handsful

On Monday, Ethan set out these buckets to measure the rain.  They’re full and so heavy that they’re sinking into the wet dirt/mulch. 

As of today, the water in the pool is flush with the patio. 

Last Saturday, after EJ’s game, Lainey had her first ice cream cone. 

She liked it a little bit. 

And, just cause she’s so stinkin’ cute, here she is all ready for church last Sunday.  Love this consignment-find dress :)

Yes, I know I’m cute.  My brothers and sisters tell me ALL the time.

Lainey Jett

So much going on these days, with the kids finishing up their subjects before the coveted summer break and my mind on all the amazing projects and things I’ll get done once I’m done teaching.  Who am I kidding…  So, here are a few quick snapshots of things going on in our household at the moment: 

The above shot makes me think of American Idol, and how crushed we were to see Danny leave.  I’ll be nice and not say how much I LOATHE Adam (oops). 

I have a couple of friends who are deathly afraid of amphibians, namely frogs (waving to Amanda)…it would be tough to have that fear here in Florida.  The sounds of countless frogs and/or toads croaking in and around the pond in our backyard is almost deafening this time of year.  This green tree frog visited us this week.  I grabbed the camera and aimed and he promptly turned his back to me.  I changed position.  He turned away again.  It became quite comical and took a few shots to actually get the little guy’s face.  I think he might be in the witness protection program.  Good disquise. 

While I’m talking animals, here is a pic of Marley “tending” her brood of water beetles, assorted land beetles, and her bin of tadpoles.  This is a busy season for our animal lover.  Lainey is watching intently, learning the ropes from big sis. 

I know you’re busy, but could someone pullleeaase feed me?

This is Payton’s reaction to hearing he has to have teeth pulled in June.  Initially it was SEVEN baby teeth.  But, he’s lost two on his own.  Still, five??  And, the boy is missing 4 adult teeth to begin with!  We’ll be double-checking that the orthodontist and the dentist are on the same page on which ones to pull! 

Spring brings plantings around here…lining the window on our patio are seedlings of flowers that the girls planted.  I’ll have to ask them what they are, I forget! 

Update on pumpkin…still growing strong and flowering like crazy.  Not seeing any baby pumpkins yet. 

Cucumbers in the planter and tomatoes in the background.  It’s been a long time since I’ve tried cucumbers, I’ve never been very successful with those.  Last year, I tried those hang-upside-down planters for the tomatoes.  They ended up with some weird growth on them and did nothing.  Went back to right-side-up this year and so far so good. 

This has been our favorite snack lately to make…won tons with cinnamon sugar.  We cut, sprinkle, and bake until they get crispy.  They’re easy and really good. 

Ethan has his first piano recital tomorrow night.  He’s been practicing the song for a while and has it down pat.  I forget the title, but it’s by Johann Strauss.  Lasts about 30 seconds :)  Course, we’ll still be sitting through the other 30+ kids to play. 

He tells me this is B minor.  EJ has been playing the guitar A LOT lately, it’s nearly always around his neck.  He loves to find songs online to copy and he’s beginning to make up songs on his own.  The kids used to complain a wee bit (okay, maybe more) that he played too much.  Now, they all comment on how good he sounds.  He really does. 

Resident teenager.  You can find her in her room or on Facebook.  Or taking a really long shower.  Or in your face asking to have friends over.  She’s my “baby” who is taller than me, wears larger shoes than me, and shares clothes with me.  Fun. 

Lainey loves to swing.  The higher the better.  What else is new…She signs 3-4 signs at a time now, in sentences.  “momma stay home” – “Lainey swing blue swing” – “pink cup water”.  Speech is showing progress, too.  She’s using “w” more appropriately, “y” and “l” are pretty close, and I’ve finally gotten her to more closely approximate “n”.  So, “no” is “mo”, but we’re working on it.  She can say “yo-yo” and calls her flip flops her “ma ma” (says it like “mop” without the “p” sound).  She copies EVERYTHING we say, but usually just says the vowel sounds – momma stay home is “mama ay om”.  She’s facinated with colors matching, loves choosing her own clothes (with mom’s guidance), and still dislikes mushrooms.  Actually, we’ve noticed she isn’t much of a bread lover of any kind…usually has to be urged to finish a sandwich.  Being a grains lover myself, I do NOT understand that.   

