Dah-benies

AKA: Strawberries. Mason helped plant these tasty treats in the garden to create our first strawberry patch. He loves to show guests his little berries and lets them know that the tiny green ones aren't ready yet. "Don't pick it yet." We have had a few ripe ones, however, I don't think I will actually get to try any this season. A certain someone watches them closely and gobbles them up at the first sign of ripeness. I hear they are quite tasty though.

Time to admire his hard work.

First came soil...

"Mommy, the nice tractor gave us some dirt in our truck. I was scared, but daddy saved me. Now we are going to dig some dirt out with our shovels."

Then came bark...

Boxes and pathways were underway...what's next you ask?  Bring on the plants guys!

Spring is finally here...

...and so is a well-deserved THANK YOU to all that were able to help out for my birthday. This year when Josh asked me what I wanted for my birthday I couldn't think of anything at first. Our "Little Plastic Castle" is already filled with lots of love and "stuff", which I am constantly trying to condense into less "stuff" (currently less dog hair as shedding season is upon us, but that's a whole other posting in itself).  Being pregnant, the lovely clothes I admire at the newly opened Anthropologie just don't fit, so as I thought about it more - all I really wanted was help. Help with our garden.  Pregnancy also brings about less ability to help create the garden we were hoping to have again this summer, so I decided to get creative.  

We decided to plan a work day birthday party, which became a work weekend.  We recruited all that were willing and able to help out with pulling weeds, building garden boxes, hauling giant steel racks with their bare hands, and other odd jobs around the yard. 

Here is a BEFORE shot of the garden:

YIKES, weed city!

By the time the weekend rolled around, Mason was trying to recover from two days of being puking sick, yuck, and the weather was mild enough to get things rolling.  I felt so incredibly loved to have so many friends and family members over to help transform the winter weeds into a space where we could begin to envision our garden.  I know everyone has a million things going on, so it meant a lot that everyone could make time to help us out.  

As the day moved along, I worked on feeding the troops and trying to find time to visit a bit while Mason napped.  It wasn't until Sunday that he was feeling more like the little gardener/hard worker he likes to be.  Josh found time to bond with his brothers while building many HEAVY duty redwood garden boxes.

A mighty team conquered an unbelievable patch of weeds that had taken up residence in our garden.



 The HUGE metal racks behind our garage were finally on the move as our team pitched-in to haul them up onto the hill.

Luckily, I had gone inside for a minute to miss the daring stunt Josh had as he rolled with one of the racks as it flipped.  Escaping injury, he was a bit stunned that he managed to remain inside the thing and not under it.  Whew, I am glad I didn't see it, although I am sure it would have been a great installment for the next "safety video".  

By Saturday evening the crowd was tired, hungry, and ready for rest and BBQ. 

 

Sunday morning brought cooler temperatures and a sprinkle of rain here and there.  Our new team arrived to help shovel gravel and dig 40+ post holes to sink the garden beds securely in their spots.  (Sorry Val and Bob, somehow I never got your photo, but even without evidence I will remember all your hard work and loved having it).  

Like I said, Mason was more like himself and was ready to play with his cousins and then "dig some dirt out with his shovel."

Hey, is that the same weed patch you saw earlier? Hardly recognizable. 

All your hard work has since inspired our neighbor to take those HEAVY racks, put them to good use, and free us from the eye sore they have been behind our garage. It inspired Josh and Mason to gather truckloads of soil, compost, and bark to fill boxes and create pathways, as well as plant strawberries, peas, chard, carrots, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, flowers, and herbs.  They have nurtured our artichoke, fruit trees, and pumpkins that have returned to the garden, and installed a drip system to help conserve water and time spent watering.  All this and it is only April!  We couldn't have done it without you. 

A final HUGE Thank You to all that gave their time and/or donations to help create a memorable weekend.  It will be a birthday I cherish.  I look forward to inviting you all back for a relaxing garden party, and I promise you won't have to pull any weeds this time.  

