A Grand Celebration (aka the week of my 27th birthday)

I think that, in the last week, I have come full circle.

I remember last Sunday...in a bit of a non-blogging mood...posting out of duty/being a creature of habit...and kind bummin...

This week, JC keeps wondering, from the other room, what I'm laughing at in here. 

I don't know.

Everything is making me laugh. And when I say "everything," I'm not really sure what I'm referring to since I am in a room all by myself and all I am doing is...this.

Maybe I'll just chalk it up to being giddy over the fact that this last week held my birthday and while we definitely had our moments and at times I found myself literally wondering if I was going to survive, or allow anyone else to survive, the next couple of years...

it was actually a great week.

"Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up."

I mentioned last week that we ate at the Melting Pot for a combined birthday celebration with some friends. JC captured a moment of our fondue-ing evening here:

(He got other good pictures too but when I tried to load them on here, I discovered that the close-up pictures of raw meat made me gag. Then I laughed at the fact that they made me gag. But, anyway, I decided to stick with this one)

Mmm...food cooking away, yummy sauces all lined up, ready to be utilized...

Fun birthday celebration!

On Sunday, we had a family dinner at my parents' house where we ate, laughed and I opened presents. Can't ask for more! My mom made yummy cupcakes that contained whole wheat flour (couldn't even tell the difference! Yum!) and the maple syrup frosting I'm in love with. Thanks Mom!  It is always fun to celebrate with family.

As, I'm sure, everyone has figured by now, I am extremely excited about the progress we're making on our backyard.  We're really owning "the land" (haha...I don't think I can really call it that...it'd have to be bigger to qualify) and making it...well...our own.  It has changed a lot since we moved here. It was lovely when we moved in...but a lot of things about it didn't work for us. So, we got rid of a ton of landscaping and what not and started from scratch. It is finally starting to feel like it's ours. I love that sense of belonging. :)

Early in the week, more of the garden fence went up and we had our whole sprinkler system re-done to better accommodate our plans. JC shopped around a bit and found a good price, which is always a treat.  Here we are, mid-project.

On my birthday, Bethany had preschool and the boys and I came back home after dropping her off...and had freeze-dried strawberries for snack. 

Messy.

My mom came by and brought me flowers and a balloon. The kids played with the balloon all day. The flowers beautified my kitchen counter!

(They hadn't decided to open up yet, which they did after a time...aren't they beautiful??)

Also, beautiful...the flowers JC had gotten for me a few days earlier.

Not for my birthday.

Just because I'd had a rough day.

Also not for my birthday? A gift card to Target (where I could purchase the entire store without blinking an eye) that said "thank you" on it.

Apparently, just because I do what I do every day. Which, sometimes doesn't feel like much and yet at the same time, feels like the weight of the world riding on my shoulders.

So...a thank you makes all the difference.

Something pretty to look at and a shopping spree.

Lucky me. :)

Back to my actual birthday...that afternoon, we fell back on an old game. 

Throw all the couch cusions on the floor like a road and run around on them.

Ben preferred to browse through the books. It was fine by me...as long as he was happy! I actually got to make dinner AND get dressed and ready for a night out! Who ever heard of such an opportunity??

One more shot of the backyard. Oooh...due to what I believe it some sort of camera gliche, it looks all etherial and what not. Makes it even more magical!

The fence is almost done!!!! Isn't it looking great??

So, again, back to my birthday...I got a fantastic birthday present!

Back in the years of highschool and beyond, Ali and Kristyn and I were inseperable...there are very few memories I have that don't involve them on some level. And the memories I have our absolutely priceless. We've been able to stay in touch pretty well but don't see each other nearly as often as we'd like.  Well, just so happens, our world traveler, Kristyn, was in town this week and lo and behold, the stars aligned, our schedules cleared, our husbands braved the evening with the kids and out we went! 

JC was really sweet to send me out for the night...it was literally like he walked in the door from work and within a few minutes, I walked out. So, he didn't get much of a break.  Luckily, the kids didn't give him TOO much trouble! :) So, thank you JC and thank you kids!

