Memorial Day Fun(?) in the Sun

We usually like to plant our garden around Mother's Day, but this year it just didn't work out until this past weekend, Memorial Day.  We were extra ambitious and planted our cute little garden plot and a half acre in the empty lot next door.  It's not a half acre.  I don't even really know what a half acre looks like, but it seems like a lot and when we were clearing out the weeds that started out looking like this:

it felt like a lot. We forced invited our neighbors to help in return for all the zucchini they can eat, fair trade, right?  In a matter of a few hours, it was transformed:

The hardest part of Monday was that it started on Friday...the work part, that is.  Remember the cute little garden plot?  Somehow, it takes hours in the hot sun to make it look this good:

Well, it'll look a lot better in a few weeks when it's all grown up.  Take a look at these adorable chives, though. (I'm pretty sure those two word don't appear together very often, but look!)

Yes, I actually thought about listening closely for a "Who" but then I remembered I'm not an elephant named Horton, so it probably would just look silly, and we don't want that.

(This is the other thing that happens when you spend hours in the hot sun, wearing a ball cap. Ohhh, babe, I'm so sorry!)

Summer!!

I. Love. Summer.  I didn't used to.  In fact, I was looking back through this blog and remembered a time when I joked I needed (extensive) therapy to be prepared to have all the kids home, all the time.  Though it remains a little chaotic, the challenge(s) of the day no longer include a brand new baby, which makes the chaos less...panic inducing.  This year, I was counting down the days along with the kids and making plans for all the fun things I'd like to do with them.  Yes, I made another list, it's sorta my thing right now, I guess.  At the risk of becoming "the list" blog, I'm posting it here, more for our own "family history" than anything else. I want to remember what we aspired to this summer.

2013 Summer Bucket List

ð  Bubble Painting

ð  Visit This Is The Place park

ð  Bubble Snakes

ð  Water balloon baseball

ð  Ice on the tramp

ð  Hot Rocks

ð  Water balloon target practice

ð  Homemade ice cream in baggies

ð  Make a bird feeder

ð  Giant Ice Cubes

ð  Make bouncing bubbles

ð  Marble Races

ð  Frisbee Tic Tac Toe

ð  Microwave Puff Paint

ð  Science Experiments with candy

ð  Have a Read-a-thon

ð  Squirt bottle water fight

ð  Wash the van (or the car)

ð  Write letters (and make cookies) for 
Uncle Matt & Samantha

ð  Write letters to Grandma Great

ð  Nature scavenger hunt

ð  Visit Wheeler Farm

ð  Visit the Living Planet Aquarium

ð  Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

ð  Complete a Secret Act of Kindness

ð  Have a picnic

ð  Put on a play

ð  Make popsicle stick puzzles

ð  Build something with mini marshmallows/toothpicks

ð  Build a giant fort for movie night

ð  Have a neighborhood “late night”

ð  Watch Fireworks

ð  Make pudding pops

ð  Make homemade ice cream

ð  Make homemade play-doh

ð  Go bowling

ð  See a movie

ð  Do the summer reading club

ð  Put together a puzzle

ð  Plant a garden

ð  Make S’mores

ð  Make a kiddie carwash

ð  Tour Welfare Square

ð  Make your own sidewalk chalk

ð  Tour the chocolate factory

ð  Visit the BYU Museum of Art

ð  Make a homemade sprinkler

ð  Water gun painting

ð  Make fairy houses

ð  Take a nature walk (with the camera)

ð  Make a nature book (use pictures from the walk)

