Feeling Handy Dandy

Went to check out the happenings in the garden today. Look at the gorgeousness of these veges! Every year we do a huge garden with the Gold family. It is a labor of love. Sometimes I am so tempted to just go to Winco and bag the whole garden thing. Making time to weed, pick, and can the excess can feel overwhelming. But teaching my kids to work and see the fruits of their labor is well worth the effort. And gardening is a skill I wish I were better at, so getting to practice in a 1/4 acre garden with the Gold clan is priceless. Mom and Dad Gold are garden pros and I learn a lot from them. And even when I'm feeling whiny and going to the garden feels like a chore I am humbled as I fill my bag up with these beautiful, organic, healthy little gems.

 ( strawberry freezer jam made by grammy gold. thanks mom! )

I have a confession. I really am not in love with fresh fruit. Don't ask me why. But I eat it because it's good for me. And I try to remember to feed it to my kids because I want them to like fruit. So far I think they do. If I had my way chocolate and peanut butter would be fruit and I'd happily indulge every single day! But, once in awhile fresh fruit actually tastes divine. Like when I'm sitting on a beach in Mexico and the pineapple and mango tastes like no pineapple or mango I've ever tasted in Oregon. Well, these cherries that Dad picked off of the cherry tree for me today taste like candy. They are divine! Yippee.

Just call me Mrs. Fix It. Or Bobette the Builder. Really! I have been feeling rather manly lately and have impressed myself with some of the projects I've taken on. Like fixing the kickstand on Eli's scooter. And it works splendidly.

The other day we were driving around the neighborhood and I saw this basketball hoop laying in some guys lawn. I've wanted to get Eli one for a year now, but haven't been able to find a good deal on one. And spending 200.00- 500.00 for a new one made me choke! Anyways, this guy was having a garage sale, but it wasn't obvious if the basketball hoop was part of it. I rolled down the window and asked him if the hoop was for sale. He said he hadn't really planned on it or thought about selling it, then said, "Sure, why not." He asked for 20.00. I offered him 15.00. It looked really ugly. And the net was missing. So, Matt went and got his truck and we hauled it home. The next morning I went to Home Depot and bought a can of spray paint and new bolt to replace an old, rusty, bent one. Then I went and found a new net at K-Mart. By the time Matt got home from work I had the back board looking like new. Matt worked his duct tape magic and created the black box. So for less than 30.00 we now have an awesome basketball hoop in front of our house. Eli is in love!

Today Rylie, Ivy and I went to Claire's Boutique. Ry has been wanting fake nails now for a long time. I remember when I thought fake nails were so cool, too. I wore them all the time. Probably because I'm cool like that. I helped her apply them with a little super glue. Then we clipped and filed them to the right length. Rylie loves her new nails and now she's cool just like I used to be:)

Before we left to go to Claire's Boutique Ivy came into the house and was so excited to tell me that she had decorated the van with flowers. What a little cutie pie! She was disappointed when I explained to her that I had to take the flowers off before I drove because they would fall off when I turned the wheel. It makes me smile that she was thinking of me while she was out playing with her friends. And that she took the time to do something special just for her momma. My precious little Ivers.

And yesterday she painted me a picture of Ariel. The look in her eyes and the smile on her face when she gave it to me was so, so sweet.

Oh, and I totally spaced bringing my camera to Eli's cub scout day camp on Tuesday. He's been going all this week and Tuesday was my day to volunteer and hang with the boys. It was fun being in their element. Watching them make robots from graham crackers, peanut butter, raisins and celery and learning how to shoot a BB gun was awesome!

To be a mom is my greatest joy.

Seriously.