Grass.  Not a familiar term when speaking of my back yard.  At least not until now.  We have grass.  Lots and lots of grass.  This may not be a big deal to you but to me WE HAVE GRASS!!!!  For years two huginormousbig trees dominated the backyard.  That and dirt. Oh and weeds too.  Last summer the trees came down.  We had the yard tilled and added seed.  And more seed.  And more seed.

We are still lacking foundation plantings, which will be coming soon for at least along the back fence.  But for now…we have grass.  The kids have been enjoying the back yard, for the first time they can really run around without the danger of being hurt or being filthy!  The temporary fence we had put up to keep our dog from the back while we were seeding came down.  Moose ran around like a puppy and was rolling in the grass.  So everyone is happy.  See, it’s the little things.

Endless Summer Hydrangea

Not much to look at now but you just wait!

Above, from Left to Right Front - Aglo Rhododendron (Rhododendron Agle”) many Hostas  - 2nd row,- 3Endless Summer The Original Hydrangeas (Hydrangea Macrophylla “Bailmer”) - one on either side and one in the middle, blooming (bought bigger) - climbing clematis - not sure of type as those and Hostas have been here forever.   The Hostas are so big you can barely see the Hydrangea but in a few years that will change.  I thought the Rhododendron had died because shortly after I planted it all the beautiful flowers died.  But look at this next photo - all the green is new growth so I’m sure it’s just fine.  Maybe transplant shock or the bloom time was just over.

Rhododendron

See - looks like it will thrive next year.

Lilac

Common Lilac ((Syringa Vulgaris) planted in the corner next to my neighbors yard.  They have 3 lilac trees on the other side of the fence so this will fill an empty space niceley and make a bigger impact when viewed as a whole.

Viburnum

I thought I had a full size shot of this Raspberry Tart Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum  “Rastzam) but I only have this closeup.  It’s a little bigger than the Rhododendrum right now, it’s supposed to get “showy Raspberry-red fall foliage”.  Should be pretty.    Right now it has these pretty white clusters.

Here are my munchkins enjoying the sunshine and the yard.  I have a lot of work to do still in the back yard - the area with the Hydrangeas needs to be cleaned up and mulched.  I also need to dig out the weeds in  the garden bed along the back fence and in the vegetable patch (not pictured because right now it’s just nasty).  I’ll share some photos of what’s blooming along the back in my next post.  Hope you enjoyed the backyard tour.  Oh and hey, did I mention?  We have GRASS!!

What’s up with old folk songs used as kids songs?  Did you ever listen to the words?  We have a Nursery Rhyme CD, and “Little Brown Jug” is one of the songs….(Taken from Wikipedia read on),

“Little Brown Jug” is a song written in 1869 by Joseph Winner, originally published credited to “Eastburn” (Winner’s middle name).

Original 1869 sheet music cover

It was originally a drinking song. It remained well known as a folk song into the early 20th century. Like many songs which make reference to alcoholic beverages, it enjoyed new popularity during the Prohibition era. In 1939 bandleader Glenn Miller recorded and broadcast his swing instrumental arrangement of the tune with great success, and the number became one of the best known orchestrations of the American Big Band era.

The song’s lyrics are about a man and his wife and their hard life due to alcoholism; however, the tone and tune are bright and cheerful.

[edit] Original lyrics

Me and my wife live all alone

In a little log hut we call our own;

She loves gin and I love rum,

And don’t we have a lot of fun!

Chorus

Ha, ha, ha, you and me,

Little brown jug, don’t I love thee!

Ha, ha, ha, you and me,

Little brown jug, don’t I love thee!

There’s more, but you get the point.  And it’s especially odd because the CD and of course, this song is sung by a choir of children. 

(Nicole, Me, Ross, Ashley and Francesca)

Happy Mother’s Day to you all! And a very special Happy Mother’s Day to Nicole, her very first with her beautiful baby Eleanor.  My Grand-baby!

May all you moms out there have the kind of day that you want to have.  Enjoy!!!!

I dislike backhanded compliments.  I dislike ambiguous comments even more.  Francesca and I were at her gymnastics class recently.  It was the first class and we were early.  She ran around a lot while we were waiting to get into the room.  No biggie - she didn’t bother anyone or act destructively, she acted…well she acted like a 2 year old.

