Garden

We have not given up on a garden. Our yard... with it's 20+ trees doesn't offer enough sunlight. Last year we tried a garden at our friend's house but, being on the other side of town, it wasn't that convenient. And we weren't very happy with what we did get.

So Britt found an urban garden program at the Rutledge Wilson Farm just down the street from our house. So we've been busy getting it ready!

The girls love digging around in the dirt and finding roly poly bugs, worms and other stuff!

After our first day of work.

Someone else's garden... and hopefully what ours will look like soon!

Just before the end of our first day, Britt left to get together with some friends while I finished up. Allyson was tired and wanted to wait in the car. When it was time to go I could not find my keys. Anywhere. I was about to call Britt when I realized... hmm... Allyson was in the car by herself... with my keys. "Allyson, do you know where Mommy's keys are?" "Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. They're in the door," she says.

Sure enough. They were in the door.

It's a pretty area and we look forward to spending lots of evenings together as a family tending our little garden. Britt bought tons of tomato plants. He is excited to have lots to give away like his Grandpa. We can only hope for tomatoes as amazing as the elder Davis men grow!

There's even a picnic bench where we may have some picnics this summer!

Good Friday Service

We went to a Good Friday service this evening. It was at a church where I attend a mom's group. I didn't realize they would only have childcare for the younger ones so Nicole had to sit in the main service with us. I was so touched during the song service to look next to me and see Nicole singing with all of her might, hands raised to Heaven. The kids church workers where we attend have told me she loves to worship but tonight I saw it first-hand. Made me want to have a heart like hers. So thankful for this little girl!

So, I secretly snapped a few pictures... 

And then she caught me.

Fruit Kebabs

Nicole wanted to make a recipe from her kids cookbook tonight. So they made fruit kebabs for dessert. She was so cute talking to Allyson, sounding very "teacher-like" as she instructed her on the "how-to's" of kebab-making. At one point she was saying, "Allyson, my only concern is..." and she began to show her the sharp point on the stick. They are SO cute to watch just being sisters!!

 Allyson lost a strawberry (or two) on her white shirt. Bummer.

More Eye Trouble

Poor Nicole. Monday I got a call from the school nurse that she was having trouble with her eye. Again. No one could remember her doing anything to it. (Well, not since February when Daddy accidentally scratched her cornea. Again.) 

But, sure enough. It was red and puffy and so I took her to the doctor where he pulled out the trusty eye exam tray. We should have one of these engraved with her name.

Diagnosis: Viral conjunctivitis. No injury issue. Just keep her out of school for a couple of days. We decided to go to Target to spend the rest of Aunt Angela's and Aunt Dusty's birthday gift card. We found plenty of stuff to keep her busy while out of school. 

But, when it was time to send her back to school, I didn't think it looked any better. In fact, it seemed to look worse. So we went back to the doctor. Again. This time he saw something different. Something that scared me. He said it looked like she might have a more serious virus. One that could impair her vision. So, with visions of a 7-year-old with a white cane and ... well, she'd finally get that dog she wanted, only it'd be a seeing eye dog ... we were sent immediately to the ophthalmologist.  

 Turns out she didn't have a virus at all! It was the cornea injury! Again. The cornea is not healing correctly and this is why it keeps flaring up at random times. Monday it was just beginning to reappear but didn't actually show a scratch. When we went back it was actually getting worse, making it look as if it could be a progressing virus.

The girls thought they were so cool in the sunglasses the receptionist gave them. The sunglasses they didn't need because no one's eyes were actually dilated. But, hey, they were fun. And they wore them inside the grocery store when we went to get her prescription. Just me and my little Stevie Wonders.

So, anyway. After a couple of days of ointment she was excited to announce, "Mommy, look, my eye is white again!" We go back to the ophthalmologist next week to start a long-term drop treatment to help the cornea heal right ... hopefully once and for all!!

On a side note, I was a pretty proud mom to be told by the pediatrician's office and the ophthalmologist's office that my kids were some of the most well-behaved they've seen. (99th percentile to be specific.) The doctor had to take something out of Nicole's eye and he commented how brave she was. She just said, "Yeah, I just held onto the bars real tight."  Then Allyson started putting in her two cents and he just laughed, looked at me and said, "Your kids are really cute." I agreed. 

Big Girl Bed

I know it's time. She's 3 1/2 years old! And she's started waking up needing to go to the bathroom. But I haven't been ready. Sure, there's the end of the baby stage and dismantling the crib is officially saying that your little one is no longer a baby. That's sad enough. But the really sad part for me is not being able to cage Allyson anymore. I mean, I always had a place I could put her where she couldn't get out. Now that is gone. Sigh.

Still, she was nothing but excitement at the thought of getting her big girl bed. So, tonight, she sleeps in it for the first time. Big sister is sleeping next to her on the floor. Love my big girls. :)

I think Leona made this blanket. It fits the bed perfectly!

Allyson's Antique Roadshow

I took the girls downtown for the St. Patrick's Day Parade only to find out it didn't start for another two hours. So we spent some time looking through the shops downtown. Allyson latched on to a hat on display in an antique store and put on quite the show for us.

Branson Tornado

From 3/22/12 

Many have asked if we were okay after the tornado. Thankfully it didn't come near us (within about an hour's drive). In fact, I didn't even know there had been a tornado until late the next day.

Unfortunately, Branson residents weren't so fortunate. I've spent a good deal of time in Branson researching my book so we have many fond memories there and were very saddened to see the devastation. I drove down there the other day and took some pictures. I also found this very interesting video which tells all about the path of the tornado via Google Earth and offers some other pictures.

Here are some pictures I took of the aftermath. So very sad.