The three of us voted on pedicures and a bite to eat. 

We got our feet scrubbed at and toes polished up...all the while catching up, laughing at ourselves and the Vietnamese people working on us. 

Sorry, if they get to speak to each other in a language we don't understand and CLEARLY talk about us, we get to laugh at them doing so.

The nail people made fun of me for saying yes to every extra (sea salt scrub, parafin wax, etc.) and I just kept saying "it's my birthday!" I am pretty sure the guy doing my nails and the chick doing my toes had some sort of bet going as to who could get me to spend more money. 

I don't care, it was worth it.

(Just as a follow-up...I spent the next day being so careful with my feet and nails...I did NOT want to waste the money I spent on getting them done! But, truth be told, by Saturday afternoon, I was in the backyard barefoot again with dirt under my nails from playing with the kids...eh...guess that is how I roll now.)

We went to Mimi's...which, I think, has actually hosted our last few get-togethers. Huh. Didn't realize that...must be a sub-conscious choice!  Anyway, we chatted it up and sat at our little booth through a few cycles of other customers coming and going.  

Great food, great conversation...great friends. :)

And...I laughed. A lot. And it felt good.

Here I am with my free birthday dessert.

And blowing out my candle...I think I may have over-exagerated my "blowing out the candle" face for Kristyn's picture-taking. Or maybe this is how I look blowing out a candle. I guess I've never seen it before.

JC ate that dessert for breakfast the next morning.

Here we are...

The Three Musketeers.

All grown up on my 27th birthday.

Ali made the comment during the night that we have celebrated a lot of birthdays together. And it really is true. How nice for us.

So...in honor of that fact, to go with the picture of us celebrating my 27th birthday...how about one from my 16th birthday? 

 . . . when they surprised me by taking me to get glamour shots taken . . .

 . . . all of us together . . .

 . . . in the nineties . . .

 

There are no words.

Just laughter.

More uncontrollable laughter.

Pioneer Ponderings, a fence, Joseph and fondue...but mostly nothingness.

I just sat down for my Sunday Evening Blogging.

For the first time in a long time, I'm not sure what I am wanting to accomplish with this evening's attempt at documenting my/our life/lives as I/we experienced it this week.

I'm also in a slightly melancholy state as, while I was rocking Ben to sleep (something he rarely wants me to do anymore) and stroking his feverish brow (molars coming in...little body working hard), my mind wandered to the pioneers who moved west all those years ago. I'm not sure why I suddenly felt connected to them in that moment...but it had something to do with witnessing, and being helpless against, the suffering of our children.  I started thinking about the lives that were lost in that trek west.  The little ones.  The parents that held their children as they struggled against the elements, their bodies fighting to survive. Sometimes they did. A lot of the time, they didn't. 

I have taken this to a rather dark place, so I will stop...but thinking about such things is nearly impossible for me to handle. When my children are feverish or dealing with the pain of a simple ear infection, it all but rips my heart out of my chest and stomps it into the ground.  I cannot begin to imagine the feelings those pioneer parents felt at times...those who lost most, all, even one of their dear children along the way.  Even those who watched their little ones be cold, hungry, sick or tired.  Again, when my mind wanders to such things as these, it nearly shuts down...I am not strong enough to even contemplate what it must have been like.  Imagine the strength of those amazing people.

I suppose this shpeil would be more appropriate around Pioneer Day, yes? But I also suppose we don't really have a say as to when these things speak to us.  Perhaps I have a rough week ahead of me and I need the reminder that my family is generally safe, comfortable, happy and healthy, with opportunities all around us...and I am not allowed to feel sorry for myself because my baby is irritable due to teething. :)

Anyway, I am here anyway, wearing JC's pajamas instead of my own.  I don't know why but it is always the first thing I do to comfort myself if I am feeling overwhelmed or sad...it's like an on-going hug. Then, if I need more, I just go sit with him and it's like a double hug. 

I'm glad we could share.

Moving on...

