the end of the season

Its been a great baseball season for Jimmy.


















He's gotten used to his "catcher's costume."


















He loves to wear the eye black.


And he finally hit a home run. This is major stuff!

an evening of culture

Did you know we have a clarinetist? We used to have a flautist. Then we had a French horn-ist.  They are all good.

Because of this delight, we get to attend elementary band concerts. They are super fun. 

We are sure to bring our Cougar pride with us. This causes us to think crazy thoughts like, "maybe she'll play in the Cougar Band one day."

If that's the case I would end up living vicariously through my daughter. I've read it is not good to live vicariously through one's children. Looks like we'll have to hope for the Symphony instead. 

She's well on her way. You can pretend she's First Chair if you like. That's what I did.

But I'm her mom, and she's always First Chair to me.

my backyard

It was only 102 degrees yesterday.

things actually said by the people I love

This week (very much like all the other weeks of our lives) was full of interesting conversations. Here for your reading pleasure is a list of what was said and who said it.

1. While helping Grace and her friend with the Invention Project, Nate said, "Well [girls], you certainly have assembled this in a very interesting manner." I think what he was referring to was the interesting manner in which their 5th grade minds put together what his doctor mind could not comprehend.

2. While running a late errand to the hardware store (yes, you are right, it was to get a necessary item for the assembly of The Invention), Grace asked Nate if they could stop at the library "real quick." I had already asked them not to do so because it was late (and because there was some serious assembly remaining on the project). Nate said "no, because Mom already asked us not too." And then Grace responded with, "Is she your mom too?" 

I sense some sass in that one...

Jimmy has been playing catcher lately. I think he may have a future as the next Yadier Molina. He however feels differently (and I quote),"Dad, this catcher's costume is very uncomfortable."


















And as for me? I never say anything silly...

Ha!

a simpler time would be nice

The world is nuts. And these darlings are growing up in it. The messages they receive at school, on the play ground, in the cafeteria, while waiting in line for class are often negative and dark.

This week has been full of some eye-opening situations.

We try so hard to keep our home a safe place for these guys. A place where they can be themselves and do their thing and not worry about all that junk out in the world. Perhaps our home is rather old-fashioned. One may even suggest a trend toward Mayberry (though there is no Aunt Bea in sight).

Please, darlings, retain your innocence. Please always love to play with your Pokemon cards. Please always be more interested in birds of prey, in radio waves, in your argument whether Infinity is a true number or not, instead of all of that cattiness that seems to be prevalent on the playground. Please continue to fight over who gets to read Calvin and Hobbes first. Please still love Phineas and Ferb. Please ask us about chromosomes and Shakespeare and argue the pros and cons of the metric system verses the English system of measurement. Please dig for dinosaur bones in the yard. Please swing in the hammock and hunt for lady bugs. Please ask me to make cookies. Please sneak a bit of dough when I'm not looking. Please tell me your jokes, your dreams, and your fears.

And please know that You are special, that Mom and Dad are so happy You are in our lives and are our child. Please always remember You are a Child of God.

little slugger

some bunnies

Guess who is one lucky bunny - Me!!!



















Check out my cute bunnies.

And these bunnies even make rolls. The ties and the aprons just about kill me.

As a side note, Jimmy has decided that when you finally get a suit jacket you are A Real Man. Thought you'd like to know in case you were wondering what A Real Man is.

ski break

Since we live in the desert, we choose to spend our spring break away from the Spring-Breakers here. Instead we go where its cold.














This time we elected to try our luck (and limbs) and ski.














A lot of our day looked like the above picture. Not much of our day looked like this picture:


















After lessons for both children we concluded
1.) Just because your parents get engaged (15 years ago, btw) while skiing does not mean that you will love to ski as much as they do (or did)
2.) Driving only 2 hours to your ski vacation is much better than driving 12 hours, especially since the majority elected not to ski the next day
3.) One should ALWAYS where sunscreen EVERYWHERE the sun may kiss them
4.) Nate should absolutely treat himself to a real day of skiing sometime
5.) On the day of his snow treat, I should treat myself to the spa


















It was true spring skiing - the temps got up to the upper 50s.














The snow became mush and slush.


















After a while Jimmy called it a day.


















He decided to get his groove on in his ski boots.














I decided to admire the view.














Flagstaff is sure a pretty place, but its snow is certainly not "The Greatest Snow on Earth."

you gotta know when to hold 'em

What's a kid to do when no one is enthused to play Monopoly with you day after day?


















You get your friend Buzz to help you out.


















