Poo-holes?

Gram came to visit this weekend - and a great time was had by all. Pictures to follow (by Annie...hopefully).

Before I forget - the quote of the weekend.

Setting - Friday Night - Cincinnati Reds game (vs. Milwaukee)

Reina - "Gram - Who is your favorite baseball player?"

Gram - "Albert Pujols!"

Reina - "No. He's not one of ours. Can you pick another one?"

Reina's favorite players are Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Jonny Gomes! In no particular order.

RIP Sea Monster

Yesterday our household experienced a loss. A minor one if you ask me, but here's the story. I bought Bill a fish tank for our 1st wedding anniversary, now over 7 years ago. He was pleased and has since done every single tank cleaning, water change, etc. We've had several fish come and go, upwards of 10 a year maybe? That number includes small aquatic frogs, snails and "ghost shrimp" which true to their name are virtually invisible and instantly lost in the tank habitat, therefore a royal waste of 32 cents.

Since the first batch of fish, however, our giant plecostomus has been with us. Through our move to this house, through the murky green days. He was tough but gentle, a noisy bubbler but stealthy swimmer. A majestic prehistoric creature forced to live with a bubble activated fake skull. Interestingly enough, his life span was tragically cut short. According to the highly reliable Internet, a healthy and well kept plecostomus may live up to 10-15 years, and rarely even 20 in captivity! They can also grow to be 24" long and are in fact a type of catfish.

Sorry old boy, apparently you were not "well kept" and your tank (ours is 29 gallons) fell sadly short of the minimum 55 gallon requirement. How insensitive we were, how irresponsible of PetSmart to sell you to such uneducated cretins.

One final note for this obit, Plecostomus was around before Hermes and even Jedi, that is a seriously old fish. Bill plans to bury him with distinction. We agree the new septic tank doesn't need that challenge. Had I the guts to scoop him from his watery grave, he'd have been flung over the fence.

Jacob Marley couldn't be any deader

8 inches long, 7 years old, never named

"Mommy, why is it dead?" Um...

Cryogenically frozen until burial. Next to the waffles. Lets have cereal today kids.

The Last Mom on Earth

Reina began preschool yesterday.

I feel as though I may be the last mom on Earth to send her child to some form of school. Or maybe that makes Reina the oldest child to stay home. Or something. So many of her cohort and even younger have been in school for at least weeks if not months or even a year. In any case, she's totally ready. She ran right into her classroom with barely a kiss and certainly no backwards glance for her poor mom or lonely brother.

It's cool. She is so excited for school, she gets her clothes out the night before and is up and dressed before me in the morning (that part isn't difficult to achieve). Since school is after lunch, mornings are going to be filled with anticipation. Today marks day #2 of school. Yesterday she was all smiles at pickup as she told me about how she got to be a snack helper and how she played house with her new friend, Summer. Summer, I might mention, out girly girls Reina by just enough that instead of BFFs we could end up with frenemies. Or not, they're three.

In any case, I'm happy that she's so eager for this new phase, it makes me look at both her and Liam in a new light. It may have been coincidental but yesterday as we were driving away from dropping Reina off, Liam seemed MUCH more chatty in the car. Perhaps a little time on his own is a good thing, especially since his vocabulary is limited to mostly "hi," "Daddy," "kitty," and "Ball!"

On the drive home yesterday when she was tired and hungry and more than a little whiny she started to wish out loud about going back to school. When I pointed out that she'd be going again today she look of surprise and joy was priceless...like I'd given her a puppy. Woo hoo. Yay school! How long will that last?

Below, photo ops galore, both on "Meet the Teacher" day and actual first day.

Y?

Can't quite put my finger on what it is about boys...

time for a haircut

The Joy of Chasing Sunbeams

My children's faces tell me how to look at life. Happiness is chasing dust particles that float in sunbeams after your morning bowl of Cheerios. Wonder is petting a baby goat while it nuzzles your face. Comedy is getting your family to laugh over and over by flexing your tiny little muscles. Love is a kiss from a baby to his big sister.

into Nana and PGa's Secret Garden

squirrel!

post bonk dental check up, all good

beefcake

city goats

country goats

mama goat

curiosity is tasting in the feed corn pit

childhood is pretending to be big while being so good at being little

Think They're Related?

