How Does Your Garden Grow?

When we moved to the little house in NC, there was a side yard that was more of a jungle than anything else. Some of the weeds were four feet tall, most of them were at least knee high, the entire thing was super overgrown. We found an entire set of closet shelving, random scraps of metal, and a rusty saw blade in this area. Exciting. So, one day, I mentioned to Jonathan that something needed to be done about this area. Next thing I knew, he was out there with the lawn mower, taking care of business. 

Half cut, half wild. Wire shelves that were in there.

Jonathan "Lawn Mowering" (Peter's words)

All cleared out

Once it was all mowed, we both raked it out and got the giant stalks out of the dirt patch. There were low weeds that were growing across the entire area that were pulled out. We debated on what to do about this area. Just let grass grow and have extra yard space, garden, or get some outdoor play things- little plastic slides and such. 

We decided on garden. Jonathan loves to garden, and I love to have produce that I can grab from my yard. He is more of a gardener than I am, but if he starts one, I'll help maintain it. One Saturday, he grabbed a bunch of scrap wood and made a simple planter box in the dirt patch. Peter was in love with the building process and excited to have a garden. The garden box was built quickly, but it stayed void of plants for a while. So, Peter planted some rocks. And by planted I mean he threw big rocks into the box with no rhyme or reason. It stayed like that for a while.

Rock garden

Then, a friend from church posted on Facebook that she had 3 extra zucchini plants free for the taking. I told her we would love to take them off her hands. The boys and I went over, played at her house for a bit and came home 3 plants richer. Then after 2 different stops by the store, we now have a pretty good garden. We got a late start this year because we were still going by Utah planting season to avoid frost....which was unnecessary here. So we didn't start anything from seeds, but at least we've got something, and it's pretty good.

Current garden state!

We have (from bottom left going clockwise) cilantro, green beans, zucchini, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, eggplant, and corn in the center. Peter really wanted to plant corn, so we're giving it a go. We've also never done eggplant, but Jonathan thought it would be fun, so that is another experimental one. The other plants are ones we eat all the time, so it will be great to have them. The kids help water them, and so far they are growing great! I'll try to do some updates on the garden as summer progresses and we'll see how much success we have.

Get Outta My House

There are some days that when you get to the end of the day, you look back and think, "Well, I did not see the day going like this." Last Friday was one of those days.

The boys and I had been out doing some shopping, and we were driving to Grandma's house to pick up my sister, to bring her back to my house where we would get out and she would take the car back so she could use it while she is in town for the next little while. We had pizza to prep because we were going to have all my family over than night for a pizza party. We drove past our house on the way to Grandma's house, and I noticed a white car in the driveway. I assumed that it was a worker doing something on the barn and didn't think about it any more. We drove and got Allison and came back to the house. The white car was still in the driveway.

Allison helped get the boys out of the car and I grabbed the first load of groceries. We all walked to the house, I unlocked the door, and we went inside. I set down the groceries and went back to the car for the rest of the food. As I left the house, I noticed the white car driving quickly down the driveway toward the road. My first thought was, "So help me if they took my groceries I will cut them." But the groceries were all there, so I grabbed them, took them in the house and started putting everything away.

After everything was put away, I noticed that Jonathan's duffle bag was in our bedroom doorway...strange. Then, I noticed that our laptop was in the duffle bag (which, believe it or not, is not where we usually keep it). I grabbed my phone and called Jonathan as I walked into our room. Within 5 seconds in our room, I realized something was very wrong. Drawers were open, clothes on the floor, and our closet door was closed (we never close it). Jonathan didn't pick up, so I immediately called my Dad and said, "Dad, I think someone just tried to rob us." As I was on the phone with my Dad (for about 45 seconds) I could feel and hear myself getting more tense, emotional and scared the more I described what I was seeing. I pushed the closet door open and our closet window was open, screen pushed out. Suddenly everything made sense. There had been someone in our house when we got home. They must have come in through that window and I just didn't notice the open window when we were walking to the house. We'd stopped the attempted burglary and the individual had fled in that little white car. My Dad asked if we were okay, told me he was going to make a phone call and he'd be right over.

