Our Own Planter Boxes

For the longest time, I have always wanted to make our own planter boxes. Every year it was always on the to do list, but it never made it because I was too impatient and would rather plan my plants right away instead of waiting for the boxes to be made.This year, I planned ahead and started in Feb! Yep that right! A whole 3 months before the officially planting season. But it worked because here we have them!!!

We bought the lumber at Home Depot. It was a long piece that we had cut to fit our yard space. In all we spent a little over $40.00 Not too pricey I say! 

These are lined with chicken wire at the bottom, just in case we ever get any critters that might want to eat up my goodies. 

I also put in a few layers of paper bags from Trader Joes to help with weed control. Hopefully that works! These are looking so good and because they are a little taller I don't have to stoop so low when I do have to work on them. A plus for my back! Hooray for planning ahead!!!

Soph's First Sewing Item

This was hand sewn by Miss Soph! She made this one day while she was waiting for Magnus in his fencing class. She was so proud of herself!!! Although she couldn't figure what she could do with it. So I looked in my purse and gave her two pennies and told her that she could use it as a coin purse. That got her excited again until she realized that two pennies wasn't a lot...

Look at the dirt. It's been in the bottom of my purse for a while. Somehow my purse is a holder for her coin purse!

 "Yeah, I made this!"

Kicking her leg up for me to capture it. Because it is the cool way to take a photo!

Soph's Jokes

Soph has been saying the most hilarious things at the dinner table! She wants to be just like her brother and it is so funny to see her try to emulate his conversations. The other night, Magnus was telling a knock knock joke and she had to get in also. Her jokes:

Knock knock
Who's there?
Cow
Cow who?
Cow with sheep

Knock knock
Who's there?
It's a joke

Magnus is also into rhyming. One day out of nowhere, she goes, "haaah, it rhymes. Ranch and dressing." Sure Soph, if you say so! Sometimes it's so easy to love her!!!!

Friendship

In our homeschool group, we always have a mom's retreat in the fall. This particular year, I was crying out that my son doesn't have any friends.

Magnus is a different kind of child. He is very gentle, very cautious, and has no assertive bone in his body. So we prayed for Magnus to have a friend come along.

A few years have passed from that retreat...Looking back, Magnus was just being Magnus and I was being an overly sensitive mom. Doubting my son, thinking there was something wrong with him and that's why he didn't have any playmates. At 5 years old, he doesn't have the skills to be a friend to the extent that I wanted him to be. I was expecting too much. As time passed, he has made great strides. I really shouldn't have been a basket case like that...

I am so thankful for our friend Shelly, who is just amazing! My heart is filled with love when I think of how conscientious she is that Magnus is always included, that she always encourages her kids to play with him, and how sensitive she is to my feelings about this.

Here is her son with our son enjoying the sun!

Broken Tea Pot

The downside to having your children be a by product of you, is that they get your qualities. Good or bad. It is quite unfortunate and frustrating when it is the bad. Nobody wants that and nobody wants to deal with it. But you have to!

Soph has this fit of rage. When she is frustrated, she yells. When she is mad, she yells. When she doesn't want to do something she is told, she yells. At one point, she even threw things, hence broken tea pot. So I ask, where does she get this kind of behavior from??? It seems that all fingers are pointing to me. How disappointing and sad.

So we are working on her. We are telling her that it is not ok for her to act like that when she has those feelings. She is trying. There are good days and bad days, but mostly days of crying. Poor thing. It must be hard to not be able to express how you feel.

By the working of the Lord, I am no where a "rager" as I use to be. God is good and we are banking on the Lord to do His work on her too. I can't wait to see His handy on her!

Last Sewing Project

It has been quite some time since I have sewn anything. Time is not by my side for this thing. Keeping house, keeping children in harmony, and keeping up with school takes precedence. But the kids are becoming more independent and I think I could be back to this real soon!!!!

I got the pattern from here. It's super easy and super cute! Hopefully I can make more cuteness like this and not have to wait a year or longer. I'm talking about the dress...

Magnus is 2 years from the double digits!

That Magnus, we are so ever thankful for him. He is so smart, so compassionate, and quite a stinker! I mean in the literal sense of stinkyness! He is so good with Odin, seeks so much love and approval from his sister, but doesn't quite it it from her. Sometimes lacks total common sense that gets me in a tizzy. Bath taker that last for hours if I let him. When that does happen, he needs to take a potty break from bathing to do his business and then back in the tub he goes! Disgusting!!

Some things about Magnus right now:

Loves playing video games on dad's iPad

Reading anything and everything he can get his eyes on

Watching Shaun the sheep-I believe the show is made for toddlers, but it cracks him up

Cooking

Digging holes in the yard-I think it's a subconscious trap for me to twist my ankle

Being an ambitious teacher to his sister when teaching her letters


Magnus our lives would not be the same without you in it! We are so blessed to have you as our first born and as our son. We look forward to your growth in the Lord. One day not too far, you will surpass your mom in height! We love you so much son. Happy late birthday!