25 March 2007

D-Ball (& Other Fun Stuff To Do When It's Sunny)

Oh how we love spring in this family. Anything to get out of the house & into some fresh air.

Hey, get me outta here, or I'll go crazy like my hair. Ahhhhh, the beauty of "curly" hair -- uncontrollable craziness.

Today we went to nana Noma's for part of the day to visit & help her out in the yard. Okay, it's mostly Devon helping, Avery "supervising," and Jordan & I hanging out, soakin' up the rays. Nana's already been working hard for a few weeks now -- every time there's a break in the rain, she's in the yard digging up rocks, planting things, & has even initiated the lawn mowing season. But, after she got the back mowed a couple of days ago, she couldn't get the electric starter to work on her fancy 2-year-old mower. Devon tried to troubleshoot the electric starter, but couldn't it figure out. But, if there's one thing Devon can do, it's mow a lawn! So he pulled the cord to start it, and ended up mowing nana's front lawn, then the neighbor's back yard, & when we got home, our whole yard (complete with weed whacking). I think he must have been missing his high school days of golf course maintenance.

Avery was busy "helping" nana Noma dig rocks out of her garden beds. Each spring nana Noma spends day after day digging out rocks so she can plant more things (this time: Asparagus). I tried to explain that her yard was an ancient river bed, but she's convinced they spend each winter mating. . . .
Anyway, while nana is digging, Avery likes to build worm "homes" with the rocks, then fill the "homes" with her pet worms. She names the worms for friends & family -- and today she even named one after her brand new cousin George William Milne* & one for cousin Nathan, too, who turns a great big 4 years old tomorrow. Happy Birthdays boys!!

After the hard yard work was done, Avery & nana got her yard toys washed for the season, then Devon & Avery played a little modified T-ball. D-ball is what I call it. Devon tried & tried to pitch, but Avery's gross & fine motor skills still have a ways to go. So, bravely, he held the ball in the palm of his hand for her to hit -- and nothing could have been more exciting. Granted, she's just 3 and it was a plastic bat, but I tried to hold it for her & couldn't -- I flinched every time. Way to go, daddy!

"Okay, I'm ready, gimme the pitch!"
Strike 30. . .
Hey, I think the smaller bat works better!
Home Run!Hmmmmm, I think this think shrunk over the winter. It hardly seems worth the effort, but Avery didn't mind. A slide is a slide. And she loves slides.
Washing up the other yard toys with nana Noma. She was under strict instructions not to get anyone wet with the hose, or she'd be in time out for the rest of the afternoon. It worked -- amazingly!
I think she might find that these toys shrunk over the winter, too -- especially her "house."
Taking in the rays. It's great to have Jordan join us outside so easily now. Note: it was sunny, but it was also cool, especially if you're not digging & washing & otherwise running around.

As for grandma Linda & grandpa Earl, they left early this morning headed for home! They started their winter adventure south at the end of November, and haven't been home for 4 months, so they were excited to get back. We had a great visit with them over the last couple of days, and can't wait to head north on our first mini-van trip to visit them in Hope. We hope to have a number of trips up there this summer to enjoy the wilds & beauty of British Columbia, and grandma & grandpa, too!

*Heidi's new little brother, born this morning in Seattle to Devon's cousin Crystal & her hubby Jarrod. Yeah Milnes!

1 comment:

Julie, Jeff, Jack, WIll and Jasper said...

What is that green stuff on the ground?