About 5-10 minutes later, my parents showed up. My Dad checked the barn, nothing was missing. Also, nothing was missing from our house. Laptops were accounted for, my camera was still sitting on the chair, tv and Wii were in their places. Passports, and important documents were all in their spots and jewelry was in its box. Soon after my parents arrived, Deputy Grant came by and I gave her a report of all that had happened. She made notes but said it was unlikely they would catch the person. I had a vague car description- white car, 4 door, small spoiler on the back, 30 day tags from SC. I hadn't seen a person, and they didn't take anything. I felt scared, angry, and very unsettled. Someone had been in my house. Someone I did not invite. Someone who wanted to take my things. I kept thinking, what if we had stopped to drop off groceries before getting Allison, what if I had gone back to the car a second earlier and seen the person, what if we had parked differently and I had put it together faster and gotten a plate number, what if they had tried to hurt us? I wish I had seen them or gotten a license plate number, but I am also grateful that they didn't take anything and that they decided just to flee instead of anything else.

I'm glad Allison was there with me. She kept Peter's attention off of Mom being scared and helped him with lunch and kept him occupied while I talked with the deputy. The deputy was also awesome with Peter and talked with him a little bit- they exchanged names and he asked her about her day. Allison stayed with me once everyone left while I made pizza dough for the family gathering later that day. After the dough was made, we all went back to my parents' home. I didn't want to be alone at the house with the boys. I feel very lucky, but I still feel very unsettled. I now check all the windows before I leave the house, and feel very anxious every time I come back home from being anywhere. I'm still pretty jumpy with random sounds, and if any car pulls up in our driveway, I walk straight out.

I also feel a level of confusion...I mean, you drive up to this house...

And you think, "Yeah. That's the place. I bet they have loads of things I could sell and make bank." This tiny house with the paint peeling off the sides. I bet he was a little disappointed when he got inside. Also, probably didn't help that we still haven't finished unpacking our bedroom, so it's a hot mess in there anyway. Anyway. So, that was how my last Friday went. Attempted burglary and police reports. But, we did end the day with a successful pizza party, the dough turned out great (usually Jonathan is in charge of the dough, but this time I made it), everyone had fun, and we got a bunch of the Gleaves family together. So, like they say, All's well that ends well. But, if I see that car again, they are getting a rock in their window. 

The Critters of the 17 Acre Woods

A couple of things I'd forgotten about life in the south- it's humid, and bugs. There are so many more living things that we get to see on a regular basis. Some of them I love, and some of them I really really do not love. They frequently get into my house. Sometimes they get in because Peter brings them in, and sometimes they find their own way. It's exciting.

Lizards and Toads

These are some of Peter's favorite critters. We saw a lizard on the window one of the first days we lived here, and have since seen them most days. They hang out on the side of the house, the fence and the shed. Peter tries to catch them, but when they move he gets nervous and freezes and they get away. Jonathan caught one the other day and Peter held it for a second before it escaped. Then, the next time Jonathan tried to catch it, the lizard bit him. So, now Peter always asks if it's a biting lizard. 

Spot the lizard!

Peter has also discovered toads, and he is better at catching them. The other day he surprised Grandpa with a bucket of toads that he has caught with Jonathan. So then, a couple days later, Grandpa came to our door with a toad in a bucket for Peter. Grandpa handed it to Peter, and it got loose, which happens frequently. But this time, it jumped through our open front door and into the living room, behind the dryer. Grandpa got it out, but it was an exciting couple of minutes. Haha. Then, Peter was playing with the same toad outside for a few minutes, and it got away from him and escaped through the fence. Peter started sobbing. He wanted to keep the toad forever. Poor little guy. Luckily there are always more toads. 

The Crawling Ones

Peter is also expert at finding inchworms, caterpillars, roly polys and earthworms. He pronounced it Anchworm for a while, but he's got it now. He keeps asking me if they can be his pet. He tries to convince me that they like to be in the house because they don't like the wind. Not a good enough reason. So, they always get to live in the plant by the door. He's put at least ten inchworms in that planter. He's also killed a number of inchworms, on accident. He'll say, "Mom. He not crawling. Why he not crawling?!" So we've had many talks about how they have soft bodies and we need to be really careful with them and let them crawl onto a finger and not be picked up. I think they have a higher survival rate now. 

One of Peter's pets he brought me.

Caterpillars have been a more recent find. They were confusing to Peter at first. He asked, "Mom, what's this?" I told him, "It's a caterpillar." Peter replied with, "But it's not green!" I'm not sure why he felt it had to be green, maybe because the inchworms were green? But he finally accepted that they were indeed caterpillars. One day, Peter found one and let it crawl up his arm as he walked to the mailbox with Jonathan. When they got home, Peter said with a sad voice, "Mom. I lost the caterpillar." Jonathan just smiled and told Peter to turn around. The caterpillar had crawled up his sleeve (the outside), and around his torso and was on the side of his shirt by his other arm. He was thrilled to learn it wasn't lost, and added it to the plant, where all the crawling bugs live. 