Inside the gymnastics room we introduced ourselves and then waited again for the instructors to set up all the pads and pieces to an obstacle course.  All the children were sitting on the sides with their moms (not a sexist comment - just noting that there were no men in the room - just women - I’m guessing some nannies and a grandmother or two) some were sitting better than others.  Francesca does not sit well.  She was wiggling and squirming and was vocal about the fact that she did not like waiting and sitting.  Mercifully, the obstacle course was quickly set up.  As we were waiting our turn, one of the moms turned to me and said “I know you.  We saw you in church on Easter.  I thought it was interesting how you just watcher her.” 

Gulp.  How do you respond to this?  Easter Mass was not one of my fondest memories.  We typically attend “lower mass” on Sundays which is basically the basement of the church.  The upper church, the actual church where there are pews and the alter are no place for children who do not sit well.  I learned that lesson early when Ross was a baby and upon finishing his bottle threw it and it landed in the pew ahead of us.  A man who was less than thrilled with this occurrence turned to hand the bottle to me with a glare you would not believe.  I know it was inappropriate to throw the bottle, but heck he was under a year old.  Doesn’t this man remember what it’s like to have children?  Little children?  Needless to say since that day we have attended lower mass, a family friendly area in which no one thinks twice if little ones run around, the church even has books for the kids to read and a Church Bulletin made specifically for kids with games and pictures to color.  They even have the children come up and sing “The Lord’s Prayer”.  It’s Catholic Mass lite. 

So Easter Sunday, we ended up at the 10:30 Mass apparently a very popular choice as the upper church and lower church were filled to capacity and we were directed to the school Gymnasium otherwise known as the Parish Life Center.  People sat on the bleachers and in folding chairs.  We stood on the side, by choice.  Multiple times ushers directed us to open seats to which I declined.  Ross would sit, Francesca is just too young.  Now I must point out that we were not the only ones standing on the side.

During mass, Francesca proceeded to spin, she spins and spins until she gets dizzy.  I would stop her before she did, and she was right by me and causing no harm.  Then the dressy patent leathers came off.  I tried to get them back on but she started to scream “no shoes”.  So there she was in tights on the floor.  Again, with 4 kids, you just don’t sweat the small stuff.  Towards the end she started to walk down the corridor.  I watched her, knowing if I tried to keep her still she would cry and scream.  She didn’t go far, always turning back.  When she did get a little further I would then go and retrieve her.  The other mothers comments made at gymnastics took me right back to the moment.

Most mothers can empathize with other mothers.  We have all experienced those moments when your child will not behave.  It would have been easier to just stay home from church.  But putting our children in social situations helps to teach them how to behave appropriately.  It’s not that I didn’t try, I did.  But she didn’t listen.  I did reinforce to her that she misbehaved, there in church and then again later as we talked.  As she gets older she will get it.  I don’t think that mom will.

In the end, I decided to shake it off.  I responded that “watching her was the appropriate thing to do in that moment”.  It was a civil response.  Because really, I wanted to say how I found it “interesting that she had an opinion on my parenting”.

I think when a two year old takes her own diaper off because it is wet that it is time to start potty training.  Lately, Francesca has taken to stripping.  She takes her clothes off wherever she can.  She has never liked shoes (who can blame her - I’m a barefoot girl myself in the house) so she has always whipped off her shoes and socks at every opportunity.  Pants and shirts are optional too.

We have been at the park district and she has started to pull her pants down.  Now she undresses and takes her diaper off when she had wet herself.  We were by Nicole and Brandon yesterday visiting little Eleanor and were all in the backyard.  Francesca started with her shoes and socks and was running in the grass barefoot.  A short time later her pants and diaper were off in a flash and she run squealing through the yard.  I wish I had a photo but we were all too busy laughing.

I think it’s time to pull out the old potty chair and begin the potty training.  Goodbye Huggies size #3, hello training diapers and potty chairs!

Ross had a play date a little while back.  He was in his room with his friend Joey and was showing him some of his favorite toys.  I was enjoying listening to his conversation when I heard him say “my mom made this one for me.”   Emphasis on the “made”.

Okay, stop laughing. Seriously. Stop. Laughing.

I made this bunny from the free pattern on the Wee Wonderfuls Website

http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/wee_wonderfuls/store/wee-bunny.html

And although the face is cute, the rest of the body leaves a lot to be desired.  But Ross loves it.  He has slept with it since I made it last year and it seems that he really enjoys the fact that I made it especially for him.  I need to pull out the cat pattern and make one for Francesca now, since she is getting older and will soon be asking why I didn’t make her one too.

