Not Because You Told Me To

But thanks for the reminder to post anyway. And no, there are no pictures. Things happen slowly around here and I forget to take pictures. Or sometimes I remember and I can't find the camera. And to be honest, there have been a handful of days recently that I simply don't want to commemorate. 

I'm hoping that the worst of it has passed now. By using my new mantra "I only have to outlast them by one more than they've got" here's the good we've accomplished as of tonight:

1) it's 8:15 and everyone is asleep, or at least they're quietly laying in their beds.

2) the toys have been picked up 5/6 nights this week.

3) Micah's 2-year-old screaming tantrums have become confined to the time-out chair.

4) no one has thrown food at a meal in a very long time.

Still in progress: no hitting, biting, throwing toys, putting fingers in Liza's mouth, getting up at 6:30 in the morning, jumping on the beds, yelling during prayer time, pulling up vegetables before they've had a chance to produce, jumping off the back of the couch, pouring water on their brother's head, drinking from the water in the sand box, emptying soap into the bath tub, pouring a bowl full of pennies on the carpet, standing on the table in the hallway, holding down the water button on the refrigerator until there's so much water I need a beach towel to clean it up, hitting glass doors with t-ball bats...I could go on...

But it's quiet now and I'm shooting for 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep tonight. Time to get that going.

Weigh-In

Something I know everyone has laid awake at night thinking about: what foods do Joel and Alice like to eat? Great news for you- you'll now be able to go to sleep a little earlier because...

Joel and I have created a scale from 1-10. We each have a scale, but for the most part they're close enough that for publishing purposes, I've combined them. Some examples are included for clarification as well as occasional reference.

1- the worst food I've ever tasted. I will avoid this food at all costs. Example: natto*

2- I hate it, but I could choke it down if I had to. Examples: peas (J) raw onions (a)

3- I would eat it if served to me only. Examples: roast (J) dry chicken (a)

4- I wouldn't order it in a restaurant or anything but I would not complain. Example: green beans (J) 

5- I don't like or dislike. Examples: apple pie (J) rice (a)

6- I am sometimes in the mood to eat it. Example: broccoli  

7- I will sometimes ask for it. Example: spaghetti (J)

8- I will ask for it regularly. Examples: crackers (J)  Chic-Fil-A (a)

9- I like it a whole lot. Example: chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit

10- The best food I've ever tasted and I would like it on my birthday. Examples: brownies (J) steak, chocolate truffles, twice baked potatoes, red beans and rice, chocolate chip cookie bars, cherry turn overs, crescents, fair-trade medium-dark roasted coffee with cream and sugar, hot chocolate, chocolate peanut butter bars, christmas cookies with peppermint icing, french bread with butter, summer tomato-basil tart with mozzarella, powder sugar doughnuts, cherry toaster streudels, cheese pizza, fresh tamales with jalapeños, Velveeta shells and cheese with broccoli, green salad with artichokes and blue cheese dressing, stuffed figs with prosciutto, etc., etc., etc (A). It's amazing I don't weigh 1000 lbs. 

*a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans

Quirky

Liza was 12 weeks old yesterday. She is a really fun baby. Here's why:

1. Her favorite activity is to talk and laugh. 

2. She likes to play in her bouncy seat. 

3. She likes to look at her mobile go around and around and around.

4. Though she looks surprised every time, she's always happy in the bath. 

5. Silas and Micah are very interesting to her, probably because of all the noise they make.

6. In good Fank fashion, she loves to be outside, even when it's cold (but not windy).

The traditional "sack of potatoes" hold 

Liza also has some quirks. In fact, she is the most peculiar baby I've ever know. As you know, she's had colic. Frustrating, but normal. Here are the not-so-normal-drive-me-crazy little tid-bits about her:

1. won't sleep in a bed*

2. doesn't like to wear hats

3. doesn't like to nurse on my left side

4. doesn't like to nurse under a blanket

5. occasionally won't nurse at all

6. doesn't tolerate milk products in my diet

7. has no predictable sleeping schedule, unlike her brothers at this same age**

Sitting in the bouncy seat outside

*We haven't actually tried to put her in a bed in about 6 weeks. After the colic set in, we did whatever we could to get her to sleep, and keep her asleep. This meant sleeping in her car seat or swing, where she currently sleeps. In the next couple of weeks, we'll probably start the transition to the pack and play.

