Happy Birthday, Isa!

Well, my darling granddaughter, I've been trying all day to get a happy birthday blog up for you and blogger is having none of it! There will be no pictures, however I wanted to make sure and say happy birthday here!

I will say how unbelievable it is to me that you are already 5! Wow, 5, five, FIVE! You are just getting so big. I so wish we could spend more time with you. I'm very grateful to your mommies dedication to blogging we we can "see" you and your brother as you grow.

Have a great day! I can hardly wait for our Disney trip! I love doing Disney with you and this time it will be with all your cousins too!!

We love you sweet girl!

Meemaw, Backa Cow, Uncle Kevin and Uncle Trevor

Decorating

I've probably mentioned before, how my mother and I use to compete (friendly) over who had the most decorations for each holiday. It's been awhile since I've put up decorations for most holidays, as I have lost my friendly competition. As silly as it may sound it was fun, she would usually call and say something like " I've just bought a new purdy, how many do you have"? She knew that the new one she just got meant she had one more than I did, I probably ran right out and bought two more just to be ahead again! My favorite was going in the day after while she was at work and buying some more at 50% off, I'd wait until she got home from work and inform her of my new purdies. Of course by the time she got there the next morning everything that was any good was taken. This year I decided to either put the Easter ones out or get rid of them, since I couldn't bear to part with them this is what I had Kevin do this morning.

I love the way he needs to examine each ornament before it goes on the twig.

Still missing my mom, wishing she was here to tell me how far ahead of me she was this year . . .

Learning to Garden

Last Sunday we have the opportunity to do some volunteer work with Angel Faces. As I understand it, this organization helps you set up and garden and then you donate 10% of what you harvest. Rhonda was there to show us how to pull the weeds. You may be thinking doesn't every one know how to do this? There is a trick to it in the dessert if you don't want to break off the root and sprout several more weeds! Here is Rhonda, showing how to twirl it in a circle before pulling on it. The pictures below show the group watching her, then Sara, with her first weed and Kevin pulling up his first weed.

Next we went and got the seedlings that were to be planted an brought them to the gardens they were to grow in.

Then we picked our tools and stools.

We all gathered to listen to how Rhonda wanted them planted. First the holes were dug, then we checked to make sure that the hole was big enough for the coconut container to fit in and be covered gently with dirt. Rhonda took the time to make sure it was understood by everyone, she assisted when needed and had so much patience with all.

Todd did the watering, but even this had to be taught for the dessert! See how high he is holding the water above the dirt? He needed to bring the head of the hose much lower so that the water wouldn't be absorb into the air or blown to the wrong places by the wind.

More planting going on, we were taught to handle the plants gently like you would a baby. This brought back memories of when all the nephews and nieces were little for Uncle Kevin.

Gentle,gentle.

Kevin giving Andy a little help here. This two are so cute together, I'm sure they are going to enjoy be brothers-in-law!!!

OOPS! Rhonda had to remind everyone about cleaning up after they are finished working with their tools.

Next we learned about composting, first you take the leaves out of the bags and pour them into the built up garden, then you level them out with a rake. Then you take the wagon and pick up the containers of dirt to be poured on top of the leaves.

Well, unless you're Andy who thought they'd make a good bean bag chair!

Sara didn't like it when her man got dirty!

Rhonda also spent some time teaching Kevin and Todd about working together. I took a couple of tries for them to get together on three to lift. They finally did it and all was good. She also spent time to show them the proper way to lift so they wouldn't hurt their backs.

The strong man!

Group shot! It was such a productive day and the group really learned a lot!!

Thanks so much for the experience Rhonda, I'm sure we'll be back!