I love you all!

Spring Break, Woo Hoo!

So, we had an interesting turn of events this year for spring break.  Many of you have heard about it, but I thought I would bring everyone up to date as I get inspired to catch up on blogging.  Off the topic, I think that word is so funny.  It reminds me of clogging, which reminds me of... okay nevermind you don't care.  

So to kick off our Spring Break our plan was to go to our regularly scheduled doctor's appointment Friday afternoon to check on the baby sister and then go get Mason and have dinner.  The little mover and shaker decided to change the plan and have an irregular heartbeat.  Then we found out I would be staying overnight to have the Pediatric Cardiologist check on her little heart.  

By 7pm or so, we were worried, hungry, and in the new hospital, which by the way is really nice. The staff was great and that helped a bunch.  Josh ran to pick up Mason and some dinner and came back to visit me.  Mason was excited to show me his security badge and ask me, "Mommy are you getting the baby sister out today?"  

I told him not yet, and to tell her to stay in to get healthy and strong first.  He leaned over to her and said, "Don't come out yet baby sister, you have to get big and strong like me."  He then proceeded to tell us how when she comes out he is going to teach her how to dig dirt out with his shovel.  Ah, my little garden boy.  

So the night dragged on and I had some contractions and finally morning arrived and Josh came back to visit me.  The Pediatric Cardiologist arrived with his brand new equipment and did an ultrasound to check on her heart.  He was so great.  He talked us through the whole exam and showed us all that he was looking for.  No wondering what he was looking at.  He reassured us that her heart looked healthy and strong and that sometimes the little ones have these irregularities in the womb and work themselves out later on.  We ended up staying until late that evening for a few more tests and such.

The whole thing was kind of like when I had Mason.  Go home from work on Friday and suddenly life changed.  So I was asked to stop working and rest a bunch to keep the baby happy and growing where she is.  So far so good.  Our family has been great and so helpful with everything.  Josh and Mason are maximizing their father-son time in the garden (be on the lookout for new postings. I will try to keep you updated while resting.)  

I am taking full advantage of my new duties as "resting baby grower", napping a bunch and from time to time I even make it out to supervise the gardening in my fancy new chair from Larry and Lynn.  

STRIKE!

Rented shoes, a ball, and good friends.  It sounds like it's time to bowl.

It had been many years since my last time bowling.  After playing in the snow and taking a cozy afternoon nap we were ready for a night out on the town.  We found the local bowling alley and taught Mason about the joys of a good 'ol game of bowling.  Grandma and Grandpa Roetker would be so proud!

Daddy and Mason found the brightest ball they had and set her loose.  

Mommy could barely contain his excitement to get him to wait for his ball to return, let alone pose for a quick photo.

Mighty Green was back and ready for gutter ball number 2!

Before we knew it, Mason had perfected his game, with a little help from the man that brought out "The Ramp". 

What a clever invention!  Look out pins, here comes Mighty Green!  GO! GO! GO!

WOO HOO!

I think I worked up an appetite.  Where's the nearest chips and guacamole?

SNOW! Part 2

Mason is laying in bed scrolling through songs on his "pod" (his little kid MP3 player from Valerie) as he is trying to fall asleep and he keeps selecting Elizabeth Mitchell's "Frieght Train".  He loves trains, so it is fitting that he loves this song.  I am hearing it as I am getting work done for a project at school tomorrow and thinking "Freight Train going so fast..."  Hmmm, life seems to be going SO FAST!  Is it really already March?  Have we really not finished our Tahoe post?  We had intentions of sharing with you sooner, but somehow life carried us away yet again. Not that I am complaining. Quality time wins out over blogging any day.  Speaking of.... here is the next installment in SNOW!

After many a tastes of snow and snow shoeing,

Joshua and Mason "hit the slopes".

They say a picture speaks a thousand words. I say this next one speaks of the joyous emotions felt by a wee 2 year old on his first sledding adventure.

