Makayla Turns The Big Three

 Today I asked Makayla how old she is. She held up three fingers and said "TWO!". Makayla, remember what I told you. You don't have to fudge on your age until you add a zero after that three.

 We took a birthday trip to Chuck-E-Cheese with Amy and girls.  Amy is sporting a new accessory. She went to the doctor on Tuesday to deal with the swallowing problem she's having and mentioned in passing her sore wrist from a fall last week. The doctor was concerned enough to order an x-ray, which revealed a serious break.  Now Amy gets to wear a splint for a few weeks AND have that fun expanding surgery Uncle David just had. Amy has always been our medical child....

Our birthday visit to Chuck-E proved it is still a center of quality challenged pizza and overpriced fun. 

 But it was fun!

Not to mention that it's always good to provide your posterity with educational experiences.

After an hour and a half of concentrated efforts and the cost of a month's worth of groceries, Hailey and Makayla earned enough tickets to each purchase a quality slinky worth at least 10 cents.

We came home for some cake. I bought a dog-themed cake from Walmart, even though Makayla is terrified of dogs. I'm such a thoughtful Grandma.

Makayla pretended not to notice my insensitive choice.

After all, when you've blown out the candles, people let you open presents.

We bought her some big girl panties. Yup, that's a hint, Makayla.

We love you, Makayla! Hope you had a happy third birthday!

(Not) Back To School

Today was the first day of school in Billings. For the first time in 28 years, I didn't have to pull a reluctant child out of bed.

Hailey started Kindergarten this morning. Amy shared these pictures with me so that I could joyfully excitedly ecstatically nostalgically experience the first day of school without having do to any of the work.

Cute little Kindergartener Hailey, all spiffy for the first day of class.

Like younger sisters everywhere, Makayla was not excited to see Hailey go to school without her.

  

Apparently somebody was a bit weepy this morning. No, not me--I was too busy trying hard not to dance down the street for joy. 

When Amy picked Hailey up after school, Hailey asked "Mom, why were you crying this morning?"

 Amy: "Cause my little girls are all grown up and old enough for school. They aren't my little babies anymore."

Hailey: "But mom, I'm just the same girl that I was yesterday!"

Hailey's teacher, Mrs. Lohranz, who reported that Hailey was extra helpful and good. No Amy, she doesn't say that to all the parents.

Meanwhile, back at home, I found my tomatoes ripening like crazy on the vine, due to my "magical red plastic ripening sheets".

It took no time at all to pick 12 lbs of tasty, vine-ripened tomatoes,

a bunch of sweet peppers and onions fresh from the garden,

and bunches of homegrown basil.

After a little peeling and chopping and 45 minutes of simmering,

I have a start to our favorite garden product--Freezer Spaghetti Sauce.

 Somehow in all of that running from front to side to back garden, I managed to not latch the gate very firmly. It didn't take long for Bambi and Bucky to find my garden.

Here's Bucky, thinking about trying out the trampoline.

Bambi went straight for the swing set, and the neighbor's cat trotted over to offer a push.

In the 4 1/2 minutes it took for me to spot them, they munched through our garden, managing to trample the phlox and eat most of the squash blossoms off the vines. I take comfort in knowing there's not enough time left in the season for the blossoms to turn to squash and ripen anyway.

Jorden, we could use some help here! Wouldn't you love a freezer full of Bambi and Bucky???