Dinner tonight

We are still here, in over our heads with craziness.

Maybe someday I'll return to blog land.

In the meantime, popcorn for dinner? Why not.

hand, foot, and mouth

It's back again: that yucky virus that just seems to keep making its rounds.

Everett has the hand, foot, and mouth disease, and now River seems to be coming down with it again as well. At least we know what to expect this time.

Before this second outbreak at Brighthaven, a local pediatrician came to the school to do a news spot on the outbreaks and just wanted healthy kids playing in the background. Liam was in the lucky class that day, and if you watch through until the end, you'll get a glimpse of him playing.

superheroes and arkansas beauty queens

Yesterday was River's birthday, and we celebrated his special day in style. That's Superman on the left and Birthday Spiderman on the right. He knew it was his special day, which made it all the more special.

And we have one more superhero to add to the family: Captain Everett! Readjusting to a baby in the house is just that: an adjustment. But an oh-so-welcome one. He is squishy and smiley and ready to save the world. What's not to love?

And the Barbie at Forest's side, his prom date. They were one mighty fine couple, pretty in pink.

We have had a lot of major stuff going on here in the past month or two; stuff I am still trying to sort through before posting it here. It's been a rough road, but we are all still here, and for that I am most thankful.

He likes to dress himself

market joy

in the sunshine and soil

Today is warm. In the 70's with the sun shining and birds chirping. We spent the better part of the afternoon outside, weeding in the yard, dividing perennials, and trellising climbing roses. We means me and Gabriel.

Our boys both took an extra long nap. Must be the double-whammy viruses (Liam has hand, foot, and mouth now, too). Gabe and I have been taking emergen-c multiple times a day, and hoping/praying/wishing/crossing our fingers that we don't come down with either of the illnesses. So far so good.

We weren't the only ones out and about in the yard. The chickens have been extra happy, laying every day again.

And our neighborhood watchman has seemed especially happy with his job lately.

Liam woke up feverish and asking to help plant seeds. So we did.

We planted the seeds in some egg cartons we've stored in the laundry room since before we had chickens, stockpiling them for the future eggs. We didn't realize then that we didn't really need them. A wire bowl on the counter is lovely. And so the cartons finally have a use. I bought some disposable lidded cake pans from Wal-Mart, which work perfectly for two cartons. Until they germinate, the lids will work as mini greenhouses. And I won't throw them away when I am ready to transplant the seedlings to the garden. They'll go back on the shelf until I am ready to start some seeds again.

We started 13 different kinds of seeds:

• San Marzano tomatoes
• Dark Opal basil
• Sweet basil
• Black Seeded Simpson lettuce
• Buttercrunch lettuce
• Paris Island Romaine lettuce
• Italian parsley
• Garden cress
• Slow-bolt cilantro
• Broccoli
• Chives
• Dill
• Jalapenos

I labeled the pans with masking tape markers. And, yes, I now wear glasses. It turns out I can see a lot better with them. It kind of stinks that I always wear glasses now, but so does not seeing very well. So, glasses it is.

And this is what we did today...

It may feel like spring, but that hasn't stopped sickness from spreading.

Liam has a confirmed case of the flu. River has it too, along with a nasty case of "hand, foot, and mouth disease". And his ears are draining again.

And that's how we found ourselves in wal-mart, eating popsicles, waiting for Tamiflu.