Lastly, EJ’s team plays for the championship on Saturday!  I’ll have pictures, I’m sure.  :)

The offender: 

This little sweetie has fast hands and knows how to use them.  She gets into everything, grabs anything within reach (or gets herself in reach by finding a stool), and helps herself to any and all items that look interesting. 

The problem: 

Our pantry door.  More specifically, our way-too-easy-to-open pantry door.  She thinks it’s her own personal 7-11.  She brings me cookie and cracker boxes all the time.  She uses the larger containers on the pantry floor to stand on to reach higher shelves.  It can get maddening.  Don’t get me wrong – I know that adopted kids can have a “thing” about food and they need to know it’s available.  Lainey is well fed, and is rarely refused food unless it’s just not time for more food – and I don’t think she needs a cookie 1/2hr after breakfast :) 

The solution:

It’s not pretty, I know.  But sometimes taking one little thing that drives me nuts AWAY is worth gaining a little ugliness.  Our pantry door is hollow, so screwing a latch into it doesn’t work.  Quick and cheap solution is a removable hook, rubber band, and a hook screwed into the door frame.  It works…so far.  As long as I keep the stepstools away from her.  ;)

I’m putting away dishes and then hear a muffled “mama”…”mama”.  Apparently, Lainey decided the kid’s dishes cabinet was the perfect hiding place. 

I’m not the only one who sometimes carries Lainey in the Ergo!  The funny thing is, Marley isn’t too far off the weight limit of 40lbs…I could almost carry her in it. :)  (I have no idea why Lainey’s smile face has turned into a “I’m in major pain” face!)

Let’s see, this Sunday after church we lost one (Ethan went to Ian’s) and gained four (Rachel, Zach, Emily, and Julianna).  There is always a “transaction” of this sort to be handled on Sundays and they’re usually spur of the moment.  Business as usual.  The kids love having their friends here, and really…what’s a little more noise, right?

No fear of jumping in this year – she used to need Randy to catch her.  He’s there, just out of camera shot.

Go back with me to last October.  We did the usual, took the kids to a local pumpkin patch and we chose a few pumpkins.  Also as usual, we displayed them on the front porch.  Well, as time goes on, pumpkins lose their attractiveness and start to get icky.  One by one, they all started getting bad spots and were tossed out. 

I recall one night, when we were rushing out the door (not that THAT happens much around here…), and that last pumpkin was still sitting there, begging me to pitch it.  Having no time to find the outdoor trashcan, I stashed it behind the left brick wall that lines the walk up to our front door. 

I’m sure you can guess where this is going.  It sat and sat and sat, and slowly rotted – WAY past the point of me picking the thing up and actually throwing it away.  I assumed it would rot away totally, end of story. 

A few weeks ago, I was back there pulling weeds and there it was…I knew it wasn’t a weed, but it took me a second to put two and two together (math isn’t my thing).  My word, we have a pumpkin plant growing!  Not having the heart to yank it out – I mean, here it was, life out of a dead icky thing!  I had to give it a chance!  As you can see from the above picture, it’s doing rather well. 

Here is a shot from the other side…we started seeing blooms this week!  So, we’re letting the little guy grow and we’ll see what happens.  I know it’s going to get huge, and frankly a big honkin’ pumpkin plant at my front door isn’t my idea of Southern Living beauty.  But, it could get interesting. 

Anyone else ever grow pumpkins?  I wonder if we need to fertilize?  Spray it for buggies?  Hmmm…I’ll post updates on it’s progress, cause I know you’re all excited about this, too.  Right?  Maybe not.

Lainey’s new joke…she sees you walking in another room and she sssstretches herself across the opening to block you!  Ha ha!  Isn’t it amazing how flexible toddlers are?! 

EJ had his last regular season ball game on Saturday and they won…they’re in 1st place in their division, undefeated for the season!  Play-offs start next week. 

We used our Ergo carrier in China and then some when we first came home.  Last week, she was having a clingy day, and wanted me to hold her a lot.  I asked if she wanted to use the carrier, and she was thrilled.  It’s most comfy to hold her on my back now, rather than the front or side.  With a weight limit of 40lbs., she’s got another 10 or so pounds to go. 

The kids are swimming quite a bit now, even though the water isn’t NEARLY warm enough for their momma.  I’m a bath water kinda gal. 

Gotta enjoy this time to the fullest…she’ll be too old for ruffly bathing suits all too soon. 

Cute kid, huh?

Nice form, Marley!

Lainey gets a rickshaw ride, Florida style. 

Two of the coolest girls I know!