This last week was good!  It was spring break...that doesn't mean a whole lot to us yet since nobody is in the school system BUT Bethany does have those two days of preschool and she didn't this week. So, we had a little change of pace.  It's always good to change it up every once in a while. Even if all that means is we played outside in the morning as well as the afternoon. Good deal if you ask me!

I am really blah tonight in my writing. Let's turn to some pictures...my usual refuge... :)

Here's some snapshots of our week in no particular order. Because I'm lazy. :)

James decided to let me know that the backyard needs cleaning up by climbing on things he shouldn't be and playing with things he shouldn't be . . . it seems after a birthday party in the backyard (even a rather low-scale one), it takes us quite a while to recover!

But at least he was cute while doing it.

Bethany brought her doll family out to play in the nice weather with us.

This was her birthday present from us. SO cute. I keep hinting at her that maybe around Christmastime, they will have a house of their own (Melissa and Doug make a super cute dollhouse to go with these little cloth and wooden dolls!)

JC got the first section of our garden fence put in. OH HAPPY DAY!!!

It will be a while until we use the space it marks off but still, a step in that direction! 

So, let me say again...OH HAPPY DAY!!!

He is so awesome. He always brings my visions to life with his inventive mind and hard work. I can't wait until we get more put in!

The kids are also pretty excited.

During the fence-building and general outside-ness of the week, Bethany discovered frisbee.

And the boys discovered that the best way to eat an apple is swinging...

or hanging out in a fort.

And, for the first time in several months...the afternoon got the better of Bethany.

It was a nice, comfortable week. And, my apologies to those of you reading this who are experiencing other parts of the world being relentlessly hammered with less-than-ideal weather . . . because here? It was gorgeous again this week.  That'll show you to embark on ambitious journeys outside Arizona.

I have to say, it is starting to get a bit warm. We attempted some time at a park on Saturday morning and didn't last long. Granted, Ben had a fever already and we had just come from family pictures (which didn't go so hot either!) so we were all in long pants and polos (yes, we are that family now apparently) . . . I am trying not to dread the summer too much. I am determined to make the best of it...but I would prefer it not come quite yet!

In addition to the kids and I making our way through the week, JC and I were able to get out a couple times in the last week!  Last Saturday night we joined the rest of my family for dinner and a show. My parents got us all tickets to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat out at Orpheum Theater in Phoenix. We had dinner at a yummy Italian place in Tempe...at which I managed to, of course, drop sauce on my white shirt...then made our way to the show. The Orpheum Theater is GORGEOUS and kind of an experience in itself. If it weren't for having to maneuver our way through the streets of downtown Phoenix, I may want to go back there quite often!  Haha...I get so anxious with all the one way streets!  Anyway, the show was awesome and I was very swept off my feet, as I always am with live theater.  It was also very fun to just hang out with my family all together. And, though Katie and I sat next to each other at dinner, we managed to get through the evening without causing too much trouble.  

Though we did nearly lose it when, after asking if we would like any appetizers and everyone hesitated, our waitress said, "I know it's a hard decision. I'll give you a minute to think about it" in the same tone one would ask if you were willing to give up your first born for the good of mankind or something along those lines.  

Gotta love family dinners.

The show was really great too . . . but I already said that.  In fact, I was so excited, I asked for the soundtrack for my birthday. And, tonight, at my family's early celebration of said day, I did indeed receive it. So, listening to it presently.  Already getting "Those Canaan Days" irremovably stuck in my head again.  And already picturing myself as the narator in a future local production. Not because I think I'm that good. I'm just overly ambitious. And the narator in the one we saw got to rock a quick hip-hop scene. Hip hop plus a bible story sounds right about up my alley.

Then, THIS Saturday night, we enjoyed The Melting Pot with our friends Jimmy and Heidi.  We wanted to go to celebrate my birthday coming up next Thursday and turns out Jimmy's birthday fell this weekend...perfect timing to get out with some good friends.  I spent too much time in the sun/too much time holding feverish Ben that day and brought a terrific headache with me to the evening...so I fear I was lame, but I had a great time!  The food was great, as usual...the menu is especially yummy right now, Tuscan inspired and all...and we chatted it up and tried not to burn ourselves.  We followed that up with a movie...not sure what to say about that. We saw "Knowing." Afterwards, I told everyone that if you took everything that I can't handle, rolled it into a ball and threw it onto a movie screen, you'd get "Knowing."  

