Always have your keys on you...

...because there will be a time your spouse won't and will still lock the door behind themselves.

$31.95 and a hour later you'll be back in your house. You won't have made it where you were trying to go though.

Spring fling

We set out on a trip back home to do taxes among other things. Some of those other things included making sandwiches and eating them on the way at a random stop in OK...

...And finding little houses at that stop that delighted little boys...

...Saw little friends for the last time before kindergarten at least...

...pretended to be leprechauns with our very best friend at story time on St. Patrick's Day...

...We walked the trail and discussed tracks we found. Lots of stuff we learned on the trail.

We enjoyed the beauty of the old. Much older then we... *photo by Phil

...of much younger then us... *photo by Phil

...Small dogs got all tangled up... *photo by Phil

...Others were just magnificent... *photo by Phil

...A small boy and aunt dance the day away...

...while on another day the small boy finds eggs...

...good ole KS bunny...

...new plants are planted happily...

... and animals are spotted eating other animals food.

Happy Spring!

Fireants!

Yesterday, nothing. Today, big anthills in between the cracks of the patio. When fireants swarm, they don't mess around.

By 6 pm, the 3 hills had increased to 4. How I dislike fireants...and this state...

And finally I was so excited to see that kinderGARDENS will be happening again this summer! I was on pins and needles. I transplanted out some seedlings today. We'll have to see how they do.

Spring springing and more

Finally photos of the ring neck doves together. One white, one gray.



Look at those horns!


Our mockingbird is courting.

We have had stuff sprouting for at least 2 weeks now.

It's my favorite time of year again!

And the boy has developed a taste for them too, NOOOOOOOO!

Plum tree in full bloom, peach, well the one off shoot area is about to have 6 blooms. Our neighbors healthy tree is beautiful though.

Gotta love these boys.

The cough

This week we've been keeping Matthew at home resting because his cough got really bad. Monday he hacked every 30 seconds I swear. Since we were out of garlic, I asked Phil to bring some home. Tuesday, I gave him 2 big mugs of garlic tea over the day and by evening he was a new boy. Still coughing, but not near as much and much perkier. I'd say he's pretty much over it, but Phil wants him to stay away from the kids at storytime, just in case they expose him to something else that kicks it back in.

So, I'll leave you with photos of Matthew at gymnastics, I meant to post last fall. He took lessons from July-October and loved them.

Chuckie Cheese

March seems to be the month we go to Chuckie Cheese. Go here to see last year's Chuckie Cheese photos.

Matthew's favorite thing to do was ride the vehicles. Phil had to coax him to play games for tickets.

Then the food came and the boys messed around while eating. Boys...

Last year we had Matthew ride a ride like this and he got scared when it went up in the air.

This year he decided it might be ok after all. What difference a year makes!

New information

Sooo, the latest news is that we get a 1 bedroom apartment and it's FURNISHED. And we are responsible for the move 100%. So my BIG problem is (and remember I hoard like I lived during the depression, the you-never-know-when-you-might-need-it-and-once-it's-gone-I-find-a-use-for-it type hoarder)... What is most important to take and what do I pack for storage? Obviously, bathroom stuff, food, Matthew's bed and toys (at least some) and books, but what else is really important and needs to come? A few decoratives? Holiday decorations? My sewing machine and a small stash of crafts? Help! Give me your ideas!

A bug caught us

Yesterday we had a truly excellent day. In the morning we went to the 2nd public libraries' story time and made Mardi Gras masks. When we got home, we took Missy for a walk and noticed all the spring changes in his favorite bushes along the way.

This is his favorite bush. See all the new growth right on the edges of the "leaves?" I assume they'll be this years seeds, but I'm not familiar with this bush and we won't be here long enough to document it for a year.

After Dad came home, we took Matthew to play at the park. He loves having his Dad chase him at the park.


Around bedtime Matthew, who was slumped in my lap, asked, "Is it almost my bedtime?" I said, "Yes it is, are you tired?" "Yes." "Do you want me to tuck you in?" "Yes, and read 2 bedtime stories." So, very surprised, I tucked him in, and followed all the rituals (2 stories, hugs and kisses, read the story wall hanging and tell Dad it's his turn to say goodnight.) I didn't hear another peep all night. Lately he loudly sings any song he can think of to stay awake and plays with his animals, so that he can stay up till we go to bed. Really I don't know why we try and enforce a bedtime, except if we let him stay up he gets really whiny and grouchy. Anyway, in the middle of the night, I heard him calling me and crying. As I was hurriedly getting up, he announced, "I'm sick" and proceeded to retch. I picked him up and rushed him to the bathroom in the nick of time. Poor guy. His almost year healthy streak ended. This morning he is subdued, but cheerful, with a low grade fever. No more sickness, but I'm being cautious today anyway. He has a nasty sounding cough though. I think he got that from a little boy coughing on him at storytime this week or it's sinus drainage.

One more thing I'd like to talk about is this neat article I saw in Old House Gardens newest newsletter. It's about plants that react to TNT as bomb sniffers. I'd love to be a part of that research. I knew I should have gotten a biology degree in plant science. And if you haven't ever visited or shopped at Old House Gardens, you really need to check them out. They are a FABULOUS company. Need a little extra incentive to visit them? They are having a 10% off sale on their dahlias through the 9th.

Dr. Seuss's Birthday

We went to story time today, and in honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday, we read 1 fish 2 fish red fish blue fish. Then we made a red and blue fish in a fish bowl for our craft. I don't think it will last long, as the glue and water is corn syrup with a drop of blue food coloring in it, but it's pretty cute. How are you celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday?

An old friend

Today Matthew and I unloaded up in the car to go see my old friend, Becky, just to find that it was idling so low, I couldn't get the car to stay running. Thank goodness it was lunchtime and Phil was able to come home and save me.

We met because our husbands were in the same company, deployed at the same time. At a FRG meeting she kept hitting me in the head (by accident) and somehow that sealed a friendship. After the guys came back her family, was PCS'd to Kentucky. While Phil was there for school, they graciously let him come out on the weekends to escape the barracks. I saw her when I went out for his graduation and that was the last time I got to see her. That was June '06. Now we are both stationed here and were finally able to meet up. When she heard I was pregnant with Matthew, she called me and said, "I had a dream last night. You had your baby. It was a boy and he looked like Phil and had your facial expressions." I blame her for the reason that Matthew was a boy! Today she was able to see that Matthew is exactly like how she dreamed. Looks like Phil, has my eyes and facial expressions. It was so wonderful to see her again.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival

Just a quick note to let you all know that our snow study was included in March's Blog Carnival over at The Handbook of Nature Study.