More gardens and parties!

We keep busy around this house. The past Saturday we assembled the required soil mixture for my SFG and planted a few spring crops. We will plant the summer crops probably the first of April. We foolishly decided to assemble the gardens at dusk thinking it would only take a few minutes. Unfortunately it was pitch black by the time the dirt was mixed and ready to go into the gardens. And of course our porch light is broken so the only pictures I took are of the kids outside at dusk. But here is our garden...

The gardens assembled and in place

Jack helping with the dirt

Maris helping shovel
Jack and Daddy shoveling the dirt into the boxes

This week we also had a pie party on 3/14 to celebrate (you guessed it) Pi day. My two high school friends have also moved to Athens and came over to celebrate with us. I spent most of the day making Italian Easter Pies. I had three that I planned to make but one of them got nixed due to lack of time and Jack came down with the throw up bug and that took up some of my attention. I made Pizza Chena and Italian rice pie found on foodblogga. And it was delicious. Teri made a plum tart which was also delicious.

Italian Easter Pies... Rice pie on the left and pizza chena on the right.
The plum tart prior to cooking. So pretty
Friends!!
Inside of pizza chena

And Maris after the pizza chena. We missed getting photos of Jack since he was sick. Almost took a pic of the strawberries vomitted on our white carpet but I restrained myself.

Maris turned 10 months old this week (3/11). As I am sure everyone is well aware...she is getting so big. I can't get enough of her cute chubby thighs and cheeks and her big brown eyes. She is an incredible joy and I love every single bit of her. Despite this out pouring gushy love I have for her...she definitely has her moments that I want to shake some sense into her. She is a HUGE (the capital letters are an understatement) Momma's girl. This girl freaks when I am not around. If I walk out of the room she screams and follows. If someone else touches her heaven help them, the blood curdling scream that results is ridiculous. She loves to coo and flirt with people from afar, but don't get too close. It can be exhausting to have to always hold her. I use an Ergo baby carrier all the time and my back is getting sore from the constant baby wearing. And then there is always Maris's lovely sleep habits. We have good weeks and bad. Sometimes I barely get 1 3o minute nap and she wakes up 5-6 times a night and other times she totally crashes and sleeps all day and will only wake up 2-3 times a night. I can't seem to keep her consistent to matter how hard I try. I will admit that this week she has been getting up closer to the 2-3 times a night and I've felt so much better. Ah Maris, my love and my terror. I never think a single day isn't worth it but you definitely try my patience at times. But one day I will miss you and your mommy-centrism. I will miss the cuddles and the hugs. But until that day, I will complain about it on my blog. I hope you will understand.


And throughout the week Jack and I have been trying to get out of the house and see Athens as much as possible. I have been very fortunate that Bridget has been willing to tag along on a lot of our adventures. Its much easier to go out with two kids with two adults. So far we have gone to the park and zoo and the state botanical gardens for a "hike" with our friend Bridget. Jack is definitely not a hiker. He is pretty much as lazy as they come when something doesn't entertain him. He was so excited to go on the hike because he wanted to go on a picnic but he really just wanted to go on the picnic, not the hike. So a lot of whining ensued and we cut our hike short at 0.6 miles. I thought I could tempt him with a snack and keep on going but it didn't work and we ended up just walking around the gardens until we were ready for the actual picnic lunch. But here are some cute pictures

Our attempted hike
Jack and B-ridge
And my doll face after the hike finally out of her backpack

What a life!

Little boys...

Nothing new to report but Jack has recently started dressing himself. Sometimes he lucks out and puts on jeans which go with everything but other times he looks like this...
I think this will be one that I get to show his future girlfriends.


And Jack put on Maris's headband and asked me to take a picture. Absolutely Jack. Done and published just as you requested :)

mmm, beer

I got Chris a brewing set up for his birthday in November. Sadly to say, he was unable to use it for a while due to finishing his PhD, moving to GA, and then our constant traveling as previously mentioned. So this past weekend we ended up with time to ourselves and after Chris built my garden boxes he brewed his beer. We started out with an Oktoberfest. This is Chris's favorite beer. So far its brewing away in our garage so we'll see how it tastes in about a month.

Beer Brewing in the pot

Jack trying to help
Bottling the beer in our carboy for the next week or two.

Jack made a new friend while we were busy brewing beer. A little boy across the street came over and played with Jack while we were outside getting some air. He then asked if Jack could come over to his house and play. I was a little bit dumbstruck when he asked me. I didn't know what to say. I've never sent my child to play with someone I don't know. He ended up playing in the boy's front yard where I could see him. I walked over and met his parents a bit later. Jack had a great time with Colter and keeps asking to go back and play. The only downfall is Colter is 5 so he is in school while Jack is at home. Jack keeps wanting to go back over but he is never home when Jack is. I guess its official, he's growing up on me. He'd rather play with friends than with his mom. It's bittersweet but its nice to see him making some neighborhood friends. Colter told Jack he can come inside his house next time. Guess I better get used to not having a constant eye on my little boy. Colter is just priming me for preschool in the fall. I feel like I am getting free babysitting if I send Jack over to play. Is this really how this works??
Oh and when Colter was in our garage and the door was opened he asked me what that smell was (beer brewing). I told him we were cooking. Jack of course instantly answers "yeah, we're cooking beer." I probably don't have to worry too much about what Georgia residents think of me but that would have been an instant missionary sending if I still lived in Utah. Only downfall is in Georgia I have to share...