the hawks

This video is totally boring until the end, but the hawk was calling when I ran to grab the camera.

Batten down the hatches, we're setting sail...

Must remember the detergent (I might not be able to find that brand)! Just one of the notes I scribbled in bright green on my todo list. I always become "military mom" just before vacations. I forget please and thank you and sound a little "barkish". I don't mean to be bossy, but, I have things to get done and more importantly a schedule to follow. Luckily, so far, the family seems used to mom's "got stuff to do rush"; it isn't only a part of packing. Boot camp must've really "set" in me, because I will stick to a schedule at the expense even of sanity. Of course, only if someone is expecting me. I don't set schedules for myself, I set "goals". So, we are going to give it our best at using only cloth diapers this vacation. Last time we went out of town, we had two babies in diapers, so we didn't even try, and I hated it (we should have at least tried). So, this time, we will; may the force be with us. And my favorite part, I have been cooking a little extra everything since Wednesday. I always bring more food than we need, but I hate searching for good food when we are out of town and who wants to buy groceries and cook every meal on vacation. Eating out every meal is too costly, too much driving (we are already right on the beach, I like to stay at the hotel and relax), and too hard on the tummies. I suspect that would change if I were going to another country, or even unique culture in America. But, we are going to touristville, USA, and I hate fast food. I don't know how we used to eat it all the time, no wonder I was depressed =). So, I have taken to making our faves and taking them when it is convenient. Just a little rice and beans (I prefer to cook dry, not use canned), 6 grain (hot) cereal(and fruit), a great vegetable stew (italian style), fattening mac and cheese (I haven't made it for months, so I'll indulge them; also, i didn't use any butter and added a squash and zuchini), and apple muffins. I even used the "pretty" dishes to pack the food. The trick is keeping the food in them until we leave. I have to make enough for everyone to "try" it as soon as it is ready, and still leave enough to take with us. =)We also packed the yogurt and fruit for smoothies (yes, we drag a blender with us; yes, it's that important =)),and some tortillas (whole wheat), cheese, and veggies for an emergency. This time Taylor isn't coming, so there are some things I don't have to bring; because the babies are too little to put in "orders". I also know that the grocery store there has sushi, so that will be in the fridge too. I'm sure we'll come home fatter. Well, I hope. =) I also have to pack some of the little musical instruments and wooden blocks, crayons, and books. Babies can not play on the beach all day, and they will destroy a room w/o toys. Well, maybe that's just my nefarious gang. At any rate, we will be straining our brains to keep them entertained away from the swings in the yard, the trampoline, the trees to climb, the keyboard and drums, and an endless supply of books and art. Eww, actually I think I will just go pack a few more things to do. OK, so, food, stroller, toys, crayons, bubbles, body boards, books, sunscreen, ...what am I for getting ...oh, yeah, clothes, right. We'll need those. "Vacation" here we come. Ready or not.

what's funny now...

This week, so far...

Um, note to self; don't try to take pictures at Chuck E Cheese's again, until Jewel is 5. Also, get a faster camera! Jewel can really run now!

