a little slice of heaven

My parents are building a "getaway" house out in the middle of nowhere. People who know where my parents currently live are asking 'what are they getting away from? Aren't they already away?' But it really is nice. Not quite as beautiful as the rolling hills that Greg's parents live on, but another slice of Heaven. Greg wasn't able to join us and went on a mantreat instead (weekend retreat for men), but Evie, Graham, and I got the chance to spend Memorial Day weekend at the new place. It's almost finished; but the house isn't the best part about it. Here I think it's pretty apparent what is. In no particular order:
Jon and Jess celebrating their engagement ;)


I was thrilled with my nephew for getting this shot of Evie and I


Evie swinging in the big girl swing on the bouncing tree (I'll explain)


My nephew also swinging from the bouncing tree


This is the bouncing tree. I had to get a picture of this, but it really doesn't do it justice. It needs a movie clip, which I don't have. When set in motion, it is about the most dangerous looking setup imaginable for a swing (at least to me when my daughter is on it). Although my uncle says it is safe. Anyway, when my nephew sits in the middle swing and jumps a little, and Evie is on the end in the baby swing, she bounces a good 4-5 feet up and down. It is a crazy flimsy limb, but it's thick and strong. A great place for some toddler/teenager fun.


Grahambo during the 30 seconds of our weekend when I wasn't holding him (notice he's still climbing up me). I'm going to start charging him rent for taking up permanent residency on my hip. He's had a bad case of separation anxiety for the past few months. I love you too, buddy, but I'd like to put you down and do some laundry!


And my niece who will kill me when she sees this on here. She was sitting in her family's van when we were waiting for a 4-wheeler ride down to the tree swings when I realized her eyes were glowing. So I grabbed my camera and told her to just sit there. I think her eyes are to die for, even if she does look a little annoyed that I'm taking her picture :)


Finally my little Evie girl in the beautiful weeds

a very sweet something

My brother proposed to his girlfriend, Jess, on Friday night. From what I understand, she said yes! I'm excited about her being my sister in law, and I'm going to try to explain why without using words like "nice" that could describe just about anyone, although she is. She's never bothered by the fact that Evie wants her to play with her. She always has time to sit and take her time being silly with her. She also seems to have taken a liking to Graham, and still enjoys holding him, despite the fact that he takes up 3/4 of her body length and probably half her bodyweight. She has a quiet and gentle demeanor, slow to speak and quick to listen. She's got a clever wit (which I really appreciate), and also appreciates other clever wits by following up with a real laugh, not a nervous-fake kind of laugh. She is always up for a game of rummy, and she always beats me.
Here's how he did it: he had me take the following picture and have it made into a puzzle. She likes puzzles almost as much as rummy. He had me take out the ring pieces and put them together in a second box. Then I gave it to him for his birthday. There was a note on the first box saying not to open the second box until the first was finished. So after 3 days of trying to get this giant puzzle put together without a picture (500 pieces per his request), they finally got to open the second box. I wasn't there, although I kept telling him I should be the one proposing since I kept giving him pointers, but from what I have heard she cried when she opened the second box. And I think they were tears of joy :) He got the real ring out, proposed, and she said yes. Congratulations, Dr. Jon and the future Dr. Jess.

the outtakes

No, he's not walking but he's standing briefly.


We've been asked to contribute a picture of the 4 of us for Greg's grandmother's mother's day present. Can you believe we don't have a picture of the 4 of us? Well our neighbors weren't available tonight, and since I just can't justify buying a tripod (which could only lead to yucky 'say cheese' types of pictures)...we had to be creative. I brought the highchair outside so that I could prop the camera up in the seat. While I was getting the camera ready, I had my back turned. When I was ready for the high chair, I turned back around to find this. Look at that princess with her legs crossed! And how did she get in there? Can I get you something to drink, your highness?


Now we have pictures that contain the 4 of us. They aren't good, and they aren't perfect, but they are us...being us. And yes, he did drop her. But she's ok and got right back up on that horse!


I personally like the next one to give to his grandmother, but Greg says he looks evil. I think he just needs a haircut.


This one makes me dizzy. But I love Graham's face...what a ham.

martin balls

The highlight of my day was this: it was HOT today, the kind of hot where you are just so thankful to be un-pregnant). So we got out the sprinkler and ran through it, and yes I mean we. Only the water was COLD. So we got a little gladware out for Graham to play in the water that way. Of course that was soon taken over by his big sister, who also happens to be a little bit of a bully :) I went inside to change Grahambo back into his real diaper and out of his trunks, and when I went back outside Greg had given Evie a bunch of cotton balls, which she was "cooking" in the gladware. She kept asking for more Martin Balls. Pretty soon I figured out what she meant; she wanted more cotton balls. I couldn't stop giggling. Where in the world did she get Martin Balls? I didn't correct her, because that is just too cute. Here are her little hands cooking the Martin Balls on our graffiti'd patio.


Probably putting something in his mouth that I'll have to go and get later when he starts to gag...


We had dinner on the patio after it cooled off tonight. I thought his face was messy (but this is nothin' compared to how he's about to look)


Then Evie got to feed him...a little vegetable ham dinner balanced against the toddler belly...


Every delicious bite is accompanied by the insertion of the right hand.


"Please mom, no more pictures. This is so embarrassing...she's getting this all over me!"


Something that not every toddler is probably fond of: chicken wings. These are a staple for Evie, preferably teriyaki. By the way, this dinner ended in the bathtub.


And finally all cleaned up and bathed. Evie isn't in this one, because as usual she thought clothing was optional and ran away squealing when I brought her clothes to her. Everything is a game now.