Square Foot Garden 2012

This year we decided to try square foot gardening. The method entails building raised garden beds, filling them with a specific mix of soil, physically dividing the area into square foots, and planting. It is labor intensive the first year, but after all the beds are built and filled with soil, there should be minimal work in successive years. Did I mention it was labor intensive?

We agreed Neil would build the beds and I would fill them with the soil. Neil got the better deal. The soil is a mixture of manure, vermiculite, and peat moss. I had to place each item on a tarp and mix it together by folding and refolding the tarp and stirring the mixture. I then had to shovel it into a garden bed and repeat....about 10 times (the planted garden in the background belongs to some friends who have no yard space for a garden; we had plenty to spare).

The girls did their best to help me. They mostly just like talking about poop (the manure).

Here is what the beds looked like when they were filled with the soil.

Here they are 3 1/2 weeks later. All the seeds that were planted directly into the garden have been growing like champs. The seeds started in the house have not been so lucky.

This year we have planted tomatoes, cilantro, basil, peppers, eggplants, corn, pole beans, snap peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots, onions, radishes, cucumbers, squash, rosemary, and pumpkins. We have already lost the broccoli, hot peppers, a basil plant, 8 tomato plants (we replaced four of them; I will not be starting them indoors again), and I don't think the strawberries are going to make it due to the ant situation. This was/is an experiment in gardening. I am definitely learning a lot.

Natural Playspaces

Lately, I've been really interested in natural playspaces.  The Let the Children Play blog sums it up best: "When given the opportunity, children choose, and enjoy playing in natural environments and/or with natural elements.  They do so because of the overwhelming play potential of such spaces." Basically kids don't need a fancy swing set, club house, etc. For example when I took my kids to Candy Cane Park last week, instead of playing on the dinosaur slide, etc., the girls and their two guy friends spent all their time playing under some large fir trees. They climbed branches, swept dirt, and gathered sticks. 

I've been thinking about how I can add elements in our yard to make it more inviting for the kids. I decided to place a leftover piece of wood over the previous owner's not-quite finished pond for the girls to walk across. This ultra simple "bridge" has been a hit with the girls and all child visitors. I told Neil we should plant a bunch of flowers in the area under the bridge. Neil thought we should plant a bunch of cactus plants to make things more interesting.

A hammock was added in the same general location as the bridge. This hammock is amazingly comfortable. I added streamers to the lower tree branches. I can't tell if they are whimsical or trashy. Recently one of my friends saw them and asked if we had been toilet papered. The girls like them and I am too lazy to take them down.

Braving the tree limbs, Neil added a wooden swing to the tree just outside our sliding doors. No kid goes outside without trying it out.....some are more successful than others.

Neil dug a fire pit in the northwest corner of the yard. We were going to cement some rocks around it, but after a friend started piling them up, we figured we didn't need any cement.

Obviously, the girls love it!

Lucy the Fashionista

Lucy loves fashion.
She often sets out her outfits in advance (including underwear, headband and jewelry).  

 The other morning she surprised us when she lifted her shirt revealing her hair brushes.

She refuses to leave the house without a headband.

 

Greta has her own sense of fashion. Yes, she ran errands with me in this bonnet.

Kindergarten Graduate

Yesterday Greta received her diploma at kindergarten graduation. The graduation program was short and sweet. The kids sang America the Beautiful, received the diplomas, and sang a song about what they learned to the tune of The Adams Family. During the receiving of the diplomas, each student said what they wanted to be when they grew up. It was really cute. The professions included zookeeper, hair doer, rock star, and veteran. Greta stated she wanted to become a doctor.

Later in the day Greta told me she was ready to start her summer job. I asked her what job she was planning on starting. She responded, "I'm going to be a doctor and work where Nana works." (My mom is a nurse here in Twin Falls at St. Luke's.) She thought graduating from kindergarten meant she was ready to join the workforce. I told her she needed to go to college first. She stated she never wanted to go to college. She wanted to always live with me, Lucy, and Neil.

I completely agree.

Two Front Teeth

In the past few months, Greta's mouth has transformed.

First, snaggle tooth. The girl who once pulled her own teeth suddenly screamed bloody murder when anyone looked at the snaggle tooth in what Greata viewed was a threatening way.

Second, she finally lost a top tooth (she is missing four on the bottom). After a month of staring at the snaggle tooth, we decided to take matters into our own hands. While Greta kicked and screamed, Neil easily removed the tooth.  

Third, Greta lost her second front tooth. I'm actually not even sure how that one went down. One day there, the next day missing. The girl is so adorable.

4 Months of Fun

The day of Lucy's birthday was also the day we signed the papers giving us ownership of our new house.

While fixing up the house has taken a lot of our time, we have been busy doing other things as well.

Here are February, March, April, and May in a nutshell.

We purchased a riding lawn mower. Neil. Loves. It.

When Lucy wasn't wearing the ballet costume, she was wearing ensembles like this. (Her kangaroo purse is filled with bracelets.)

The first Saturday living in our house, Great woke up at 6:30 so she could ride her bike along our sidewalk and long driveway.

Lucy is the chef of the family. Here she is stirring the onions into the meatloaf. Even though her eyes were tearing up, she stirred on.

Easter was a beautiful day outside. I finished Lucy's birthday skirt just in time for Easter Sunday.....April 8.

