The Rest of the Weekend...

Den and I had BIG plans this weekend. We were going to build a 2 foot retaining wall to ensure the new addition and deck didn't fall off the hilllside. Den even came home early from work on Friday. As we stood there in the backyard debating to angle the wall or not, how to anchor, how to get the needed materials to the house, I decided to call the landscape architect we'd been working with on the overall design of the yard, but had decided to put off implemting and asked how soon she could squeeze us in.

With that off our plates, I could go shopping for veggies that I decided to wait to plant until I felt better (and until it wasn't 90+ degrees), and Den and G'pa could cut down two menacing and prickly hollies that we had been toying with cutting down (I think they are still picking out holly spurs and while these are smiles of happiness it is more that they are nearing completion).

I hate cutting down/killing perfectly healthy plants, each one is a big deal for me, but in the end, I decided that we'd put in plants that wouldn't branch into the path and serve as an obstacle course for the kids as they headed to the bottom terrace.

On Sunday, it was time for a good ole' fashioned sprinkler romp. Josie pronounced it too 'hot', which of course she meant as too cold. Eddie had a blast.

Today, the g'parents toured DC and this afternoon, as I told Eddie and Josie they absolutely must play outside, and that the porch would be fine, Eddie decided to haul all of his trains to the back porch. He told Josie she had to help and she gamely grabbed half the box.

The kids had a blast with G'parents, each day Eddie asked how many more nights they would be here and Josie would call out with her little inflection to either G'ma or G'pa. Josie also surprised with a couple accomplishments: singing the first stanza of Amazing Grace (Eddie knows the second verse), counting to 10 (Eddie can go to 100). Josie has gone from speaking 1 and 2 word phrases to complete sentences. Eddie's accomplishments are much more nuianced, more in recognition of how the world works and not as apparent. He defintiely grasps the concept of time in weeks, days, etc., but doesn't likely fully appreciate how it all fits together. They are a lot of fun right now and have a good time playing together.