Weeds Pulled--Check

Last weekend was absolutely gorgeous! I wish that I had been able to go play at the beach. Instead, I was responsible and took Todd to his baseball game. After the game the boys spent the afternoon at Oma's house. I stayed home, did some chores, and yard work. Do I look exhausted? I was.

The good news is that now that my beds are weeded, I can do some planting. That is, assuming the weather clears up sometime. We were in a tornado warning earlier this morning, and I think it is supposed to rain for the rest of the week. By the time I get back around to planting some flowers the weeds will all over again. Groan. Not to worry though. I will get my plants in the ground, and I will have flowers for spring. It's hard not to stay motivated when the weather is beautiful, which it should be next week. By summer, I will be over it. Then there will be no more yard work by me until fall. I'm such a wimp outdoors.

Momma Bird

I know I posted that our little wrens decided to nest elsewhere. I am so pleased to say that we were mistaken. About a week ago, Brett was in the garage one evening when one of the wrens started yelling at Brett. She then hopped right into the nest. Later, after she had left the nest, Brett peeked in and counted five little eggs. I have not yet seen the eggs, myself. I'm too short, even with a stool. However, I know that she has faithfully been keeping them warm. I am so surprised that our activities did not deter her from keeping her nest here. Brett has continued to work in the garage (with relatively loud power tools). Copper has gone in and out of the garage playing Frisbee with Brett. I have continued to open and close the garage door to drive in and out; I have used the washing machine and dryer which are fairly close to her nest; she even let me take this photo without complaining. (Can you see her little head in the hole?)

Brett read that wrens will usually stay in their territory year-round. They live about six years. Which mean that these are probably the same wrens that built a nest in Brett's boat last year. The eggs hatch about two weeks after they are laid, so we should be getting little babies in the next week or so.

I am so happy that they don't consider us a great threat and that were able to provide them with a safe and cozy place to build a nest (even if it's a little loud and busy).

The Toothless Big Boy

A little over a week ago Todd told me that he had a tooth loose. I figured this day would be coming soon. A number of kids in Todd's class have lost some of their baby teeth already.

Last fall Todd saw a Tooth Fairy pillow at a craft fair I had dragged him to. He wanted to buy one very badly. I told him that I would make him one instead. He was excited about that idea, and I soon took both boys to pick out their own fabrics. The project sat in my closet for a number of months. When Todd told me about his tooth this month, I quickly had to get to work and finish the pillows. Fortunately, they were easy to make, and I was able to finish them over one weekend. The boys loved them. Can you guess whose is whose?

When Todd came home from school this afternoon he told me that he thought his tooth would fall out today. I had him show me, and sure enough, it was pretty loose. I reminded him that Aunt Donna, who was a kindergarten teacher's aid for a number of years, was a pro at pulling teeth out. I told Todd that if his tooth started to bother him by wobbling too much or if he wanted to have Donna pull it out before he ate dinner, we could call her and she could help get it out no problem. Todd said he would rather let it come out on its own.

It did that. After eating a slice of homemade pizza and some pineapple tidbits Todd told me that his tooth was out. Where was it? Nowhere to be found. My child swallowed his first baby tooth! [If you know Brett at all, you know he had to step outside by this time!] I looked around his plate and chair just to make sure. Yup. It's gone. Todd then suggested the unthinkable--I assured him that even if he saw the tooth later that we would not be retrieving it. I don't care if he thinks it could be washed.

Todd had seemed a little nervous, and had admitted a few days ago to being a little worried about losing his tooth. Brett and I have remained positive, letting him know that it wouldn't hurt and that he was growing up to be such a big boy. When it came down to it tonight, he was cool and calm. He wasn't even that bothered about swallowing it. And, to top things off, I managed to get a great smile for the camera.

When I came home from choir practice tonight, I saw that Todd had made sure to leave his tooth pillow on his bed. He was rewarded with a $1 bill.

Congratulations, Todd. You are growing up so fast!

Next Up: Shutters

Good news. The roof is finished, and here's the "after" picture to prove it.

I don't know what I was thinking when I thought the guys would be able to finish in one day.
I was thinking, "Hey, there are five hard-working guys up on that roof. How long can it take them to re-roof a simple house?" The answer: two days. I am so, so, so very glad that Brett decided to hire it out. If he did the work the himself I would have had to help him. I know I would have been sick of tired of roofing by the time the project were completed.
Aaaah. A nice, new roof. Completed.

The next project, you ask? Painting the shutters.
We need a bold color to liven up the house. Brett is thinking about a color in the red family. I was thinking a nice charcoal gray. We will probably go with something similar to color of the door: brown with red tints. Brett is considering painting the garage door the same color. I am inclined to keep the garage door and columns a cream color.
What do you think?

In Self-Defense

I can't believe what I heard while visiting Todd's P.E. class for the weekly "Mile Club." As I was walking the track with Ryan we passed by a group of kindergartners who were talking. One of the boys was telling the others that a boy had pushed him, so he kicked him back. I pipe up, "Oh, No." He replies, "I can't get in trouble for self-defense." (!!!) The fact that a kindergartner would be thinking that way scares me like you can't believe. Somebody did something to me (by accident or not), so I can kick him, punch him, or do whatever I want in the name of "self-defense." I try to explain that it would be much better to say something like, "That hurt when you pushed me. Please don't do it again." I tell him to always try using words first. He, and the other kids with us, seemed to understand what I was saying at the time, but I doubt it will make much of an impact down the line if he is being brought up with opposite tactics for handling problems. I find it very sad and frustrating.