Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

After several fun days spent enjoying Brinlee, the time came to go home.  Yea, it was hard not to ball as loud and long as Brinlee as I drove away.  I had to force myself to think of this Brinlee, the one with McKay's gangsta-style diapering.  That made me giggle a bit.

 I'm guessing Brinlee will grow into those newborn diapers about the time she hits Kindergarten.

Warning! Boring scenery and gardening pictures ahead!

I love the drive between Rexburg and Billings at this time of year.  I remember how Mom always made me put my book down and take a look out the car window at the beautiful scenery when we drove to the Tetons when I was a kid. I hated that. Maybe we appreciate nature's beauty more as we age--I know I do.

This year the rivers are high and the grass is green.

There are still pockets of snow.

I paused a few times to take a close-up look at Heavenly Father's garden.

There were amazing amounts of different kinds of flowers,

some of which I didn't notice until I parked the car and walked out into the fields.

There were several fields of this particular flower in full bloom.

This is a close up of the field above.

After enjoying all these flowers, I could hardly wait to get home and see if my garden had survived my absence. 

Yes! Megan did remember to water!

This is my very favorite flower in all of my garden--a pink peony. I wish it bloomed all summer long.

Red Peony

Spiderwort

Pink Yarrow

Sweet William

The roses have started to bloom in various colors-

peach

pink

white and pink

more pink.

Strawberries--can Homemade Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream be far behind?

The tomatoes grew a foot while I was gone, but

all of my vine vegetables are pitiful.  This may be "the year without squash".

Look what else happened while I was MIA--the new bathroom at the duplex got a window

and the walls got texture and paint.

Well now that I know the world won't come to an end if I leave home,  

I can think of at least a couple of reasons to leave home again!

Brimful of Brinlee

We are just sitting around, enjoying the cuteness of Brinlee.

Before Brinlee could leave the hospital yesterday, she had to pass the car seat test. She had to sit in Krew's old infant car seat for at least 1 hour and remember to keep breathing and, well, living. Sometimes small babies have a problem with car seats.

Brinlee passed, but we're all a bit worried that she is going to outgrow her car seat soon.

Here's Brinlee in her cute "going home from the hospital" outfit.

Brinlee practicing her ballet moves.

Ashley and her entourage tried to escape the hospital this way, but got a scolding from the nurse who sent us all back to the room until someone could take Ashley out 

this way. Apparently you become an invalid after giving birth.

When we got back to the Pearson's, I dug Rover out of the trunk for Krew. I think Krew will keep him.

Ashley's cousin, Crystal, was also due to have a baby on June 29.  Easton was born just after midnight today.  He's 8 lbs 13 ozs, a bit bigger than Brinlee.

Here Easton is getting ready to slap Brinlee for sticking her tongue out at him.

There's nothing as sweet as a newborn, is there?

What do you think? Ashley, above at 2 weeks, Brinlee, below at 2 days.

My Bags Are Packed, I'm Ready To Go....

Little Pearsonette decide to make an early debut. She was suppose to be coming next week, but decided to come tomorrow instead. Modern technology leaves few surprises in the delivery room-the Pearsons know to expect a girl, and have had enough ultrasounds to see exactly what she looks like (more or less). How clever is my newest grandchild to figure out how to pull a fast one on her parents already and come early?

This isn't a picture of baby Pearson. This is Ashley, proof-positive that my baby can't possibly be old enough to have a baby. This picture is from just a few short years ago. I can remember those pajamas she has on--the first of many hand-me-downs from big sisters. I can remember those big-starting-to-turn-permanently-blue-green eyes, taking in the world. I remember taking this picture with my trusty 35 mm film camera and running it to Albertsons for one hour development.

Ashley, 2 weeks

It's a good thing I finished the baby quilt early--minky on the back,

and flannel on the front. A little warm for June, I know, but baby Pearson lives in Rexburg, the only place on earth dependably colder than Billings.

I've got a traveling companion as I head down to do the Grandma thing. Side note to every teenage boy in the world: all of my teenage daughters have gotten one of these from you at some point in their dating history. Several of my girls got several from several different young men. Over the years we've had ginormous bunnies, dogs, bears, and cats gracing the bedrooms of various daughters from smitten boys. Helpful hint: Instead of buying an overpriced dog the size of an elephant, buy a double scoop ice cream for me. You should know it's crucial to have your girlfriend's mom like you. Trust me, you'll spend less and get further ahead if you figure that out early.

This is Rover. He belonged to Megan, via last year's boyfriend. I'm taking him to Krew. Krew can be a trifle ambivalent about me. If the dog doesn't make him love me, I'm taking him for ice cream.

I'm leaving Stan and Megan to finish things up at the duplex.  Today I arranged for carpet to be put down the steps, replacing the ratty 30 year old carpet that was there. If you think that fan at the bottom of the stairway isn't doing much to dry out the remnants of the flood, you're right.

Stan put up the rest of the drywall. This isn't the lovely new color we've painted the bathroom- it's the lovely color of drywall.

 Here's the future window, cut into the drywall. It's over the future toilet.

Here's the future sink cabinet, still gracing the kitchen, scheduled to be put in Friday night after Stan does the texture on Wednesday and Megan paints on Thursday.

I hope someone remembers to water the yard while I'm gone.

daylily

I hope there are still flowers blooming when I get back.

siberan iris

And most of all, I hope someone keeps an eye on adventurous Megan.

Megan, living yesterday's Red Lodge adventure

Baby Pearson, I can't wait to see you!