Multitasking

I couldn't help but chuckle when I passed Domi's room and saw him 'juggling' Sophia duty and reading.

On another note, our garden is coming together. Last weekend, Mike got the new soil shoveled in and rows dug. For our spring garden, I've decided to grow lettuce, spinach, broccoli, carrot, tomato, cucumber, strawberries, cantaloupe, and watermelon since those are perfect for the season and are foods that we'll eat. What I've learned in my companion planting research, is that tomatoes and carrots grow well together, but tomatoes and brocolli do not get on at all, and lettuce likes to be with carrots, radishes, and cucumbers. I'm currently skimming through Learn and Play in the Garden: Games, Crafts, and Activities for Children, and Roots Shoots Buckets & Boots for ideas on involving the tots in the gardening process.



Getting closer to spring.

Barack Obama in Austin, TX

Change

After seeing Obama in person this weekend at the Austin rally, and hearing his beautiful message, I knew this had to be my Best Shot Monday contribution.

Obamarama!

The moment I heard Obama would be holding a rally in Austin, I knew I had to go. Gates opened at 6:00 p.m and Obama was scheduled to speak at 9:00 p.m. Domi and I headed out early to beat the traffic, arrived at the Capitol before 6:00, and already there was a line wrapped around a couple blocks. It moved rather quickly, and after getting through security, we were approached by an usher who asked if Domi and I were together, and then if we'd like to sit backstage on the bleachers.

HECK YEAH we do!!

We didn't ask questions on why were were 'chosen', we just followed her through the standing crowd up toward the stage. We sat down in shock for several minutes just taking it all in while we watched the crowd fill up 11th street and Congress. We were feet away from where he would speak. And you know what the kicker of it all was? I looked in my beloved SLR Canon and saw that the compact flash card was missing! I left it in the printer after I had cleared it for this event. I wanted to SCREAM.

It was a 3 hour wait before Obama would make his appearance and it began getting very chilly, but the moment he came on stage, I forgot about it all, the memory card and the cold weather. And I had to make do with my crappy cell phone pictures, which did this event no justice, but it's better than nothin', I suppose.










For incredible footage, check out the photos Austin American Statesman has on the rally. Pay special attention to slide #14. If you look on the lower left hand side of the photo, you'll see my face poking out from behind Obama's jacket. I'm right behind the guy with the white shirt. Domi is next to me in the grey shirt with the blue collar.

If you take a look at slide #20, top left hand corner, you'll see Domi clapping.

Obama has a beautiful message and I am thrilled that we got to see him.

Clay

The tots enjoyed manipulating clay today. I made the mistake of adding too much water, so it was very sticky, but after some kneading, and addition of dry clay, we got the right texture.





And this would be my daughter. She's the disheveled one.
Won't keep her hair up in her ponytails or keep the clay off her face.

* sigh *

Breaking Ground

We are finally planting a GARDEN!

I'm so very excited about this because after all I've learned about conventionally grown food, and reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle the more I realize the importance of organic and locally grown food. The only downfall is the higher cost associated with organic food. However, when you really think about it, you may want to ask yourself why conventional food is so cheap. I'm happy to give up a few things here and there in order to have quality food. Tis the reason we're planting a garden. So I can grow my own organic veggies and fruits without paying the higher price.

Another thing I've realized is the impact that food has on our environment. The amount of oil it takes to get foods to the grocery store is staggering. I'm definitely understanding the reason for the local food movement.

"If every U.S. citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce our country's oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week."

Besides, the Sunday we spent working and prepping the area that will soon be our garden, was spent as a family. And it was time that the boys really enjoyed. How cool is that?

Best Shot Monday - Spring Is Coming

Here is the sign I saw today in my backyard.
Spring is coming. And I can feel it.



This shot below which I captured last week, is the one that left me feeling like hope is restored and that everything is as it should be.



For some more Best Shot Monday photos, shimmy on over to Mother May I, for some wonderful contributions.

Am I Ready?

This photo makes my heart ache.


My son is now a young man.


Photo Courtesy of O'Mama Melanie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melanie_in_texas/

Love Thursday

I was tickled pink when I saw the valentine's day goodies brought over this morning. Cman's Mama sure knows how to bake and get creative with food.







Organic Marshmallows made with no corn syrup.
And they are y-ummy!


I also got a gift card for coffee. I can't live without my coffee in the mornings.

Red + White = Pink!

The tots made their mommies Valentines.

Watercolors

There's nothing more gratifying than watching the tots learn something new. Even if it's the simple process of learning to watercolor.

Best Shot Monday

My kids at the Farmers Market
You can't really see it other than a portion of her boot, but my youngest is on my oldest's back.

This shot brightens my day. :)

East Side

On the days that I miss my border hometown, a trip to Austin's East side, Mr. Natural, gives me the fix I need.



The healthiest Mexican food you can find. Tofu Pipian, Cucumber Salad, Veggies and Nopalitos. And it's deliciously authentic.


And you can't forget the Horchata!

Farmers Market

It was a gorgeous Saturday and I meet up with the Fotoholic Females this morning. Have you ever seen such beautifully, organically, and locally grown food?

"Must Be Nice"

Those were the words my oblivious husband uttered to me today as I took a much needed cat-nap during the noon hour after the tots went down for theirs. Wroooong thing to say, but I ignored that remark.

But then, he goes on to add, "You have it easy... I watched what you and the tots were doing outside...they were happily running around playing while you were lounged up in the lawn chair reading a book in the sun...must be nice!"

The man clearly does not want to get lucky tonight!

So, I tell him he must have looked out the window during the sole 2 minutes I actually had to myself because I only got 2 1/2 pages of my book read and that he must have missed the episode of Toddler Survivor over the baby doll and stroller as well as the cat-fight over the balls. Not to mention the many times I was chasing tots to wipe snot off several faces, so much snot that I ran out of tissue (and I have the crusty evidence on my sleeve to prove it.)

We had fun outside though. Always do, and I'm thrilled we have gorgeous weather today and for the rest of the weekend.

Here's the coveted stroller.









And here's the CMan chowing down.