Here and Now

Do you want to see what's going on at our house tonight?

This:

& this:

& this:

oh, & this too:

We're trying not to remember that "this" is going away from us.  That we'll be losing "this" in just a few short days.  And we keep asking ourselves what we are supposed to do when such a huge, loved part of our life has to move away?  And we just don't know... so, we're getting loves from our favorite Bahr friends tonight, trying to soak up as much of them as we can before they leave us for San Antonio.  This is our here and now, and we're enjoying it!

xoxo....

Georgie turns 4

 Georgie turns 4

According to Georgie, turning 4 is a rite of passage marking total independence.  I was met with gentle reminders of this fact the entire 12th of May.  "I can brush my hair by myself...Mom, you stay out here, I can do this by myself now...Is this shirt for 4 year olds?...Are 4 year olds in my Dance Class?...Mom, I can't go to that class anymore, it's not for 4 year olds...4 year olds can cut their own pancakes.."etc.  These were real discussions yesterday, no lie.  Even her smile seemed more in control, and self assured.  Yesterday evening, as she struggled with the button on her pajamas for the first time, finally accomplishing her goal, I hugged her tightly and gave her my "proud" smile.  "Wow,"  I said, "you must be 4!"  "Well, I think I'm almost 4 and a 1/2!" she replied, sheepishly.  Four and 1/2 has been the subject of today's discussion.  Four was working out so well for her that she felt deserving of a promotion!

Her day yesterday was spent in as much celebration as I had energy for.  We started with a breakfast of blueberry pancakes, sausage and grapefruit in bed.  Isaac got up early to help prepare it and sing to her.  He got really into this tradition this year.  

Georgie opened a couple of presents, including a new dress to wear for her birthday, took Isaac to school and then we took some pretty pictures of her out in the yard. 

For lunch she and I went out to a cute little girly restaurant called Grapevine Cafe.  After this sophisticated lunch, with her climbing under the table and lifting up my skirts the entire time, we headed off to her dance recital practice.

Her friends sang her Happy Birthday while she giggled.  

We watched movies all day in the car (a real treat), went to a friend's house for cake, and she buried her face with her hands while we sang this time.  We then came home for her dinner of choice.  She wanted Swedish Meatballs, Noodles, Broccoli and fruit.  She didn't have to help set the table or clean up her room.   Isaac and I filled in the gaps and she felt quite pampered!  She opened a few more gifts, the rest of which will be opened tomorrow at her play date with cupcakes at the park.  We're not doing birthday parties this year.  

As your mother, Georgie, you might guess that I am in awe that 4 years have passed, that your childhood seems so fleeting, that today I am remembering your toddler years vividly...yadah, yadah, yadah.   I won't deny it.  But it wasn't a sad day for me.  You were having way too much fun for me not to completely enjoy what you are right now!!  At dinner last night I listed my favorite thing about you as being your fun, quirky personality.  You're always surprising us with your confidence, independence and your take-charge personality.  You love playing and being anything that makes you feel big.  The most ridiculous things come out of your mouth and in your actions to manifest your "big-ness", which only sometimes includes being bossy.  So far you've found that balance and we wouldn't list bossy as one of your defining features.  Your Dad's favorite thing about you is your resilience.  You seem to be somewhat level headed and unemotional.  Your feelings are rarely hurt and if they are, it's only moments before you are on about your business.  And Isaac loves that you play with him.  You two are truly the best of friends.  Happy Birthday, baby G.  We love you!

Eating My Words...

Remember when I was uninspired??  Well, THIS:

 inspires me!!  

When I saw this photo I HAD to find a place to save it for future reference.   I dream of prolific, beautiful, creative gardens!

"To dig one's own spade into one's own earth! Has life anything better to offer than this?"-- Beverley Nichols

Here my little gardening buddy and I are at work on the beginnings of this year's Garden.  I finished the tomato planting yesterday but saved our exciting experimental seeds for a day when Georgie was home with me.  I believe I have a budding horticulturist on my hands.  She loves it!

Building mounds for our first watermelon plants

Crimson Sweet...we're told this variety grows well here.

Pushing them in about 1/2" deep
We planted pumpkins, corn and onions for the first time as well.   We'll see how it goes!!

If you've ever debated gardening but are afraid of failure, here's

another quote just for you.  It became my gardening philosophy last year when after quite a few failures I began to wonder why I do this every year.  Because I'm addicted, I love getting dirty, it feels romantic to me and because:

"There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments." 

-- Janet Kilburn Phillips

Uninspired

While I used to be a regular blogger, lately I'm having a hard time feeling at all inspired.  Its too much work to lug out the camera, in the evenings I would rather crawl into bed as soon as the dishes are finished, I don't feel inspired by almost anything...even my children (did I just admit that out loud) and blogging seems to be at the very bottom of my ever growing check list.  Meanwhile my children's childhood is passing me by undocumented and the guilt sets in when I remember that there IS an alternative.  So here I am...uninspired and up past my desired bed time doing what guilt is forcing me to do.   And I'm trying so very hard to do it with a smile.  Man, I love being pregnant.  I wish I could stay like this forever!!  Count me in for having 12 more!!!  BLAHHH!

Today we went to the air show.  Our first ever and a big deal for an Air Force family.  Isaac really enjoyed scoping out the inside of an F15 and a B52 bomber.  And when our ears were plugged we LOVED watching the Thunderbirds.  It felt like we were in the presence of Rock Stars.  

