The last of the belated Mothers Days 2014

This week we had to say good-bye to our favorite dentist. Also happily good-bye to Kiernan's last cavity. It is very hard to watch him be in pain. He did very well. He was very high. He was laid back in the chair burbling to us all then he said in a very slurred voice.

"Mom!?! Am I on the floor?"

hehe He was so funny.

The beginning of summer means its time to get the plants out of the flats and into the pots and the ground.

Its nice to have the tomatoes one step closer to delicious productivity. As of today we have only one or two plants left in the flats and I will bring those to neighbors and into work. That should spread good will and the probability of buckets of fresh produce for all.

We started an interesting project this week. We have noticed that Kiernan is just not as physically fit as he should be. So this week we started the Adventure Quest fitness challenge. Each day we came up with a quest that required some strenuous physical activity. Here is David as the Evil Wizard lobbing water balloons at our brave adventurer. There were a large number of burpees in this challenge.

He also had to scale a castle wall (rock wall at the playground), run to the village (3 times fast around the yard), prepare to fight the troll (punching and kicking drills on the heavy bag in the garage) and hike to the Tower of the Tree Troll (down to the cow pasture and back). We made fun props and had a blast coming up with quest ideas and Kiernan was really into it.

We went to see Scearce's on Friday. The flowers were blooming and the creek beckoned. I left the kids there and borrowed the pick up for a quick run to tractor supply and 84 lumber. I picked up this great cattle panel for the climbing vine garden (cucumbers, squash and beans) and a new split rail to replace a broken one from a downed limb.

When I got back the kids were happy and hoppy. Megan had her nap and both of them had eaten well.

Can you imagine how lucky I am to have Mom and the Scearce's to help with these crazy kids?

We cleared off 2/3rds of the deck and David swept sanded and painted it.

He did a great job and found a perfect color match but with the additional bonus feature of a textured surface. It feels a little gritty on the feet and looks so good plus it should help protect those boards from all our crazy weather. Did you know we had a flash hail storm this week?

This is what a Mount Airy hail storm looks like from Frederick. I was on a walk when mom called me from the car as hail beat down above her (and the kids) while they waited at the farm-stand for fresh strawberries and rhubarb. For which the pie lovers among us rejoice.

While David worked on the deck I distracted the kids with front yard pool time and hanging art.

I am particularly proud of these air plant nautilus shell things in our bathroom. I think the plants look like tentacles or even like real nautilus'. 

This weekend Megan's tree finally took shape. I was hoping to have more of a hand in it but the kids needed full time wrangling as mom was working over the weekend. Also too many cooks spoil the soup and David was already doing such a bang up job.

So I stayed out with the kids and watched them learn to surf and play with the neighbor kids.

I am very sorry not to have any pictures of Mary here. 

We went for her Mothers Day celebration to the Cuban restaurant in Frederick . I love taking the kids to Cuban food. We eat it so much at home that it is one of the only non-ice cream shops that we go to where they are guaranteed to eat something with out making faces.

Kiernan tried to spread the gospel of Minecraft.

Megan cheered me on for finally dressing as she feels I ought.

We had a great relaxing walk back to the car by the canal and enjoyed being with each other.

None of this day possible without the presence and love of my amazing wonderful, kind step-mother.

Three cheers for Grandma Mary!

In the evening there was more tree work. I suspect this thing will be done by next weekend and then there is nothing left but the crown molding and a little closet work and Megan's room project will be finished until that far off day when we can afford to replace the flooring. 

It looks pretty great and she really likes it and I am very proud of it.

The two funniest things said in my presence this week.

Kiernan after being told to turn off a Minecraft video on YouTube because of bad language. 

In a somewhat Eureka moment. "Mom, I don't think that's bad language. I think its English!"

Waitress at Cuban restaurant, somewhat disdainfully, when asked about a vegetarian tamale option.

"We don't serve tamales, they are Mexican."