Then I told JC I was going to need an appointment with the therapist I used to see for anxiety as soon as possible. 

'Nough said.

Haha...anyway, it was a good night. (and no, I am not really in need of a therapy session after the simple act of seeing a movie...thank heavens those days are passed and it is merely something to joke about now!)  It was great to get out, enjoy some good company, good food and...a movie. :)

So, for those of you not majorly invested in the details of our life, this is a rather boring post. Haha, but I suppose it's nice to have those every once in a while. 

Now I can go sit down and get my double hug.

My Little Yogini

The day we were getting our trees delivered was a Friday. On Friday mornings, after eating breakfast, getting dressed and ready, watching Sesame Street and coloring while Mommy cleans, we do yoga.  I would love if we did it outdoors (among our trees, of course. haha...) and I could lead them through some perfectly adapted poses to stretch and invigorate their little bodies...but...eh, we use a DVD. :)

These Yoga Kids DVDs that Gaiam put out are really cute. For the last year or so, they would kind of tolerate them or sort of mimic parts of it while running in and out of the room, playing, climbing on me, etc. Which was just fine...completely what I expected. But, lately, to my surprise and delight, Bethany has taken quite the interest!  Whenever we have the DVD on, she forgets everything else going on and really focuses in, following along and even making efforts to refine her form! Haha...I love it, it cracks me up to see her get so into it. She tells me about her favorite poses and remembers which poses follow which in the series.  

This last Friday, I had the camera out for the greeting of the trees (see post below) and snuck a few pictures of her while she went through her practice. James wasn't into it that day and really wanted me to hold him, so that was a pretty good excuse for sitting down and secretly snapping pictures!  (She is still in her camera shy phase and would have had a fit if she knew I was taking these! Bad mom award for being sneaky...) 

Tree Pose (she always tells me she is being a Candy Cane Tree)

Awakening her inner nurturer in Stork Pose.

Bringing it all home in Mountain Pose.

Meditating...

And winding down...

Ben checks her form...

How could I resist capturing this?

How to of the Month: How to Celebrate TREE DAY!!!

What is Tree Day, you ask?

Doesn't Arbor Day fall on the last Friday in April? Aren't we still in March?

Yes, yes, we are.

Let me take you back a few days . . .

Last Tuesday morning found JC with a day off from work, Bethany at preschool, the boys playing happily on the balcony in the gorgeous spring air, and me cleaning the kitchen while chatting with my husband about food storage, household projects and gardening.  He, using my handy dandy laptop, was browsing the internet for information about said topics...perhaps to further his knowledge, perhaps to give him the opportunity to get a word in here and there. :)  The more we talked about gardening, the backyard, and our hopes of building our self-reliance sooner rather than later, the more we realized we were ready for a baby step in that direction. 

We decided to get a fruit tree...something we have talked about doing for a while but were unsure on the timing.

Suddenly, the timing became apparent.

Now.

In the car we got, down Gilbert Road to Whitfill Nursery.

We had plans and spots for five trees. But, I had done some research over the previous months and felt the task of having more than one tree to care for at this point, when my knowledge is less than vast, would not have the greatest of results.  So, we went looking for one tree. Perhaps a citrus tree. Perhaps tangelo. 

We LOVE tangelos around here.

The boys browsed. There could not have been a better playground for them on such a gorgeous day. They thought they had gone to heaven. I, myself, would not mind if heaven resembled Whitfill Nursery on a March day!

I chatted with Marli...a lovely lady from Ireland who called me "love" and the kids "pumpkin" and "chicken." (in an endearing way, not a you're-a-scaredy-cat way) Her knowledge, as opposed to mine, actually IS vast. She told us if we're planting one tree, might as well plant 'em all. Apparently, in my mind, I made it more complicated than it is.

Hmm.

That's so unlike me.

So, she walked us through all the different species of trees we were interested in.