They made it look so fun.

Mommy decided to give it a whirl.  She rode solo, well... + unborn baby sister and was greeted by Mason at the bottom.

SNOW!

It's good to have friends. Even better if they have access to a condo at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe. Our great friend, Valerie, just so happens to fit both descriptions. We were invited up for the weekend and couldn't say no.

Mason had been to the snow once before, but his experience was limited to this:

This time, he was a bit more engaged. 

It took almost no time at all for Mason to get the hang of his new snow shoes.

He was off and trekking into the white wilderness.

Valerie gave Mason his first lesson in proper snowball formation.

Not bad for the powder she was working with. Hazzah for Val!

It turns out that snowballs are even better for eating. 

When asked what the delicious frozen treat tasted like,

Mason replied, "Mmmm, tays lie a paw-sic-uh!"

A final post before the new year is upon us...

Well, it seems as though time is moving quickly these days as we are enjoying good times for the holidays.  We had a great time on our trip last week and it is hard to believe it is New Year's Eve already.  I have been feeling a need to organize things, get rid of junk that clutters our tiny home, go through the closet and remove unworn items (Why do I have button up shirts?  I never wear them. Well there is one I like...but I never wear that one either.) You know, start the year organized and refreshed.  

This feeling has remained merely a feeling as I lounged about today playing blocks and trains with Mason.  He recently discovered that toll gates are incredibly fascinating while we were down in LA for Christmas visiting my family.  He had read about them in a book of his called Traffic.  You may know it, it is about a little car on its way home...wait, what am I saying? It is highly unlikely you have ever seen it.  It was on the "give away table" at school as they were thinning out the library collection.  Anyway, you can imagine what it is like.  It is a running commentary of what you would see out your window if you were on a drive.  Take Mason on a drive sometime and you will notice all that you ignore and take for granted each day.  He is an observer.  He takes it all in and tells you all about it as you travel from place to place.  He particularly loves when you drive through tunnels, by trains, by fountains (even ones that aren't working), machines at work: bulldozers, back hoes, jackhammers, etc.  

This book introduced him to the wonders of the toll gate.  The text is simple: The toll gate is shut.  The toll gate is open.  You can create your own visual.  Mason loves these pages of the book and will go back to them numerous times each read.  Well, when we entered a parking garage in Santa Monica last week, what did we see live and in person???  Not just one, but several toll gates.  Just about every day we got to see this brilliant invention.  At the Farmer's Market on Christmas Eve, Mason kept searching for more toll gates and had Grandma stand and watch with him as many cars came in and out.  He gave a detailed explanation to Grandpa who had missed out on the fun when he met up with us that day.  He was sure to tell him about how the toll gate was open, then when the car went through it shut, complete with hand gestures so he could really get the idea. 

Well, today while building, Mason discovered that one of his train track pieces had...you guessed it, a toll gate.  "Mommy, play toll date with me."  Gs are still pronounced Ds.  So, much of my morning was spent taking turns opening and shutting the toll gate and driving my little truck through.  If I stopped to try to do something else around the house I was called to back to toll date duty.  I finally gave up on trying to motivate to do something more in the way of being organized and embraced the giant mess of toys and played toll date with my boy.  It was a great day.

Happy New Year, may you find time to notice the simple things around you.  

Local Flavor

So we recently took part in our local Christmas tree lighting event.  It was a chilly Thursday evening and excitement was in the air.  Mason was reluctant to wear a coat, but decided it might be worth it when the hopes of a possible cookie treat was in his future. OOOOOoooohhhh!

There was a big band that must have been freezing, especially the horn section. Mason loved the music and gave generous applause at the end of each song.


All the pageant winners from our little city got to introduce themselves to the crowd.  Santa and Mrs. Claus made an appearance on stage as well as two dogs masquerading as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". Mason liked them, too.

After a sing-a-long, they lit the tree.  The photo is a bit dark, but the tree was quite pretty on that wintery evening.