Do your kids do this?

Nope. This isn't an ad for hand lotion or sunscreen. It's the "extra" stuff I found in my shopping bags when I got home from the store today. K was "helping" and kept putting the little extra things by the checkout on the conveyor belt. I kept putting them back. Evidently, I missed a few of her surprises, which makes me mad because checkout boy saw me put the other things back. Thanks a bunch kid who probably isn't paid enough by the Walmart cooperation to care! At least I had actually paid for it this time. Last time we came home with something extra, we had to have the thievery talk with Ty and then return the items to the store. Fun! Anybody need some sanitizing hand lotion with cooling sensation?

Celery Obsession

I know that this will come as a shock, especially to my parents because as a kid I wouldn't eat soup if there was celery in it, but I have developed an obsession with celery. That's right, good ole Apium graveolens, aka celery.

My friend told me she hasn't seen me without a piece of celery or an apple in my hand since January. This is not entirely true, it feels true, but it's not. Seriously, what is more crunchy and yummy than celery? Potato chips. Right, like that's in my future anytime soon. Did you know it takes more to burn off a piece of celery than it's original caloric intake, so celery is actually a negative calorie food! This is fabulous! It's a miracle.

We are currently going through about 4 or 5 bunches a week, which is kind of excessive, but it's not just me....C and K like their celery too. I always keep a glass of celery sticks in the fridge for when someone (namely me) gets the munchies. This morning I go to retrieve a mid morning snack, only to discover an empty glass. Do you love it as much as I do when your family leaves empty boxes and bottles in the pantry or refrigerator?

Now I am having a major craving and there is no celery in this house! What is a girl to do? Well, if your this girl, you go complain about it on your blog and then head to the store. I need my miracle food fix, and K needs some diapers....

Backyard Beat

Remember way back in March, when T and Uncle B and Grandpa J built the deck floor, and all we had was our lovely "concrete," rocks with a little dirt in between? You think I'm joking, but seriously, when we put the front yard in last fall, the first guy we hired to trench the sprinklers quit, and the second guy broke a trencher machine before it all got done.

Now we have dirt! I know this isn't the most exciting news for most people, but in our neighborhood, dirt is good, as opposed to what you have before your yard goes in. For us, dirt means progress. K's new favorite thing is eating on the deck, and since the railing isn't in yet, and considering her track record....we keep the deck door dead bolted. Notice the pretty furniture and umbrella, that was my Mother's Day present this year (thanks guys!).

The gorgeous gravel-filled hole is for our fire pit, as is the rock pile...pretty...someday... soon. It looks gray in the pic, but really the stone is different shades of brown. We are so excited that our trees are in and things are really starting to take shape.

Pretty dirt! Now if it would just stop raining so the sprinklers could get done...and the deck rail, and the stairs...and the path, and the fire pit...and the flower beds, and the curbing...and the rock around the deck pillars...and....you get the picture. Aren't projects fun!

This is the remains of our robin's nest. See the paper shred in between the lights? The kids loved watching the mom and dad fly back and forth with worms. T "loved" the bird poop dripped down the stucco. About a week ago, I walked through the kitchen and noticed a little gray bird on the deck. The two baby robins came out of the nest and spent about three days in the backyard before they disappeared.

More pics to come...eventually, we'll get grass! Who knew sod could be so exciting?!

Birthday Bash at the Zoo

T's birthday was May 23, and since he is the most wonderful and spectacular husband and father around, the kids and I decided to take him to one of his favorite places. He loves to play with his camera, and what place is more perfect to shoot pics that the ZOO!

Remember this fountain? I think it was here when I was a kid!

The Elephant Encounter was our favorite!

The kids wanted to make a wish in the donation pond before the bird show. Of course, on the way back to our seats, K tripped and faceplanted into the concrete stairs. Blood everywhere and people freaking out and asking if we wanted a medic or a first aid kit. Nope, we came prepared, we do this ALL the time.

Strike a pose!
Happy birthday Dad!