In the news...

Brandon and his green thumb have been featured in our community newspaper twice now... I'm actually holding Tanzen and Brandon's holding Makett, but that's just a minor detail...

Another first...

We're ever so lucky to have the talented Heather as our personal hair dresser. Ketty and Tanny thought she had a great touch-- they didn't even cry!

First Place!

If Brandon couldn't be a doctor, his next chosen profession would be landscape architect. The high point of downgrading from our new and spacious home in Phoenix to our old and cramped Philly row home was the backyard...a new palette for Brandon. Each of our Arizona homes had a backyard of hardened desert dirt, which he somehow managed to turn into an oasis, complete with water features and sculptures. Taming this backyard jungle was an entirely different brand of difficult! He battled poison ivy and poison sumac, not to mention weeds and vines that grew at alarming speeds (have you seen Jumanji?) The only way to get to the backyard is through the house, so he's wrestled enormous amounts of dirt, debris and foliage through the house.

It all payed off!

Thanks to Kay and Ann's prodding, we entered our backyard in the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's 2009 City Garden Contest. To Brandon's surprise and my delight, he won 1st place!

So, if you don't mind me indulging just a bit, here are some before and after pictures:

Before...

Spring of 2009Fall...

Before...

We're one!

What an incredible year it's been!

A letter to my boys

To my sweet, most precious Tanzen and Makett,

Thank you for blessing my life with your happy spirits. There is nothing I would rather do than be with you each day, helping you grow and learn, in continual awe at your very existence. Thanks for the giggles, cuddles, playfulness, kisses and tears. You push me each day to become better so that you may have the wonderful mother you deserve.

Now, my little darlings, there are a few things I'm rather confounded about, and I'd really appreciate your enlightenment.
Mr. Maketty, you have a pluethora of toys designed by experts to stimulate your brain and quicken your developmental learning. Why is it you prefer to push the table around and bang on the clock? Don't you need the fancy toys we got for you?
My dearest Tanners, are you sure you prefer the citrus juicer over your other toys? Could it possibly be more entertaining than the farmhouse with its lights and music? I mean, think about how much more Ben Franklin could have accomplished if he had an Exersaucer!

Ketty, Ketty, Ketty...I bought the extra soft, cucumber melon scented baby wipes in order for you to have a pleasant diaper changing experience. Somehow I missed the part about why you like to pull them into tiny pieces, then eat them? I tried one, they really don't taste like cucumber and melons. And why won't you eat real cucumbers?
Tanny man! I put great effort into making you baby food that is fresh, organic and full of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Why is it you prefer dog food? Seriously, I don't think my cooking skills leave that much to be desired!
Maketty, how is it that in the thirty seconds I was pulling the dog food out of Tanzen's mouth you managed to crawl from the living room to the back of the house to dine on dog food as well? How in the world are you that fast?

And, my dear sons, while I have your attention, a few other things I've been meaning to ask...

• How is it that you decide who will be the long and short napper? I mean, I love you to infinity and back, but I probably would be ok if you decided to nap simultaneously for a blessed ninety minutes...even just once a week. I wouldn't feel the slightest bit unloved. That being said, I suppose it is nice to never lack company!
  
• Where does this warp speed come from? I couldn't have been in the bathroom for more than 45 seconds...how did you manage to unzip the luggage, pull out the bottle of acid controller, get the child proof cap off, sample it, then crawl into the other room leaving the pills all over the floor? Impressive my loves, thank you for not overdosing! Jane at Poison Control is also grateful.


• Where does the energy come from? How do you feel about sleeping in till 6:00? Tanzen my dearest, 5:00 is early! That being said, I expect you to keep this habit through your teenagehood.

My boys, how have you grown so quickly? Where did all this independence come from? And how do you learn to do all you do? You were so dependent and helpless...how did you figure out how to laugh, sit up, crawl and communicate?

Lastly, my tiny ones, how is it possible that we love you so much? You've been in our lives for such little time, yet I cannot imagine living without you. How did I get so lucky as to be blessed to have you as my sons? I am undeserving, but ever grateful.

I love you.

Love,

Mommy

Havasupai Nation!

Havasupai is located deep in the southern end of the Grand Canyon. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever hiked! to learn more check out their website : www.havasupaitribe.com

























There are lots of falls within the canyon. This is Mooney falls, it is a roaring thunderous fall that drops about 200 feet. Access is only possible by climbing down a narrow ledge




This is Cameron, Riley and me in the village, also known as Supai, has been home to the Havasupai Indians for many centuries. The village has a small café, lodge, post office, school, church (actually a mormon church), clinic (I thought it might be fun to volunteer there for a month or so. I would have to make sure I was up to date with Diabetes care. I dont think they could helicopter in a radiation machine), police station, and a general store.









This was day one, the early morning hike into the Grand Canyon.

What a guy!

Brandon has created a beautiful backyard (more on that in a later post!) He tells me he plants the flowers for me so that I can always have pretty flowers to look at. Lately he's been putting them in a vase in the kitchen for me. I commented my amazement that they never died...aparently what I thought were everlasting flowers in my kitchen get replaced without my even realizing it. I thought it was so sweet that he takes the time...definitely lucky to have Brandon as my man!