Yardwork!

This weekend (4/25 and 4/26) Mom and I got a ton of yardwork done. Now that the house is painted, we really wanted to get the rest of the yard semi-finished. Puma and 3 of his friends (Josh, Ed and Mike) came over on Saturday and did about 5 hours worth of clean-up with me. It was fantastic. They got 4 loads of brush taken off and a load of garbage/recycling hauled away. I went plant shopping and got some ferns and other greenery that will grow under my cedar and fir trees (well, that's the hope anyway!) . . .

The yard is looking great and Mom's patio is fantastic. It's now fully fenced and Myan and the dogs can roam around the entire backyard and then come to Yaya's for a visit -- all while safe. We love it. I'll post some pics tomorrow.

Auntie Lee Saves the Day!

Lee said that she was going to start coming over on Wednesday's after work to spend time with Myan (and to give me some time off).

Last night, Mom made a wonderful dinner (a wonderful salad and rice) -- but unfortunately Lee got held up at work so we ate without her. She called and said that she wouldn't be coming.

However, about 6:45 she showed up -- and Myan was thrilled! (so was i!)

Lee played with Myan and read her books while Mom and I cleaned (which i like to do, so don't feel badly for me) . . .

I ended up going to bed at 10 and Myan was up sleeping with Lee in the TV room. I woke up at 6:10 -- no Myan. I could hear her already up with Lee -- and I just layed there with a smile on my face . . . aaaahhh, what a night! I feel like I had a week off -- I feel renewed!

Thank YOU Auntie Lee. What a gift.

Myan's First Swimsuit

Yaya went shopping yesterday and got Myan her first swimsuit. Check her out!
(ok, please hold -- i just showed the blog to Aunt Larnie (al) and she said that in fact, this is not Myan's first swimsuit. And, Al's right....she did get Myan swimsuits when she was 8 months old --I think Tia tried them on Myan but I don't believe that she wore them outside...hell, I don't think I let her go outside until she was a year and a half -- so, just to clarify, this is the first swimsuit that she's worn outside.

Getting ready to put the suit on. She might have had pie before this picture was taken . . .

Painting is Done!!!

I can't believe that the house is painted (they have to come back today and finish a little trim, etc.) but overall, the house is done and it looks absolutely beautiful! I'm so happy with the color (and the fact that the house is now all the same color doesn't hurt) . . . Mom loves it too -- we're in heaven. We can't wait to work on the yard this weekend in the front and in Mom's courtyard now so it's all fixed up for spring and summer.

Mom's Courtyard. The new paint really shows off her doors. Lovely!

The shed now matches the house. How cool is that?

No paining started yet!

The painters called on Saturday and they didn't come over to prime the house. They should be showing up today to prime. I took pics of the house this morning before I left and I'll take some when I get home -- assuming they showed up to prime! tick, tock . . .

My Princess

Bailey Rain Page

I just had to share this newest photo of my other baby. She's been such a trooper thru all of the changes from the last couple of years (with Myan taking over the house and my time). I can't wait to spoil her this weekend while Larnie has Myan!

Last Night

This was Myan about 4:45 p.m. last night -- playing outside -- her FAVORITE thing to do in the world. She's got on her sandals, sun glasses, capri pants...the whole 9 yards. She's in heaven.

What you don't see pictured is from 9-10:30 p.m. when she wailed and screamed and cried that she wanted to go 'outside, outside' -- hell folks, I was cold and tired too and I wasn't about to start a tradition of going outside to play in the dark -- no matter what Papa says!

So, enjoy this picture -- and then remember that -- some pictures are worth a 1000 screams!

We did end up calling Papa about 9 so Myan could say 'happy' to him. (Papa's birthday yesterday)

And, we did end up going down to Yaya's house about 9:30 as Myan insisted that she wanted to see Yaya . . . .(we have to go outside to see Yaya...of course!) However, once we got down there, she just cried harder.

A little Gripe Water later -- she was fast asleep . . . rounding 11ish.

Dad's Birthday Dinner

Dad's birthday dinner was casual -- with good conversation, great food and wonderful family. I'm not sure if he got everything he wished for -- but I'll just guess that having his grand-daughters there was enough of a present for him. Now, if he'd just take his littlest grand-daughter home with his next time he leaves -- that would be the ultimate present! (for him, of course)

Easter Sunday Brunch

On Sunday, Dad and I started a huge Easter Brunch about 8:00 a.m. Thankfully Lee and Eric showed up early and helped us get moving a little faster. We had a wonderful brunch and put out eggs for Myan again in the back yard so she could do a 'family' hunt. She had already figured out that you could open the plastic eggs and find candy inside! (she didn't get that the day before)

Our Family Easter group: Mom, Dad, Larn, Juj, Nicole, Puma, Josh, Lee, Eric, Myan . . .and me.

It was a wonderful gathering and we all had fun sitting around, talking and blowing bubbles for Myan. Enjoy the Pictures!

Easter Saturday

We had such a fun Easter weekend. On Saturday -- we went to a small Easter Egg hunt at Messenger House (on Bainbridge on the water, no less!) and there were only about 10 kids in Myan's age group hunting for eggs (as opposed to the hundreds that showed up at the park) -- it made it so much more fun for her -- as I know she would have gotten overwhelmed with the huge crowds down at the park hunt. Julia took pictures, Dad and I helped Myan find eggs and Larnie and Mom found a perfect spot on a park bench to watch and cheer.

Glorious Weekend!

Myan got her toenails painted by Tia. Myan's showing them to me all the time, she loves them! She holds her feet up and says, 'Tia, Tia!' (meaning Julia, Julia!)

Here are the pics of Myan from Sunday morning LYING in the

dirt pile (which is soon to be a veg garden) . . .she just laid there -- for close to an hour.

Here is a picture of Lanny's 'wheatgrass/juicing' station.

He's very proud of it and asked me to take a picture.

This weekend was fantastic. Saturday -- Mom, Lanny, Myan and I spent most of the day outside -- goofing around -- watching Myan play in the yard. It was a great 70 degree day and it was soo relaxing.

Sunday? My best day of the year so far. I was supposed to attend an artichoke party -- yes, you heard me right, artichoke+party, at Larnie's. I called her at 10 a.m. and asked if she would mind if I passed the party -- yet sent Myan. I know, classy!

Mom took Myan about 2 to the party (where Tia painted Myan's toenails!!!) and I got to watch a Woody Allen movie (Crimes and Misdemeanors) from start to finish -- only stopping when I wanted to. How sweet it is. . . was, rather. Then, I cleaned off the patio furniture and Lanny helped me take apart the dishwasher and I cleaned all of the parts. Doesnt' sound like a perfect day -- probably -- to anyone else -- but to me? It was heaven.