Monster doll

This is an idea from a craft magazine...Riley wanted it to look like the doll in the magazine (as much as possible). It was green with blue. We used green cotton fabric for the body and felt for the blue parts. Everything came from my closet (I'm trying to use what I have instead of buying more)

Rileys addition to the design was the monsters heart.

She cut out all the pieces and I sewed it up.

Sunday Rule: No TV

So what do you do with tv addicted kids?




We walked about 2 1/2 miles along the creek path to the big park. Stopped to ride down a hill a few times. The kids played at the skate park for a while. We played at the playground. The kids took their scooters. We took turns walking Sarah.
She still needs alot of encouragement to not pull ahead. It was misty on us...very wierd ..last week was 100-plus degrees.

When we got home I checked on my little plants - most of them are ready to be transplanted.

Liams baby quilt

The first quilt I ever made. Still in service.

Wind

We've had lots of wind for the last 2 days. Baseball practice was canceled tonight. I remember living in Sacramento...there was wind like this quite often. People in central California don't know what to do with it. The main problem is that we have so much agriculture here that any wind brings up lots of dust into the air.

back to school night

corn, yellow squash, lettuce

Moms birthday

Moms birthday celebration was today, even though her actual birthday was yesterday. This is what we normaly do...the kids splash and play...we bar-b-q...Have lots of fun. We did a group gift and got Mom a digital camera. It's a cute little canon 7 mega pixel.

Moms garden, as you can see, is already taking off. It's tomato, pepper, squash,string bean, onion...and a few others. Her plants are atleast 3 weeks ahead of mine. And all planted in the ground.

100 degrees

We've had 3 days of 100 degree weather. It has switched from spring to summer. Tonight at dinner Riley's prayer was "dear God, thank you for food and thank you for this lovely weather"
Kids like having a little pool to swim in.

Basil

Ninety-? degrees!
The hot has found us. It's California after all. Maybe now my tomato plants will grow. It has to be hot for tomatos.
I always buy the kids a little pool to splash in. They had lots of fun after school. I hope this one will last. I secretly long for a built-in/in-ground pool. I told William that if we ever move I want to move into a home with a pool or spa.

I know I keep posting messages about my plants...but check out the cucumber...
cucumber It made a new leaf. I love watching these plants grow! It is my new passion(for now). It's actually not boring because the plants change every-single-day. Some of them are ready to transplant.
(I just typed the work transplant and the reason why it's called transplant just popped into my brain-never thought about it that way before)...moving on...I also have a sugar snap coming up and two zuccini plants emerged in the last few days. No tomatos yet though.

How does my garden grow?

Artichoke
Corn
Yellow Squash
Red Sunflower
Cucumber
I have been looking through recipes lately. I am going to be able to make alot of different thing with the veggies that I'm growing. One herb that I don't have is cilantro..It's in alot of the recipes so I think I'm going to buy a seed packet tomorrow and start cilantro. All of the basil are sprouting up. I'm planning on making alot of pesto (my favorite on pasta).
I re-read the packet for some and it says to thin when the plants are a few inches tall. So I thinned some today. Sad to end the seeds life before it gets taller and fullfills its destiny to become food...but I want to do this right and next time I will only put 1 seed per hole. Riley helped me plant the seeds and some of them we put 2-3 seeds per hole. The artichoke plant only had 3 little seeds in the packet...we planted all of them but only one has sprouted. Also, I havent seen the tomatoes sprout yet..but they take a while. Our strawberry plant is still doing great! Liam had 2 little red strawberries on his jello last night (it was his turn).

Mothers Day

Mothers Day 08. My 10th Mothers Day and I had to be at work...boo.
I worked from 12-9pm so I has a few hours in the morning to clean/get ready/ spend some time w/ my family. Wills Mom and Dad drove down to spend the day here. We went to have brunch in the morning before I went to work.Will and his Mom
Happy Mothers Day to all Mothers and Motherers!
And for my Mother...

Riley

Tonight at gymnastics:

Growing

These little plants are sprouting up. I looked at them this morning and then after noon I went out to water them and there were more. The kids and I planted another tray of seeds. (onions, peppers, two types of zucchini, sage, & mint)
I've been really good checking on them and watering them daily. I'm getting some large pots ready to transplant them into when they're ready.