**This is most likely related to the colic as well.

POST LOGUE:

Liza is now 14 weeks old. We have still not attempted to put her in a bed to sleep. She is, however, taking 3 regular naps and goes to bed at about the same time every night. Almost all of these bedtimes occur with little or no crying! But please, don't bother asking me if she's "sleeping through the night". That's all relative now. 

Mega-saucing: the "new" Liza

Intriguing Bible Lessons

Here's the bedtime conversation between Joel and Silas:

Silas:  "I was faithful at church today!"

Joel:  "Oh?  What does faithful mean?"

Silas: "It means you bake someone a birthday cake on their birthday..."

Joel: "Oh, that's nice.  What else could you do that is nice?"

Silas: "Gordon was nice when he pulled Thomas out from the smoke and fire..."

Joel: "You're right.  What could you do that is nice?"

Silas: "I could pull Micah out from a puddle when a snake drags him in."

Joel:  "You're right.   You probably could do that."

Yes, we're teaching our children lessons with an exceedingly limited scope.

2009 Winter Games

Today, Silas and Micah have been playing together more than fighting. 

This morning, while climbing inside the vacuum cleaner box (we finally got a new vacuum cleaner), Silas said, "Mom, you can be Mary, Micah can be Jesus, and I can be the newborn baby and I'll sleep in the baby manger. Liza can be the Angel." He then closed himself inside the "baby manger". 

Since then, Liza has napped in the swing while the boys ride their bikes around the dining room table, with an occasional break to bake cookies in their kitchen. Come over to try some. They have sugar, oil, broccoli, powdered sugar and syrup in them.

No Country For Old Men

I've sat down to update our blog about 4 times since the last post. Each time, the boys squabbled over a toy, Liza spit out her pacifier, Micah asked me to open the door on a toy that has a door, Liza spit out her pacifier again, Silas needed his pants buttoned and zipped, the phone rang, Micah asked me to open the door on a toy that has a door again, Liza needed to eat, Liza needed help going back to sleep, Micah bit Silas, Silas pushed Micah into a wall, Joel came home, a friend brought us supper and wanted to meet Liza, Liza needed help going back to sleep again after meeting the friend, Liza spit out her pacifier...and now I need to help put train tracks together. 

I guess you're pretty  much updated on life over here.

Elizabeth Hope

Liza was born on Saturday, November 29 at 5:52am. It was a (nearly too) quick and mostly uncomplicated delivery. She weighed 6 lbs and 14 oz and is 20 inches long. She's a very sweet girl and likes to eat every 4 hours for an entire hour each feeding.

Silas and Micah have loved having her home. So far, Silas has taught Liza that fire is hot and you shouldn't touch it. Micah has given her very gentle kisses and likes to try to share his milk from his sippy cup with her. He's also interested in seeing what will happen if shakes paper in her face. It will be interesting to see whether she learns to sleep with all the noise or rather learns to function with less sleep. With her parents on either side of the spectrum, she could go either way.

The New Baby

If you ask me if she's been born yet, I'm going to lie to you and tell you yes.

A Quick Growing-up Update

It's officially fall at our house. You can tell because 1) Silas and Micah are fully clothed in 3/4 of the pictures in this post and 2) everyone looks so happy. It's been an eventful season so far and there's still so much more to come. 

