Tool time

At the request of Grandpa Rick, who wanted Jack to have something to play with in the big shop, we found a wooden toolbox for Jack the other day. I don't think he's let it out of his sight since Seriously... he even has it by his side when he sleeps!

Fever? What fever?!?!

Jack was running a fever this weekend--a remnant from our visit with his cousins up north--but we still managed to have some fun. He helped his Grandma Lynn feed the birds, clean stickers off the trees, pick up pecans, and water the plants. (And yes, his pants were almost completely soaked after feeding water to about six potted plants!)

He also helped Grandpa Rick dig a hole to repair the sprinklers.

And we celebrated last night with a trip to Scoopy's, where we pigged out on Frito pie and frozen custard sundaes.

Scoopy's is actually now named Caliche's, but it will forever be Scoopy's to me. Check out Jack's Frito pie face:

Like grandpa, like father, like son

I'm betting that, at this very moment, my dear husband is asleep in the armchair in front of the tube, oblivious to the sights and sounds of NASCAR drivers racing around the track in front of him. Know why I think this? 'Cause his dad, whom I love dearly, is doing just that in the next room. Jack, also currently napping, shared a bowl of popcorn with his grandpa in that armchair just a short while ago. If Jack and I were at home, he probably would have done the same thing with his dad. Those ever-predictable Marshall boys!

Sooooo not me... but me all the same.

Wishful thinking steered me to the Internet a month or two ago, where I discovered a beautiful designer diaper bag. The brand is Oi Oi, made in Australia, and supposedly owned by a whole list of celebrities (about which I really don't care, but it does give it a nice pedigree). The diaper bag I used with Jack? Carefully chosen at my favorite store, Target, and simple as simple can be. I was content with it. But the Oi Oi bag? Yowsers! It was beautiful. I bookmarked the site and searched for a better deal... but everything I came up with was in the low three-figures. Fast forward a few weeks, a few dozen more looksies at the bag online, and put me in New Mexico at my in-laws' house. I jokingly mentioned the bag to them, as well as the price tag. Less than twenty-four hours later, it had been ordered! And it was waiting for me upon our return to Las Cruces today. Wasn't expecting such generosity... but I won't complain!

Weekend with cousins

Over the weekend, with Jack's cousins Matthew (age 8) and Marissa (age 6) out of school, we were able to spend a lot of time playing around. We took a trip to see Granny (their great-grandma), and tore up the backyard as well. And I finally had someone take a picture of me (sorry it's not a belly shot!). Here we are with Grandma Kathy:

Matthew and Jack next to Aunt Yoli's "unit":

Granny was ornery as ever:


Took forever to get a good shot of all three kids together:

Bye to Brian

This morning, Brian and his dad (and Casey) headed out for the NASCAR race tonight in Phoenix. My hubby'll be back in the Golden state tomorrow, and I won't see him again for another two weeks.

Any guesses as to whom they're rooting for?


I couldn't resist taking a few pictures of the four dogs before Casey hit the road with Brian. Two black, two blonde, all mutts. Two are Bob and Yoli's; one is Kathy's. And the cutest one, of course, is our Casey Bean, seen here with the orange collar.

What could be more fun...

...for a two-year-old boy than a pile of gravel, a dump truck, and a shovel?


...or a grandpa who sets up a Thomas train set?

...or watching a backhoe work on the ditch just down the street?

Easter adventures

Happy Easter from Las Cruces, New Mexico, where we're spending a few days with Brian's family. We spent just over 21 hours driving here the past two days. My very kind in-laws, knowing the space limitations of our current house, had offered us up some space in their garage to store all our extra things. Our storage unit out back and third bedroom were bursting at the seams with a refrigerator, washer and dryer, many of Brian's tools, boxes of books and Jack's baby clothes... I could go on for awhile, but you get the point. We even had a huge pile of things next to the storage unit, wrapped in black Visquine, and left all winter to the elements! Since we are 90-something percent positive that this is where we'll move next, we rented an open-air trailer and hauled everything down here.

We drove 'til after eleven on Friday, spending the night at the Tropicana Express in Laughlin, and then until 10:30 last night. Of course, God had to send rain throughout most of Arizona, and Jack had problems of his own with constipation, which made him quite the little cranky-crankster. After a day of pushing, he finally had a bowel movement at dinner last night, and I'm sure, with our exclamations of joy, we ruined the meal of every patron within earshot! By the time we reached our final destination, we were all utterly pooped (pun actually intended). Today, Easter, we are quite happy to just relax with family, even capturing the occasion with four generations of Marshalls in a photo.

Our visit to the Valley

Jack and I just spent a week in the Manteca area, the first time we've been back since moving. I had a list about a mile long of people to see and places to visit, and we got most of it checked off. Poor Jack was quite the trooper, having to follow me around everywhere. Good thing the Nussbaumer and Gaines families had lots of fun toys to share! It was funny; I'd expected to drive into the area and immediately recognize what had changed. But what struck me instead was what HADN'T changed. So with that realization, I've compiled two lists.

Things I Don't Miss About the Valley:
1. The traffic, and rude, impatient drivers in general. I was honked and gestured at for stopping at a yellow light. I can't help if if you were following me too closely, lady!
2. The allergies.

Things I DO Miss About the Valley:
1. All our wonderful friends there.
2. Our church.
3. Close proximity to shopping and dining. (Although, I have to admit, fast food french fries taste sooo much better in the Eastern Sierra, when you have to drive 40 minutes to get them!)

4. Yards full o' grass. Green grass, brown grass... I don't care. Just GRASS.