harvesting

Remember our sad attempt at a garden last year? It was actually our second year to try planting a garden and the second spot in my dad's yard. Being the persistent people that we are (and by "we" I mean Harland with a little help from the rest of us), we planted in a new spot and tried again this year.

Third time is a charm!

2 zucchini plants = beautiful golden zucchini. Lots of them!

Cucumbers. Did you know they have tiny thorn-like spikes before you wash them?

Soon we'll even have corn! (Emma's pointing at the silk)

Our own little pumpkin patch for this October.

Our First Harvest!!!

Har found a vine from the cucumber (the spikey looking nubby thing) plant that weaved it's way up into one of the tomato plants. We've got lots and lots of green tomatoes. Can't wait for them to get ripe! Tomatoes are our quite popular around here.

My favorite gardener and his blue ribbon worthy golden zucchini.



my kids have the best dad

Nuff said.

Happy Father's Day, babe.

Mr. No Name

Sixteen years ago I was at an activity for the young single adult members of the local branch of my church. The person(s) in charge of the activity totally slacked their responsibility, so we were just sitting around. I decided to be productive and introduce myself to people I hadn't met yet. A few minutes later I came to a young Marine...who would not tell me his name. His response to my request, "If you really want to know, you'll find out."

He was right.

Nowadays I call him lots of things:
Father of my children
Babe
Har (sometimes Haaaaar!)
CARPEN'R (when he's not listening to me)
Sweetie
Boyfriend (the kids hate it when I use this one)
Perv
Husband (lucky me!)

but today we all can all call him...
The Birthday Boy!
He's 37.
Yes, that's younger than me. I'm good like that.


Opening gifts with his helpers



Happy birthday, my love! (Ooo. One more for the list)

Hate is the new Love

scene: naptime as i leave the room

me: i love you, buddy.

nash: i love you better.

scene: my bedroom as i'm contemplating how to dress

me: i don't think i'm going to the gym today.

husband: why not?

me: laundry and stuff...i just don't feel like it.

husband: i'll do the laundry. you should go to the gym.

me: i don't want to

husband: {insert meaningful comment that i won't share}. go to the gym. you'll feel better after.

me: i hate you.

i dress for the gym

scene: a few minutes later in the kitchen

me: nash put your shoes & socks on.

nash: no.

husband: come on, nash, i'll help you get your shoes on.

nash: no! i hate you!

me: see. it's not just me. he hates you, too.

scene: 10 minutes later outside. husband standing next to my car as nash & i are about to drive away

me: bye. i hate you.

nash shouting from the back seat: i hate you better.

The Man I Love

For the last 15 years on April 14th, while many people are rushing to file and finish their taxes, I'm celebrating the best decision I ever made: marrying Harland.

I decided to post a little about my handsome man because other than the fact that he does laundry, I don't think I've written too much about him...and I needed a reason to post some old pictures his mom just gave us. *BIG GRIN*

In high school and college I dated football players, plain old players, cowboys & Cali boys (no comments from the ex-roommate peanut gallery), but I fell in love with a band geek...this one to be exact.

A friend recently reminded me how Harland locked himself out of a car he was borrowing on our first date when he walked me to the door. It was late. He decided not to bother his friend and slept on my couch. I should've taken that as an indicator - he's easily distracted....but I like his version of the next morning. Ask him sometime.

When Emma was a newborn Harland made a video that consisted of at least 20 minutes of him filming baby Emma while she lay in his lap making faces in reaction to his baby talk. No one else was in the room, just new Dad and new Emma.

Other men (you know, the kind you meet at church) always, always come up to me after they've played sports with Harland for the first time and tell me how fast he is. Always.

He carries my luggage, empties a car full of groceries in the fewest trips possible, and totes whatever else needs toting. I affectionately call him my "pack horse". He rolls his eyes.

My daughter thinks he looks like Tom Cruise. I used to watch Top Gun...a lot.

He'd snuggle a strange cat over a friend's baby in a heart beat.

When we met we lived just a few minutes away from my BFF, Rachel. She was dating (and later married) JP. Har and JP became instant friends when they didn't have to...well, they kinda did.For our anniversary this year he gave me a card that reads:

Here's to us. To what we've done:

Stayed together.

Supported each other.

Been happy.

Made something of ourselves.

Grew up.

Changed.

Defied the odds.

I'm proud of that.

Proud of us.

In love with you.

Still.

Always.

Best decision I ever made!

uncelebrated anniversary

A year ago today was Harland's last day of work at the Four Seasons. He informed me yesterday that this temporary turned permanent job has gone back to being temporary and this will be his last week. Laid off twice in two years...in the same week no less.

When Har was laid off last year, we weren't too worried. He received a nice severence package, we had a good tax return coming, and in my mom's words, "You have a roof over your heads and plenty of food in the kitchen." (My mom rocks, by the way.) In many ways last year was such a wonderful time for us. While Har looked for jobs we could still take care of our needs, we had him around all the time (have you heard he does laundry?), and we took several fabulous vacations (like this one or this one). Amazing, right?

Honestly, we're not too upset about this lay off. The paycheck just replaced the unemplyment check...did not improve it. No to mention that he'll have more freedom to do some hunting and interviewing for real jobs. This temp gig did get in the way of that.

This time around, we aren't planning vacations and we'll be budgeting tighter, but we're not complaining. We'll be praying for a job again, but a job that he likes going to and one that pays well enough that we can move into our own place. Aren't we supposed to be specific in our prayers?

Here's to another wonderful year...

Luau at the Retirement Home

My Great Aunt Joan lives in an assisted living facility. Every once in a while they host some fun activities and invite the resident's family. We like hanging out with Aunt Joan so we jumped at this chance.

Of course, once we got there the cantankerous ole broad didn't want to go to dinner or see the show. My charming mother got her to at least come to the dining room with us.

There we found some yummy island inspired dishes, and YES Nash is standing in front of a roasted pig. Pretty cool. I ate some of him....the pig, not Nash.

After we ate, had a short visit, and watched the kids make friends, Aunt Joan was ready to go back to her room. I tried to entice her with the promise of half naked men dancing for her. No go. She went back to her room. Probably good, because I was wrong about the half naked men.

When we reported back to Aunt Joan the following video is the only reason she was sad she went back to her room early.

On his birthday Har & I took Nash park hopping at Disneyland while the big kids were in school. He got to pick all the rides and activities without having to sit around. We saw the Playhouse Disney show, stayed cool in the 100 degree weather and best of all got to meet Mater!

Go ahead...Be jealous

Recently, on Facebook I listed 25 random things about me and one of them was how much I HATE laundry. Maybe he's paying attention or maybe he, too, was sick of looking at the overflowing laundry basket, but yesterday....yesterday was the best thing he has ever done for me - EVER (husbands pay attention). The man did all of the laundry. I don't mean he washed a couple of loads. My man spotted and washed the mountain of clothing my family of five produced this past week. All day my outstanding husband was running back and forth from the garage to our room where he folded laundry as soon as it came out of the dryer until the hamper was totally empty - totally empty. I didn't ask him to do it. He never complained or asked for help. He just did. Close your mouth. You're going to catch flys.

California, HERE WE COME!

Right back where we started from!

Har got a great opportunity and promotion to Loss Prevention Assistant Manager at the Four Seasons in Santa Barbara (aka The Biltmore). We'll be moving to that area sometime in July. Don't ask me exactly where or when yet, because I don't know. I'm just excited that we are going!