Here are the highlights: after a quick trip the hospital 3 weeks ago and medication for pre-term labor ever since, new baby will be 35 weeks gestational age on Friday! It's been really difficult to try to be still during this time but the state of our house and the amount of laundry that needs to be folded and put away will attest that I'm at least not tending those chores. It's sort of like an alternating workout: most people choose between a cardio workout or focus on a specific muscle group for that day. Mine has been choosing between cleaning the kitchen that day or doing a load of laundry. I've vacuumed the upstairs once, the downstairs once, and the middle floor once. Twice in the last three weeks I've picked up toys. 
Micah has been talking more and more. He's really fun to listen to, especially at meal times. This is good because otherwise I would probably be frustrated with him all the time. He's a VERY picky eater and even the food he loves (that is, bananas), he eats very little of. Micah has also learned to run, is trying to jump, and really likes to try to throw himself down the stairs when I'm holding his hand. I think he has no idea there's a baby coming and I'm a little worried about how he'll take it. When I'm sitting down he likes to be in my lap or in my face. It's lovable for certain; it won't be as easy when I'm trying to nurse a newborn.
Silas is getting bigger and bigger. When I see him, I don't see "my first baby" anymore. He's doing things like buttoning his own shirts and catching fish with a fishing pole. He's started play fighting and wrestling with his buddies, and "shooting" at pesky mice and dinosaurs in our backyard with whatever stick, pine cone or rock he can find that reminds him of a weapon. Friends with boys said this would happen with or without exposure to violence. They were right. No one uses guns on Sesame Street or Thomas the Train. 
Hopefully we'll get some good pictures of Halloween this year. You may experience some deja vu when you see what Silas wants to be...I can't wait. Then it's the baby (or Thanksgiving with the Fanks), then Christmas...

Where is the time going?

No Turning Back Now

After going on vacation for the first time as a family, I don't think we'll ever stop planning for the next one. What a wonderful week! It was much needed after Joel's work schedule in August and I think I'll be drawing strength from its memories this week as we now tackle what I believe to be the most emotionally difficult task yet: Silas and Micah are giving up the pacifiers.

Dreading bed time. The boys are now asleep after a combined 1 1/2 hours of crying.

 Micah and Silas with their special animals that we got today since they're working so hard to overcome their addiction. Silas picked out a dinosaur that he named "T-Rex" and Micah liked the monkey best. The monkey's name is "Coke, Coke, Banana," one of Micah's favorite sayings.

The Great Vacation of 2008 was a huge success. With 8 adults, 3 3-year-olds and 4 1-year-olds all sharing a beach house, I didn't expect to enjoy myself as much as I actually did. Sure, a couple of times there were people in my way when I needed my morning coffee, and there was certainly a squabble or two over sharing toys. And then there was the arsenic hour in which all children between the ages of 0 and 35 get fussy just before dinner is ready. But everyone was gracious and patient toward one another and I know I'm better for it.

Despite this precious picture, Micah actually seemed to hate the beach until the day we left.

At the National Naval Aviation Museum with JG, Ava and Abbi

Learning how to fish

 

Silas and Andrew at Fort Morgan

Finally, if you're still reading, here are the final highlights: 

*Sitting around the beach fire in the dark with the grown-ups. I always feel like I'm up to no good when I'm out after dark- and to me, that's a good feeling.

*Getting to watch good parenting in action. I think this played a large part in being able to share a house with so many people. 

*Watching the array of personalities that have developed in each family's children. From compassionate, bold, loud, observant, fun-loving and patient, there was so much to take in and dream up where our children were concerned. (Not pictured in this post: Mason and Corrinne. I don't know how I managed to come home with zero pictures of them.)

*Sitting on the beach during naptime.

*Being able to watch Joel have so much fun with the boys. I think I really underestimated the effect of being away from our house. 

Now the plug for next year because everyone is invited...

"PINE IN '09"

A Rainy Day Summary

AM: Micah had his 15-month well-baby check-up (at 19 months...oops.) He has gained a little over 2 lbs and now weighs in at 22 lbs, placing him in the 5th percentile. No worries though- his head continues to be larger than at least 85 out of 100 babies his age. Good for him because it's really cute.

