rain and a horse

Just enjoying a little afternoon rainstorm.  It's been lovely to see the clouds rolling in and feel the breeze cooling everything off.

Then we hear the loud thunks of hail on the greenhouse and watch our garden turn to shreds.

We got another small hailstorm that is making for some slow progress in the garden.  The plants aren't totally destroyed but just enough that we need to wait for new leaves to grow and continue on their merry way.

All three kids love being outside.  Caleb turns his head to the breeze and shows his contentment, often even smiling.  This works well for placing him in the shade while we pull weeds or stack firewood.  Mason is a hard worker, never wanting to stop for a break.  Emma will take a break every chance she gets to "check on Caleb."  That's an important job too.  Keeping everyone happy.

It's been awesome to watch them discovering new things every time we're outside. Ants, grasshoppers, yarrow, purple flowers, and rocks are becoming part of daily conversations.

On one of our recent evening walks Emma had a new experience:

One of our neighbor's horses came running towards us.  As soon as Emma notices she exclaims, {eyes wide in astonishment, stopping in her tracks}  "Horses can run!  I didn't know that could do that!!"

Oh to experience summer through the eyes of a child!

july in the garden

I wish I was better at recording our gardening endeavors so we could read them from year to year.  I have a gardening journal that I started way back in 2007.  I start off great at the beginning of the season, sketching our garden and where we planted everything.  And that's about as far as I get.  So seven years later I'm about 15 pages in.  

That leaves us always asking things like:

When did we start the tomato seeds last year?

Was that 2009 or 2010 when it snowed in June?

Which type of tomato kept rotting on the bottom?

Do you remember that kind of zucchini that we didn't really like?

And the list goes on.

Oh well.  I guess the best part is that we're doing this whole gardening like, learning as we go and really enjoying it.  

Our greenhouse looks more like a jungle these days.  The tomato plants are getting more and more little green tomatoes every day.  The basil is overflowing.  Pesto making in the near future! The peas are about done, but we are still getting a few here and there.  The swiss chard has offered us several side dishes and is still doing well.  Just gathered another bunch this morning.

The pepper plants are starting to flower.  

We spent the afternoon yesterday enjoying a break from all the afternoon rain storms we've been getting.  Mason and I pulled all the weeds in the big garden.  Emma read books to Caleb on the porch and daddy split firewood. 

We got a hailstorm about a week ago that shredded a lot of the big leafy stuff in the garden, but Mason and I found lots of new growth.  The cabbage may come back.  We have several rows of carrots (our hardest thing to get to sprout).  The beans are looking good as well as the beets.  Mason pulled all the weeds around the sunflowers he planted.  They're doing really well. 

We all came in hot, tired and covered in dirt.  Rootbeer floats were definitely in order!

fishing

The clean clothes have been sitting folded on most of the living room surfaces for going on three days now.  The kitchen floor needs mopping in a bad way.  Piles upon piles of stuff is filling the rest of the house in preparation for a garage sale. 

But sometimes you just gotta pack a picnic dinner, head to a nearby lake and do some fishing. 

The rest can wait.

one month

Dear Sweet Caleb,

How are you one month old already?  It's hard to believe how that much time has gone by. 

You are such a perfect little addition to our family.  We love your spiky hair, your tiny, long fingers and toes, your smiles, and your sweet little face. 

You spend most of your day sleeping away. I'm pretty sure you are asleep more than you are awake.  You sleep great at night too, waking either once or twice.  Sleeping and growing. 

You are such a mellow little guy.  You don't fuss much and when you do it doesn't last long.  You already put up with a lot from Mason and Emma.  They are in your face, covering you with kisses and hugs (Emma) and trying to get you to play with toys (Mason).  They love to hold you and ask to do so several times a day.  Caleb, they adore you.  We all do.  You are so precious.  It's amazing to think that during my whole pregnancy it was you waiting to come join us.

A few things to remember about this month:

~you do awesome in the car and have been on many trips already
~you have long, skinny arms and legs (75th percentile for height, 25th percentile for weight)
~you don't mind being on the floor and really seem to like your bouncy chair
~you can sleep through any noise
~you are starting to smile
~you have the quietest little newborn cry
~you are still all scrunchie when I hold you on my shoulder{love!}
~you grab on to Mason and Emma's hands {they love!}
~you are really a pretty calm, easy going baby.

Caleb, we love you so much!  We are cherishing this time that goes so fast.  
xoxo, 
mommy

studying

Just a few snapshots of Mason and Emma studying the wildflowers.  Several bouquets have graced our kitchen table. 

A great way to spend a summer afternoon.

wordless wednesday

rest

This has been a week of rest thanks to my awesome sister and mama for taking Mason and Emma for 6 whole days.  They're living it up with the cousins.  I cherish their nightly phone calls with stories of the animals they saw at the zoo, the pools they splashed in, the parks where they played on slides and swings and the ice cream flavors of the day.  Mason is learning all about baseball from Uncle Chris.  Emma is making everyone laugh with her antics.  

