Randomness

What have we been up to lately?

Isaac was off for spring break last week so it was nice having the eldest home. Life slowed down a bit with no school, no practice, and no track meets. Josh and I took him to see the movie, Divergent, and left the littles with the grandparents. Both Isaac and I read the book, so Josh got to listen to us discuss what was different about the movie. He loves that ;) Isaac is growing up so fast; it makes me sad and happy at the same time. On Thursday he worked on our church's park with his youth group  and then had a few of his friends over to spend the night and have an air soft war. Our woods make the perfect spot for 'wars'. Thankfully no one shot out an eye. 

Audra, Amber and I took all the kids (6 under 6) to the Nature Center in Asheville while we were on spring break and they had a blast. We saw the animals and they played on the play areas. Afterwards we had lunch at a local BBQ restaurant in Black Mountain. 

Carter, Eli, Maddie and Rachel at the BBQ restaurant

Amber gave me a starter for sour dough bread and I've made 3 runs of bread so far. Speaking of which, I just finished kneading my bread and it's rising as I type. I'm going to have to give some away because I definitely don't need to eat any more! I'm getting a bread bulge. I've been a slacker about going to the gym.. I went on Saturday for the first time in 3 weeks. 

I did find 3 cute bathing suits at Target for my not finished swimming pool. Hey, I have high hopes! While we are on the topic of swimming pools.. I've been on the ball. I met with an electrician, met with the gas company, called a pool company about plumbing, and met with a guy about decking. I'm meeting with the pool people about plumbing tomorrow so I sure hope they will take the job and not charge an outrageous price. 

Olivia wants to wear her princess dress and boots all the time. She alternates between the cowboy boots and the pink rain boots. I let her nap and go to Eli's soccer game in her princess dress the other day because she was so determined. Geeez... I guess there are worse battle to pick.

Audra and I had to make a trip out of town on Friday to sign our taxes so while we were gone we ate at Chik Filet (always a good choice) and then took the kids to the mall. Eli begs to jump on those mall trampolines whenever we go. The cousins always have fun together with just a wee bit of fighting mixed in. 

Cousinly love- Eli, Carter, Olivia and Camden

Sampson went missing for a day and I freaked out! I was crying and so worried about that dog. I didn't realize how much I loved him until I thought something happened. We went driving around the surrounding neighborhood the next morning and saw him coming out of a neighbor's garage. The neightbor didn't know who he belonged to and had put him up so he wouldn't get run over. I was so thankful that he was okay, that I even gave him a shower in my bathroom. It took me 2 hours to get it clean enough where I couldn't smell dog. I made him an appointment to get neutered the next day. He's such a good pup and the kids just wrestle him and love on him. He even warned us of a bear near the house the other day.

Sunday, it was a beautiful 79 degree day and after church we took the boys fishing. Isaac and his cousins all jumped in the creek. I did catch a little tiny fish on Eli's Lightening McQueen rod. He was more interested in getting his feet wet than fishing.

My garden is ready! Last year we tried to grow a garden but it never grew (my theory is that it didn't have enough sunlight). So this year I decided to make a raised bed. I had Audra bring me 4 railroad ties, I used a mattock to loosen the dirt and then added garden soil from Lowes to the bed. I planted: cucumbers, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, hot pepper, bell pepper, onions, lettuce, Brussels sprouts and asparagus.  I've been told asparagus take a few years before it actually produces asparagus so I'm going to give those to mom and put some okra in that spot. I've been watering it religiously. I'm hoping it will survive the uncanny cold weather that came in today.