ð  Make an obstacle course in the backyard and have races

ð  Make sock puppets and do a puppet show

ð  Take a picnic lunch to dad

ð  Make taffy

ð  Have a pajama day

ð  Make some scrapbook pages

ð  Make homemade suckers

ð  Visit a farmer’s market

ð  Soap boat races

ð  Sewing project

ð  Summer sponge bombs

ð  Make cards and send to loved ones

ð  Secret treats for neighbors

ð  Walk to the library

ð  Get shaved ice

ð  Cloud pictures

ð  Star-gazing

ð  Go to a splash pad

ð  Go to a baseball game

ð  Scottish Festival

ð  Art City Parade

ð  Cook a meal on a campfire

ð  Go swimming

ð  Lemonade Stand fundraiser

ð  Date with Mom and Dad

40 Things to do before...aaaaaah!

I think 39 may actually be worse than 40.  A whole year of anticipating dreading that number that means you're not young anymore-officially.  I've spent the last 3 months coming to understand the "mid-life crisis" and sympathizing just a bit more with balding men in flashy sports cars.  It sucks.  It's not that I'm afraid of getting older-well, I guess I kind of am.  I'm just not ready to be referred to as "that older lady."  I find I'm more careful about how I dress, how I do my hair, what I say because suddenly I have to consider, "Am I too old for that?" or "Will it look like I'm trying to hard?"  But then, I also don't want to look like I'm not trying at all. *shudder*  We've all been seen her at the store in mom jeans and an 80's crop, looking all worn out and mousy.  Not. Me. (at least not every time!)

Enter "The List".  I know it's not exactly original. In fact, being not exactly original myself, I turned to the internet for some inspiration on what to include on my list.  I discovered two things: a lot of British women make "40 things..." lists, and a lot of people/websites who publish such lists advocate "things" that I don't care to see/do/know they exist. *ahem* I suggest you don't search the internet for a "40 things" list.  That said, it did get me thinking about what I'd like to accomplish in the next 9 months.  Some things are silly, some are sorta serious, some might actually help me to improve and some are just plain frivolous, but they're all mine.  That's a word I haven't uttered in oh, say-11 and a half years.  I'm completely out of the habit of thinking about me.  That's not to say I'm completely selfless-that should probably be on my list-but I've been lazy about setting goals and working to accomplish them.  My aim has been more about "getting through the day."  A valid prospect when there are many littles in your life, but probably not 363-ish days of every year.  I've debated publishing "The List" here because then all 3 of you who read this blog will know how silly/frivolous/unaccomplished I am.  But if it's here, then it's real and I can't hide from it or pretend I didn't really intend to do the things on it.  So here goes:

40 Things to do before 40

1. Read the Book of Mormon.
2. Lose 30 pounds.
3. Let my hair grow out.
4. Try sushi.
5. Eat at 6 different ethnic restaurants.
6. Try Yoga.
7. Run a 5K.
8. Make at least 60 entries in my journal.
9. Buy a real piano.
10. Learn to play at least 1/2 25 of the hymns in the hymnbook. (after actually checking the hymnbook, I decided to be a bit more realistic)
11. Learn to play one song not in the hymnbook.
12. Buy an outfit I really want, regardless of price.
13. Own the perfect pair of jeans.
14. Highlight my hair.
15. Build something.
16. Say "hello" and give a compliment to at least 10 people every day.
17. Do one craft project every week; give away one per month.
18. Volunteer at least once in 3 different organizations.
19. Get-Away with Sam.
20. Learn to digital scrapbook.
21. Blog once a week. (ah, now you see why we're here...)
22. Read a classic novel.
23. Go swimming.
24. Pretend I'm self-confident until I am self-confident. 
25. Do one thing that scares me. (in a good way)
26. Get a massage.
27. Karaoke. (at home-not in a bar, but in front of people)
28. Go on a date with each of my kids.
29. Learn to do a front flip on the trampoline. (Don't die)
30. Make a meal for another family once a month.
31. Be perfect in ONE thing. (Visiting teaching, making my bed, not picking my nose-just one.)
32. Update the way I do my makeup.
33. Let my kids see me be silly more often. (see #27)
34. Hold hands with Sam every day.
35. Attend a cultural event. (yes, I've done this before, but it ought to be an annual thing-at least)
36. Go on a family hike.
37. Do something that surprises people. (writing this post doesn't count)
38. Attend the temple 8 times.
39. Find and do temple work for one ancestor.
40. Speak softly, smile more.

That's it!  Believe it or not, this actually required quite a bit of thought-for me.  But I feel good about it, REALLY good, and really excited to get started.  I'll update "The List" as I begin to accomplish what's on it.  After all, I'll be here at least once a week, folks!  