It made me feel so good to hear him be so happy that it was made just for him.  He calls the bunny “Lovey”.  Too cute.  I’ll have to do more little projects for the kids….and with them, now that they are older.

My daughter Nicole and her husband Brandon have been waiting a long time for Eleanor to arrive.  I can’t express how joyful we are to have her here - safe and sound, healthy and beautiful.  Mom, dad and baby are all doing well.

Eleanor is all of about 18 hours old in these photos.  She is a very alert little girl.  She seems older than a newborn, it must be from the extra two weeks that she decided to stay inside, all comfy and cozy.  Welcome to the world little Eleanor.  We love you.  God Bless you.

Gosh it’s been a while since I posted - so sorry!  Things have been a little hectic but I now find some down time.  Nicole was induced this morning, she has been laboring since about noon.  And now, at almost 10pm, she is still laboring.  Today was my dads birthday, if my granddaughter is born today she’ll be in good company.  Looks light it might go into the wee morning hours of tomorrow though. 

I won’t post too much about this as I will leave the details for Nicole to post when her little miracle is born.  Let’s just say it is very hard to watch your daughter in pain, even if you know it’s a good thing, having a baby and all.  Hoping she has a smooth, safe delivery and that mom, baby and dad all come through healthy, safe and happy, albeit tired.

I’m off now,  to not worry at all.  Right.  A feeling Nicole will know all to well when she becomes a mother.  Prayers and well thoughts.  I can’t wait to meet my beautiful granddaughter and kiss the new mom and dad!

This evening we were at the Park District for Ross’ swim lesson and as usual, after his lesson he joined us over in the kiddie pool which is where I keep Francesca occupied for the duration of his class.

As the kids were playing in the kiddie pool, I issued the 10 minute warning that we would leave soon. Francesca wanted to go down the slide and as she was leaving the pool and going over to the slide she slipped and slammed down hard on her arm.

As I rushed over to her - a whole 3 feet away or so, she was screaming and holding her left arm.  I picked her up and tried to see if I could get her to move her hand with no luck.  As I was excidedly telling Ross to come out and that we had to leave - (most likely to go to the hospital since her arm was bruised and looked swolen to me), one of the moms who had just dropped her daughter off for lessons and had her younger son in the kiddie pool calmly asked me to sit down and put Francesca on my lap.  I didn’t even know her name but we’ve engaged in small talk over the last few weeks.

She proceeded to place a towel on my lap and another over Francesca’s body and then started asking Francesca to tap her fingers on to her hand.  By now Francesca had stopped crying and was starting to move her hand a little.  As the mom continued to worked with Francesca, having her move her hand, her elbow and her shoulder - asking her to squeeze her finger and tap her hand, I asked if she was a nurse.  Turns out she is a Physical Therapist.

After some good time was passed  it was clear that she likely didn’t break anything and that I just needed to keep an eye on her for any problems most likely, she was fine.  I thanked this mom and asked her name - we finally introduced ourselves - which normally would have happened already - I guess we were both wrapped up in watching over the kids.  I also told her how very lucky for me she was there and that she was a Physical Therapist to boot!

She very politely said that if the roles were reversed I’d have done the exact same thing.  I wish I could say I was more calm and purposely reactful but I was not - I was scared and not sure exactly what to do.  After 4 kids, you’d think I’d have it down but none of my children have ever broken a bone (or almost broken one) before.  We’ve had stitches and blood - and for some strange reason I reacted more calmly and knew what to do. 

 I hope I don’t have a situation like this again although I know I’m lucky everything was just fine, but I’m going to need to brush up on my emergency first aid.  Julie, I know you are not reading this but thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Not just because you knew what to do but because you knew how to be so very calming for Francesca and for me.

Easter has passed and it was a very busy, very wonderful time for all of us.  The children went to Soldier Field for the candy grab, we had our own Easter Egg hunt at Nonna’s house and went to mass Easter Sunday and then had the family over for dinner.

At Soldier Field

Coloring Easter eggs

Nonna’s Easter egg hunt

checking out the candy

Yum, chocolate!

Easter Bunny brought baskets and Wii!

Hope your holiday was wonderful.  As for me, NO MORE CHOCOLATE!