Liam

Rangers won again. 8-6 tonight. Liam got 2 of those points for his team. He slid into home on the first one...it was close but he was safe (by a split second).

On the way home we drove past one of his team mates. He said, "That's Mitchell. He goes to my school." I asked, "Is he a good kid at school, or a trouble maker?" "He's medium" "kind of like you?" Then with indignation, "I'm closer to good!"

I grew that!

I am not a grower. I have always wanted to be. It's hard to keep up because if you get busy for a few days and forget to water it's all over. Some hobbies can be picked up when ever. Gardeners have to be consistent.
So I am trying again. It's spring and we've planted alot of seeds. Riley checks everyday and 1 week 2 days later the green is starting to poke through. If you look closely at the dirt you might see our baby bean plants. The pot has a baby flower plant.
The strawberry plant is awesome. I was going to buy a few tiny plants but saw this 1/2 gallon pot and it had a pretty yellow-green strawberry already growing. We took it home and I think we'll get a good strawberry a week. Riley had the first one (she was the guinea pig-and she's fine). This one is almost ready to be picked and there are already 3-4 more growing.
We have tomatoes, green beans, flowers, squash, basil, sunflower, carrots, strawberries...am I forgetting anything?
I am going to have most of our plants in containers and a few planted into the ground. It's exciting to watch a seed become a plant and have something to eat from the effort.
Riley has always wanted to plant everything that looks like a seed. She picks the sesame seeds off of her hamburger bun and takes the seeds home to plant in the soil. I'm sure there are 10 million apple seeds planted in the front yard.
The garden center was out of zucchini seeds. I still want to plant zucchini and peppers. Actually I want to plant all the ingredients it takes to make good salsa.
My mom and dad are really good gardeners. Their garden is planted in neat little rows. Last year they had so many vegetables we would go over to play and leave with tomatoes and bell peppers.
I'll keep you updated on our little plants. Maybe that way I'll remember to tend the garden daily.

Funny kids

My kids know they are not supposed to leave the TP on the ground. But to their defense it is hard to get the roll onto the roller bar and onto the toilet paper holder. It's the spring that makes it hard, especially for 5 year olds.
I had to laugh when I went into the kids bathroom and saw this...

Home made cards

I decided a long time ago that I wouldn't purchase cards anymore. I want to make all the cards we give. Unfortunately because they take time...I sometimes have to buy or go card-less. I really enjoy making cards and the kids do too. Sometimes we take a piece of artwork that one of the kids made and crop it and glue it to card stock and write a message. Today we made 3 cards. Cut and glue, pens and glitter...
FUN.FUN.FUN
We have 3 birthday boys to celebrate tomorrow! Age 1, 4, and 34.
Riley helped with the 2nd card and all the glitter used. She cut the grass and I printed out and cut out the photo. I cut card stock for all the letters and shapes of card 1(each color is a separate layer- I was going for the layered look). Card 3 was a thank you note...cut the 'thank you' off..and cut out my "congratulatory" message and that was that.
All supplies were in my cupboard/stash.

Riley buggin'

I give in too easily. She bugs me for 1/2 hour...hour ... 20 minutes and I give in.

Today, after school, we came home and I had no intention of leaving. I did my errands earlier. I went to Target, Costco, got everything out of the way.

Riley started wining as soon as we got home. She wanted to go to play on the playground (in grandmas back yard). I told her no, no, no, no....I said, "go play in your room" and her response "BUT I DON'T HAVE A PLAYGROUND IN MY ROOM" and for some reason ( I don't know why) Yes, fine, go get your shoes on. Maybe it was too cute. I'm a sucker for too-cuteness.

Liam's technique...he states his argument. Gives reasons to support, even gives compromises. -Both of my kids know how to get their way.

Survivor

This weeks Survivor was the best episode yet. I love it when everyone gets blindsided. That's what the show is all about. I hope Amanda makes it to the end...she deserves it after she got everyone to vote for her and then pulled out the idol...that was awesome.