Bug boy with his caterpillar 

The Flying Ones...with Stingers
One less fun critter we find on the regular are wasps and bees. I find and kill at least 4-5 wasps per week inside our house. I think they are getting in the eaves of the roof and coming though the pull down attic door. Sometimes they get in because the front door is open, but we find them most often in our closet where the attic door is. The first one that came into the house flew up to the top beams in our living room which is far higher than I (or anyone else- 20 feet, or so, ceiling) can reach. I called my mom to see if she had any wasp spray. Luckily she did, and she came over with it. I kept an eye on said wasp with a shoe in my hand, ready in case he came down lower. He was not going to hurt my babies. My mom arrived with spray in hand, I threw a sheet over our couch so it wouldn't get covered on spray fall out, and I shot that wasp dead. I kept the spray and have since used up the whole can and bought a second one. Peter has gotten used to it and he'll spot them for me, or if he sees me go for the spray can he says, "Where's the wasp mom?!"

As of recent, we have had a new variety of wasp come visit us. These new guys are HUGE. They are probably the length of my thumb and they do not die easily. I have to spray them a bunch of times. And their faces look angry. They creep me out. My mom thinks they are European wasps. We've had three so far get into the house. I've killed two and Jonathan got one. We have learned that Jonathan stays a lot calmer than I do when one is in the house. We'd run out of spray when the last one got in. I kept the boys in our bedroom while Jonathan threw an empty salt container at the wasp to get him down from the beam, and then, wielding a poster tube, he managed to hit the wasp against the window and kill it. Goodness. It's been exciting.

The Birds

One of the more fun flying things we see are cool birds. There is a pond on the property and we get some cool visitors. So far we have had ducks, geese, hawks, turkey vultures, lots of cute little birds and a pair of blue herons. My dad doesn't want the geese there, so he always chases them away. Peter saw him once, and since then Peter asks about different types of birds, "Grandpa want these ones?" Haha, he's keeping an eye out for Grandpa. The herons are by far our favorites. They are beautiful. They fly in, land and stalk fish in the pond. We've seen the heron catch fish from time to time. 

Not the best picture, but you can see him a little on the bottom edge of the pond.

Snake Scare

Peter and I went out to get the laundry in from the line and I looked down and saw a little snake! I almost stepped on it. I wasn't sure what kind it was, but I know we have copperheads and other poisonous snakes out here. So, I snapped a photo and sent it to my dad. I called and asked if he thought it was a copperhead or if it was safe. He wasn't sure from the picture (fair, I didn't get too close when I took it), so he came over with my brother to look/kill it. I kept an eye on it as it slithered along, and let Peter look at it, at a safe distance until they arrived. My dad wasn't sure if it was dangerous or not, but we decided it was a "better safe than sorry" situation. They killed the snake, and Peter cried. We took turns explaining to him that it could have hurt him and that we were trying to keep him safe, but he was still sad for a little while. We haven't seen any other snakes since that one, but our neighbor, Graham, said he saw a snake swimming across the pond...so they are there. 

Baby snake

Mice and Squirrels

Just over a month ago, I found a bunch of mouse poops on the counter. I told Jonathan I thought we had a mouse and he informed me that he'd seen one, that very morning! He saw it run under the couch! And then he and Peter tried to find it, but it disappeared! And he didn't tell me! Gah! So, we set a trap, and caught it! But, then when we had the Wheatleys and Olsons over during General Conference weekend, they said they heard some scratching behind the oven! Jonathan pulled the oven out and sure enough, mouse holes and Jonathan saw a mouse running back into the hole! Gah! So, we reset the traps, and caught two more mice. Jonathan blocked up the holes, and we haven't seen anymore. Soooo, hopefully we are done with the mice. 

About a week after the mice issue had calmed down, I heard more scratching...above. Jonathan and I had both seen a squirrel climbing up and down a pole outside our kitchen window. I mentioned to my Dad that I thought we might have had a squirrel living in the ceiling. Then, the next day, I for sure heard that squirrel. He was running back and forth. It was pretty loud, and I was a little worried that the squirrel would fall through one of the roof panels and into the house! Peter was sleeping in his room, but Ezra and I were in the living room. I grabbed Ezra and went into our room, just in case the squirrel did fall into the living room. I called the 'rents, and let them know that there was indeed something running around in our attic space. I heard him once again after that time, but I haven't heard anything since then. Dad said he read that squirrels didn't like nesting in loud places, so Peter's noise levels may have been a blessing in us not having a squirrel roommate. 

