Sleepers

We had this large box around thanks to their Auntie. Bruce adopted it as his house. One night he decided he just had to sleep in it. See his feet sticking out! He fell asleep almost instantly. I think because it was so dark.

Now since Juniper saw her big brother sleeping in a box she just had to find an unusual spot herself to sleep. She adopted the closet.

Buddy wasn't there but I thought this was a funny picture of his face propped up on on a table. I call this one "Hope."

Father's Day Crafts and such

We were very busy this Father's Day making and wrapping for the 3 special fathers in my children's lives. First we made cards for Grandpa Bob so we could get them in the mail, even though they would still be late. Bruce is writing his own name. Juniper we have to help. I hold her hand and form the letters. Both kids have gotten good at folding though and Bruce has discovered the joys of coloring inside the lines. Juney really wasn't grumpy at all but that was the best picture I could get from my two vampers.

Next was Deedee (maternal grandfather). We made two kinds of gluten free cookies. Both kids helped with the mixing and baking but only Juney was on hand for the construction of the presentation her Auntie Bel dreamed up. It really did come out looking nice. We rolled the cookies into parchment paper tubes. Looked just like the biscuits you would buy in England. Juney was very good at dropping in the chocolate chip cookies.


Finally, the kids wrapped up books for their Daddy. They each picked out a special Father themed picture book to give to their dad and then each wrapped their own presents. You can tell which one was Juney's cuz she put about 3 feet of tape on it. Bruce selected the Clone Wars paper.

Spring Plantings

Few weeks ago we finally started putting in the vegetable starts at the farm. We're way behind because the greenhouse chores take up so much time. Juney baby was a big help as she selected plants to put in.


And then helped set out where each plant should go.

And even attempted to carry the tray! Once there was only two pots left in it.

Bruce wasn't all that interested that day in doing the plants... unless he could wield the hose. Dangerous! He did like helping his Nonnie get buckets of rotted manure to fill in the beds.


Me and Bel took turns shoveling what the tractor couldn't reach. Can you believe a master's degree in archaeology would come in so handy. I had quite a few hours of professional training in shovel arts. I can even still throw dirt 5 feet and have it land in a neat pile where I intended it to go, and I can't throw a ball a straight so that is something. Good to know I'm using all that education ... shoveling s*** :)

Spring Bday... the Song

Brucito singing Happy Birthday to his little sister.

Dora, Pinkalicious, Fancy Nancy Birthday Tea Party

Every three year old wants their very own extra special birthday party so I setup a small get together with her friends and cousin. It was a La Explora Dora, Pinkalicious, Fancy Nancy tea party! With lots of pink and lots of fancies. Pink cupcakes, pink decor, pink accessories and we even listened to Pink while setting up the decorations ... the kids weren't home yet :) Pink, pink, pink ... that's a quote by the way. Our guests Superboy, Supergirl, and cousin Kaiya were quite happy to show up early and get gussied up for the celebration while Auntie Bel went and picked up the kids.

Bruce trundled up first and I bestowed his flowers and helmet upon him and told everyone to hide and say surprise when Juney got up there. Well ... I don't think 3 year olds understand the concept of a surprise party. She just stared at me with this very confused look on her face :)

She quickly got over the confusion as I changed her into her Fancy party dress and accessorized her little person.

Then Mommy served "tea" or raspberry lemonade to our little guests. They each got their own tea cup and saucer (I found a little espresso set at the thriftstore) and a nice treasure box full of "jewels" aka round glass beads and plastic bracelets. Joy abounded.





After the guests left Big Brother somehow conned his sister out of her treasure and used his absconded spoils to create shimmery patterns on his bedroom floor.

Spring Bday at the Garden Center

Since mom had pneumonia in March we didn't celebrate the March birthdays. So we decided to combine the March and May birthdays in one hurrah at the Garden Center. This meant all the ladies in the family were celebrating a birthday. Ok ... the 3yr old took center stage but that's what they do. It was an absolutely beautiful day for a party in Cedar Crest.

The morning of the kiddos painted mushrooms for their Nonnie since it also happened to be Mother's Day. They were both stripped to facilitate clean-up, not that the boy would have made a mess. The girl on the other hand ...

I let Bruce pick out a present for his sister. I was very proud. It only took a small discussion about how Juney really wasn't interested in Bakugan ... no really. Then he redirected his decision and made a choice of a Dora item over Tinkerbell. He helped wrap it and everything.

Auntie Aly set up a worm bin at the Garden Center. We sell her worms there too. The kids adore digging through it. Auntie Gillian attempted to reign in the mayhem so no invertebrates ended up on the paved floor. She also pretended to eat one which totally horrified the kids :)


We set-up dinner under a lovely tree. The pizza parlor next door makes gluten free pizza if you order 4 hours ahead so we treated ourselves to that.

My son is so unique. He loves pizza. We had lots of gluten free pizza for him. He took one bite and then scarfed all the crudites instead! Not that I'm complaining ... just confused.

To ensure peace was kept amidst seven females opening gifts I wrapped a gift up for the boy and ... I used Star Wars paper. He was overjoyed ... as Fancy Nancy would say.


Once he'd opened his gift he was more than happy to present Juniper with the present he picked out all by himself and wrapped. He did "help" her unwrap it but I think she liked the attention anyway. He also sang her happy birthday... so cute.


Juniper sporting her goods.

She just loves the bling things.

The infamous Tower of Cupcakes... the girl looks pleased. All gluten free and decorated with fancy umbrella toothpicks.

If you look closely at the beard you will see where the toothpicks were stored upon consumption of cupcakes.

If you look close you can see the little press-on earrings. She was so tickled with those.

Bel made the cupcakes. Got a little carried away with the food coloring.

Such a lovely evening.

Mountain Gardens Opening Day

First retail day as owner's of the Mountain Gardens Greenhouse & Nursery in Cedar Crest. Cloudy day but exciting. Pictures don't do justice to how pretty the spot is.



You don't see the pups but they get their very own special area. Now if only we could corrale the children in there ... Bruce and Tinkerbell don't get along though. We keep telling him to growl back at her. He does it and then he runs and Tinkerbell gets all excited and dominant while the boy runs screaming from this tiny dog.

Easter

Easter this year was fairly simple. Decorating eggs and a family dinner at the farm. The kids got two Easter baskets. One at home and one at the farm. Note that Juniper's mouth is already full of chocolate. I didn't get a picture of the hectic egg dying but, as usual, the kids loved the process.

Bruce thought the chocolate carrots were pretty funny although he did indulge in a real carrot from the greenhouse garden before having a sweet.

This is in contrast to Kaiya and Juney who were well into gorging on chocolate and jelly beans.


At the farm, the Easter bunny brought each child a bubble wand. Don't the girls look all fancy and pretty.

Why is it so hard to get all three to sit at a table and smile over their lovely Easter dinner?

There must always be a dessert table photo included. Just loved those tulips. BTW, the bag is a mushroom medium growing block. Nonnie's. I don't know why I didn't move it.

After all the playing and eating was over me and the two little ones watched a movie. I don't remember what it was. Probably Dora ... again.