Trees Planted

Last weekend we bought three trees that we have been thinking about for awhile, and Steve, Samuel and Shira planted them this Sunday.

This is the 4 in 1 stone fruit - Santa Rosa Plum, yellow nectarine, yellow peach and Blenheim Apricot.

Adding redwood compost on top.

Samuel and Shira show how they are almost as tall as the tree and we try to decide which will grow faster.

We also planted a 4 in 1 pear and a dwarf Fuji Apple.

Gardening and Skating

I cut the rose bushes way down today, as my ripped up arms can attest. Samuel worked really hard with me, too, hauling all the thorny branches toward the yard bin. Shira happily hung out with us while we worked.

It is a huge turning point to consider that I was able to spend over an hour working hard in the yard, without having to stop every couple of minutes to attend to the kids.

When Samuel was done helping, he hauled his bike and skates out of the garage and he and Shira outfitted themselves.

And later in the day, they attended to their own gardening chores.

First Day of Preschool 2011

Samuel now tries to dodge the camera, making it very difficult to get his first day of school picture. His evasive maneuvers are pretty good.

Walking in the preschool gate. Samuel finally forgot that he was trying to avoid the camera.

Shira is ready for preschool too. Too bad she can't go with Samuel, they would both love it.

New year, new cubby.

After about an hour of school, once Samuel had warmed up a bit, I asked him if he was ready for me to leave. He responded, first with a timid yes, followed by an insistent, "Leave Mom!" When I told Shira it was time to go, she and Samuel climbed up the play structure and laughed at me. Shira emphatically refused to leave, and Samuel informed me that I should go, but that Shira was staying and he would take care of her.

Once Shira heard the word "snacks" there wasn't really a chance in hell we were leaving before snack time. When I made the mere suggestion, and tried to pick Shira up, she began literally, to kick and scream.

End of Summer Garden

Today's harvest of tomatoes.

And it was time to pick the pumpkins. We left the biggest one on the vine to see if it would get a little bigger. And there were a couple of other vines we left because they were still alive, but we pulled all the dead ones and picked the pumpkins. Here is Samuel counting them. Can't wait to use them for our pumpkin carving party this year.

Someone could have done a better job staking the tomatoes...

The jalapenos and serranos are still going strong.

We cleared out the green beans, soybeans and strawberries. We planted lettuce and kale starts, and carrot, radish and onion seeds. My goal is to keep planting the seeds every couple of weeks so we can have a steady supply. We'll see if that is just wishful thinking.

And we bought three fruit trees that we've been thinking about for awhile. Now we just have to figure out where to plant them. A fuji apple, a 4in1 pear and a 4in1 stone fruit - yellow peaches, yellow nectarines, Santa Rosa plums and Blenheim apricots.

Best Dinner Seat in the House

Why does dinner always taste better if you can sit on Mommy or Daddy's lap?

And yes, Steve's hair is really that big right now. And yes, I do like it, I asked him to grow it out for me.

I feel like these are those pictures that Samuel and Shira are going to look back on, and say, "Can you believe Dad used to look like that?"

I hope they remember that feeling of sitting on Daddy's lap, inhaling homemade pesto pizza, and feeling cozy, loved and so very happy and silly. You can't buy that for a dollar.

30 pounds of tomatoes

We are currently overflowing with heirloom tomatoes from our garden. So of course, I went to the farmer's market this morning and bought 30 pounds of "sort out" tomatoes.

It's a funny dilemma to be in: we have so many heirlooms we are having a difficult time finding things to do with all of them, but it would simply be blasphemy to make sauce out of them, and freeze them, right? They just taste too good and are too special.

So that's why we had to buy 30 more pounds to can and freeze for the winter. Makes sense, doesn't it? Hmmm, maybe not...

That's ok, mission accomplished.

College Football

We took Samuel and Shira to their first college football game yesterday at Stanford's new stadium. I think it was only the second football game I've ever been too. The stadium is gorgeous, and it really felt like we were so close to the field.

Stanford vs. San Jose State. SJSU got slaughtered, which was a little hard on Samuel because he really wanted "Mommy's Team" to win. He loved being there, though, and wanted to stay for the whole game. Shira slept through most of it on my lap.

Steve was exhausted by the end, since he had to give minute play by play details to Samuel the entire time. I learned a lot about football, that way, though. And they were so cute.

One disappointment: the Stanford Marching Band. I've heard so much about them over the last few years, I expected to be impressed and entertained. They were very small, and not particularly good. I guess their inappropriate antics are to cover up for mediocre music skills?

The bus ride, followed by brunch, followed by the game, followed by the bus ride back home made for a long day. Of course most family members were melting down by the time we got home... still a fun day.