Georgie enjoyed herself, relatively, but kept making a bed for herself in the middle of a runway, under a wing or something while Isaac and I stood in line.  I was kind of liking her idea but without Joey around, I had to "be in charge" of our place in line:(  

Here is the current scene in our bedroom tonight.  Joey left for San Antonio today so there will be sleepovers in my room every night!!  Or at least until the midnight awakenings and kicking catches up to me.  Just watching them, I'm beginning to get inspired...sleep, sleep, sleep.  Sweet dreams everyone!

xoxo

Ash

Catch UP!!

It's time to play catch-up!!  Let the games begin...

In February, for Ga Ga's birthday, the kids and I met up with the my Mom and Dad in Dallas.  We stayed in a hotel, ate a birthday dinner at Macaroni's, went to the Aquarium as well as heritage park, where you see us here on the front porch of a 100 + year old restored home.  We had a great time just being together.

You should know that this is mostly what we've been up to lately...adding a room onto our house.  But this is a topic for a whole other day.  But I won't mention it here without giving infinite amounts of thanks to Pop Pop (Joey's Dad) for all his hard work on our behalf.  We're LOVING the extra space!

My great friend Zeffy came for a visit over Spring Break in March.  It was so great to see her.  The kids got along marvelously after almost 2 years of being a part.

We had a GREAT time!  Here's Isaac with Olivia!

After Zeffy left us we drove down to Dallas to meet up with our friend Abby, her little sister Olivia and her parents Mary and Ben.  It was, once again, great to catch up with old friends.  Becky and Trevor Hunt and kids joined us too.  But I'm horrible with a camera so I don't have very many shots.  

We went to Six Flags for one whole day, stayed up way too late at night talking and visited the Stock Yards in Fort Worth.  Mary and I squeezed in some shopping as well...you better bet we didn't skip out on that opportunity!

At Six Flags, the guys karaokied {sp??} your body is a wonderland for us ladies.  We were in stitches watching them make total fools of themselves.  They got really into it and it was hilarious!!

Isaac rode his first BIG roller coaster.  He climbed aboard bravely with Daddy to "test drive" it before Georgie and I went on together.  When the end came he had a grin on his face but advised Georgie of it's begin too scary!!  He didn't recommend it!  But he was a good sport and proud of himself for trying it.  

I had to include the photo of naked jumping on the hotel bed!  woo-hoo!!

Happy Easter!  Here Isaac is with his friend Ben Foster at the base Easter egg hunt.

Georgie and her boys!

Georgie can pump herself in a swing now!!  And she's very proud!

Our favorite Easter gift ever??  Klutz' face painting book.  I would highly recommend it!

Georgie was hilarious with her snow queen persona.  She kept fanning her arms out and gently flicking her wrists in slow motion as she pranced about the house.  She felt so absolutely beautiful!

For Joey's birthday we invited over some friends for a simple taco salad and key lime cheesecake.  Here are a few of our smaller guests, who, by the way, LOVE Joey;)

I'm not sure if this was the end of one of our sleepovers but here I am reading the Bahr kids a story, right before they have to go home one afternoon.  We've had quite a few sleepovers this spring and it has been so much fun!!

Isaac has been scaling up on his chores lately!!  Here he is with the vacuum, wearing a smile!  What a great attitude!

A bad picture because only our zoom lens works right now, this is the twin size bed that I finally finished for the kids.  I'm really happy with how it turned out!  With strict adherence to the "no jumping on the bed" rule, I hope it will last long enough to be an heirloom!  

Okay...now I can begin life as a regular blogger again!  Gee, I've missed it!

Daddy plays the guitar....

One of my favorite things about Joey's fathering are his guitar skills.  Every night, he plays one requested song for each kiddo and they sing along. (more if he's in a real rock-a-billy mood!)  Joey feels self conscious if I'm in there so I get to listen from outside of the room, usually working on the computer or doing dishes.  I imagine him nodding his head to the beat, face squenched and contorted in true rocker fashion....something he wouldn't do if he knew I were watching.  Every night he gets to feel like a star.  And Georgie and Isaac get a homegrown star performance.   Its a glorious combination!  In fact, in the background at this very moment he sings..."I'm a creep/I'm a winner/What the 'heck' am I doing here?/I don't belong here..." (these aren't primary songs people;)

My point in recording all of this is simply to record a few of Isaac's favorite songs of the moment.

Friday I'm in Love by The Cure....he knows all the words
Won't Back Down by Tom Petty
Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash (this one has lasted a while)
She Loves You by The Beatles
and
Waltzing Matilda, an Australian Folk Song

This guitar singing tradition was handed down by Uncle Bob.  Joey loved his visits to 1 Leeward Glen with Rocky, Cary, Amy and Shaun.  He remembers Uncle Bob strumming Puff the Magic Dragon for them before bedtime.  It was an easy step to begin doing something like this for Isaac from almost the moment that he was weened.  The tradition continues.  Thanks Uncle Bob.

Georgie Thoughts

After a shower this evening Georgie and I were hanging out in the bathroom, she singing a song, and both of our heads wrapped in a towel.  Randomly, Georgie asked,

G:  "Mom how did they do it?"
Me:  "Who, honey?"
G:  "Heavenly Father and Jegus...how did they make us like this?"
Me:  think, think, think..."I don't know babe....but its marvelous isn't it."
G:  "Yea"
Me:  After a few seconds, "How do you think they did it?"
G:  "I think they should make us without hair."
Me:  "Really, but hair makes us pretty...you're blonde hair is so beautiful!!  How would you be without that beautiful blonde hair!  How do you think they did that?"
G:  "Well, they got the milk man and they told him to make it.  And the milkman said, 'I make your hair blonde and and he made you're hair brown because thats what yours is."
Me:  inner giggles;)  Ahhhh, the mind of a child!