And Ryan, Caleb and I are resting.  We're spending our days sleeping in, taking naps, snuggling sweet Caleb and enjoying some fresh air and sunshine.

We went and picked spruce tips for a spruce tip beer that Ryan is brewing.  We had a picnic after his two week doctor appointment.  We organized closets and drawers making room for tiny onesies.  We haven't cooked at all, thanks to amazing friends for all the meals.  We're actually having conversations at the dinner table. 

Thanks again mama and sister!  Love you!

wordless wednesday

first harvest

We cut our first harvest of rhubarb and of course the first thing we did with it was make strawberry rhubarb jam.  It's one of our favorites to have on hand.  Mason and Emma are great strawberry mashers.  Making jam has turned in to a family affair...a fun way to spend a morning.  We ended up with 21 jars.  Success.

Our rhubarb is nice and healthy this year thanks to all the rain we've gotten.  I think the next batch will probably be turned into a nice pie.  Hopefully the hail will stay away this year and we'll get a few more cuttings.

five

Hard to believe this guy is five!!  These years really have flown by.  We are so proud of you Mason.  You are such a kind, thoughtful fellow.  We appreciate your attention to detail and observations about the world around you.  You amaze us every day with the things you are learning.

 

You do love to learn.  You are reading like crazy.  You love numbers and patterns.  At the moment you love puzzles, mazes, and cards.  You love to play Nertz any chance you get and win more often than not. You are also very creative when it comes to drawing and making things.  You will sit and color, write, and draw for hours.  Then out comes the scissors, glue and stapler.  The walls in your room are covered with masking tape and your artwork. 

 

 You are very careful and pay attention to details.  You love to plant in the garden, water the plants, and help with the greenhouse.  You know the names of all the plants and how to harvest them.  I love that I can send you to the greenhouse and you will return with a bowl of salad greens or a handful of chives.  You have your own tomato plant, locust tree, and sunflower plants that you are taking care of. 

 Most of all we love your sense of humor, your memory, and the way you tell stories.  You entertain us and are so fun to hang out with.  These five years have been full of so many memories and special moments.  You are such a joy and we are so blessed to watch you grow up.  We love you Mason man.

xoxo,
mommy

first week

Caleb's first week at home has been awesome.  Full of tons of family and friends popping in for visits.  Full of lots of cuddles.  I could sit and hold this little guy all day long.  Except that daddy and Mason and Emma want their turns too.  Plus a bit of floor time and cradle time for good measure.  

We're settling into somewhat of a routine around here.  Sleep, eat, fill the diaper. Repeat.  

We're also loving these summer days, full of sunshine, laughter, and baby snuggles.

Caleb James

Welcome to our family Caleb James! What a blessing this little one is!  He was born at 2:45 on May 28th.  Weighing in at 6 lbs 13 oz and 20 1/2 inches long.  

 

 The proud big brother and big sister.  It's been fun to watch their interactions with their new brother.  They are both such big helpers and keep a constant eye on him. 

We're settling in here at home and loving on little Caleb! 

tomatoes

The kids sure love helping in the greenhouse!  A few weeks ago we transplanted our tomato starts into the soil.  They seem to be doing well despite some cold nights.  Mason and Emma helped dig holes and water them.  Every morning Mason goes out to check on them.  He checks on the peas too....looking for one that he and Emma can share as a little pre-breakfast snack. 

We're still getting lots of greens.  Our cabbages that we started are sprouting.  We have a few pepper plants coming along as well.

The apple trees in the {mini} orchard are sending out lots of shoots and buds.  About half have leaves.  We transplanted lots of lilac bushes and locust trees, which are loving all the rain we've been getting.

So many little things to enjoy with the kids as they walk around checking on everything. 

Our third little bean hasn't made his/her debut yet.  We've had a few false alarms but this little one has a plan of its own!  We'll see what the doctor says today.  I don't think she'll let me go past 41 weeks, so this is the week!!

39 weeks

We're hanging right in there at 39 weeks.  Nothing crazy is happening yet. Which works great with my plan to finish the school year.  Or at least this next week.  And works with my other plan to enjoy Mason and Emma and Ryan as much as possible before our world flip flops into all things newborn. 

I'm still feeling really good.  Of course I'm tired at the end of the work day, but the weekends are great for resting.  Other than that I can't really complain.

I'm having a lot more braxton hicks than with the other two, but that doesn't seem to mean anything yet.  Little one is still moving a lot and I think that's probably my favorite part about being pregnant.  Watching and feeling my belly move. 

We really haven't decided on any names yet, but that seems to be how we do it.  We'll come up with something.  Probably at the hospital.  At least my bag is packed and the car seat is dusted off and actually in the car. 

The kids are getting excited.  We explained to them how they might wake up one morning and someone else will be here (thanks friends and family for being on call!) and mommy and daddy will be at the hospital.  Ever since then they are a little crushed in the morning...."Mommy!  The baby is still in your belly...


 

cousins

Came across one of my favorites from Easter. Love these people!