend a 110 degree afternoon?

My clematis and chives.

I planted most of the garden today.

We discovered a bunch of buried bricks throughout that area...

it's made it an interesting job never knowing when you're going to hit one. See that little shed on the left? There's a bed that runs along the side of it...it's the last one to clean out. I've got plans for it!

(Shhh....it involves a bit of thievery)

This is the view looking up from my favorite shaded area (yep...firepit and seating area). I love how three kinds of trees mingle as they touch the gorgeous blue sky.

And, oh, they're in full bloom now.

Take a look...

Can't you just smell them?

~~

Happy weekend to all.

I'll be doing a bit of thieving, some digging, some

three-year-old-birthday-celebrating...

Hope your's is wonderful...

Teacher Emma

While Trevor spent yesterday afternoon with us,

Emma concentrated on teaching him how to climb stairs.

This two-stair landing in the living room is perfect

because it's pretty hard to get hurt!

"See, lit' chubby boy Trevy, this is how you do it."

Love that smile, complete with drool. :)

A little encouragement

"I can do it!!"

I love this one of the two of them...