Spring...what's that???

This was our backyard last Monday.  It's  been rainy and snowy since (with the exception of Easter weekend...yay!).  We're ready for sunshine!!!

Hop on Pop

Isla loves sitting on Ben's chest and playing with his face and beard.  The other night I snapped some  pictures of  the two of them.

This is from a different night, but they fell asleep while hanging out... 

Mary, Mary quite contrary...

How does your garden grow?

I got this a bit as a kid, but said "Carrie, Carrie quite contrary.  How does your garden grow?  With Silver Bells and Cockle Shells, and pretty maids all in a row."  Yes, I was usually the odd duck, usually  had my own  opinion about things, and was fairly strong willed...

Anyhow, we're giving a garden a real shot this year.  Our main goal for the season is to have a green yard all summer (ie. fix the sprinklers, deweed, and plant some grass in missing patches).  We'd also like to do a small bit of  landscaping creating a garden area around our trees in the front yard and sectioning off the back portion of the back yard  for a play area complete with pea gravel and sand box.  We'll see how far we get with that, but the first things on our to do list are cleaning  up the yard, fixing the sprinklers and planting grass and a vegetable garden.  The garden, well the whole thing really, is an experiment.  I have a few coworkers who regularly plant vegetable gardens, so I'm getting some tips from them. 

A week and a half ago (Sunday April 3), Miles and I went to Walmart and got a Jiffy Professional Greenhouse and a bunch of seed packets (including, but not limited to sunflowers, watermelon, Bell Peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, summer squash, pumpkins, etc.)  The little "greenhouse" holds 72 plant pods.  Ben wants to start another one!  So, we read the directions and began planting...and planted all 72 pods.

Miles checked every morning for new plants.  After about a week (and one day) here's what we have!

They're almost all sprouted.  The sunflowers  and some  of the bell peppers are  the biggest! 

Here is the "garden" that Ben spent 2hrs clearing the other morning.  It looks great! I can't wait to have a bunch of fresh veggies (and maybe some fruit!) to eat this summer...bring on the sun!!!!!

Sun Hat

My in-laws got Miss Isla this sweet sun hat from a recent trip they took to California.  Apparently there is another shop of theirs at Pike Place Market in Seattle, as  well.  It is just adorable and I love putting it on her when the sun is out.  She will also  be wearing it for Easter with a little green dress I found!

Five Months

Wow!  I think I missed this one somehow.  Miss Isla turned  5 months a couple weeks ago!  There is not much new to tell.  She is as sweet as ever.  No doctor appt, so no new stats.  However, in recent news, she has FINALLY started rolling.  Front to  back, anyhow.  I finally started laying on the tummy-time pretty thick and let her "cry it out" one afternoon until she finally flipped herself over.  She would get so frustrated being on her belly but would get hung up on her back arm.  She will now roll over, but prefers to lay there and fuss until you flip her.  She is getting more proficient at it, though. 

Now we must start to work on the back to belly!  As we speak, I have her laying on her back on the floor with her toys out of her reach and behind her.  She  rolls up onto her side to try to reach them, but has yet to flip over to grab them :).  Does that make me a mean mom??? 

She is  also talking a ton!  She will sit there and babble and coo your ear off.  It is pretty endearing!

 And, for good measure, a few shots of Miles at five months.

This one of him and Grandpa O is one of my favorites :)