my very own garden

This was the playground at Edisto. Serious.

This is Grandma E.'s step to get on her bed repurposed as a garden. Its Evangeline and Irene's very own garden. E picked basil, dill, kale, marigolds, parsley and some purple flower for it.

This is my current pride and joy. Its a self closing gate for the garden. I got the gate from a house that was being torn down and used the window weights from our houses. Its light enough that the girls can get in on their own, but closes fast enough that the chickens can't get in.

Speaking of chickens.
This was during dinner.
Yes. We've been eating outside the last few days.

This chicken, the New Hampshire Red, is pretty happy with Evangeline picking her up.

Easter Vacation

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of change for us. We had a houseful, even with Aunt Carol coming one night. Vicar Phillips and his family came over after the Vigil, so we were bursting at the seams for a while, and then decided to fill it up again on Easter Sunday, although we spent most of the time in the backyard. On Monday we zipped off to Edisto Island SC for a week's vacation with the Mietzner side of the family. And now we are back home, and we've once again got plenty of empty beds for visitors.

This is cute, right?

Can't wait to get some of that new fire for myself.

I burned our entire Christmas tree on the New Fire, in order to both demonstrate the need for fire safety at Christmas time, and make the tallest fire possible.

Hey, Christ is risen! Why not eat a chocolate bunny?

Grandma Mietzner made some lovely dresses for the girls. Evangeline was totally thrilled to get a new purple dress.

Egg hunt. What could go wrong? Oh... yes... that is where I got a bunch of poison ivy a few weeks ago. 

TA DA

We had a great time in South Carolina. It was wonderful to spend a few days with my parents, Shepherd Kyle and my sister. We somehow didn't take many photos, although I know that many photos were taken. Evangeline flew a kite, made sand castles, stomped sand castles, made cookies, ate cookies, and slept in her new sleeping bag.

Ellee and I took advantage of the grandparents, yet again, and took an afternoon in Charleston, which was really beautiful.

We had birthday cake for Aunt Jessies 27th birthday.

Sleeping bag.

This was somehow their favorite thing on a gigantic playground.

What's Happening?

It is Holy Week. Tomorrow we get to the Great Vigil of Easter, then it's party time.

Since we last posted here, there's been a lot of sickness here. Evangeline, Irene and I threw up off and on for about 5 days. Including one in the car* (one of the children, ahem). But we've had a successful 3 days in which no one I know of in this house has thrown up. This is good. Just to make sure things didn't get out of control in the joy department during Holy Week, Kyle went and broke his toe (this is a unanimous diagnosis) today.

Mom, Dad and GG leave after this week, so we are all trying to enjoy these last few days as much as possible. (This means lingering in bed for us, and Evangeline getting grandma to sleep with her--or on the floor next to her--pretty much every night lately)

IHOP for PopPop's birthday.

Evangeline only ate the bananas off her "Punny Pace" pancake. Other possible
Evangeline highlight was her yelling "I went poop!" about 400 times
upon leaving the bathroom. 

Classic Irene: immediately grab candle flame

Hand washing.

She can eat with utensils.

We dyed eggs tonight. Grandma, Irene and Evangeline did some pre-dye drawing. Guess
what Evangeline wanted to draw? Easter Eggs.

Oh, oops. Back to IHOP. This after a very successful "Happy Birthday".

What did Evangeline want dad to write on her egg?
"Easter Egg".

Irene pretty much has to show GG everything.

You should put the egg in your mouth within
.2 seconds of getting it from the dye.

Zombie toe.

*Kyle reminded me that they both threw up in the car.

Family Reunion

We had a small family reunion here upon the arrival of my dad and grandma on Friday. Grandma's niece Alene came over. So did her nephew Terry (Alene's Brother) and his wife Mary, son Peter, and Peter's daughter Olivia. We had Asado on Saturday, and then they came to church on Sunday, and we had corned beef, as it was St. Patrick's day. I didn't get a group shot because I never think of it.

A few days ago. Sweet.

GG watching the action. Very muddy kids in progress. Katie was fine, though.

Terry and Dad doing Asado.

Grandma, Alene, and Mary.

We had a little birthday party for Terry (March 10) and Dad (March 25)

Terry, Dad, and Evangeline awaiting the Arrival of Peter and Olivia. Can you spot the Alaskan?

Showing off her moves to an appreciative crowd.

We made Mary move lots of furniture. There's Peter!

Olivia unafraid of chickens.

Finally someone who shares her interest in tree climbing.

They think it's their house too.

Happy in igloo.

We're beekeepers now. Honey coming in the fall.