By the time we left there, my excitement level was beyond description. We had some talking over to do and some final decisions to make, so we were going to come back another day to choose and purchase.

But, apparently, I was not the only one who was excited because JC initiated a trip back that same afternoon to do so! Bethany was with us this time and just as excited about the landscape and baby chickens (real ones, not her brothers) as the boys had been.  We went through and chose the trees (or is it like animals and they chose us?) and went home telling the kids that TREE DAY was coming soon!!!  

The title stuck because, through the rest of the week, Bethany kept asking "Is today tree day? Is tomorrow tree day? How many days until tree day?" 

Well, the awaited day finally came. We spent Friday morning trying to fill the time, being as patient as possible for the arrival of the new additions to our backyard family.

A shot of this section of our backyard being lonely and unfruitful for the last time.

We rode bikes and ran around out front, watching the street corner...

Scout paced anxiously.

Bethany soothed his nerves by giving him affection via her doll.

James jumped off rocks

and discovered flowers, which he pointed out to me...

and shared with Scout.

Then, it happened.

The truck came!!!

We moved the party to our back balcony where we could watch them be planted.

Scout wanted a closer look. When I tried to rescue our tree planter from our lion of a cat, he waved me away saying that he wasn't in the way. I thought that was nice.

It was also nice that James made sure his little stuffed cat could see everything that was happening by holding him over the edge of the railing for an unobstructed view.

THEN...it was time to go meet our trees...

James ventured over, unsure...

Bethany decides that it is a similar situation to meeting a new dog and extends her hand for...sniffing?

She then declares this one to be her favorite.

And James decides he likes the little semi-hidden-from-view corner that has been created.

Ben offered a smile...

and Bethany moved on to greet another tree.

James tried Bethany's method of greeting.

When we found we had some baby peaches, Bethany and I both were quite excited (I am choosing to ignore the fact that they will most likely fall off due to the shock of being transplanted.)

The kids wandered among the trees, continuing to welcome them...

Scout apparently feels attached to this little lady here because he sat so near when she was being planted. He didn't leave her side until she felt completely at home.

Brothers, enjoying the new view.

Bethany, enjoying some quiet time under the new canopy.

They just provide something pretty to gaze at...

They also work for hiding spots to do those things you don't want everyone witnessing...until mom puts it on the blog...

And...in theory...providing shade...

The kids and I (probably especially me...) really enjoyed getting to know our beautiful new trees and . . .

Oh wait.

I'm so rude.

Pardon me, in all the excitement I forgot to make introductions.

Don't worry yourselves, I shall do so now.

For now, they are simply known by the fruit they will someday bring forth...

Our Tangelo Tree

Our Pomegranate Tree

Our Apple Tree

Our Peach Tree

Our Plum Tree

It seems to be of the general consensus that I will be the main caretaker for the trees...which makes me very happy.  But JC did a lot of work getting things all set for proper watering, etc.  The trees and I are very grateful.

Every day since, we spend as much time outside as possible. It is mostly because the weather is beautiful...almost a bit of a chill in the morning (almost)...but by lunch time, we're all red-cheeked and toasty.  When we return to our backyard after quiet-time/naptime, the heat has settled over the yard, but the shade starts to return to that same morning chill once dinnertime rolls around. And...before we know it, our day is over.  Have I mentioned how I love this time of year?

I have to admit that we are spending more time outside since the trees arrived as well (we have taken to eating our lunches among them!) because the mere sight and presence of them brings me so much joy.  I want them to have a fantastic start in our backyard and maybe I'm a goofy tree-hugger but I think the more time we spend with them, the better they will take to their new home.  Besides, I just adore them.  They represent hope and excitement for what the future will bring, a sense of belonging to this beautiful earth, and an opportunity to give a little love and receive a lot in return. Hey...I guess it's a lot like having kids. Only...really different.

All the same, I love our new trees. It excites me that the kids seem to feel the same.

I think we will celebrate Tree Day on March 13th every year. 

By sitting among them (someday in their shade), eating of their fruit and singing them a song or two.

So let it be written.

So let it be done.