helvrum@hotmail.com – Page 74

May 14, 2014

New Fence @ HBHQ

We’ve known for quite a while that we needed a new fence along the West part of our property, but we tend to take forever to make decisions about making changes/updates to our home. We’d been living with a leaning fence for years and a gate that was really just a bit of chicken wire nailed up. We’re not fancy people, but it was really not fancy. My dad, claiming he wanted to be sure to have a yard for Sparky to run around in, because Sydney wouldn’t escape, cleared some time in his schedule and came down to fix our fence up. I don’t officially have any ‘after’ pictures here, but it looks dandy now. My mom was able to come down as well and watch the girls while I cleaned out our garage. It was therapeutic to purge a TON of junk. I think I took two huge truck loads to the Goodwill. They asked if we were moving…..that’s how much stuff I got rid of.

My grandparents were also able to come over during the fence building and my grandpa and Maggie pounded some nails in togetther. The combination of them working on the fence was both loud and sweet. They were both talking at eachother, neither really listening to what the other was saying, but both laughing. Those two have a special bond.

My mom also planted a few pots with Maggie/Construction Sal‘s help. I was happy to be working in the garage and I know my mom was happy to get her hands dirty with the girls, so it all worked out just fine…..

izak dad audrey in red fuit-5

May 13, 2014

No Apologies.

If you happened to miss this picture the last two times that it was posted on the blog, I’m not sorry that I’m sharing it again. This was from a couple months ago and has been our desktop background since. Audrey figured this look out all on her own, combining her two loves, balls and hats, into one hip look.

I love her.

May 12, 2014

The Nuggets

“Mama, when do I start ballet again?” she asks me every week or so. And I tell her that I haven’t signed her up yet. But I will. And then I forget because that’s how it goes, one thought into my brain and another thought out, and, apparently, it’s the ballet thought that keeps getting pushed out of my brain. But she keeps asking and here I am, the middle of May, finally looking into it. Perhaps we’ll get her enrolled in a Summer class, but being tied down in the Summer is difficult because being outside is the best of the best during the summer months in the PNW.

Maggie is a dancer at heart, wanting to bust a move anytime there’s music. We were at Trader Joe’s recently, where Maggie likes to have her own cart to push, and she was busy picking out some squeeze packets. Without even realizing it she started shakin’ it in the middle of the aisle as she pondered which flavors she’d throw in her cart. I enjoyed watching her because she wasn’t dancing for the sake of performance, but because she felt the music and the music made her body move. It was adorable…and I’m well aware that a time will come where she’s too aware to dance in the aisle of the grocery store while picking out food.

Just as Maggie would enjoy a dance class this point in her life, I’m certain that Audrey would NOT enjoy for Maggie to be in a dance class. I say this because not too long ago we did have our little dancer enrolled in a 5 week course, and by the time the 45 minute class was done, I was ready for a nap of my own after chasing/managing Audrey. Audrey as a walker/runner/climber is willing to seek out all aspects of the world, wanting to see what’s higher, farther, and more difficult to get to. I admire that part about her personality, but when it comes to containing that for a specific period, it’s a challenge. Either way you cut it, Audrey is cool as a cucumber and Maggie is a dancing queen. These pictures prove it.

*Pictures from March of this year