It feels like our house has grown exponentially now that the snow’s gone and we have use of the backyard. That’s one of the things that sold me on this house. While it’s small, it’s got a great yard. It’s really too bad we don’t live in California where that yard can be used year round, ain’t it? Anyway, the yard. I’m currently referring to it as “The Dust Bowl” because there’s no grass in it (construction-aftermath) but in due time, Bridget, in due time. (Actually, we’re getting it hydro-seeded any day now. And for weeks I’ll turn into the wicked witch of the West when anyone steps foot on our tender baby grass. It’s going to be great.) The Dust Bowl is typically scattered with toys. An overturned tricycle over there, a volleyball here, a pool noodle (we don’t even have a pool?) and some toy trucks in between. Parker helps himself to the shed, and pulls things out one by one. The attention span of a three-year old, you know. Steve surveys the junkyard that our backyard can become at times and shakes his head. Then, when he’s sure every neighbor is judging us, it all gets put away. We rope Parker into it, and, if he isn’t being agreeable, occasionally threaten him with, “We’re going to give away your toys if you can’t clean them up!”
We walked downtown with the boys last week–we do this a lot–and I made the mistake of holding Parker on my hip in the ice cream store so he could see into the glass, and behind the counter. You could practically see his eyes grow big with the world beyond the freezer-height he was previously subject to. “Wook at the candy!” “I want sprinkles!” (He points with his middle finger. Steve tells him, “Your pointer finger is so much faster! Look!” Still, middle finger wins most of the time. He offends people wherever he goes.) How did he even know what sprinkles were? I got him a small cone. “Nilla!” With rainbow sprinkles on it, his first time. It was like I gave him a puppy when I handed it to him. He had to be coached in the ways of a cone, since he’s only ever had ice cream in a bowl. A few sprinkles dropped off and got stuck in his flip flop and here he is, bending over, trying to dislodge the sprinkles, while the cone is completely sideways as he works. “Parker! Your cone!” It’s only May. We’ll get there.
Anders takes it all in, more interested in food than Parker ever was. He’ll grab at our drinks as we bring them to our mouths, he’ll launch himself towards our plate. Parker was completely content simply observing the eating and taking no part in it. For a full year! Even when I did start him on food, I’m pretty sure he was reluctant. “Fine, Mom. If I must. Don’t even think of closing the milk bar though.”
It’s so nice to feel the sun. To smell the lilacs. I made a happy discovery last week: a lilac bush in full bloom in our backyard! I can’t say it’s the prettiest plant when it’s not in bloom, but the blooms and the smell are worth it. I clipped a few and stuck them in a jar a couple of days ago. I kept getting whiffs of it while I was cooking dinner. Blooms from my own yard!
This summer is promising.
A post tagged with summer ♥ – I'm really happy for you, after all that winter and snow stuff, you know. And I think, they just know! things like sprinkles. Maybe they get a secret manual?
And thanks for sharing the pointing with the middle finger story. Our son does it all the time – maybe I try it with "It's so much faster", he sometimes has a thing for efficiency.
okay must know immediately how you edit your pictures. I'm sure you've talked about this somewhere before but I just had to ask. xoxo.
i shoot manual now, which is a HUGE help. and i almost always lighten pictures a bit more with curves (photoshop–i have LR but never use it!). then i get a sort of "matte" look to the picture by plotting three points on the curves and dragging the bottom left corner up a bit. does that make sense?! good luck! xo
shoot girl, is that it! your pics are always so colorful and beautiful. manual forever and always.
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