Getting Started

We got outside today and dug in the dirt. Really does feel good....even when you're pregnant. We prepared the bed out front. It's in full shade so I'm just doing a bit of landscaping and I think I'm going to put a bird bath in the middle. We have a perfect view of this bed from our book nook. We also cleaned up all of the pots, well not all of them, but some. We will hopefully get to vegetables and herbs later in the week.

 I do my best and try to learn about gardening and whatnot, but it's just so much information! I didn't grow up with this stuff and trying to catch up now is a little....well, hard. The people at places like Lowe's and Home Depot don't seem to know much. I think they just work there. At other gardening places around town, the staff doesn't speak a lick of English. I want to take classes with a local group, Urban Harvest, but it's just the money that's a bit of a problem....

 Taven scared the crap out of me when I went to pick up this ice chest he had pushed open earlier. I had no idea he was in there, lol. Smart boy he's becoming.

 We found a lot of baby oak trees.

 The kids picked out and played with the grubs.

 And played temporarily with the worms.

 Taven makes a wish.

Oh yeah! And the bees are here!

Rainy Days

We had rain all weekend. On Saturday morning, we braved it and went to the library to stock up for the few days of stormy weather predicted ahead. 

My husband cooked some of the deer from our deep freezer.

And we had Texas style Nigerian stew (with a huge glass of milk as it's a bit spicy).

Eaden and I kind of liked this one book My Teacher is a Dinosaur. The book is basically a timeline of life on earth up to the Ice Age. However, it uses poems, jokes, and riddles to tell the history. A little different. Anyway, we were inspired to create a timeline using the book and our recycled racetrack we had made the other day.

Whenever we do something like this, Taven must be contained. We closed the door and he stayed out with my husband for a bit, but that didn't last long. Eventually we just had to sidetrack him.

We found some packets I had printed out a while back about Texas birds. I know most of ya'll don't live in Texas but these are great!

 http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/about_texas/learn_about_books.phtml

and

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/color/index.phtml

There were a few books we checked out that I felt were worth mentioning here. I'm not going to take the time to write full reviews, (Eaden is at gymnastics camp during the days this week and so I have precious time to spend with my two littlest ones) but they are definitely worth checking out.

I especially like books that are fairly short, but have more information and resources at the end. This way all of my kids can enjoy the book, but Eaden and I can get more in depth if she would like. With the exception of A Butterfly is Patient and Rain, all of these books offer this.

 The book I mentioned previously that we are using to create our timeline ends at the Ice Age. So this next books is a nice continuation. However, it does not offer general information about the Ice Age, only information about various animals alive during the time. I'm thinking we might create a lapbook on the Ice Age. I've recently become obsessed with lapbooks, well the idea of them. We haven't actually created one yet.

 Rain is a wordless picture book which we love (also check out anything by David Wiesner).

 The next book is a simple one with great illustrations. Birds from around the world are highlighted.

 We love everything by Steve Jenkins! His books are always full of amazing facts I never knew.

And of course, A Butterfly is Patient. Just as great as An Egg is Quiet and A Seed is Sleepy. Truly beautiful books.

AGGGGHHHHH!

You know those days. When your kids are on repeat. Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy. Get me milk, get me milk, get me milk, get me milk. I heard you the first time!!!!!!!!! Just wait!!!!!!!!! AGGGGHHHHHH! And why has my husband stopped changing my son's diaper all of a sudden? I secretly whisper in Taven's ear "go tell daddy to change your diaper." Sometime it works....And if my kids do not stop following me around in order to jump on everything I sit on! I'm (sorry interruption, Eaden is yelling mommy watch, mommy watch, mommy watch." okay I just watched. a perfect cartwheel. oh no "please mommy watch, mommy watch! now shes hiottin g my arm, mommy watch!" i cant type fast enough. whining momy youre not wACHING!) OK BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING. I'm quite pregnant and every time they get on the bed or couch I want to vomit. All that moving! Stop following me! I'm really a good mother, I promise, but why don't they follow their dad like that? Why is he able to go into the bedroom and peacefully watch soccer for hours? Or why does he get to take long uninterrupted naps? Okay, let me get Naia some milk...Her dad is downstairs near the milk yet she asks me! I'm going to leave all of those typos in there from when Eaden was bugging me. Why do I go to the kitchen and get food, drinks, whatever for Eaden or Taven, Naia does not ask for anything. Then as soon as I sit down she starts whining for milk or a snack. This is my life. I like it....no I love it. But damn! Come on people.

And yes it's okay to complain sometimes, or admit that parenting is hard. It's okay to call your kids annoying. It doesn't mean you love them any less. It's just the truth. We can't be all spiritual ladada mothering is so magical all the time (a little throw up in my mouth). Well maybe ya'll can. I just need a drink. AND when bloggers tell it like it is, other bloggers or readers feel better about themselves! Now don't we all want to be a part in making others feel better about themselves? By the way, if your "tell it like it is" really is all Buddhism for Mothers like, then make up a few stories here and there. Readers will love it! This reader will anyway.

I wonder if I bugged my parents.....no way.

A Rainy Spring Day

...and good night!

Linking up with Saturday's Artists over at Ordinary Life Magic and The All Year Round Blog Carnival. 

This Moment

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember. Thanks Soulemama.

The Book Nook Redone

 I was inspired by a Book Nook post at Let the Children Play last week and decided to redo our Book Nook. All I really did was rearrange some furniture and put the girls' mattresses in there. They never sleep in their beds anyway. Moving the bookcases led to some bare walls that needed to have something hung so I found some stuff around the house. I have a ton of cute pictures the girls have drawn, but no frames. I quickly made some from fabric and I think they are pretty cute.