PM: took naps, watched the refrigerator repair man, boys knocked each other over several times with handfuls of walmart bags. Even though it had been raining all day (and was still raining) I decided we should go for a walk. Another mom and her boys on our street joined us with umbrellas for some fresh air. Everyone got muddy and wet but we successfully accomplished much running and much throwing of rocks and hickory nuts into the creek for about an hour and a half.


For supper, I cooked a roast with potatoes and carrots. The following are the boys responses to this meal.
"Mmmm...I like the ketchup, mom."  He definitely at all the ketchup (with his carrot, I guess). Add that to the 1/4 pbj sandwich he had for lunch and that's the grand tally of Silas' food intake for the day.
"It's a hot dog!" This particular roast recipe didn't call for hot dogs. I think Micah must have been referring to the carrots. He ate all the food on his plate, and most of Silas'.

Two Recipes in One Long Day

I'm inspired by reading recipes on other friends' blogs. I baked today so I thought I would post the details.

Normally meat loaf takes me about 10-15 minutes to prepare because of chopping up onions. My eyes start watering the second I remove the peel and to be sure we can all digest the onion (Silas and Micah may take after me when it comes to eating onions) I have to really dice it finely. Chocolate chip cookies take me less than 5 minutes to whip up if I put the brown sugar in the same place in the pantry every time. Today it was, in fact, where it was supposed to be. But both recipes took nearly an hour to complete, and that wasn't including baking time.

9:45am- put Micah down for nap/start getting out ingredients for meatloaf
9:50- drain can of tomatoes/help Joel find Silas' shorts to go to the hardware store
9:55- start to peel onion/discuss why Silas is not going with Joel to the hardware store (he wouldn't put his shorts on)
9:56- answer Silas' question: "What are you making, mom?" with "I'm making meatloaf for lunch"
9:57- answer Silas' question: "What are you making, mom?" with "I'm making meatloaf for lunch"
9:58- answer Silas' question: "What are you making, mom?" with "I'm making meatloaf for lunch"
9:59- answer Silas' question: "What are you making, mom?" with "I'm making meatloaf for lunch. Please don't ask me anymore."
10:05- finish dicing onion/tell Silas not to throw onion peel on the floor
10:06- answer phone. It's Joel who can't find what he's looking for at the store
10:10-dump in raisins, spices, eggs, bread crumbs and onion
10:11- bring a crying Micah out of bed to play with Silas
10:13- hollar at Silas to stop pushing Micah
10:14- hollar at Micah to get off of the train tracks Silas is trying to play with
10:15-realize ground beef is still frozen and put in microwave to thaw
10:17- hollar at Silas to not touch/push/hit/hug/kiss/help MIcah anymore
10:18- pick up a crying Micah who has fallen off a step stool and hit the playroom wall
10:25- answer Silas' question: "What are you making, mom?" with "I'm making meatloaf for lunch, remember? You're not supposed to ask me anymore. And please don't hug Micah right now, either."
10:28- mix up meat with bread crumb/tomato/onion mixture
10:30- Joel comes home
10:35- meat loaf goes into the oven.

The chocolate chip cookie attempt was a little more simple. It went like this:
mixed up flour, baking soda, salt with creamed butter/sugar/brown sugar/vanilla/eggs.
Went to get Micah up from his afternoon nap.
Had to give Micah a bath/wash sheets/blankets/clothes because he pooped and then took his diaper off.
Strapped Micah into booster seat/gave both kids a snack so they wouldn't go anywhere.
Mixed in chocolate chips and proceeded to bake.
They were the best chocolate chip cookies I've had in a long time.


I'll start posting pictures again when mom's camera comes back from the shop.

I'll tell you why it's been over a month since I've posted: Micah. 

