General weekend update

We had a busy weekend.  We were still agonizing over the house sale.  We had many contractors through the house and several conflicting opinions about the roof.  In the end, the roof was the big contention, our insurance said it needed minor repairs and the buyers insisted we said we'd replace it regardless of the insurance opinion.  So, now we are back to trying to sell again.  Not what we really wanted, but hopefully it will all work out.

The whole house thing has taken up so much time, I had almost forgotten I'm off to San Diego for 3 days with work.  Won't be a great trip because I probably won't see much outside the hotel, but it's San Diego!!!!

The kids are doing fine.  Maggie had her first softball game.  She's still doing Girls on the Run, although there won't be much running done this year.  She had horse riding on Tuesdays, so she is busy every night of the week.  Ben hasn't been doing much since he can't do gymnastics right now.  I'm taking him to get his cast off on Thursday.  He says his hand still hurts, but that's hardly surprising when they cut a piece of bone out!!!  I'm hoping for a good verdict from the doctor.

Softball season has arrived

Maggie had her first softball game of the season on Saturday.  The rules have changed this year and now only the girls can pitch (the coaches used to take over after 3 balls) and they can steal bases.  Stealing bases is apparently where it's at!!!  The fielding team haven't got the hang of watching out for that, so a lot of runs are getting in via this new technique!!!

The uniforms are new too.  Now they have regular baseball pants rather than the shorts.  They look pretty sharp.  The "Daisies" name was ruled too baby for them and they are now "The Wildcats".  Unfortunately, printed shirts are not in yet.  I'm glad they are still purple though!!!

Maggie and Taylor watching the game

Maggie and her bunny ears....

Fielding in the outfield

After the game, we picked up the "April Showers" bags with the Girl Scouts.  We went to Karen's to sort everything out.  I used the opportunity to get rid of all the old toiletries we don't need any more, including Ben's crazy collection of hotel room stuff.  Busy day.

Spring pics

We walk by this abandoned house every time we walk to the school. It's been abandoned as long as we have lived in Rock Hill, it's really a mess.  I noticed these beautiful tulips growing in the wasteland yesterday and marveled at how nature can eventually take over and try to repair the damage we do.  I posted this picture on facebook and when I walked by later the same day, someone had removed them and the plant was completely trampled down.....

Another picture of nature trying to beautify things-you might think this was taken in a park, but it's the run off by our house.  The kids love to go down there when it's been raining a lot so they can see how much water is running through

Despite all the house difficulties this week, we are still hoping that we will be moving early next month.  I'm coming to terms with the fact that I may be leaving my garden behind once again.  I thought I'd better take some pictures so that I can replace my favourite plants after we find a new house.  These daffodils are really nice, they are growing under the Japanese maple tree

Everything is starting to grow very quickly this Spring.  There is a volunteer hollyhock in the middle of the columbines and penstemons

This may be the last year we get to appreciate our dogwood, still the biggest one I have seen anywhere

Ben's 14th birthday

Ben woke up, came downstairs and said "I'm 14, I'm old, my life is almost over!!" Yes, Ben you are soooo old!!!!  He is doing really well with his surgery, but he took some Vicodin before we went to iHop for breakfast.  He always has to take a short nap after he takes the Vicodin, so we didn't go to breakfast until later, but it was still packed there-not even sure why, I think it's not that great and expensive for what it is. Still, whatever the birthday boy wants.....

We did some quick birthday shopping and I bought him some shoes and Nike socks (what all the cool kids are wearing!!)
Karen and Dan (our realtors) gave us box seat tickets for the Cards game, Sam took Ben with him

Obviously great seats!!!!!

I think Ben had a pretty good birthday

Ben's wrist surgery

Ben had his wrist surgery on Wednesday. He was pretty excited about it.  He had to read all the instructions thoroughly while we were in the waiting room

They took him back into the pre-op room on his own. By the time I saw him again, he had an i.v., oxygen and an EKG hooked up.  They also gave him 2 injections in his arm to block the nerve.  He was pretty groggy, but he insisted on talking to me the whole time, and getting me to take pictures!!!!

This is Ben in the post-op room.  He was really groggy and completely wrapped up in warm blankets.  It took him a while to wake up, but he said he was doing fine.

I should have taken a picture of him in the wheelchair, but I got one in the car!!!!

