Spring 2013

After almost three years I thought I was doing pretty good as a mom and that maybe I could handle another one....  If I weren't drowning in laundry, dirty dishes, potty training, and a newborn I would laugh at myself-- or cry. (There is a very fine line between the two emotions right now.)  Needless to say, I am behind on documenting our wonderful but crazy life.  (Is doing a 4 month summary against the rules? Prepare for a long and slightly random post.)

Easter was fun this year because Judd is

old enough to get involved and know what is

going on.  I have to practice relaxing and

not stressing so much about things like

whether or not egg dye comes out of kitchen tables.

 

Judd is at the age where he wants to do

everything by himself. 

We celebrated Easter at the Ranch and it is a little boy's heaven.

There are tractors, old cars, dirt, and more treasures than

anyone could ask for.

 

Judd figured out how to look for eggs this year

and more specifically the plastic ones

because they have candy in them...

We also got to hear some family history and
go see where Great- Grandma Finicum's
homestead use to be.  This car marks
the spot where the dugout was.

Scott was giving Judd a ride on his blanket

so the next morning he had to give his

fire engine one too. 

Not exactly sure why he is licking the window....?

(ignore my laundry hung out to dry)

 

He thinks that Paca's really fine blasting

sand is wonderful to play in.

 

Dads make the best playing buddies.  :)

 

I came home to find to my surprise (and dismay)

that Judd was on the roof helping fix the swamp cooler..

Here Scott is showing Judd how to trim

branches on a tree in our yard. If you

look closely he even has his plastic saw to help.

Checking the bird's nest to see if the

eggs have hatched.

Going to church is a little more enjoyable

if he gets to bring power tools.

(the nursery leaders are probably relieved to

know that the tools have to stay in the car.) 

He saved a little moth that fell in his bath water.

He was so proud of it and was very careful the

rest of his bath so that he could show his Dad

when he got home from work.

 

 
Judd loves to be a cowboy but refuses to wear any cowboy
hat except this bright, fuchsia one. Oh well- I guess it goes
better with the frog jammies....

Tying Otis up to his tractor.

Good thing Judd has Paca to help him with the real thing.

 

Judd and Otis

I love that Spring is here!
There is plenty of sunshine, soft dirt, and treasures for
Judd and Otis to discover together.

Believe me, they find treasures galore.
Otis digs the hole and then they play
in the soft dirt and find bugs
(or sprinkler lines)

To be honest, as long as the hole is along

the fence and not in the middle of the lawn-

I think it's great.  Granted, I do have to watch

and make an occational reminder that "we don't

eat roly-polys, just play with them"....

I guess I should just be grateful that when I hear

Judd yelling from the back yard "BUG!" and brings

it to me-that so far it's only been roly-polys, earth worms,

1 beatle, and some small dirt clods....

One of Judd's favorite toys is a squirt bottle.
He has his very own and he loves squirting everything,
including the dogs.  Otis is a pretty good sport.
Here Judd is spraying his toes.

Honestly, Otis could probably use the cleaning

since he rarely (never) gets a bath. 

(Have you ever tried to give a 110+ lbs dog

a bath that didn't want one?...

I turn on the sprinklers and let him

play in them and hope that it is good enough)

Judd thinks Otis' toe nails are interesting

Because Otis is so big, he makes a great

mountain for Judd to drive his trucks on,

or a cushy chair to read books on.

Judd loves his Otis boy.  First thing he does

every morning is to run out and check on him.

Good Otis boy.

Spring Fever

Spring is here, and that means it's time for  
Easter peeps and T-ball!

That also means working in the yard and all my house
 projects that I've been waiting all winter to do. 

It's a lot of hard work....

But I guess I have a lot of moral support...

Currently we are working on redoing the deck and the
 master bathroom.They aren't happening as fast as I would
 like, (does it ever?) but I've decided progress is progress. :)

Judd is growing like all the weeds in my yard... He loves
to tinker with things like buttons and boxes.  Pens, laundry
baskets, and hinges are all fascinating.
Still no teeth, but tons of drool. :)







I just wish the weather would make up its mind. I am
ready for some sunshine, but I guess that is
why they call it Spring.



Judd has perfected a new form of communication and
we might just rename him Screetch.