The little things that make one happy

Sometimes, it is the little things in life that make one happy.

Silas sowed seeds into a styrofoam cup at preschool and watered it daily, watching it grow from a cup of dirt to a tiny plant. This week, he got to bring his plant home. (In years past, these plants were always MOTHER'S DAY gifts from preschooler to mother, but Silas insists that this is NOT the case this year!)

Silas and Mike planted it this morning in the marigold patch across the front of our house. (In fact, it MIGHT be a marigold plant and fit in nicely there!)

Mike is working on tiny projects this morning. A bumblebee has made a home by our back door overhang; Mike took care of it.

A wasp nest had been started at the front peak of our house; Mike took care of it.

I've been asking for the overhang by the sunporch doors to be fixed for.... well, a couple of years. This morning, Mike and Silas brought out the ladder and Silas proudly held his (plastic toy) hammer to help Daddy!

(Baby bird fell out of the nest on the opposite side last year; hopefully, mama bird will pick an alternate nesting place.)

These gifts make mommy happy!

Around this Yard - May 2015

This morning, Silas and Daddy planted this pot of flowers, placing it in the center of the phlox patch in our front yard. Lovely!

Our front bushes are starting to fill out nicely. In July, the center position will be held by a flowering hibiscus (Mike's favorite!).

Silas wanted to make sure I documented that dandelions are in bloom as well. There aren't many in our yard (thankfully). Fuzzy dandelions bring back memories of the time that Sydney popped a fluffy one into his mouth, as if it was a sucker, and froze with the tiny seeds all over his tongue.

Earlier this week, Mike planted marigolds in the front walkway along the sunporch.

The Christmas Cactus has made its way outside into the yard for the summer.

The Lily of the Valley are starting to bloom tiny white bells.

The Lily of the Valley are spreading out nicely around the tree in our yard.

Near the fence, there is a scraggly rose bush poking its stubborn head out of the ground. We have attempted to get rid of the rose bushes for the majority of our years at this address, but the darned thing keeps coming back!

This back corner of our upper yard houses the catnip. Our cats love to lay in this spot, especially in the morning sunshine.

Lots of greenery that will have flowers as the spring and summer progresses...

Spending LOTS of time outside in the yard!

Life popping up all over the yard... and flourishing quickly with our recent rainfall and warmer temperatures.

Some yellow things in the lower patio. Mike couldn't remember if he planted them there or if they were weeds. He left them in, convincing himself that they ARE flowers. Regardless, they are pretty... AND happen to be the favorite color of Silas! 

Our chives are bushy and delicious. We're enjoying them in cottage cheese already this spring season. Yummy! (Sydney finally tried this dish and LIKES IT!!! Yay!) Silas and Mommy snack on fresh chives when out in the yard.

The hastas (transplanted from Grandpa's house) are doing well along the back of the bonus room and are starting to fill out nicely.

The rhubarb is starting to go to seed already. Eeek! Mike's new plants look happy in the corner by the rock pile.

Yellow flowers on the hillside are admired by Silas and our neighbors.

And the smell of lilac is in the air.... from the neighbor's duplex.

One afternoon, I stood next to my car, glancing into our neighbors tiki lights and flower pot decorated yard. I asked Grandpa Lowell and Mike what they found most alarming from this vantage point. As I stood in that spot, my mom radar recognized the following alarming factors:

• cans of black spray paint sitting on the back step.
• an open bottle of charcoal lighter fluid next to the grill.
• a bottle of yellow tiki torch fluid.
• red gas can with spout attached, sitting on the sidewalk.
• spiked wheel leaning against the tree

(It is obvious that the neighbors do NOT have children.) We voted that the yellow tiki torch fluid was likely the most dangerous, since it resembles a gallon jug of lemonade. We're working hard to keep our children in OUR OWN YARD!!!

Potty dried

Back hill bouncing and the boy under the fence

The phlox are in full bloom. Daddy planted Marigolds. We're waiting for Silas to bring his (mother's day gift) plant home from preschool any day.

Boys enjoyed playing in the backyard today. Eventually, backyard neighbor boy (Oliver, age 3) spotted them on the hill. He and one of his older brothers came to bounce or roll down and run back up our hill.

By dinnertime, our boys were hot and sweaty with red faces.

Sadly, after dinner, we learned that Oliver couldn't play anymore tonight.

My boys laid at the fenceline, talking to Oliver under the fence. (So sweet!)