The child has no fear (except an initial fear of balloons. Even this seems to have passed) and as of yet, no limit to the motor skill development acrobatics he's willing to experiment with. His most common attempt is (I can only assume) to see how far he can lean over to get something off a table or desk while standing in a chair. I've seen him attempt to defy gravity over and over. I used to think that the effects of gravity would soon defeat his will to try things at greater heights than any 18 month old should. And I don't think it isn't that he doesn't understand. Micah just doesn't seem to care how many times he gets hurt. 

For the most part, all Micah's falling and crying has helped Silas to become a more caring and compassionate brother.  Other times it's difficult to determine if Micah got hurt on his own, was hurt by Silas, or if Micah cannot make a board book open to the page he wants. Tonight there was even a combination of two. Micah wanted to show Silas a page with bouncing balls. I know this because he had already shown it to me 90 times, saying "ball" 3 times per showing. When I came to the playroom to find out why there was so much screaming, I saw Micah waving the little book in the air. Silas, also very red-faced, complained "He keeps putting that book in my way." 

I'm not sure why the picture is sideways. I did everything that's worked in the past to rotate it but what you see is what you get tonight.

No Way to Catch Up

Joel's sweatshirt from 6th grade. It's been nice to have him around so much.

It's been very difficult to get anything done in the last 6 weeks. We have a couch in the great room that is piled high with 5 loads of clean laundry, waiting to be folded and put away. When we need to find something to wear, we go to the foot of the mountain and conduct a search for something that matches. It somehow doesn't seem justifiable that I post on our blog while the mountain grows. I have to wonder, too, if that mountain isn't really a volcano that erupts when no one is looking. Sometimes I come downstairs and find that there are clothes on the floor, the table, and the stairs. I know I didn't leave them anywhere but on the couch. 

Despite neglecting other huge household tasks, here's a Fank. Family update:

Joel's had a "normal" schedule this month. He works from 8-5 (most days. Some days it's 8:30-3:30) and has weekends off. This week, he's been especially focused on killing flies. Now that the mice are gone, the flies have come in force. At first we though  maybe we had flies because it takes me about 2 1/2 hours to clean the kitchen after each meal. But now we know it's actually because we have a bajillion flies outside and they like to come in when Silas opens the door to "let Lewis out" or "Let Sabrina in" or "Just let Micah out because he wants to play outside." Joel has also been working very hard at managing a decent fantasy baseball team. I also ought to mention the incredible load of parenting and household management Joel has graciously picked up without being asked. He's wiped noses countless times in the morning and changed many diapers so I wouldn't have to throw up. He continues to put my needs and the boys' needs before his own and I don't think I've ever felt more loved.

Silas  has made the transition to the big bed for the 4th time. He's doing better than he's ever done, despite being sick with a cold, cough and pink eye. Against my better judgement, he especially likes to jump off the bed/couch/hearth/coffee table/deck bench. Most of the time, he clears Micah who watches in quiet wonder. Silas continues to be a good big brother to Micah. He is the first to offer Micah his toys when Micah is crying. Definitely the first to pick up Micah's milk when Micah throws it on the floor time after time after time, saying "Micah, we don't drop milk on the floor!"

We've been spending a lot of time outside recently. Silas and Micah's favorite activity is to play in the sandbox, then sit in the swimming pool, then sit in the sandbox and play some more.

Micah is now 16 months old. He's the same age that Silas was when Micah was born. This seems strange to me because Micah seems so much younger than Silas was at the same age. Micah is loving his new ability to walk fast and climb down from things instead of falling off. While has hasn't fallen down the stairs yet, he has managed to bust his lip and bruise and bloody his nose on separate occasions climbing up the stairs. He now has 7 teeth and is, bless his  heart, about to have 3 new molars at once. Micah has such a lovable and quirky personality. He really wants to please but has his own opinions on how toys should be played with, what food should taste like, and how much sleep he needs. I love how much he wants to be with his brother. The amount of time they spend playing well together versus how much time they spend fighting/hitting/biting/kicking each other makes me really glad we had 2 so close together.

