Feeling Sad

I'm so sad. Today was supposed to be the first day of classes for Allison in preschool - and then Carter was going to go to this little playgroup at the same time Allison was in preschool . . . but it turns out I signed her up for the wrong class. I got to the class today and she wasn't on the roster. I'm just so bummed! I was looking forward to this so much. They had that I had signed up for a different day . . . and then the class that I want to get into is now full. I just can't imagine how I could have registered her for the wrong class. I had this all planned out in my head - it was perfect that both their classes were going to be at the same time. :(

More Pictures from Allison's Birthday

I had to throw in a picture of this farm I found on Criag's list. I remember playing with one just like it when I was a kid!

Allison's 3rd Birthday Party

Allison turned 3 and we had her first birthday party with friends. We did a 'Barnyard' theme. Anthony painted a barn on a big piece of cardboard and put it in front of our front door - so when all the kids arrived they went through the barn door. As everyone arrived we sang Barnyard songs . . . Old MacDonald, Horsie Horsie - and played an animal sounds game - they each had to act like their animal and we guessed what they were. Then we went outside for more games. I told them that Old MacDonald had lossed all his animals and we needed to help him find them. I hid a bunch of animals outside - and then ran around and found all of them and put them in a Barn Silo. We played Duck Duck Goose and went on Wheelbarrow rides. For lunch we had Pigs in a Blanket (hot dogs), Farmer Fries, and Corn on the Cob (Alli's favorite). We also made animal puppets. FamilyFun.com has great cake ideas - and I made my very first fancy birthday cake! (I usually just do a rectangle cake with frosting) It was so fun! I made a Pig and a Sheep Cake. Alli had fun helping me put the marshmallows on the sheep cake. Luckily Carter went down for a nap just as all her friends arrived - so Anthony and I were able to manage everything. Oh yes - we also played Farm Bingo - we had little bingo sheets with all the animals - and Anthony would make a Farm Animal sound and they would put their smartie on the animal. For favors I cut circles out of red fabric and tied a little leaf with their name around the top - and then put the 'apples' on our tree out back for them to pick. I found some barnyard fruit snacks, and little stamper/erasers of farm animals to put in the favors. So much fun!

Holly's Wedding

Holly and Hal's wedding was so beautiful! It was such a treat to be a part of it. Mom always amazes me in her ability to put together such wonderful events. The reception was wonderful. Every detail . . . when Anthony and I arrived in Ohio Wednesday night - she and Tanner were just finishing up the little books and bookshelf that was being prepared for the entrance of the reception center - where guests would find their book that would direct them to their table. Anyway - it was so cute! The books were made out of little candy boxes . . . oh I wish I had taken a picture. Carrie had put together a coloring/activity book for the kids that detailed Holly and Hal's story through wordsearches, coloring pages, mazes, etc. So cute! All the kids had little bags - and the guest were given little ipod backpacks as favors with a note attached explaining how Holly and Hal met (Hal helped Holly carry her books) . . . and now they can carry each other's burdens through life . . . Oh dear I'm not doing it justice. I wish I would have taken pictures. It was fun doing a little program honoring Holly. LIttle Allison even got up and sang a version of 'Holly had a little lamb' - in memory of Holly's love and devotion to her sheep growing up. I was such a proud mom!

Anyway - we had such a good time - and it was such a treat to get to know Hal's family, and visit with family and friends. We love you Holly and Hal!

Grandpa Watkins Birthday

We were lucky to be in Ohio for Dad's birthday. Allison had fun making grandpa gingerbread . . . Carrie even made a special bowl of batter mixed with water - heated in the microwave - just the way he likes it. We love you Dad!

Hunches in Bunches

Tonight Allison chose to read Hunches in Bunches by Dr. Suess as one of her two bedtime stories. I stayed to listen as Anthony read it to her - thinking it was quite an appropriate end to our day today.

"Do you ever sit and fidget when you don't know what to do . . . ?
Everybody gets the fidgets. Even me and even you.
And today was quite an awful day
for me and my poor pup.
My trouble was I had a mind
But I couldn't make it up."

Today was the day we had to finally make up our mind regarding where to go with Anthony's career right now . . . deciding on the best path . . . and it has been an awful process! Following one hunch one day, and another hunch another. I swear that during these last few weeks - there has been at least two of Anthony . . . . 'arguing and barg-ueing' as Dr. Suess eloquently put it. One day I would have Anthony 1 - following hunch #1, and the next day there would be Anthony 2 - following hunch #2.

"It's awfully awfully awful
When you can't make up your mind! . . .

"Oh you get so many hunches
that you don't know ever quite
If the right hunch is a wrong hunch!
Then the wrong hunch might be right!"

We finally decided on a path today . . . but not after much agony. If any of you know Anthony and I very well - we are not the most efficient decision makers. We agonize and go back and forth, then (thanks to Dad's training) make spreadsheets of pros and cons - even assigning numerical value to each reason - trying to make this complicated emotional decision into a simple algebra problem :) We're crazy! I kept thinking through this whole decision making process . . . if only Heavenly Father would tell us in minute detail which path would be the best, the easiest, which path would make life wonderful and dandy. If only he could give us that spreadsheet full of the infinite data that he has . . . wouldn't that be wonderful! But, yes, that would defeat the purpose. Where would be the growth in that?

So we are left to follow hunches in bunches . . . and maybe at the end just decide to eat lunch - the 'best hunch of the bunch'.

The Tomato

I have sewn, grown, and eaten my first tomato this week. Yes - a plant that I put into the ground with my own two hands, has born fruit - and it was edible! This is a major step in my life. Thanks so much to my wonderful garden-guru sister-in-law, Natalie, who patiently answered my novice questions as I set out to plant a garden this spring. I had in my mind that planting a garden was some big scientific complicated process, that I was definitely not qualified to undertake . . . I worried about where to put the garden - would it be OK by the fence, how do I prep the soil, am I planting the right kinds of plants, do I water with the hose? Do I need to have some complicated drip line system . . . I kept thinking of all these variables that I didn't know much about - and felt like I had no idea how to juggle and balance all of them . . . but finally I just planted a tomato plant - a leap of faith, and it grew! I didn't even have to water it that much - the sprinklers took care of it. I was making it way too hard! I was going to post a picture of my first tomato - but I ate it without thinking to take a picture. Nuts. But Carrie assured me as I was telling her about my tomato tonight - that she has seen a tomato before, and would be OK without the picture.