Family Pics and an update

Ahhhh, family pictures. The mere thought makes me shudder.  You moms know what I'm talking about, right?  It's not just me who spends days rifling through drawers (and doing ALL the laundry, for once) putting together coordinating outfits, shopping for elusive accessories, and keeping everything clean until the big day, yes?  Tell me it isn't just me.  Then there's the day of...oh boy.  Everyone puts on their carefully reserved outfit and gets their hair done.  Meanwhile, someone's lost a shoe, the one who just got her hair done promptly goes out and lays down on the floor, the toddler falls asleep (the one who wakes up uber cranky) and oh ya, the 12 extra large poster board letters for the super cool photo Christmas present haven't been cut out yet.  We're finally done and we cross our fingers that no one steps in mud, falls, spits up, or totally musses their perfectly coiffed 'do.  And that's only half the battle, we then get there and hope everyone looks at the camera...and smiles...at the same time.  It's a lot to ask, especially of a two year old, she frequently didn't oblige. When all is said and done, I can't help it, there is a sense of elation and I have to let out a big "Whoop-whoop!!" on the way home.  Family pictures?  Check.  And I'm off the hook for another year or so.  

For Nana

For Grandma and Grandpa

 Is she the queen, or what?  This is the ONLY way we could get her to cooperate at this point.  It was "her chair" and she was going to sit in it, no matter what.

Now, for a mini update: We're all fine.  Really, what else can I say?  It's winter (despite the heavenly lack of snow...until last week) and we've had all the requisite illnesses, but for the most part, we're getting along great.  Aidan is crawling ALL over the place and will be walking soon, (Aaaaaa!!) He had macaroni and cheese for lunch for the first time today, which signals an end to buying overpriced baby food (Woot, woot!) and everyone else is pretty same ol', same ol' (meaning, of course, super smart and talented).  It's going to be another exciting year with Uncle Ben coming home from his mission in Florida on leap day, February 29th, South Dakota in June, a baptism in August and Disneyland in December.  Maybe I'll even post here a time or two...here's hoping!!

Blessing Day

Aidan's special day was July 3rd, and Holy Hades, was it hot!!  We had scads of family and friends and a only a little bit of shade, but the day was special and fun, all the same.  He looked so dapper in his little tuxedo shorts and we actually got to church on time!  It was close, but still...
Aidan is named after my grandpa, Royce Chamberlain.  He was such a kind man, and loved his family so completely.  He showered his grandchildren with love and attention and we always knew we were special to him.  He playfully sent us out back to "eat grass" trying to convince us it was delicious, whereas candy was nasty.  He played with our ears and bounced the babies on his knee until they were so fascinated by the sound of their own jiggly voice that they forgot why they were crying.  When he found something funny, he'd laugh til he cried, and he watched Married With Children just to make me mad.  He died in 1995, when I was 21.  It was years yet before I met Sam and began our family, but we have felt his gentle influence and I'm quite convinced that he is aware of these precious little ones that have joined us here.  

Royce and Alene Chamberlain

Brooklyn really enjoyed a key lime pie facial. 

Mommy and Aidan

Aunt Bethy gives some snuggles!

The official "Brand Family" section, nothin' like some garage shade!

Aunt Mandy, Uncle Dan w/ Kara, Uncle Jeff w/ Elle and Uncle Jake

Daddy and his little man.

We love this little guy to pieces, sometimes a wee bit on the literal side.  He is hugged, held, squeezed, bounced and carried...a lot. 

We're so happy he's part of our family, he's rounded it out quite nicely!  

Small Fry

Ok, seriously.  How cute is he?!  Babies are supposed to double their birth weight by four months, he's almost done it in two (he's an over achiever.)  I think there's at least a pound in each of those cheeks.  I'm not going to lie, it's been more bitter than sweet to watch the "newborn" fade, but all he has to do is flash that lopsided grin and I'm completely in love and anxious to see what he'll do next!

4th of July

This year was perhaps the best 4th of July celebration in recent history, at least my recent history.  Some wonderful neighbors organized a neighborhood block party that lasted all weekend, complete with huge blow up water slides, a BBQ and an amazing fireworks display.  Although it has to be said that we'd love to be in our very own house, we are very blessed to live where we do.  We have the most generous, wonderful neighbors and friends and right now, it's exactly where we need to be...I guess. (wink)  All whining aside, we're happy as clams (what does that mean, exactly?) Here's a sampling of our holiday fun: 

It was a late night for McKenna

 Sam is seriously proud of this picture. It is quite lovely.

I hope your 4th was grand!!