We accidentally discovered a "magical" street while Taylor was in music this week, and showed it to him after the lesson. It is lined on both sides with smaller versions of the "magic" tree (the one that you can stand in) in our front yard. It helped us incorporate the move into our stories about our "magical yard". Taylor and I are becoming quite engrossed in writing the story now, so we may have it "published" in the kit he recieved as a birthday present. (Thanks Aunt Theresa) The kit is from a store, but is also available throught www.creationsbyyou.com. Of course, for me this week was a fantastic feast of planning. Trent marvels at my joy in it. A blank notebook is better than caffiene for me. I just have to work until it's full and fill the next one, too. Lists, research, drawings, and notes; mmmm fun. OK, I think I am only demonstrating what a nerd I am. But, the move has given me tons to "plan"; so, I have been drawing floorplans, listing room necessities, and taking inventory. But, I am sure I will relax before we start the move; we have plenty of time (and my obsessive tail is almost "finished" with the plans). Also, Taylor made the ironic observation that in our quest for "the country life" we are actually getting "more city" first. But, to be honest I am sure I will enjoy the reduced cleaning that results from going from concrete to concrete on the way into the house. Right now we travel through dirt, mud, and clay from the van to the door (and some of us forget to wipe our feet =)), and while I love the mud like every kid, I have to clean the floors unlike the kids. OK, so back to what happened this week...We took an hour and a half to play at Chucky Cheese. And, ran into Taylor's old (previous, rather) jujitsu instructor and his summer camp kids. I always run into someone I haven't seen for a year when I stink and my hair is a frizzball, of course. I finally learned how to make pictures that are too dark look better! Stop laughing, I never tried before =) (I only started using youtube a few months ago, and the really "funny" thing, I've only owned a computer for 5 years. And it's completely changed my opinion on almost everything! I was so "behind" before the internet searches, isn't that sad.) Also, trevor got to see Diego and baby jaguar live! (the code is a6y72 f4tm7). Thanks to Mimi and Big Daddy. And, we took the other Mimi to see the new Dinosaur exhibit at MOSI. Yes, even on a "healing" leg, she can push the stroller. She had to earn her ride home! =) This week was busy (even 6 months ago I wouldn't have bothered trying to get pictures during a week like this. And I've not tried to take pictures at a park or museum since Jewel was born. I'm improving! Tiny pat on the back =)), one last hurrah before everyone splits for a week, and hopefully Trent's last week before his vacation, too. We are ending the week at the beach (except Taylor, he has summer camp, don't worry he will go with us in Sept.) so it will be all pirates, books, waves, and sand for a week! Oh yeah, relaxation! Jewel learned to spit! It was great! I didn't get a video of it, but Trevor poured his own juice this week. (Well, he finally did it without mopping the floor.) I call this "whole lot of bobbin going on". I'm sorry, I'm cheesy! (get it Chuck E Cheese...) aha aha Just Jewel being Jewel....

I think they are trying to pretend they don't know us.

We love robots and fossils, and Momo even found some art to create. So, everyone left happy, then, we found "the ride". Morlynn and Taylor rode this twice. This went on for 3 minutes each ride, so, I took the babies to see the "earthquake" upstairs and to see butterflies (we even saw the eggs), but Trevor is pretty sure that he got shorted in some way. We did make it up to him by letting him sit through a hurricane on the way out. =)After the first ride.... After the second....the kids just wanted to be sure we could hear them screaming.

Just some pics of "nothing"...

Know Your New CFL bulbs!

We homeschool for the free labor!!

Daddy's boots are "made of mud".

Garden update, plus

I will miss this view from our laundry room. I did a little research and discovered why the fig tree looks like a bush. That is the result of frequent frost damage. Anywho, good to know. I also learned how to get a cutting from the tree. The plants are getting bigger, but, as I already knew that we didn't plant early enough, I suspect that the four or five purple bean pods that are on them will be the last before we move. However, I am looking forward to starting the new garden finally. I considered making this one bigger, but I didn't want to leave a big, empty bed for the next person to deal with. And I was very pregnant when we moved here, and very nursing after that. The babies really controlled our lives for the last year and a half. Well, they still do, but they have given us longer leashes. Anyway, this time I can help with the moving again, and start on the garden pretty quickly after we get unpacked. And, I am so excited! I have already started filling my notebook with ideas, research to do, tools/supplies lists, and things to move from this yard. Even Trent and Taylor are telling me not to forget seeds from this and cuttings from that.

My only "environmental" concern about the move has to do with the energy consumption of the very much bigger house. I am not going to attempt to calculate the potential difference because there are too many variables, the research would take too long. Also, it doesn't matter, we are moving, and that is the house we are moving into. There is no change from that plan possible regardless of the energy usage. But, the new appliances are more efficient, the home is insulated better than this old farmhouse we live in, and we aren't going to be using more electronic equipment (we aren't adding tv's or computers, and we tend to use natural light and wind for day 2 day in the house). There will be a difference in the accessibility of wind however, because even if this house was positioned on a hill with lots of windows that allow the wind to blow through. I think even if our new home was on a hill, the neighbors houses would block a lot of the wind. =) Also, I am pretty sure we won't be owning chickens there, but we couldn't keep them here either. As with anything else that we experience, we are learning. Hopefully, by the time we start our final home we will know exactly what we want/need. I know that I am a little glad the yard isn't huge, as I have to mow it while Trent is working. =) Today, we did a little Father's Day mowing between visiting the grandparents. For some reason the grandpa's managed to steal the boys for today. Ah well, it is the least we can do for them. Happy Father's Day to all dads!

I bug crawled into my pants!

Just two days with rain, look at all the green!

1 comments: Chervil said... Nice garden pics - I love the look of the grass after the rain! Good luck with your new house. June 21, 2008 5:23 PM

A "how to learn" extravaganza, thanks to TED