Our Square Foot Garden!

So we have finally built and planted our square foot garden! Here are the basic plans (though they have changed slightly because I had forgotten a few additions. Within our 2 4'X12' beds we have 96 squares; In which we are growing:
4 tomato plants
48 Onions
16 Garlic
2 Cucumber plants
32 Sugar Snap Peas
32 Shell Peas
32 Bush Beans
8 Pole Beans
1 Zucchini
1 Yellow Squash
1 Accorn suash
1 Spaghetti squash
3 Butternut
32 Scallions
2 Green Pepper plants
2 green/red pepper plants
1 banana pepper plant
4 Broccoli
64 Carrots
4 Edamame (soy bean plants)
4 Cabbage
16 Mesculin Lettuce Mix
16 Romaine Lettuce
16 Kale
16 Spinach

and I think we are still adding 3 cantaloupe in there too.








We also planted an herb garden and strawberry/melon patch on our back patio!

Ave Maria, and goosebumps

I just recalled this awesome youtube video on a friend's blog. I thought I would post it here in case any one hasn't seen yet. This is Bobby McFerrin (Don't Worry, Be Happy).

Camping Time Again!

With a gorgeous weekend forecast, we jumped town and went camping.
It was wonderful. Except for the lack of sleep the first night. And the lack of nap the second day. You can see, though, we sufficiently tuckered H out for the second night. :) (and naps for the rest of the week...see evidence under the library book). We also got to attempt kite flying. Of course the wind didn't show up until we were leaving.

H is growing and changing so much, still. She continues to keep us in stitches. She loves to give kisses European style (back and forth from cheek to cheek). She is getting very good at potty training her baby doll (including singing the potty song to her) - while she still does not have much interest in learning herself. We are trying to learn some Disney characters for our summer trip. So far it is Winny the "poop" or Winny "pee-uuuuu." She also loves to use that sound in reference to her own diapers (learned from mama). She still loves to help empty the dishwasher and tells us "thank chew" as she hands us silverware. If I am not paying attention "mamma, mamma, thank chew." She is learning new words all the time, but it still can be quite difficult interpreting. My favorite thing is to listen to her sing the alphabet with me. She picks up lots of letters and is just adorable singing.

We discovered that H is not the fulfillment of our desire for children...but a taste of just how sweet it is to be parents. We long for more of this goodness...and while we wait, we savor our amazing little gift.

Easter Egg Hunting and entertaining

Today was our first Easter egg hunt. Despite the hundreds of people and the fact that even the 1-2 year old age bracket was quite competitive, it was adorable to watch H fill her basket (carried ever so adorably like a little purse).





Off topic...here are pictures of two recent accomplishments.

The Inside-Out German chocolate cake I made (painstakingly) for my brother-in-law's birthday.













And my table from our Progessive Dinner. We hosted a Chinese dinner, I made my mom's sweet and sour pork stir fry and I thought the table looked adorable! (It is so fun to entertain!!)

The Things that Buy Me Time

It is amazing what a toddler can do with 5 minutes...or 30 seconds for that matter.

Exhibit A: I was desperate for sleep. H got a hold of my Creighton Chart and stickers. I did not find this until I started noticing little stickers on her clothes, the dog, the floor. Then I found my chart.

Exhibit B: One of the many famous empty the toilet paper scenes.

Exhibit C: Just now, H discovered that a pen can do wonders for your skin!

Hello Blogspot

Okay, I am determined not to let too much time go by without an update.

H. She is incredible, awesome, lovable, hugable and just adorable. She is 17, almost 18 months and what a fun age! They say this is when language really gets going. Every day she is learning new words. She does really well with signing and basic words and has started "asking" me (pointing with a question sound) what things are called. As of the last couple days, she is the queen of "no" - but in a comical way. She walks around saying "no no no no no no no" - but it sounds more like "nuh nuh nuh nooah!" She loves to tell Reilly "no" - regardless of what he is doing.

She is an expert body part pointer. Our favorite is "Elbow." Which sounds an awful lot like Elmo (whom, to prevent confusion, is called "mo"). She is also quite fond of "beelleeh" - the belly button....she is an expert belly button poker.

Here is a video clip of H recently, standing in a homemade "Learning Tower."

March for Life pictures...as promised

marching for life tomorrow

Okay, so I admit, Facebook is sucking a little life out of my blogging.

Just a quick update, we are driving to DC to March for Life tomorrow. The weather report looks good...and we are going to redeem a gift certificate for dinner at a historic restaurant (perfect after just finishing John Adams series) - thanks Aunt Pat.

We will update the blog with pictures soon.

Christmas Wrap Up

Christmas Wigilia dinner H enjoyed helping her little cousin learn about wiring, and they learned to watch each other's backs to maintain a hat-free environment. H was able to spend some time with Uncle Dave and Meagan. We learned two days later that she is soon to be Aunt Meagan. We also learned that she is is newest to the family gets the most gifts. :) Also, this Christmas revealed itself as the year of the bean. Coffee Bean, Dunkin Donuts to be exact...proving, "ask and ye shall receive." And finally...enough!

So Grateful '08 :)

What blessings God has bestowed! We continue to be immensely grateful for the gift of H in our lives. She brings so much joy and teaches so many lessons. How awesome to have a child to demonstrate the life Christ calls us to live.

In this month's Faith & Family magazine, the suggestion was made to sing a short hymn at the Thanksgiving table, in addition to saying grace. So yesterday, before we had a glorious meal, Paul, Keith and I sang "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow." H watched on in delighted curiosity.

It is such a gift to be able to pass on your faith to your child. She has not yet mastered the sign of the cross, but she clasps her hands during grace and kisses her picture of Jesus and Mary at bedtime. Well, she also kisses the couch and random other inanimate objects....but I know this is more special - especially when she sees a picture and points to "zeeezus" at Church.

So...in our hopes to continue to teach our faith, now we enter the season of advent. For Paul and I - the ultimate sacrifice is reserving Christmas for the Christmas season. While we have tagged a glorious Christmas tree this morning - we will reserve picking it up for a few weeks.

I found online a book that was a special tradition in our house growing up called "Family Nights." We hope that it will help prepare our hearts to enter in to the real meaning of the season.








Okay...so now for the less "storybook" parts of our holiday, here is a video clip of H's favorite way to entertain us: