The Ice Age Meltdown continues! The kids and I were all geared up to plant some peas in a pot in the basement until Dan reminded me that it had about an inch of water over the whole surface from the melting snow and rain seeping in. So, we didn’t plant anything that day. After it dried out a few days, Nathan, Natalie and I headed downstairs with a packet of pea seeds and mixed in some extra potting soil to fill up the big pot, and threw in a good handful of peas.

This last Saturday Dan noticed they were beginning to sprout, news that excited Nathan. So, thinking he could eat them, immediately went to the basement and pulled our single sprout and proudly came upstairs to show us! Then, we had to have a little talk trying to explain about sprouting, and harvesting, and when peas are ready. Yesterday I drug out the huge pot to the south side of the garage, where we were playing in the magically warm sun. So by the weekend, I imagine they’ll all be up!

Two weeks ago, I hosted a Pampered Chef Freezer Meal party, primarily with my own purpose of putting up a few meals for after the baby comes in July. Seven of us worked in the kitchen and it was so fun and easy the way it was all set up. We each had a cooler of our groceries for the recipes I had chosen, and then stations were set up with directions and kitchen gadgets, knives, cutting boards and towels to assemble the meal. Once finished, it was thrown in a freezer bag or dish and a sticker with instructions was put on for future use, then clean up your station in the sink and move on to the next one! I would totally do it again! After our freezer meal party, some of our family stuck around for lunch and to hang out. The kids were having a blast, but I lost it over a phrase Nathan said to my Dad.

Grandpa E was sitting on the couch next to Grandma, while Nathan was on the floor by his feet playing. Suddenly he looks up at Grandpa E, and says in the sweetest, most innocent voice, “Grandpa, do you have a lot of energy?” Mom and I burst out laughing! I imagine someone must’ve said to him in passing that he has a lot of energy, and he picked up on it. So then, he went around the house finding “energy” to give to Grandpa! I’m not sure he knows exactly what “energy” is, and I suspect he believes it’s a physical object you possess.

Later that weekend when we were on our way home with the kids in their pj’s, I went to put Nathan to bed, and discovered he had put a magnetic ball down his pajamas and it was hanging out by his toes! This kid!

Yesterday he spent the morning with Natalie at a friend’s house while I had a delightful prenatal massage. They had just finished lunch and we were on the way home, with the warm sun streaming in the windows, all of us cheery from the lovely weather. I overheard Nathan begin to sing “Old MacDonald Has A Farm” and I smiled as I listened to him scroll through the list of animals….cow, cat, dog, goat, chicken. Then I laughed when he sang that Old MacDonald had a bird that said “tweet tweet” and then I had to call Dan and tell him how funny he was after he sang that Old MacDonald had a squirrel. He paused, and said, “Mom! What sound does a squirrel make?” I didn’t really know what to say. “I think a squirrel says toodle-oodle-oo.” And he went on singing!

Sunday he was a bit hyper after we went through the car wash, so while Natalie was desperately trying to fall asleep on the way home, he was talking to her asking her questions:

Natalie! Are you a dog?

Or are you a cat?

Or are you a tractor?

Or are you a diaper bag?

Or are you a barn?

And the list continued, as Dan and I just laughed and smiled at each other! Where does he come up with this stuff!?!

Yesterday, the weather was gorgeous, so we put out a blanket on the south side of the garage, where it blocked the cool wind, and collected the sidewalk chalk, bubbles and a few tricycles to play and have fun. The cats all followed the sound of our voices, and Natalie crawled around on the mostly dry (and fairly green) grass chasing them, saying “hi” and “meow.” A few strips of snow remain and Nathan used his chalk to make some snow art, so Natalie followed him over to the snow. Suddenly, I hear Nathan giving Natalie instructions about how she should not put her hands in the snow because it’s cold and it will hurt. See!, he said and showed her his red hands. It was hilarious! He was basically repeating how Dan reminds him to wear his mittens when he helps with chores because otherwise his hands will get cold.

Dan finally located a used double stroller, the exact brand we wanted at a discounted price and it arrived in the mail last week. I was more excited than the kids! It was like Christmas, as I ripped open the box and began to assemble it. It was too cold to use outside for a few days, so instead, I pushed the kids around the living room and kitchen, which they loved! We finally broke it in on our sloppy driveway, and has now been on several walks, and I am thrilled to have something that represents “freedom” for this Mama!

Natalie cannot stop saying “hi” and “bye” and her newest word is “bite”, indicating she wants to eat something you have, even if it’s a drink of water. She now flies up and down the stairs, and is especially aware if they are carpeted, which she loves. She keeps getting more teeth! Both of her canine teeth are now coming in, and her appetite is enormous! She walks on her own with confidence now and then, but loves to hold your hand. She is obsessed with belly buttons and wants to see everyone’s! Her latest fascination is the light switch she can reach on the stairway. She and Nathan must’ve played with it, laughing hysterically for more than 30 minutes yesterday! She imitates actions perfectly and now will join in the songs at Library time or pretends to eat something when she and Nathan play together.

Last Saturday, Dan took the kids to the Luverne Farm Store Pancake Appreciation Breakfast while I got the opportunity to have some time to myself. I had two objectives in mind: paint a changing table we’d acquired with Annie Sloan’s Paris Gray chalk paint, and deep clean the bathroom! I accomplished both, but not without knocking over the very expensive quart of paint and spilling almost half of it! Dan just laughed! The combination of my normal clumsiness, combined with a big belly that lends itself to balance issues, is a recipe for disaster in my world!

It certainly has been an eventful couple of weeks!

And that’s the news on this snow-then-sunny-weather-and-funny-Nathanism’s-week on the farm!