Celebrating FOUR for days with friends, family and family

Silas has been celebrating his fourth birthday FOR days!!! On Thursday, they celebrated his birthday at preschool and he got to pick a prize out of the birthday box; he picked a blow-up basketball. He also got to select a birthday crown; he picked YELLOW.

On Thursday afternoon, we ventured across the mighty Mississippi to go to Wisconsin to attend a funeral. Mommy didn't think it was fair for HER to go, but to force the kids to stay home in Iowa so, THEY got to decide what they wanted to do. Immediately, Sydney picked to go to Nana's house. Silas quickly followed in his selection. (Sorry Daddy... guess you will have to have a BOYS ONLY weekend together another time!)

On Friday morning, his ACTUAL BIRTHDAY, he woke to some lemon maccaroons and a Batman balloon. He got a YELLOW JEEP and a Wild Kratt movie from Nana & Papa. They watched the movie while we (Grandpa Lowell and mommy) were busy cooking for post-funeral gatherings and Nana was working half-a-day.

When Papa Olson and the boys ran down to Mike & Karin's house with the salad, Silas spotted Uncle Mike and ran to him. Unfortunately, he wiped out on the sidewalk and got some road rash. Uncle Mike cleaned and bandaged him up. (Thanks Uncle Mike!) To help him feel better, Uncle Mike and Auntie Karin gave him a tball glove, some bubbles and some sidewalk chalk. 

During the funeral, he hung out at Aunt Sue's house with his cousins - AvaLynn and Abigail and Baby Emma. (Emma is now crawling! FUN!) He got "lots of money" from Aunt Sue & Uncle Willy... four dollars.... AWESOME! His FAVORITE GIFT was a remote control car from cousins Rachel, AvaLynn and Abigail. 

After the funeral, the boys came to the post-party at Uncle Mike's house. We broke away from the company and sang to him in the kitchen. Then, he got to blow out the candle on his birthday cake. (Karin and Emma missed this part because Emma was nursing and going to bed.) They changed into jammies and voted to sleep in Mike & Karin's bed instead of going back to Nana's house with Grandpa Lowell at normal bedtime. 

He had a FANTASTIC BIRTHDAY!!! His favorite part of the day was NOT a gift, but a treasure.... playing with his cousins!!! SO SWEET!!!

Saturday morning, we headed back home to Iowa to celebrate as a family. Mike was nice enough to let us go to WI for the funeral while he stayed home. In fact, he didn't even get to talk to Silas on his actual birthday. (Thanks for letting us go to WI... where we needed to be!)

When we came home, Sydney wanted Silas to open his presents. (Daddy was in charge of all of the wrapping while we were gone and did a GREAT JOB!)

Sydney gave Silas Spiderman gifts: a shirt, a hat and a Mr. Potato Head Spiderman. 

Mom and Dad gave Silas a bottle of Flintstone vitamins (because he had been waiting to turn four so that he could have a FULL vitamin!!!), a Tball set and a little kid rake.

Grandpa Lowell and Silas tested out the tball set in the yard. First swing was PERFECT!!! (Beginner's Luck, I think.) The subsequent hits were.... not as good.

Grandpa Lowell gave Silas a PERFECT GIFT (for Silas).... a roll of masking tape. Silas LOVED IT!

Silas picked to go "to salsa & chips" for his birthday meal. He had also wanted PIZZA on his birthday, but we were so stuffed from our late lunch that he settled on air-popped POPCORN instead.

Silas had told Mike that he wanted a peanut butter cake; Mike was a busy baker while we were gone. It was delicious!

The boys even enjoyed an afternoon (boys only) outing with Daddy to go pick out some flowers.

All in all, it was a GREAT birthday celebration for (always going to be our baby) Silas!

May Day birthday 2015

Happy Fourth Birthday Silas!!!!

I was kicking myself for NOT taking photos on May 1st for the FOURTH BIRTHDAY of Silas, but we were preoccupied with a funeral and making food for afterwards. The boys spent the funeral at Aunt Sue's house and got to play with cousins AvaLynn, Abigail and Baby Emma while the rest of the Olson family was busy tending to other matters.

Grandpa Lowell surprised me with photos documenting Silas on his big day, sent via email.

(Cell phone camera.)

At this point, these cell phone pics are far better than nothing at all. I sharpened them up as best as I can in Photoshop and look forward to having them in my 2015 Project Life album... just as soon as I get around to starting it for this year! 

Thanks for the pics, Grandpa Lowell!

AND for helping to entertain the boys

AND for helping to cook food

AND for coming with on this quick trek to Wisconsin.