We haven't spent as much time outside as usual in the past several days, on account of it being so hot and stormy in turns. That must be why we somehow didn't even notice this big, beautiful rosebush around the back of our house until Pippo and I found it fully in bloom this morning. What a lovely surprise!
(Now it needs to cool off just a little bit long enough for me and my big belly to get out there and pull some weeds before they completely take over what little garden we've inherited with this house.)
Some lemon icebox cupcakes (aka, “will you be my friend? dessert”) I brought to a wives' event the other evening. I'm the first to admit that it's a little daunting to start fresh every few years in a new place where you don't know a soul within miles. We've been so fortunate to find good friends and kindred spirits so far along the way, and I'm trusting we'll be blessed with the same here. But getting started is such an effort!
The comforting thing about military wives is that you know you can show up at a party without knowing a single person involved and be sure of a warm welcome (even if you have nothing else in common), because everyone there was in the exact same position not too long ago.
Pippo's cousin Christopher in town last week for his daddy's graduation from Basic Combat Training. (I thought it was pretty clever of us to be stationed in the same place at just the right time — an unlikely but happy coincidence, as he's heading next to Officer Candidate School for the Massachusetts National Guard. There's not usually very much overlap between them and the Marines in terms of location, but this worked out pretty well!)
It was fun for Pippo to have a cousin around to play with. Christopher is pretty cool kid.
We also got to see Pippo's Aunt Annie (Christopher brought her along), and his Uncle Rob came up from Dallas for a day, too.
This is Uncle Rob teaching Pippo how to relax. College students are better at that than toddlers, I think.
Just wearing Daddy's shoes and playing the triangle. Why, what do you wear when you practice your instrument?
I followed him in to pop him in the bath and found him like this. “I'm just warming up me!”
(You may notice that we finally gathered up the mental energy to give Pippo a haircut. File that under {happy}. It was getting a little out of control!)
Pippo and I picked a big bag of dried beans at the store, and he's spent the last few days working hard at his Bean Game, which involves a bread pan of beans, some measuring spoons, and various small dishes. He loves it, and it's such good work for him. (Thanks, Annie, for the suggestion!)
He asked his daddy to play Beans with him last night, and then started chastising him for making a mess, insisting, “Do it slowly, Dad! Do it slowly!” Pippo takes the Bean Game very seriously.
Still moving boxes in the background… |
Rachel Sanesh says
Your roses and lemon icebox cupcakes are so beautiful!! I am on my journey to become a good gardener and baker… your blog is such a motivation. Thank you!
carrien says
I will be your friend. You don't even have to give me ay of those cupcakes. But I sure wouldn't argue if you did. 😉
I love that photo of Pippo on the couch with his uncle. He's all, “Yeah, I'm very casually acting like a big guy here. Thanks for noticing.”
Margo says
that rose! wow.
and are those lemon icebox cupcakes good? They look darling and I usually adore icebox things. What did you sprinkle on yours instead of berries? (and I hope you find new dear friends – I can't imagine a clean sweep every few years)
_Rosie says
Margo, they're really tasty! And they got the husband seal of approval, which isn't easy for a new-to-him dessert. I grated some chocolate on top this time around.
Sukie says
Christopher is so great! All these pictures are awesome, but I especially love the relaxing one. Pippo doesn't QUITE gt it, but Uncle Rob is pretty cool, so he'll go along with it for now.
I think you've gone full military in your thinking regarding haircuts. 🙂 (just last night I teased John about his “long” hair. It's not long at all, just due for a cut!)
_Rosie says
I admit that this whole Marine thing has influenced my thinking on haircuts. But Pippo's hair is so thick without being particularly curly, so it poofs out when it gets long… makes his head look SO BIG!!
Melissa Diskin says
Is that a Joseph's Coat rose? Looks like the one I bought to cover my back fence.
Beans are good for mini-bulldozers, too! I put ours in a flattish box with shallow sides. Then I bought my 3 kids their very own dustpans and hand brooms. 🙂
_Rosie says
MDiskin, he has a mili-bulldozer! Of course! Brilliant. I am pulling it out today for Bean Game.
Rachel~ At the Butterfly Ball says
Oh the bean game! We love beans around here! They are Mommy's sanity saver at dinner prep time with a 3 year old and a 21 month old! They sit on the kitchen floor and play beans and I cook! My littlest doesn't seam quite as worried about messes as Pippo does though! 🙂 At least beans are easy to sweep!
momco3 says
Love the bean game! And the rice game. And the water-in-the-sink game. Pippo's got so much fun ahead of him!
Briana says
The power of beans is amazing. Once when my Fia was about Pippo's age, I brought out the beans, the cups, the spoons and all. She was so entertained for days, that the siblings all joined in–7,8, 11 year olds. I threatened them with bags of beans for Christmas, I mean, had I known before that beans were all it took to make them happy….
Kathy says
I love the bean sorting game, how fun! The rose is beautiful, what a wonderful find.
Anabelle @Written By The Finger of God says
Oh my goodness I LOLed at the bathroom scene and the shoe comment. So adorable! And who wouldn't want to be your friend with or without those cupcakes?
Stephanie says
Amen on military wives being there for each other 🙂 The uncle and nephew coach surfing is so sweet! God Bless!
Rebecca says
The red head and curls are a killer combination. That child? I want him for my own.
Pippo, too, is quite handsome in his new 'do and I love his bean game seriousness. Sweet. (I'd be your friend if you made cupcakes for ME like that! hehehe)
Amy Corley says
Your comments about military wives is encouraging to me! Our family is preparing to move from Southern CA to Annapolis, MD. My husband is in the Navy Reserve and is being recalled to active duty to teach at the Naval Academy for three years. I love the photos of Pippo and his bean game :). I remember when my kiddos LOVED games like that!
Joy in Alabama says
I'm soooo glad you post pics of Pippo all the time. He is absolutely the CUTEST!!
msagala1 says
My girl would be THRILLED to play the bean game with Pippo. That sort of play is a huge hit around our home 🙂
Valerie says
Beautiful Roses…and what a great uncle to teach your son to relax, I think that's a great idea! Really! And only a college student could pull it off…
The rest of the pictures are just too darn cute!
Lastly, but not least, thank you so very much for your sacrifice as a military wife…and your husband's sacrifice – for us. Much appreciated.
@RosieHill425 says
That bean game looks great! I might have to try it with my kids 🙂
Woman of the House says
Your little Pippo is so funny! I love the picture of him playing the triangle while wearing his Daddy's shoes! So sweet!
Kinga says
I have a weakness to little boys. My little man is a reason for it. They are sooo cute!!!
Amy l Ruiz says
Please be careful when playing with dry beans. Some are extremely toxic especially red kidney beans. We removed them all from our preschool. Google the information to verify the facts by typing in are dry beans poisonous. play safe and pass the word along