An Old Lesson for a New Guy...

This week I've learned that a tidy house can also be a very lonely house. Pam is away at girls camp this week, and Tenna and Andi are with Grampa and Gramma Noyes. So I've been busy with projects around the house that are usually hard to do in the evenings when the girls are sleeping (you know like using power tools, and watching my favorite movies at normal volume) The girls have been having a great time with thier grandparents- they've called me each day at work full of giggling and excited chatter about puppies and horses. All the same, I'll sure be glad to have all my girls back home with me.

Princess and the pea

..the chair version. Tenna has a love for putting her little chairs on our couch or recliner. Apparently it is not soft enough to sit in a big persne chair. Teehee.

More sister fun

In case you cannot immediately tell what is all over her hair and face...it is strawberry milk. Yep, while I was preparing our dinner (yummy potstickers), Tenna was sharing her milk with sister. I should have known from their giggles that something was afoot. At least it was fun!

I like this last picture because it seems like something out of a discotech. Hahah, just trying to figure out my camera!

Results

Today I was contemplating why I am so eager to get into the garden. I have never been one to love weeding, nor have I ever really done much gardening at all before this year. I realize it is because, as a stay at home mom, I yearn for results! I am always just doing things to be undone! Cleaning so it can get messed up, cooking so it can be eaten, etc...not that the results from the garden won't be eaten, but whatever. I am just so excited that something I am doing has calculable results.
We are very blessed with fertile soil and lots of hot sunshine, so I am very excited about the gardens progress thus far. I have, however put aside my aspirations for a chemical free garden after the cut worms took all of my cucumbers most of my acorn squash and zucchini. Oh well. I admit I would nuke my whole yard if there was ANY hope of getting rid of the bindweed, but I guess I must just be diligent for the next three years and I may over-power it. *SIGH* Anyways, back to RESULTS...
Seeing tomatoes ripen on the plants and the first zucchini start to grow have brought me great pleasure. I currently have (alive and thriving) 13 tomato plants, 3 crook-neck squash, 2 Zucchini, 3 acorn squash, 6 norweigen pepper, 1 hot red pepper, 1 red bell pepper, 2 watermelon, 3 pea plants (yup, sad I know) and tons of onions. I WANT to replant cucumbers (cursed worms), more peas, some cabbages and a pumkin or two. Did I mention the grapes, yeah well, out of the 5 we planted two are still alive. So my numbers may not be great, but I am so stoked. Lets hope the manure we just put on gives some energy boost!
I just had to share my pleasure! I guess nurturing a garden helps me have the patience I need to nurture my children. ;)

Puppy love

Tenna and Andi both had a great time with the doggies this weekend, but Tenna loved it the most. She made that little puppy follow her everywhere and wrestle! She would say "my doggy" or "'mon puppy" (come on puppy). Old Roxy was so good with her to. She let Tenna ride her like a horse and pet her and lay on her all she wanted. Sorry this picture is sort of lopsided.

Wrestle time!

Tenna got the biggest kick out of just chasing, and being chased! When they would catch up to each other one would knock the other down and they would roll around and Tenna would giggle.

By the end of the weekend, however, they were both being too rough, so it was time they both took a break. Good thing she will be back down soon to play some more.

Pupply like-ish

Andi liked the puppy too. She liked Roxy better though. She is older and much more mellow, so she was much happier petting her. The puppy was a little too lovey.

A good re-arrangement

I moved around some of the furniture last weekend and brought the piano out to one of the front rooms. The girls are all for it! They can't seem to get enough of the piano. Maybe I can show them this picture some day when they are really playing duets. ;) Hopefully by then we will have a real piano, but this one is perfect for crazy little girls who are hard on things.

Dedicated

Andi just can't get enough! We are going to have to get this girl lessons!

"Alop" island

We had a little trip to Antelope Island this weekend, and it was a big success! We thought Tenna would enjoy the buffalo, but man, she LOVED the Antelope! She is still talking about how she wants to "thouchy alop?" Well she didn't get to touch any, but she did get to see them. She was able to touch a horse at the old farm, though, so it was a successful trip! ;)

Grandpa

Grandpa came to visit last week, here is some of the funn stuff we did!

Playing

Timid Tenna

We finally blew up the pool that GG Dadds got us, so it was time to play. Tenna wasn't so sure about getting in there, but the water seemed like a fun idea.

A little motivation

I finally convinced Tenna the water was ok, but she still wasn't about to sit down in it!

Fun in the pool

Andi has no qualms about the water, and sat in it shivering and splashing until mommy finally made her get out!

New Swing Set!

Grandpa came this week and set up this great swing set for Tenna and Andi. I love it because it keeps her in the backyar while I work on the garden (or the awful yard, please don't look at our sad grass). Tenna loves the slide and Andi loves the swing!

Riding the "ooorshe"

Great-grandma Dadds heard that Tenna loves to ride the horse at Wal-mart, so she gave us a whole roll of quarters! She LOVES it, and is always willing to behave in the store if she knows she gets to ride the horse at the end. She was pretty tired this day, so you can't quite see the excitement, but it's there...just under a deep layer of fatigue.

Me too mommy!