Summer Project: Deck

In order to ensure all our dates include manual labor this summer, Brad and I decided to build a deck in our back yard. I am overly excited about this because I’ve wanted a deck since I moved to this house in 2005. I can’t believe it’s actually happening!

Yesterday was our first date day working on the deck and there isn’t that much to report, except that Menards has a really helpful, patient and friendly employee named Megan who should win the grand prize of being the first guest to enjoy a beer on our new deck. Eventually.

Here are “Way Before” and “Before” pictures.

 

Way Before – the way it was

End of day 1: Some footings sort of in place + all materials purchased and awaiting delivery!

Eldyn: 1 Year + 5 Months

Chatterbox: WORDS! I love all e-Lew’s new words this month. He and I play a game where he sits in the swing and I push him while he practices talking. Mama. Mama. Daddy. Daddy. Giki. Giki. Bumpa. Bumpa. When I suggest a word he doesn’t say yet, you can see his little head and mouth working overtime to make it happen. Cat…Tat!

Fashion Forward: Eldyn likes to suggest outfits for us now. He does this by opening our drawers, pulling things out and grunting in a friendly and suggestive way. He’s really an expert at matching the family member with their own clothing, even if it’s all mixed together in a laundry basket. But he does have a little work to do before he gets on Project Runway. If Brad would have taken his suggestion this morning, he’d be wearing four pairs of boxers, one sock, annnnnd…nothing else.

Speed Read: Instead of flat-out refusing to even look at a book, Eldyn has started bringing us books to read! He will still only sit still for 2-5 seconds of actual reading time, per book. When the sit-still-time is on the two-second end of the spectrum, we just flip quickly through the pages. But five seconds! Believe it or not, there are toddler books that can be read entirely in 5 seconds.

Eldyn: 5 Months

Single Sort Recycling Cart!

Brad and I found our brand new single-sort recycling cart in our alley!  We have only been waiting forever for the chance to throw all recyclables into one single, beautiful, blue spot. Here is a haiku to commemorate this important occasion.

Our recycle cart!
All in 1 and 1 for all,
Oh hip, hip, hooray!

Sluuuuurp!

Hiram: 3 Years + 11 Months

Two Wheel Try: Hiram got his first two-wheel bike this month and could barely wait (who could/can?) for the snow to melt so he could get down to the business of learning how to ride without training wheels. The reality of two wheels was a little disappointing (so wobbly!) but when we asked him if he’d like his training wheels back on, he responded with an adamant “no.”

Reading: I remember feeling smart because I could remember the words to “Goodnight Moon” and fool my babysitters into believing I was reading. Hiram does this trick too, only he remembers the words (or at least the gist) to virtually every single book in his library. My favorite thing he reads is the page in “Hop on Pop” by Dr. Seuss that says, “My father can read big words too, like Constantinople and Timbuktu!”

Buckle Up: Hiram can buckle and unbuckle his own car seat now. So far, we have had no problems with un-buckling at inopportune times. Regardless, this development makes me feel simultaneously joyous and terrified.

• Left hand: No more buckling my baby into his seat. So convenient!
• Other hand: No more buckling my baby into his seat. Next step, car keys!

2 Years + 11 Months

1 Year + 11 Months

Chickie Muffin

A few weeks ago, Hiram made a cupcake decorated like a baby chick. Amidst all the chocolate bunnies, jelly beans and other Easter etc going on at that time, I was hoping some of these treats would fall by the wayside and put it in a slightly lower profile place in the fridge. When I found it still there last week, I put it quietly into the trash. (Yes!)

This morning, Hiram was getting dressed when he stopped and said, “Mom, where’s my chickie muffin?” I strained my brain to process his question – Chickie Muffin? What is he talking about? Oh? Ohhh! Uh Oh! The cupcake!

The way he said this, and the way he was looking at me while he said it, made me feel pretty sure he knew the answer. And also pretty sure my verbal confirmation of the answer was going to set him off. I took a deep breath and told him the truth: “It was moldy so I threw it away,” I said.

And there, before my eyes, was the most entertaining tantrum I think I have ever seen:

“Nooooooooo! Mom! (stomp) I want my chickie muffin! (flop) I wanted to eat that. (kick, kick, kick) That (bang) Was (kick) My (splat) Chickie Muffin! (pound, kick, pound)”

He was actually pretty ticked so I’m glad I didn’t laugh then. Hopefully, someday he’ll see the humor in it.

Sweet Spring

I finally put my finger on the thing that makes me love our neighborhood so much. My finger is on: The way spring at our house makes me feel like a kid again. This is even more true with kids – especially ones that only need 1 nap per day. All these daylight hours to work with are like a sweet spring dream.

We spent the entire weekend riding our bikes wherever we wanted, which included: to the green space, to the park, to watch a running race, back our house, to an ice cream store. Wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted. Just like being a kid again.

Only more fun because your imaginary friends are actually three cuties.

Cutie 1

Cutie 2

1/2 of Cutie 3 – Sorry B.

Swing Batta

Swing!