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Dan built this rustic raised bed for my parents, and in exchange we will utilize another garden bed that is in another location on their property.
I thought that even though it is an unusual compilation of materials, it turned out to be quite nice, in a rustic sort of way. Just imagine strawberry plants spilling over the edges of those blocks…
And it’s a great way to make use of available resources!
Both of my brothers (the ones remaining at home) assisted in their own ways.
Zion regaled Dan with stories of his turkey hunts on the property, and Jacob…
He beautified the scene with dogwoods,
while watching for signs of good luck and a bountiful harvest to come 
Once in a while, I pack a lunch, load the children into the car (a task requiring no less than three carseats, these days!) and make the seven mile journey to the office where Dan works with my dad, selling kitchen cabinets.
It’s certainly the highlight of our day.
The girls dress up for the event…
Trux, too – though he remains cool and unimpressed, throughout.
The girls work on some difficult floor plans…
mooch the trademark mints and sunflower seeds off of Granddad…
get held by as many aunts and uncles as happen through the doors…
and educe tickling from anyone:
It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.
Things around here have been phenomenally crazy for the last few weeks. I can’t believe that it’s been nearly two whole weeks since I last posted.
We have so far:
Visited with my brother (Caleb) and his girlfriend, Alison who came home for a week.
Visited with my brother (Jared) who came home from college two times during the last couple of weeks.
Visited with my sister (Anna) and her family, who came home to participate in all the visiting (see above) and celebrate our mom’s and Bessie’s (my niece, Anna’s daughter) birthdays – (see below).
Started raising cockatiels with my brother (Zion).
Met my uncle from Chicago at a local(ish) campground.
Camped.
Hiked.
Fished. (Okay, only a little, but as my uncle says… “Fishing requires patience, but fishing with children requires the patience of an angel).
Uploaded and edited roughly 1400 photographs.
Celebrated my mom’s 49th birthday.
Celebrated my sister-in-law’s 46th birthday.
Celebrated my niece’s 3rd birthday.
Celebrated Easter Sunday.
Changed 224 diapers.
Had/have a bad cold and a case of hives (mine!).
Attended a play.
Prepared roughly 42 meals.
Washed around 746 loads of laundry.
Washed 300 loads of dishes in the dishwasher.
Had a picnic.
Did major grocery shopping twice.
Took a mass family picture involving 20 individual and wiggly people.
Played at the park.
Juggled three fussy babies.
Figured taxes. Repeatedly.
Bought two cars.
Cleaned up approximately 29 spills.
Visited the Science Center.
Put out four oven fires.
Had two tires repaired.
Potty trained a two year old.
Mopped the floor. Once.
Learned of two separate and potentially serious car accidents involving my parents and my brother.
Photographed most of the above.
A few days ago, I ventured out into the yard (at dusk, no less) to take some pictures which I will post next) with a fairly new lens.
This is where Mr. Truxton stayed… snug as a bug in a rug.
This is my version of the Moby Wrap. A very simple, no-sew project.
A week or so ago, the girls and I accompanied Dan to an auto auction in Saint Louis. We stopped off at Barnes and Noble and enjoyed a children’s hour and a cup of coffee, while Dan did his auto selling.
It was all a bit much for Sophie. She really doesn’t fit into any mold.
Kinsley was very attentive to Sophie’s needs, and very captivated by the storyteller.
After the bookstore, the girls and I found a nearby Goodwill, and stumbled upon three very lovely spring and summer dresses for Kinsley. All in all, it was a very satisfying day.
I admit it, snow really can be beautiful. It’s just that it’s inconvenient, too.
Icicles hung from our furnace after the winter storm, providing an interesting contrast.
The girls come from a long line of thrift shopping women. It’s pretty much in their blood.
It’s not that uncommon for my grandma, my mom, my sister, myself and my girls to be hitting the thrift shops together. That’s four generations of bargain hunters, all in one place.
Now, as far as their tastes in these bargains? That’s totally acquired.
It was almost too much for the girls to bear when I drew back the curtains in the living room to show then the lovely large snow flakes blowing by outside. They started making plans at the rate of about a thousand per minute…
They would make a snow man. They would sled.
They could make snow ice cream. They could drink the snow, if we ran out of water.
They would make snowballs to put in the freezer so that they could have snow when the snow was all gone.
Which made Kinsley think of summer. Which made her think of plans for a summer day, again. She and Papa must play baseball at the park. And football. And they should wear the new hoodies which Uncle Zion gave them when they play football. And they needed a special hat with a fence for their faces, for baseball. And for football. And patches on their knees for baseball. And a bat, and a ball, and a glove. And we could store it all in the basement so we will be ready for summer.
