Gardening Woes

I can hardly call myself a gardener. I don't love playing in the dirt, don't pour over gardening magazines or blogs, and Kevin has to remind me to water/weed/tend to my garden constantly. And it's really an eyesore in our backyard for about 10 months out of the year. In fact last winter we tried composting, so in addition to the large pile of dirt that I see straight out my kitchen window every day, I also got to peer upon leftover kitchen scraps while doing the dishes. Awesome.

It's not that I don't enjoy having a garden, because I really do. I absolutely love the idea of a garden, and there are a few choice moments each summer that keep me planting again each spring. Moments like watching the kids run to the edge of the garden (days after planting) to see if anything is growing. Moments like Warner bringing his little wheelbarrow up the hill, full of cherry tomatoes that he has picked. Moments when the kids pick green beans with me, yelling "I found a BIG one, Mommy!".

This summer has been the worst yet for my poor little garden. We've had NO rain and I've been terrible at watering. And then there's the animal situation. The fence around our garden has ceased to keep critters out, so although our woodland friends are well-fed, my family has not enjoyed much food from our garden. Why even bother? I'm pretty sure buying produce at Kroger is a very nice alternative.

Last night the kids and I gathered the few green beans and tomatoes that our garden has produced over the past week or so. Warner and Maren picked nearly all the vegetables, broke the beans, and washed everything themselves. As we sat down to dinner and Kevin asked the kids if the green beans were good, they both said enthusiastically: "Oh yeah. These are the best ever".

So it looks like I'll be planting a garden again next year.

Family Pictures

My friend Katie (Kathryn Marie Photography) took our family pictures at Ault Park a few weeks ago. She did our family photos last year around this time so I'm not sure why I didn't learn that summer isn't the best time to ensure non-sweaty-looking-pictures. Despite the heat we had a blast and have some wonderful pictures to show for it!

 

 

  

Of course now I have to choose which ones to print for frames. I'm thinking I don't have enough frames for all of the cuteness Katie captured.  

Happy Birthday, Princess Maren

We celebrated Maren's 3rd birthday last week at the condo. The birthday girl requested all things Princess, along with pink and purple. The outcome: a pink and purple princess cake.

I was so excited to make this cake for Maren since I remember having one myself as a little girl. I studied up on how to assemble the cake by watching a video on YouTube and was all set until my second batch of icing came out too runny and the cake wasn't tall enough for the princess's freakishly long legs. After a few panicked moments, a lot of time in the fridge and freezer (for the cake, not me!), and a lot of luck, the cake turned out great.

I'm sure Maren wouldn't have minded if the cake wasn't perfect, but us mothers want things just right for our little princesses. She was very excited about the end result and also approved of the pink streamers and pink and purple balloons for decorations. Although she did point out the white balloons I included, telling me she just wanted pink and purple. Whew. This girl knows what she wants.

The party was small, with Kevin's parents, his sister and her family, and my parents there. Maren was delighted to see her family and when everyone arrived she exclaimed "It's my birthday party today! Happy birthday to ME!"

The birthday girl opened a ton of presents, mostly revolving around the princess/dress-up theme. Here she is getting dressed up as Princess Belle:

Kevin and I got Maren a ballet leotard and shoes so she can start dance this fall. Although I'm pretty sure she's going to be disappointed if she can't wear a tiara to dance class.

Happy birthday, Maren!

July at the Lake

We arrived at my parents' condo last week and have had a wonderful time together here so far. Last weekend was the Woodson Bend golf cart parade and fireworks. We decorated two carts this year: one for the "patriotic" category and one for the "creative" category.

The kids were "The Super Woodson Bend Kids" and the cart was their superhero mobile. They (along with the golf cart) had matching capes and goggles that Mom made. Really, it was the coolest idea by far.

So you can imagine our disappointment when we didn't win. Or even place. I guess there's always next year.

Later that night we stayed up to see the fireworks. Everyone gathers on the course in their golf carts to wait for the show. The kids had a blast watching the fireworks from the roof of the golf cart.

All of the July 4th activities are fun, but the best part of our time here is definitely the lake. The kids are absolutely fearless on the water. Warner has mastered his ski trainer and can now put his skis on, balance in the water, and get up without any assistance.

And Maren got up for the first time yesterday (with me in the water with her). Pretty wild for our still two-year-old, huh?

The kids are total water hogs. But the adults have still had a few chances to play behind the boat too. Dad and I continued our tradition of double barefooting together on his birthday. It's one of the highlights of my whole year.

I can't express the joy it brings me to share boating with Kevin, our kids, and my parents. I often wrestle with feeling cheated in life after losing Meredith and everything that goes with having a sister. I'm lonely without her, and have come to realize that will probably never change. I hate that part of our family is missing with her gone, along with the "should have been's", like spending time here with her and her family.

But being here is somehow healing. And even though our family isn't complete without Mere, we have a place at Woodson Bend to remember the years with her here, and make new memories here in the time and space after her passing. Some of my fondest childhood memories were made on this lake and it makes my heart happy to watch my kids enjoy it like I did (and still do!). So here's to summer, and to the lake, and to many more happy memories made here.

 

Go Reds!

We took the kids to their first Cincinnati Reds game on Sunday.  Because I am thrifty (read: cheap) we packed a lunch and ate at the stadium before the game started.  I actually had no idea you could bring coolers into the ballpark until Kevin told me the night before.  I am so excited to know there is a way to get around paying $6 for a Diet Coke at the game!

This picture fractures me because the kids are literally shining with sunscreen.  The game started at 1pm and there were few, if any, clouds in the sky.  So, sunscreen it was.

They gave out batting gloves to the kids upon entering the stadium, which Warner and Maren were thrilled with.  What's hilarious is Warner wore his gloves during the majority of the game.  95 degrees and sunny?  Not too hot for gloves for this kid.  He has also slept in his batting gloves for two nights in a row.  Of course.

We got the kids ice cream sundaes in the plastic Reds helmet cups.  I remember having the same helmet cups as a kid.

The game itself was fun, with the exception of it feeling like we were sitting on the face of the sun in our seats. 

 Did I mention it was hot?

Other than the heat, we had a great time.  Perhaps next time we'll choose an evening game!