Hurray for Grass!

We (and a lot of helpers) laid our sod. It was a way bigger job than I realized. Sod is HEAVY! And so are wheel barrels full of rocks and dead trees and roto tillers. Taylor has worked so hard to get the back yard to the point where we could plant grass--it has been quite a transformation so far. We are so thankful for all the help we had--we have amazing family and wonderful neighbors! Here are some pictures of the great undertaking.

It turns our that our yard is really big when you are covering it in 3 foot squares.

Anna spent the day digging for diamonds, but she didn't find any. Max helped too.

Hurray for grass! (I'm excited to see it again after the snow goes away.)

kisses

True love kisses are hard to come by, especially when your prince is a little resistant


Don't give up. Use force if necessary.

Persistence is the key

Don't worry, he'll come around.



Oh, nice boy.

Growing

Wow, Anna is growing--she is now as tall as eight spice jars. I took this picture because I was impressed. I couldn't build a tower that high--I tried. What I was really even more proud of was that she didn't completely lose it when Max "crashed" it just seconds after this picture was taken--that's progress.

And Max is growing! We just went to the doctor's this morning for a checkup and he is catching up to Anna fast. He is only three inches shorter than her. (so about seven and a half spice jars tall) The other day at the store, when they were both sitting in the stroller, someone asked me if they were twins. Anna said "what does twins mean?" and I told her that was when a brother and sister were born at the same time so they were exactly the same age. She was pretty offended--"Max is just little, and I am so big." She's definitely in denial that her cute little baby Mushy can knock her down and copy almost anything she does. I think I'm in denial too. He is acting so big lately and I am finding myself feeling a little sad about it. I'll just never get this "enjoy the moment" thing down!

Here's some serious business. Max and dad put on a new toilet paper holder. I didn't even ask them to. Those were double husband points for Taylor--doing a fix-it job plus occupying Max at the same time. He's racking them up.

dirt, naps, hugs, and playdough

This past weekend we went outside to get started on our yard--we (I mean Taylor) dug a big hole, then we bought a wheel barrel, walked around the yard several times, filled the hole back in, and called it a day. Really, we felt productive because we now think we have a definite plan (that includes talking to someone who knows something about lawns and gardens) Here is Max playing in the dirt--that's mostly what Anna, Max, and I did while Taylor was working hard.

We had a very fun visit today from Grandpa Guy and Grandma Mary Ellen. Anna and Max were plenty of entertainment for us all, in fact, Anna wore herself right out, and fell asleep by Grandma on the couch.

I love this picture of Anna giving her daddy a hug. Hugs are by far the best moments of my day. Anna and Max both give great hugs. I wish I had a picture of a Max hug too--he gives growly bear hugs--and can be a very cuddly boy, when he decides to.

Here is another favorite picture from the past few days. Lately Max loves wearing his apron. When he sees it, he brings it to me to put it on him, and I'm way okay with him wearing an apron all day long. It saves me a lot of stain removal, and I think it makes him feel like a big boy. Here he is smashing his play dough.

Little Helpers

This is monumental. Anna Leita is vacuuming up crumbs--a job I dislike very much, but repeat multiple times each day, or at least used to. She is now the official crumb vacuumer, which is why I am so happy. What a good little helper! And for the first time she is helping, not "helping". Anna has actually always been pretty willing to help and lately is VERY willing to do something grown up ALL by herself. And I am definitely smart enough to take advantage of that. As you can see Max is also always willing to do something all by himself and to copy everything his sister does. He is still very much in the "helping" phase, but he is so cute! And now I see--someday I will also hand over the jobs of dumping garbages and unloading the dishwasher. I love my helpers!