How does the garden grow?

It's been more than a month since I last posted about the seeds we're growing for the garden. The seeds have continued their growth in my kitchen, so it's high time I get them out into the backyard where they belong. My two youngest DD's decided to help me. My oldest DD took the pictures.

This is the only shot I have of the third raised garden where we planted the yellow squash, zucchini, spaghetti squash, cilantro and basil. This picture was taken immediately after planting - those squash were bursting out of their containers.

Youngest DD liked digging in the dirt a bit, but she really wasn't any help at all.

The dog wasn't of any help either. She spent the time exploring the wood pile for bunnies. She doesn't quite get the concept of hunting bunnies, she just wants to play with them.

Tomatoes are planted in the back row and we're digging the holes for the pepper plants here. (I buy tomato plants from the local gardening store. I've never tried growing them from seed.) And that's pretty much it. I have some lettuce seeds that I want to toss in the ground yet, but it's time to be making dinner.

The Family Celebration

On Saturday we had a family celebration for DD's birthday. Dinner with Grandma and Grandpop. (Baked Ziti, Salad and Breadsticks for all those who want to know). Followed by gifts from everyone.

Here's that bicycle helmet she knew she needed when we were looking at bikes on Friday. And this is why I didn't get her one.

A new DS game. Somehow they never seem to have enough of those!

And here's everyone looking on as she starts up her new DS game. Puts a whole new twist on family game time doesn't it? Sigh.

And for her birthday cake DD chose Strawberry Shortcake. (Yum! And I didn't have to decorate it!)

Middle DD's Special Day

Middle DD's birthday is a short 2 weeks after her younger sister's. (Youngest DD is still trying to figure out why she isn't older if her birthday comes first). This year it fell on a Friday. The entire week was mandatory state testing in school, including some extra testing on Friday for the fourth graders. DD wasn't very happy about testing on her birthday. I knew the testing would be finished in the morning, and I figured they probably wouldn't be doing much of anything for the rest of the afternoon, so I e-mailed her teacher and arranged to pick up DD after a half day.

She was thrilled. First we drove to Daddy's office and the three of us went out for lunch. We went to Nifty Fifties where DD had a chocolate milkshake, burger and fries - and no reaction FG friends! (We have checked them out before, but it's been a couple of years since we've been there, so you never know). She also got a paper hat that she drew on and decorated for her birthday.

DH and I had already discussed what we were getting her for her birthday, and we had shopped around for the best prices, but we decided to let DD pick out the gift herself. So after dropping Daddy off we drove to the store and I informed DD that she was allowed to pick out a bike for her birthday. She was very excited. We called over a store clerk for some help and DD got to test drive three different possibilities. She's outgrown her current bike, so we got her an adult size bike. It's a bit big for right now, but she's showing all the signs of an approaching growth spurt, so by next summer I'm sure she'll fit the bike just right. DD was fairly certain she wanted a cruiser (that's a bike without any adjustable speeds, you hop on and pedal, and if you pedal backwards, that's the brakes). There were two cruisers, dark blue and light blue. But there was also a purple bike, a mountain bike, and (lets face it) is there any girl who doesn't like purple? So DD tested them all. She says it was really weird to be biking up and down the aisle of a store. The light blue cruiser was simply too big. And she finally decided that the gear switches and hand brakes on the mountain bike were just too confusing, So we got the dark blue cruiser.

We loaded the bike into the back of the mini van (good thing that back seat lays down flat in just seconds), and drove home. We arrived home after all of the other three had gotten home from school. They were a little concerned that middle DD hadn't arrived home on the bus. Maybe I should have left a note :o)

DD showed off her bike to big sister and brother. Little sister had gone across the street to play with friends. She practiced biking up and down the street. Then we decided to surprise youngest DD. Now that middle DD has a new bike, youngest DD gets the hand-me-down. So middle DD rode the old bike across the street and parked it on the sidewalk in front of their friends house. Then she went up to the door, knocked and waited for youngest DD. When the neighbor girls were gathered at the door she announced to her sister, "You need to put your bike away." She pointed to her old bike, then ran across the street and jumped on her new bike while all the girls started yelling "You got a new bike! You got a new bike!" Youngest DD was as thrilled for herself as she was for her sister.

All the girls got on their bikes and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon.

She had to wait until the following day to get a new bike helmet at the family birthday dinner.

Just a few photos

NutMeg lovin' up on her owner. Hey dog, get off the couch!

Youngest DD enjoying the April birthday party at school (with her homemade cupcake).

From first grade on up to fifth, the school hosts a monthly birthday party for every child that celebrated a birthday that month. This avoids numerous birthday celebrations in the classroom (and numerous substituting of treats for my food allergic children).

After downing a multi-colored cupcake the kids get to dance for about 15 minutes.

They assume the kids that are climbing the walls after those 15 minutes are just really excited.

My FG friends know better.

Mother's Day celebration at school.

All of the children read poems they wrote about their mothers.

Aww!

My seeds are growing!

It's been about two weeks since we started the seeds over Spring Break. In this box are the alyssum, zinnia, peppers and squash. The zucchini and yellow squash are really taking off, in fact I can't keep the lid on any longer. I need to prep the garden so I can plant really soon!




And in this box are the impatiens. Umm, no problem keeping the lid on here. For those wondering, I don't think this part of the experiment was very cost effective.




There actually are some growing, they're just really, really, tiny.