Memorial Day

I've been absent lately.  It must mean that I've been a fantastic mom lately, right?  We've been busy around here.  The garden is being continually planted in between the rain storms and we are excited to be building new trellis systems for our peas and beans.  We are are going to try a trellis system for our squash this year.  Pictures to come.  

Grandma and Grandpa Wasenmiller were up this weekend and we put them to work in our overgrown yard.  The chainsaws and pruners were at full speed ahead.  Now, we have the tedious project of hauling away many loads of trees and branches. 

 Graham decided to skip a nap and supervise.

 Entangled in thought or branches?

 Gotta love child labor

Consultation with the lead pruner

On Sunday, handy husband and I took the kids to ride the merry go round at the zoo.  Graham tucked another "first" under his diaper tabs with his first spin on the horses.  Thank goodness for an annual membership-the line to purchase tickets was a 45 minute wait.  Geesh! We said hello to the penguins as we headed out.

 A stop at Essential Bakery for a delicious lunch of sandwiches produced my most embarassing moment yet as a mother.  I was sitting at our outside table with the kids and a woman was standing on the sidewalk chatting on her phone-just a few feet from us.   She was one of those "Seattle women".  You know:  the type that looks tough, wears the pants that have a zipper at the knee for the "presto chango" option of shorts, has the "I've just climbed El Capitan in record time" look.   As the kids were getting restless our conversation went as follows:

Me: "Hey kids, let's play "I spy".

Kids: "Ok!"

Me: "I spy a bridge"

William: "I see it!"

Gracie: "I spy a MAN talking on his phone."  (In one of those excited loud voices) Note: this is the woman I just described.

Me: "I spy Koby in the car."

Gracie: "Mom, you didn't find my "I spy"!"

Thank goodness, the impeccable timing of handy husband ended this interaction.   My apologies to the woman on the phone. Maybe you should zip the bottom half off your pants and paint your toenails.

So, here's a little snapshot that might warm your heart.  I agree, it's sweet but this is really teaching this young son of ours something I don't want him to learn.  Handy husband wears Graham in the Bjorn from time to time when he is cranky and doesn't want to be put down.  This  doesn't pan out well when I'm home with the three rugrats and need to  put the kid down. He looks at me with tears in his eyes as if to say, "Daddy wouldn't do this!".  You're killin' my mojo, sweet husband.

I never thought I'd see this.  The man I married has always snickered at the men we see in public wearing the slings and wraps with their babies in them.  Graham knows he's either wore him down or being the baby means you break all the rules.

Our dear friend, Leah, dropped by to give Gracie a beautiful "princess" dress she bought for her at a flea market. 

Checking out the twirling capabilites

 Thank you!

The detail on this little number is beautiful.

Thank you, Leah.

Last but not least, we love three day weekends around here but we love our freedom more.  Handy husband and I were just discussing our vacation plans to Washington DC on Memorial Day weekend when the kids are older so they know it's not about parades and a day off.  Thank you to our military and veterans that keep us safe.