 If you know anyone in the market for a home in LR with an apple tree in the back, you should have them call me. Other important Alice updates: well, there aren't any except that I'm now over 12 weeks along with the new baby and throwing up fewer than 4 times/week. But that isn't really an Alice update, is it? Oh here's one: I made an angel food cake last night and found the game "Tri-Bond" at GoodWill for a dollar.

I'm currently the real estate agent for this lovely 1961 house.

Joel and I had a garage sale last weekend. After we got some doughnuts for breakfast, and Arby's for lunch, we made about $37. But, the best part of the garage sale was getting rid of a huge box of worthless baseball cards, some baby clothes that I didn't feel good about donating, a recliner no one has room for, and some of the leftovers from the big garage sale in Texarkana last weekend. 

Someone bought this Santa teapot for $.25. I think the old saying should go,

 "One man's trash is another man's trash that somebody else wants to take home with him."

I Was Tagged

Erin tagged me.  Here are 7 things you may not know about me.

1) I think Wednesday should be spelled "Wensday." If I'm ever president, I will try to change the spelling for everyone.

2) Apparently, I'm on a shoe-buying schedule. One pair/18 months.

3) I love Miss Vickie's Jalapeno Potato Chips.

4) I was once in a Japanese magazine.

5) My last date was to the Container Store and it was HOT.

6) I'm about to retire from my job as a one-hour-a-week-Spanish teacher for a while to be a 

stay-at-home mom of 3.

7) For my birthday (which is October 7, FYI), I would like the icecream maker attachment that goes with my mixer. Or an immersion blender. You can choose.

I tag Andrea B., Emily P., Amy V., and Melody L. (go on Melody, I dare you.)

Getting Out of the House

I'm really sorry that I have no pictures to post. With as much as I have to say, and without pictures, that probably means few will make it to the end of this post. 

THE CAMPING TRIP

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The first night of all four us and Lewis sleeping in a tent together was far worse than I ever imagined. It wasn't because it was too crowded (although it was), it was because the temperature dropped below 39. Silas woke up 3 times, Micah woke up 5 times, and I woke up 2 times on my own to worry about my children being warm enough. We were in our tent from only 9 until 7. You can do the math.

The next night, after consulting a professional fireman, we turned on our space heater. We woke up when Micah crawled out of his peapod at 6am but it was fun to wake up to such a happy baby. Both Silas and Micah loved being outside all weekend.  I was surprised at how much I enjoyed being with old friends. They were more fun than I had remembered. It was also great to share our campsite with the Bradleys, even though they slept in the car the second night. We had some great hot dogs and hamburgers and pudgy pies. And no one threw up, not even once.

THE BIG TRIP TO PHOENIX

Flying with Silas and Micah surprised me. They were exceptionally well-behaved on the airplane. Micah slept on every flight (although he didn't fall asleep until landing in LR on the way back) and Silas tried very hard not to kick the seat in front of him. Joel and I found new and creative ways to haul carseats through terminals and by the time our last flight was over, we were like a well-oiled machine.

Being in Phoenix also surprised me. No- I should say that being in Mountain Standard time surprised me. I didn't know until this trip how dependent I have become on such a rigid nap/bedtime schedule. I'm pretty sure I cried more than the children. I cried the most on the day that Silas woke us all up at 4:30am. I thought it was 6:30 so I let him get up out of bed only to realize an hour later (when I was making sure it was at least 7:30 before I let him out of our room) that I was sorely mistaken. This went on all weekend. Now throw in a myriad of wedding activities and 2 cars for 8 (2 in space in-efficient carseats).  I was very proud of the entire Fank. family. All the adults were long-suffering with the children, but more impressive, was how patient everyone was with each other. The possibilities for strife were endless and honestly, I came pretty close to losing it with the little ones. But Papa, Gamma, and Emily came to the rescue every time. The wedding would have been a disaster without their help. The wedding, by the way, was really lovely, and it was so great to see all the family members, meet Christina and see some of Joel's friends from highschool. Another highlight was going to the Neighborhood Church with Emily. This experience was so unique that I won't write about it now, but it's definitely worth sharing.

