Our backyard

I hate our backyard! I mean hate it! I want a backyard that I can sit outside comfortably with Kai and watch him play. I imagine a nicely groomed deck, patio chairs, little garden with blooming flowers, landscaped bushes etc. Instead I have a concrete slab, sticks everywhere from our 14 trees, poison ivy, HUGE bugs of every kind, mosquitoes, frogs, roaches, big holes in the ground to sprain your ankle on, big hills you wonder how they got there, more sticks, weeds, and patchy grass! It's so overwhelming I wonder where even to start.

Now for the record my thumb is not any shade of green. I don't like touching dirt and I HATE bugs! So digging up areas to plant flowers would not be enjoyable for me. I'm going to start with one thing at a time and get rid of that poison ivy for good. That is almost done so now I'm going to find a chainsaw and ladder and convince Devin to saw off the lower limbs of the trees so I don't hit my head when I mow under them. After that I'm going to work on the grass. Any suggestions? Does anyone even read this? Well, it feels good to vent. It's hard being away from my family whom I know would help me with all this stuff and make it look so easy. I hope to report back in a few months of my progress and newly found love for gardening.

Check up

Nash had his 9 month check up today. It went well. Nash weighs 20 lbs 2 oz. and is 29 1/4 inches. At this time Kai was 24 lbs and 31 inches long. Nash has a very small waist and crawls off all his pants. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when it gets really cold! She said he doesn't need to be waking up 2-5 times a night, tell that to him, and that he should be getting his two top teeth pretty soon. Everything is on track. They put him in this little baby gown and he looked so cute! I couldn't resist taking some pictures. Kai needed a picture too he said.



(honorable mention)

Midwest Manners

The first couple of months living here was complete culture shock. I would say that it felt like a different country. I would be walking outside pushing the kids in the stroller when I would have multiple people wave at me. They were walking, driving, on a motorcycle etc. Should I wave back? I don't know them and I don't want them to think I know them when I dont. I kept thinking that they must go to the church and know who I am but I don't know them! Then I realized they were just being nice and didn't know me. So now I return their waves.

While we were in California our lawn got mowed. No one has claimed it but we have a few suspitions. No one ever wants anything in return. Our neighbor told us to use his pool anytime, so Kai and I went over today and used it. I felt like I was sneeking around or something because he's not home but he's just being the norm here. I heard someone say that in California someone knocks on your door so you'll move your car that's blocking their way. Here they knock for you to move your car so they can mow your lawn. I think 'loving thy neighbor' is taking on a new meaning.

California trip

Here are some pictures of our trip back home:
Nash on my parents lake
Nash and Gigi
At the Irvine Lagoon

Kai at Disneyland
Buzz Lightyear!
On the lake with a dog mask on

Sick

I don't know why it is but vacation brings illness. It first started with my cold, then Nash got it, then Devin threw up, then me, and now Nash has a fever a week later and won't sleep. We had a great time in California and tried not to let any sickness put a damper on our plans. I'll post some pictures tomorrow or so. My mom flew back with us and is staying until tomorrow morning. We have done a lot of shopping over the last few weeks and she stocked me up with a new wardrobe to feel good about myself. :) Kai did great with his 'papa' and 'gigi' and really adapted well with staying at their house and being alone with them. He got to visit Disneyland 3 times! He's a lucky little boy. It's hard to know he is so loved back at home and we can't be around those people everyday. I often wonder what it is about Illnois that called us here and what God is doing? This is the hardest thing I've ever done and I pray that I'm growing closer to Jesus daily.

Devin got a motorcycle. Yes a motorcycle! It's a long story but we feel that it will save a lot of money on gas because he drives so much. He of course is enjoying his new 'toy' and wants to drive it all the time so he came home soaked from the storm that he didn't expect this afternoon.

I hope to keep this blog updated at least once a week.

Funny moments

Kai likes to put this blue bowl on his head and run around the house. This day he decided Nash needed to have a 'hat' too. Nash didn't seem to mind and I cracked up!




Devin wanted me to take a picture of him as a before shot since he is trying to lose some weight. Kai needed a before shot too he said.

We go home tomorrow! Stay tuned for some updates!

July 4th!

Usually on July 4th we spend it with friends and at my parents house going out on their boat, enjoying meals, and watching the fireworks. This year we knew we had to do something or we would surely be homesick! We went to a pastor's house out in the country who had a huge acre yard and a pool. Kai fell asleep on the way there and we put him onto one of their beds and he remained asleep for another 2 hours! Nash fell asleep and woke up as soon as we arrived and refused sleep for the next 5 hours! So while everyone was enjoying the pool and sun, I was trying to calm my fussy baby. He is also in the stage where he cries if anyone but me holds him.

Later that evening I dropped off Devin and Nash at home to go to bed and Kai and I went to watch the fireworks at a local park. He loved them and would call out the colors with each one. The ones that were really loud he would roar at. He roars like a lion in defense of anything that makes him mad or scares him. It's cute, when it's not directed at his parents!