One of our girls weekend activities was looking through old photos. I just love this one of my dad. He's in college at BYU. Do you love the name tag on the mirror? Finding old pictures of my dad I've never seen (or don't remember), is like discovering treasure.

I miss him so much.

Forced Sisterly Love: check!

A few times this school year Holly has mentioned that she wished she was in "full-day" K. She's excited to eat lunch at school and have "specials" (the classes like PE they go to). Plus, she likes feeling part of the big kids.

But as I've watched my kids play together over the years I've noticed how the kids left at home are able to develop their own relationship during that time. So like it or not, she did half day. And it's been fun to watch Holly and Sadie's relationship progress this year. Holly has learned to take on the "big sister" role, all the while teaching Sadie so many things. Priceless lessons. And then I look adoringly over at them and tell them that they'll be friends and sisters forever and that they'll always love each other. They don't listen to me, but I know it's true. I've seen it in my own life.
So I tell Holly that she'll be eating at school next year as they run to their bedroom to get on some dress-up clothes.

Starting next fall, I'll be bestowing upon Sadie much more of my wisdom...

and probably looking for lots of playdates.

Where Have You Been All My Life?

For a Proper Girls Weekend

You will need-

Girls. Preferably some you like or maybe even love.Mental stimulation.

{Peel!}

Nourishment-

and lots of it.
Cultural enrichment.
a little self-pampering.
Nature appreciation.


and the beach is a MUST!
Is it too early to plan the next one? I could probably come up with a few more requirements we need to fulfill.

"GOOOOOOAALL!"

This is what my heart sang as Holly kicked that ball in the goal at her first ever soccer game. I felt the full joy those words bring millions of people around the world each year.

Reason being- we've done soccer a time or two before. I watched Emma scamper around the ball half-heartedly kicking it in the right direction for 3 seasons. I knew perfectly well if she cared she could make the goal. But she didn't have that desire and no amount of sideline encouragement can bestow that (trust me I know).

Eli tried soccer twice and one time he did make a goal. The ball was kicked toward him, banked off his shin guard and rolled into the goal. That was actually pretty exciting!

But Holly has some drive. I admire her for it. It didn't come from me. Dana, being the athletic fellow he is, was a great little soccer player. I visualize myself as a kid on that field running along-side the other girls but hoping I don't get kicked by someone or hit by the ball. Thats why I love this picture :)
She was pretty excited too.
And best of all, Gram was there to watch her play.

Look out people or I might be bringing a Vuvuzela to the next game :)

And the Sun Goes Down Our Gardening Day

Saturday we planted in the afternoon of a very busy morning (Holly soccer pictures and game- post to come, Eli Scout Day Camp, Carnival at the school). We planted 3 tomatoes and 2 zucchini in our planter box and then I convinced Dana to clear the rocks out of a section of our regular border. He didn't really want to because he thinks it looks not so cute if it's not in a little cute box. But he did it because he loves me and also I already had the plants that needed to go somewhere and we had no wood for a cute little box. After I got them all in, I stood up, brushed off my hands and declared it very, very beautiful. There's 2 artichoke plants (I'm not getting my hopes up too high for their success but wouldn't it be fun if they do!), parsley and basil in that section.

I did the planting this year while Dana cleared out all our plants that died in the frost and trimmed the citrus trees. Oh plus he mowed, edged, and planted pretty flowers in the front (see top left). They will inevitably die when the summer heat drags on but we will enjoy them for a few months.

I LOVE Spring :) :)

The Positives for Running Out of Food:

• Easier to clean out the fridge
• Impromptu lessons for the kids on the importance of food storage
• Recipe creativity (not easy for direction followers like me)
• Weight-loss probability increase
• Joy on the kids' faces as they realize marshmallows have been incorporated into their lunch
• Canned food rotation
• A healthy respect for vegetarians
• A super boring blog post.