So, that's the critters we've met recently. Toads, lizards, snakes, creeping bugs, flying bugs, birds, mice, and squirrels. We've also had tons of spiders in the house, fire ants outside the house, I found a caterpillar in our closet last week, dragonflies got into the house twice and there are 3 bumble bees that live in holes by our front door. Good times. There have been many times I've questioned moving here, especially during the mice and squirrel incidents. I've learned that although I grew up in the country, I am not a country girl. I am not a lover of creepy bugs or things that can hurt my kids. But, then I remember the herons and how Peter's face lights up when he finds an inchworm and how he is learning about so many different things and then I'm okay with it. Although I'd love to find a way to keep them all outside. Haha.

Things Peter Says

I try to keep track of some of the things Peter says, because they are hilarious. Here are a few of the recent ones (some with photos, some without).

Jonathan and I were discussing what we wanted to do with life, what kind of place we wanted to live, what kind of job we should look for, etc. Peter wanted to be part of the conversation...
Jonathan: Peter, if you could live anywhere, where do you want to live?
Peter: (without a moments hesitation) With you guys.
Awwwwww. Cute.


Peter: When I have my birthday, all my friends will come, and I can share cookies with them!! And nainai can come. And grandpa. And far away grandpa! And far away nainai. And Uncle David and Jackie. And Beccah! And you, and Dad, and Ezra you can come too!
- Well, now we know who his friends are. I'm glad Jonathan and I got in there at the end. Sorry everyone else who didn't make the cut.


Robin: (calling out to Peter) Hey cutie!
Peter: You can call me Peter or Pete. Choose now.


Peter: I see a critter!
Jonathan: Oooo. What kind?
Peter: (in total monotone) It's dead.
(He started using the word critter the day we got to NC. I've never heard him use it before. He'll fit in the south nicely.)


Story and a Picture:
Christmas was crazy. It didn't really feel like Christmas since we had moved just a couple weeks before and didn't decorate a ton and we had a baby who was soon to join us. We didn't make gingerbread houses until the day after Christmas, but we made them. (Also, we learned not to wait until Christmas Eve to buy candy for gingerbread houses...the candy aisle was cleared out!) As we were buying the candy and making the gingerbread house, we noticed an interesting thing. Every single time, without fail, Peter referred to this house as a Benjamin House. I'm not sure why. Maybe the words sounded similar...Benjamin - Gingerbread? Who knows.

Benjamin House

We were reading a counting book...
Robin: 7 bell peppers. Let's count them.
Peter: How they ring?
Robin: Ummm...they don't.


Peter: Look it's my sword!
Robin: Really? It looks like an apple to me. (sometimes I don't want to play.)
Peter: Yeah! It's my round apple sword. Hi-ya! Hi-ya!

Picture and Story

On a particularly hard day getting dressed, and thus I was trying anything to get him into clothes...
Robin: Hey Peter, want to wear these pants Uncle David gave you? They have pockets!
Peter: (gasp) I never have pants with pockets before!
Note: Most of his pants have pockets, and he regularly puts his hands in them.

Peter: Sometimes I grow up and have a beard. Sometime when I get bigger.


Peter: What is this?
(Simultaneously) Robin: Sausage  Jonathan: Meat.
Peter eats is and says: Mmmmm. It's good. Dad, it's not meat. It's sausage!

Picture and a Story:

For his birthday, he got some cool cereals that we never usually get. They were the individual sized ones which were perfect for him. Every morning, he would look at the different little bags and pick which one he wanted. One morning, we had the following exchange...

Peter: Oh No! My cereal not talking!

Robin: Oh, sorry buddy.

Peter: On the bag it talking. I want mine talk too. Oh hohoho (sad fake crying).

Sure enough....talking cereal.

Peter: I want a dog in my house. Not a furry one, just a wiggly one. I want to name him orangey. Because I love orange. 

After some crying...

Peter: The drippy things are falling off...What they called?

Jonathan: Tears.

Peter: Oh. Tears falling off my face.

This kid cracks me up. We love Peter and we're glad he's part of our family!