Turns out Buzz and Jimmy are very well matched. Sometimes Jim wins and sometimes Buzz wins. In then end we all win!

happy spring!

I realize that many of you are suffering with 20 degree weather and impending snow-storms and blizzards.


















We had a teeny share of winter this year.














One day it hailed,


















and it snowed! For real.


















It still wasn't cold enough for Miss Grace to put on her winter coat, though.

the age of poetry

I really wish I "got" poetry. But it just doesn't speak to me. I was invited to a bridal shower once with a poetry theme. We were supposed to pick out our favorite love poem, type it out in a beautiful manner, and present it to the bride-to-be along with a gift that somehow related to the poem. I wrote out the lyrics to "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and gave a creme brulee set.

There is one form of poetry that speaks right to my heart. I am so fortunate because among his many talents, Nate is quite a poet as well. One of his two forms of poetry is the one that sings to my soul: limericks (his other form of poetry is haiku, I like it, but it doesn't get my poetry-fire burning quite like a good limerick does).

To celebrate my 37th birthday, Nate arrange for a Limerick Slam (it was fireside and we even had cake!). Today (because I am now well past my 37th and 1/6th birthday) I will present to you some of the fine limericks gifted to me that night (aren't you excited???!)

We gather here for Sarah's birthday. 
It is her best and not her worst day. 
She grows much more dear
To me every year, 
Much closer than back on our first day. 

When Sarah Beth was 22
She was able to wed you-know-who.
Now that she is 37,
She is practically in heaven,
And doesn't know quite what do do.

What birthday wishes are hers?
She does not want to be draped in furs.
She loves to have flowers,
And sleep in for hours,
And with chocolate she practically purrs.

We think you would like a vacation
Take a plane, boat, or speedy train station
Lay around and get tan
(does your skin think it can?)
Then return to your home, street, and nation.

There once was a girl with blond tresses
Who like to buy shirts, pants, and dresses
She loves getting us gifts
All our spirits she lifts
Her thoughtful ways certainly bless us

The once was a girl who could cook
She didn't even need a book
She made something nice
With sugar and spice
And a very big piece I did took.

There once was a girl from Chi-town;
She met a guy who could get down.
Impressed by his dance,
And attempts at romance,
She consented to wear a white gown.

We know Sarah Beth loves to cook, 
And read her old mystery books. 
She can build a mean fire, 
Can teach and inspire, 
You see she has more than just looks. 

She is really too lovely for words, 
As our brood she so lovingly herds. 
Her reactions to fowl, 
Being freaked by an owl, 
Show we really share no love of birds. 

And there you have it - some blessed snippets of my poetic life.

gems from james

We have been traveling and while doing so have gained two gems from James:

1. In regard to a taste of his dad's fancy-pants gelato (something like roasted banana, almonds, and orange blossom honey) he says as disgustedly as possible, "I thought this was going to be delicious."

2. We have finally figured out his dismay at the word "toiletries" because to a seven year-old boy there are only "toilet trees."

PS the above photo was taken a few months ago at Grandmother Darling's home

a poetic approach

I get it - some people just don't dig vegetables. That's fine. But I'm tired of the whining. So the new approach is thus:
Eat your requisite amount (you need to eat a specified amount but there will be leftovers) without whining. Afterwards you may be excused but only if you are willing to write about your non-eaten vegetables in a poetic form (preferably haiku, limerick, or 2 rhyming verse).

This was Grace's gem last night:

my orange veggies

sit uneaten in a bowl

in a pool of stuff

It makes meal time much more fantastic.

5th grade is hard for parents

The purpose of the elementary school's Sock Hop is not a fundraiser (though that is what they will have you believe). The true purpose it to make families crazy. 

Children begin dreaming of the Sock Hop several weeks before the actual blessed event. When they are in the younger grades their dreams of the dance are mainly of candy and "looking cool." When they are in the older grades their dreams are  of "who will I go to the dance with?!?!"

You will go to the dance with your family.

You will NOT go to the dance with some kid who offered to pick you up in his golf cart.

You will NOT go to the dance with some kid who suggested that you go with "a real He-Man" like himself.

Your parents are currently seeking therapy.

party time, excellent

One day we finally had the kids' birthday party.


















Jimmy decided the best thing to do would be to dress as Spiderman.




























Grace just dressed in non-superhero attire.














There were a lot of children there that day.














We went with a Valentine's theme. Grace's cake was awesome, but my pictures of it are not awesome. And of course Jimmy insisted his heart-shape cake be green. Of course.














Happy Birthday Grace and Spidy! Perhaps next year I will dress as Wonder Woman at your party and Dad will be The Flash.