Vegetable Garden

So we decided at the beginning of April (4/4/09) to start a vegetable garden. We added tomatoes (regular and cherry), butter lettuce, and two kinds of peppers. We are not really green thumb kind of people but we thought we'd try it out anyway. Shaun dug a trench so we could use some old wood we had to make a border. Then we added soil. Here are some pictures of when we first planted them:



And here are some pictures from a month ago (4/21/09). The original lettuce leaves died off and these are the new ones that have grown in. We have little babies on our cherry tomato plant and a little bud on our poblano pepper plant. I'm so excited.


Pictures from 5/5/09:



Pictures from 5/21/09 & 5/22/09:



Our pepper plants are getting bigger but not quite producing because we have an infestation of ants who seem to be devouring the little buds. I've tried cinnamon, garlic & red pepper spray, cornstarch & sugar but nothing seems to keep them away. Any advice other than pesticides?

Bataan Death March

Shaun and some of his friends participated in the 20th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March on Sunday, March 29. In 1942, 75,000 American and Filipino soldiers were captured by the Japanese and were forced to march (~60 miles) for days through the Philippine jungles. No food or water was given to them. Thousands died and those who survived became prisoners of war.

This annual march is to remember and honor those who were apart of that march. It is a trail marathon (26.2 miles) on pavement and sand through the desert and mountains. Shaun participated in the individual heavy which is where you carry 35+ lbs of weight in your rucksack. For most though the weight was more like 45+ lbs because they were carrying food and water. This weight did not count towards the total weight because it could be consumed. Shaun and his friends completed it in a little over 9 hrs which is awesome (they didn't cross the start line for about an hour because there were so many people). We are so proud of him and he is already saying he wants to do it next year, only he'll be more prepared next time around. It looked like we were coming into a battle field when people were crossing the finish line. Everyone is limping or lying down. And Shaun had some major blisters to show for it. He's doing a lot better today but he's still limping a little. I can only image the toll it took on their bodies. Some of the remaining survivors came and greeted those who participated. Unfortunately, I didn't see any of them when we got there.

Here are a few pictures:

Pony Rides

Last week Owen's school, St. Marks, had ponies brought in for the kids to ride and I was fortunate enough to get some shots. Owen was so excited - when he was getting on the pony he was smiling at the handler from ear to ear. They were so cute (the ponies and the kids).

No more Nuks - Woohoo!

I am happy to report that it has officially been 2 weeks since we got rid of the nuks (pacifiers). I made up my mind one weekend when Shaun was going to be out of town to toss them. We actually made it a big event. I talked to Owen all week about "mailing" them to "the baby" because the baby was going to be here soon and he really needed nuks. I used Shaun's cousin's, Mel, baby. I showed him a picture of her with her cute belly and explained that the baby was in her belly and would be coming soon. On Friday afternoon we put them in a Ziploc back and walked them to the mailbox. He opened the mailbox and put them in himself. The whole week I also explained to him that this meant he would not have them for nap and bedtime anymore, to which he shook his head acknowledging that he understood but I knew it was going in one ear and out the other.

So Friday night came and it was time for bed. We walk upstairs to his room and he begins looking for them in his bed. I explained again that we mailed them to the baby. He was very upset at first but then I was distracting him, changed his clothes, picked out a stuffed animal to sleep with, and he was doing ok until he thought about it and he would start to cry again. It was so sad. But then I explained to him again what we did, to which he said "I a baby". I told him he was a big boy and then we continued our nightly routine, read to him and said a prayer. I told him I would rub his back until he fell asleep and that really helped. He woke up about 3:30am so I just brought him in bed with me. Ever since he has done great even with his naps at school. Every once in a while he'll ask for them but I just tell him we mailed them to the baby and he's good.

This was a big decision for me since this is the only thing I've ever had to wean him off of. I already had a back up plan that if it didn't work that weekend I would wait until spring break when he wasn't in school. I decided to do it now because we will be driving to St. Louis this summer and that is a good 18 hr plus trip, so he would definitely get is nuk in the car which would start a domino effect. Once he gets it outside of his normal use he thinks he can have it anytime and so it would be a constant fight. I'm just glad it went a lot smoother than I thought.

Bye, bye mr. nuk.

New Lens

I just want to thank everyone who contributed to my Christmas camera lens fund. I was so excited when I finally got it. I got the Canon 50mm 1.4 which is an awesome portrait lens. A friend of mine has the same lens and all her pictures are amazing and that's when I decided that was going to be my next lens. Here are a couple of pictures I've taken with it -


And here are some I took for Valentine's Day -


Can you tell what my favorite subject is?
I LOVE this lens.

Christmas 2008

Christmas was so much fun this year. I think Shaun was more excited than Owen though. Shaun jumped out of bed and ran to Owen's room to wake him up. Owen was a little dazed but once he got down stairs he saw all the presents. I wrapped everything individually so it took awhile to open all of them but Owen loved it. He got more trains and tracks, books, movies, a guitar, a wiggle racer, and a tool box just like daddy. We spent most of the day playing and then off to dinner at the Johnson's house. It was so fun and yummy. We had all the fixings.

St. Louis Trip - Week of New Years

Alright, I'm getting closer to being caught up. The week after Christmas we went home to St. Louis to see all the family. Christmas is always a week long event for us. It took Owen a while to realize Christmas isn't really everyday.

First it was Christmas with Grandma Jenny, Aunt Rachel, Nana & Fran. He doesn't quite understand that all gifts are special so anything that wasn't a toy he just threw to the side.


That same day we did Christmas with Grandma Wild (MaMa) and PaPa. I think Owen thought he was in heaven after that day. Two different houses, two sets of presents.


New Year's Eve day we celebrated with Grandpa (Papa) & Grandma (Memaw) Neckermann where Owen got his mustang and everything that could open on it did (doors, trunk, hood). Oh, and he discovered his love for drums - and he can continue to love them at Papa's house. He also had a little sword fight with Papa. I think they did that for 1/2 an hour and Owen was not ready to stop. It sure did wear him out though.


And last but not least was MeMe's (Grandma Kappler) house where he got his very own laptop. Now, he can play with his and not mommy and daddy's. No more missing keyboard keys for us.


Between all the Christmas' we also celebrated our birthdays (Shaun, Jackie, and I), New Year's Eve (not sure what Owen was drinking) and Owen went to his first hockey game (which he was in awe of). I've never seen my child sit so still.