Sabbatical

Aw shucks. I'm strongly considering renaming this blog "WeeKnights Quarterly" after this most recent poor showing. However, I remain duty bound to try to guide you through our past couple of months with some snippets of information. I left you anticipating an update from cousin Anna and Tony's wedding. Reina was a remarkable flower girl, very poised and just nervous enough to behave perfectly without being too freaked out standing in front of everyone. She was awesome. She was also thrilled at the attention and has been reenacting "Anna and Tony's wedding" ever since, this time as the bride.

My photos are somewhat in order, but not entirely. Since the wedding, Bill and I both celebrated birthdays, turning a pivotal age for some lives more momentous than our own. Nonetheless, it has made us reflect a bit on what we've accomplished thus far in our lives and where we may go from here. I happy to report I have now achieved homemaker status, level 4, having mastered: making my own chicken stock, baking bread from scratch, canning our own home grown dill pickles, catching a raccoon and mastering the toilet snake.

Bill has become a gentleman farmer, having transformed the old dog run/garbage heap by the shed into a veritable smorgasbord of fresh vegetables giving me plenty of fodder for my domestic achievements. We are nearly overrun in cucumbers with a nice supply of chard and green beans. Carrots and beets are coming and corn...and tomatoes will give me something to can in those giant quart jars I got for $10.

Reina has successfully become a prima ballerina, dancing in her first (and possibly only) dance recital. After an hour a week for an entire school year, Reina remembered the ending pose of her dance routine. And was adorable and hilarious on stage. Bill would be quite happy for her to pursue soccer instead, especially after seeing some of the routines and costumes of the older girls. She continues to swim, and well. This will continue through the school year I believe since she genuinely enjoys it and it is actual skill vs. cute trick. No offense to dancers, Reina just may not be one. Reina begins preschool in the fall and is counting down the days on her calendar. I am so happy for her and know she will be in her element but am bittersweet about her "last" summer as a baby. While we're blessed with the luxury of me being able to stay home with the kids, the school year will certainly be a jolt to me. Maybe I'll blog more...

Liam, now walking, fast, and climbing stairs, has succeeded in busting his face 3 times this week alone. The photos of him are pre-busted. We are headed to the dentist today to find out if he'll be joining the ranks of Uncles Ryan and Andrew and cousin Lizzie with his own crazy tooth. I was kind of holding off on a new family portrait until his face looked less busted, but that may never happen with this kid. Truth hurts. He is otherwise still a happy sunshiny little dude, content to speak gibberish or Ewok forever it seems. For somebody who talks all day long we sure can't figure out what he is saying. He is starting to get a bit frustrated, however, and sharing his opinion more often. He had his first full blown tantrum already over a bite of apple. The rolling on the floor kind. Not funny...but kind of was.


Aunt Lauren and Milo and Oliver visited us mid-Midwest move and we loved their company and were sad to see them go. Much naked time was had by Reina and Milo. Oliver and Liam can't take off their own clothes or I'm sure they would have joined in. I hear they're getting settled into their new home and I know Reina for one misses her cousin/friend and would love to visit.


As it is, we have no summer vacation plans. A bummer in a way but probably good in the long run. As we've discovered, our beloved new-old house requires frequent attention but perhaps some short day trips will be managed as Bill has some "staycation" time coming up.


That seems to be a general glossing over...on to explain some pictures:

Apologies to Austin and Jack's parents...candy cigarettes, FYI, from Bill. Attitude was all them, however.

I'm so done with taking pictures...

You know, I'm gonna take your job someday...

Liam with sweet gooey baby.

Babes in a hammock

Remember. I have a recital.

Daddy is gonna kill those that came up with make-up for 3 year olds.

I'm free years old! Mom, you're flurty free.

Corn.

Okra blossom.

Bucolic

Last known photo of Liam's perfect teeth

your caption here...