He's looking pretty good for someone who has just had surgery!!!

He did pretty good the day of the surgery.  We even went for a walk to Tilles Park so he could get some fresh air.  He is in some pain, so he is having to take pain killers regularly.  He can't go back to school until 24 hours after he takes his last Vicodin.  Hopefully, that's not too long

Girls on the Run

The Girls on the Run Team this year.  Smaller group, but we know them all really well so they have been so much fun to interact with.  We did our first run around the neighborhood yesterday, it was quite an achievement for them.  However, when I say "run" I pretty much mean "plod".  We won't be getting any medals after the race!!!!

Spring fun in St Louis

With all the chaos of moving, we are missing out on some beautiful Spring days. However, we got chance to relax for a little bit yesterday.  Caroline arranged for us to go to brunch at a pop-up event (apparently, chefs rent out a restaurant for lunch or dinner.  The chef is Caroline's boss's wife.  They are from the Philippines, so it was "brunch with a Filipino touch".  She has a food blog http://www.skiptomalou.net/.  I am definitely going to check out some of the recipes when I get a chance.  The food was so much better than I expected and the panna cotta dessert I had was the best dessert EVER!!!!
After we left, I saw the brain cake in Soulard, Sam very graciously drove around the block so I could take a picture.  This is our #133

When we got home, we went for a quick walk in Tilles Park.  The flowering trees are absolutely beautiful at the moment.  I'm trying to get used to the thought that I won't have a garden this year....

Ben is close to being braces-free

I took Ben to the orthodontist on Tuesday afternoon.  He is finally done and they are taking his braces off in a month's time-YEAH!!!!!  After his appointment, I took him over to CGCH to get his blood drawn for his growth hormone levels (should have done 3 months ago).  We had 15 minutes to get grilled cheese and fries after, they definitely deserved it-Maggie was with us

We found the CGCH cake that has been moved inside.  It still looks in great shape

Easter 2015

 Maggie and I went to church with Jan and Julie and did the balloon release.  It was a beautiful morning, sunny and warm.  I gave in and let Maggie wear shorts to church rather than forcing her into a dress.  She was much happier and at least the church is very informal.  It still goes against my first instincts!!!

 I almost forgot to take a picture of the balloons

 Cute picture of Maggie, she looks so happy-must be the thought of donuts!!!

 We did away with the egg hunt and the Easter Bunny.  Jan and Julie did a hunt for Ben and Maggie

 They had to find clues around the garden

 They each got a book with a voucher for a trip.  Ben got a haunted house tour, dinner and a scary movie sleepover with Jan and Julie.  Maggie got a day fishing in Forest Park, dinner at the Boathouse and a backyard campout

I made a key lime pie for dessert.  I had a couple in Florida and they didn't taste of limes at all.  I was determined I was going to do better.  This one was delicious.  I said we need to retire to Florida and open a pie shop, not sure we could make it pay after how much it cost to make this!!!!

 Obviously the whole day wore Caroline out!!!

Our Florida Spring Break-Vegetation Pics

I never go anywhere without taking pictures of the flora.  This is Ben riding his bike down to the beach from our cabin

Pathway from the cabin to the beach

Lots of pine trees around

These were growing under the trees-some kind of bamboo or aloe family plant?

Flowering tree by our coffee shop

Looks like some kind of heather, it was growing everywhere

Found close to Jan and Julie's campground

Waiting for Sam and Maggie to come back from canoeing

Natural garden art

Our Florida Spring Break-Eden Gardens

We went to Eden Gardens State Park, an old plantation house built on the Bayou.  One of the ladies that had a shop in Seaside told us we should go and see it.  I was so glad we went.  There were a lot of trees with Spanish Moss on them, they looked beautiful

Ben and Maggie sat on the rocking chairs on the porch of the plantation house

This fountain was out in front of the house

Ben sitting on the dock by the bayou

Maggie and Jan looking for fish jumping out of the water

Picture across the bayou-another perfect day in Florida!!

There were a lot of camelias planted under the trees

Two trees intertwined.  It is very unusual for them to be of two different types

Trees with Maggie!!

Ben with camelia (and phone!)

My amazing husband-I am so lucky

Azaleas under the trees

Isn't this cool?  I love the shadows