Friday, September 23, 2011

Reason Number 837 Why I Like Being a Mom





I get to be Spiderman's chauffeur. 


Going to Little Caesar's is a LOT more fun with a superhero.

Farewell, Gardening Season!

This summer, we grew our own vegetable garden. Watermelons, tomatillos, tomatoes, cilantro, and chives have been filling our bellies for the growing season. Matt and Nolan both planted watermelons (different types) and nurtured them from tiny, baby plants to full grown fruit.



Matt grew Orange Tendersweet, which have an oddly-colored orange flesh but taste wonderful.



Nolan grew Sugar Baby watermelons, which have a traditional red flesh and are also delicious.


And then we had watermelon coming out of our ears. Watermelon everywhere. I made watermelon jelly.


Watermelon fruit leather.


I gave watermelon away to friends and neighbors. I'm pretty sure we won't grow watermelon next year. I thought I would never say this, but we're sick of eating watermelon. Fortunately, the last melon has been cut up and eaten!

I also canned tomatoes and tomatillos, and we recently ate spaghetti sauce from some of our canned, homegrown stock.


I am officially addicted to gardening and canning. I just need more garden space so that I have more jars on the shelf next year!


Thursday, September 8, 2011

Starting School

The day before school started, both boys were able to ride the school bus on a "practice run" to the school. They were thrilled to board the big yellow bus, and to meet their teachers for the first time.

On September 1st, everyone was up bright and early to catch the bus. Both boys were gone by 8:15am.



Nolan returned home at 11:40am, chirping about all the fun things they did: they sang The Wheels on the Bus, played with toys, and listened to a story about puppy dogs who go to school.

Matt had a half-day for the first day of school, and he arrived home at 1:00pm. He was so thrilled about school: "Mom, we got to see the gym, the music room, the art room, and the cafeteria. They called it a tour!"


School is now in full swing, and Matthew is gone from 8:15am - 4:10pm. That is one long day for a kindergartener! Still, he loves every minute of it. He is particularly fond of gym: they have very creative games of tag, and he raved about a game of "dog catchers" and "dogs." I can only assume the dog catchers were supposed to catch the dogs in that game - his teachers are very creative!