Saturday, May 28, 2011

Backyardigans

It's been a crazy week in our backyard! First, we had a backhoe clear out a new terrace for the playhouse and trampoline. Then, I moved some of the lovely, lovely topsoil from the mountain where it was dumped to my garden. Today, Zane Sr. rented a trencher and my Zane started a sprinkler system while I moved more dirt and planted my tomatoes. We were outside all day.

When we got the tramp up, Spencer got right on and began jumping. Sabrina watched closely until we suggested she get on. Then she ran for the house. I think she's had too many experiences of trampolines with older cousins. Anyway, we convinced her to get on and hold Zane's hand as she walked around. Then, she started toward Spencer, got scared, and ran back to Zane, sort of like a cat who gets scared halfway across the road. But soon she was even jumping by herself. So brave. Anyway, we hope to have a functioning yard by the end of the summer. Yay!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Car Mystery

Because I am awesome, I drove over the curb as I left the bank yesterday. Immediately, a buzzing type sound started from the rear of the car. Turn off radio: nope. Too easy. Go faster, go slower, shift into park at a stoplight: no change. Honestly, I'm getting kind of worried. What did I do to my poor car?

So, I get to Costco and turn off the car, and lo, the noise does not stop. This should be comforting, perhaps, but it is not. I go to the back of the car. The noise is louder back there, and seems to be coming from the space under the seats. In moving items on top of the opening, I move Zane's electric razor, which has been in the car since our trip to St. George two weeks ago. It is vibrating, and the source of the noise.

Phew.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Gardening

The prophet said to plant a garden. I'm hoping he didn't actually say to harvest anything from it, though. Here's why:

I've never planted a garden before. This is all new terrain (heh)for me.

Also, despite months of promising, Zane did not rototill my garden area. So, besides being clay-y, it has also never been cultivated, so I'm essentially planting onions in clay blobs big enough to make a pot with.

This is Eden, and not The Garden Of. It could still freeze this year, and could freeze in September. Most plants that we eat are known for dying if they freeze too much.

So, there you have it. Points for obedience, none for eating the fruits (oh, I'm killing me!) of my labor.

Friday, May 20, 2011

A Good Helper

Reasons it's good to have Sabrina "help" me mop, using a Swiffer mop without a pad:
1. She thinks mopping is fun, a lesson she'll quickly unlearn as soon as she's old enough to do it herself.
2. I never need to put MY mop in the bucket, because there is plenty of water on the floor already.

Reasons it's bad to have Sabrina help me mop:
1. I take a lot longer because I keep having to move Sabrina out of the way, and remopping areas she mops after me.
2. I never need to put MY mop in the bucket, because there is plenty of water on the floor already.

It's a tie. I guess I'll keep letting her help me, because she is so dang cute telling me, "Mommy, I mopping!"

Friday, May 13, 2011

A Getaway

Zane has to get 20 or so hours of CLE each year. I couldn't remember what it stood for -- Continuing Learning Experience? Mom pointed out with surprisingly little smirking that it was probably Continuing Legal Education. Right. That's what I meant. Anyway, to get 5 1/2 hours in two days, Zane went to a long day in St. George, and it was a great time for us to get away from the Daily Grind. We went down for one night. With our two kids. Let's just say, with the four of us in one hotel room, there was no time for US time.

Still, it was fun. I learned things I really didn't know. Like Sabrina hums herself to sleep like this: breath in, hum out, breath in, hum out. It was quiet, and very cute. Sasha didn't really want to sleep, he would crawl a few steps? Crawls? whatever. Then lay his head down. Then crawl a little more. By that time he was at the edge of the bed, so Zane had to grab him and put him back in a safe place, where the process would repeat. Oh, and Zane slept with Sasha and me with Sabrina. I repeat what I said about co-sleepers: crazy.

Anyway, the late night meant they had a 2- or 3- hour nap on the way home, which was great. It's nice to be home, though, with the kids in their own beds.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Who are we?

I am glad, glad, glad that Osama bin Laden is dead. He's a bad man with a lot of charisma, which is a really scary combination. Think Mao, Pol Pot, and (yes, wait for it) Hitler. I wish he would have died years ago and I'm glad he's dead now.

And yet....

I was disturbed watching the celebrations outside the White House. It bore a disturbing similarity to the al-Jazeera footage of Palestinans celebrating the death of Israeli soldiers, or Muslims celebrating 9-11. Except our citizens weren't also shooting AK-47's into the air. The gatherings at Ground Zero of people holding each other, crying, relieved, that was more...I'm not sure. American? Civilized? Dignified? Tasteful? Can you be tasteful when celebrating the death of someone?

I'm satisfied. I'm glad he's dead. I'm glad he's not going to hang out at Guantanemo or be tried in Pakistan (ha! that would be a JOKE)or New York. But I don't like the wild celebrations of 20-year-olds who were 10 when 9-11 happened. I just don't like them. It makes me question who we are.