I went to the dentist today for the first time in 5 years. Since Joel started medical school, this was the first time we could afford it. I am proud to say, I only have one dead tooth and 4 cavities (VERY VERY SMALL ones). That's only 1 per year. Not too shabby.

Next time, check back to hear about the first ever camping trip with a three-year-old sheltie, a two-year-old boy, and a one-year-old boy. The trip complications started this morning when the campsite called to tell me they were completely closed for the next week. After calling 2 other campgrounds who were completely booked, I finally found one with enough campsites to accommodate all the other friends and their children. 

I really can't wait to write about the experience. The last time I went camping with Andrea...well, I should just let her write about it on her blog. But it included a tornado, 3 wrecked canoes and an abandoned tent.

Furious George

Tonight Silas read us this story:

"Curious George went down through a hole.  He bit some people.  The lamp wasn't broken.  He talked on the phone.  The End."

This is the cover of the book that Silas read.

PG-13 for disturbing images

This picture serves as a buffer for the image that follows. It was taken within minutes of the next. I promise that I didn't pull this happy face from the archives.

Micah has Erythema Multiforme (minor- at this point). What you can't tell from this picture is that these lesions are raised and target-like. It doesn't seem to bother him. In fact, he's been happier today than he has been since he first got sick 10 days ago. The only crying today has been from the 3 times he hit his head on the tile floor. I don't think the rash and the falling are related.

And the fence is done!

Reflections on the Fence and some Pictures of the Progress

The fence project began Wednesday afternoon. I called the fence company we paid from the interest free loan we gave the government last year. They told us they would be there Monday. Like this Monday.

This is the section blowing into our neighbor's yard.
The unfinished deck that Micah wants to fall off of when we play outside.

I had a plan for this all along. My plan didn't include the weekend being that of Easter or children with the flu. Taking down the fence ourselves has saved us $300 minus the cost of the tetanus shot I'm going to have to get. Joel and I have done the entire thing alone. This brings me to my next thought. Dr. Phil said (more than) once, "Good fences make good neighbors." Without a fence around our yard, we've been exposed to the neighborhood in front of, and behind us. We like the people who live on our street. We've made a point to meet them and I try to be in the front yard when I see others outside in their yards. Some of the neighborhood friends who have stopped by to see me, or Joel and me, work have said things like the following:

"You're tearing your fence down? Are you moving out or something?" (this was by a 4-year-old girl).
"You young kids are doing a great job. I'm going to go drink a cup of coffee now." (this was by a neighbor who shares the largest side of the fence. We had strongly hoped she would add, "And then I'll be out to help you...")
"Is that your park?" (by the 4-year-old girl's 5-year-old sister)

It's been nice to have people come and go as we work. Silas has asked me no fewer than 25 times "What are you doing". The first 24 times I answered, "I'm tearing down the old fence so we can build a new one. This one is broken." The 25th time, I realized he was ready for a more complex answer and so I told him the cold, hard truth. This answer, especially in light of our neighbors' comings and goings into our yard, saddened me. "Silas, in our culture, we go to great lengths to define our personal space and property. Many people build fences to keep people out of their yards." And out of their lives.

The boards with nails at the bottom of the gate to keep lewis from crawling underneath when we play in the front yard.

I should note this is NOT why we are building our fence. Ours is to keep people in. And so we don't have to pick up all of our outside toys every time we have to go in for orange juice or emergency nap times. Before, I thought this was a very important aspect of rebuilding a privacy fence, as opposed to a chain link fence, like most folks have in our neighborhood. But after our fence came down and we saw how everyone else really lives in their backyards, I don't feel the same way at all.
A big ole pile of pickets. This will all be firewood as soon as we can turn the chain saw on.
Ivy we pulled off the fence. And this isn't all off it.