The girls LOVE Grandma and Grandpa Christensen's new Chihuahuas, Sophie and Sage. Everyday they pretend one of them is a baby Chihuahua named Sophie.

We stopped at the zoo in Salt Lake while visiting for cousin Malia's wedding. If there is an animal involved, Greta and Lucy consider it the best day of their lives.

Literally this is the only photo of me from the last four months....it captures the greasy, paint in the hair, not dressed-for-public adventure of our renovation.

Photo courtesy of Lucy

Three Years of Lucy

Today an excited Lucy turned three. Throughout the day she would randomly begin jumping up and down announcing, "It's my birthday!"

Lucy is thoughtful and kind, but not a pushover. She sings made up songs all day long. One of her favorite activities is dancing. When music is turned on, she drops whatever she is doing and runs to the music to dance. This year she started calling Neil "Daddy-oh." It was adorable the few months it lasted. She loves wearing dresses and the color pink (the leopard print goes without saying). One of my favorite things about Lucy is the way she says "Tank you, Mom" whenever I give her anything. She is also extremely animated when she talks. You can't help but smile when you are around her. We are so lucky to have Lucy in our family.

We love you Lucy!

It Does Snow Here!

 This winter, the city has looked like this. Not a snowflake to be seen.

This adventure took place this past Saturday.

Today, it actually snowed enough to break out the cold weather gear. Before sending the girls into the snow, Lucy adamantly declared she would only wear her (too small) purple coat and not the pink coat (that fits). She also refused to wear her snow pants. Greta shared in the drama by shedding many tears over her snow boots because they were too big (the same snow boots she wore last year without complaint). I was pleasantly pleased that the girls ended up spending more time in the snow than getting the snow gear on. It doesn't always turn out that well.

 

Greta decided the snowman should indeed be a boy and named him George.

The girls ended their adventure by making and eating snow ice cream (snow, milk, vanilla, lots of sugar) and enjoying a bubble bath.

Missing Socks and What Lucy Wore

I purchased an eight-pack package of pink patterned socks for Lucy. For some reason, the mate to every (every) sock is missing. How is that even possible?

These are the lonely socks.

I did find a matching pair of white socks for her. Of course she wouldn't wear them because "white is a boy color." She decided on wearing the mismatched shades of pink socks.


Lucy aka Leopard Lady.  I am pretty sure this is Lucy's dream outfit.

Notice the mismatched socks.

While I was in the shower...

Greta made Lucy breakfast. It was made up of cold pancakes (minus the syrup), a cold hard boiled egg (peeled and cut in half), and some thick Tang. There were smiles all around. Greta excitedly offered to make breakfast everyday except Saturday and Sunday. A fantastic idea.

15 Months

Yesterday I took a trip to the salon. It has been 15 months since I have had my hair cut, colored, etc. Fifteen months. October 2010 for my family photos. The year 2011 came and went without any changes to my hair. I knew the grays must be pretty thick when my mom called in December specifically to offer to pay for me to get my hair done for my birthday.

October 2010:

 January 2012:

Conversation with Jen, my hairdresser as she is curling my hair.
Jen: So, do you curl your hair very often?
Me: I don't own a curling iron.
Jen (in her mind): ?!?
Me (in my mind): I am a mother of two girls and I don't own a curling iron?!?

Jen is amazing. She is definitely worth the two month wait. Unfortunately, she is not taking any new clients. I'm really glad I became her client 15 months ago.

I will be purchasing a curling iron. Today.

The 10 Day Countdown

I have 10 days to turn 12 strips of fabric into a skirt for Lucy for her birthday. A ruffle skirt. With six ruffles. Gulp.

Lucy fell asleep on my arm while she, Greta, and I were curled up on the couch reading stories. I always feel bad when this happens. The first question out of Neil's mouth when he comes home from work is always, "Did the girls have a nap?" The correct answer is no. (So they will go to bed at night. Some nights get pretty ugly.) But how do you wake this up?

Photo courtesy of Greta

What Greta Wore

Conversation this morning.
Greta: "Mom, I need help picking out a shirt."
Me (eying her choice of blue/gray plaid skirt and hot pink leggings): "I think I can find something to match that."
Greta (half cry/half whining voice): "Ooooh, I don't want to wear a shirt that matches this."
Of course. Why would you want your clothes to match? That's crazy talk.

Good Times

We attended two high school basketball games this past Thursday and Friday night in support of our friends and family. The  girls could not get enough. They stood up cheering and dancing every chance they had. Neil was a trooper. Basketball isn't his favorite. Especially when the teams we cheer for lose. By a lot. Two nights in a row.
It cracked me up when my cousin asked me at the game, "Who dressed your kids?"

 

Four photos of us from the night. This really was the best one.

Greta went to a roller skating party on Saturday. This was her first time skating. Ah, Skateland. You haven't changed a bit since 6th grade. Still no doors on the bathroom stalls, but thanks for installing those way too small shower curtains in two out of the three stalls. Way to keep it classy.

True love for your child means walking around the roller rink in socks holding your child's hand while she attempts to skate.  When I laced up the skates, Greta exclaimed, "Whoa, these are heavy." Yes, Greta. Yes, they are very heavy. But I wouldn't trade the bruised feet for anything.