Now kitties...

Ian went downstairs with me to feed the cats.  As soon as the six of them were each settled in front of one of the circle of six cat food bowls, Ian stepped into the middle and said, "Now kitties, I'm going to tell you a story."  He plopped down in the middle, startling several cats away from the kitty buffet and held up a finger.  "This is Thomas," he said.

I wish I could have waited this out and found out the rest of the story, but the cats were eyeballing him with definite suspicion, and they outnumber him, so I convinced him to let them eat in peace.

I'll huff, and I'll puff...

Friday we did The Three Little Pigs at school. We acted it out as a "table puppet play," and as I told them the story, I encouraged them to help me set the scene. The kids got way into this... controlling the wooden "pigs," helping to name the characters, yelling, "Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin!" and experimenting with building their own "houses" after we finished the story. They loved the part where we all "huffed" and "puffed."

Ian is continuing to play out the story on his own at every opportunity. He'll grab the tray and say, "I want to build Michael's house."  (We named the smart pig who built his house out of stones Michael.  His two brothers are George and Ryan.)

One of the most entertaining aspects of this for me, as the adult, was to see how each child took something different from the story and the activity.  One was most into the huffing and puffing, one was more into moving the "pigs" around, one was delighted at the opportunity to shout defiance at the bully, and more.  Each took to a different aspect and made it their own.  At the end they all joined me in laughing at the wolf who thought he could blow down a stone house!

I'll huff and I'll puff

Family walk plus big apple

We told him we'd take him to the playground, but he took off in a whole other direction and we had a very nice little family walk.. the perfect end to the perfect day.

More herbs:

Herbs are up!

As you can see, the herb seeds Ian and I have planted are starting to make an appearance at last!  Ian is so excited and asks to look at them every day.

Which is good, because that little damping off problem I was seeing in my seed flat went rogue and killed everything I'd started indoors.

A brother OR a sister

Wednesday Ian informed me that he would like a little brother.  I told him we would work on it, but that he had to take what he got- he might not get a brother, he might get a sister instead.

Hours later we had this conversation.

Ian: I want a brother OR a sister.
Daddy: Well, you know that if you get a sister, it won't be Aisling, right?
Mommy: Yeah, she's already been adopted once, I don't think it will happen again.
Ian: Let's get Thomas.  Let's adopt him.
Mommy:  Uh, honey, Thomas is going to stay with his Mommy.  We'll have to get our own baby.

The next day a different friend brought her new infant over and left the baby, in her carrier, with me for a few minutes so she could use the restroom.  Ian spotted me with this baby.  "MOMMY!  What you got there for me?"

So, mamas, consider yourself on notice... do not leave your infants unsecured.  Ian has decided we need one, and yours will do just fine!

You say it's yer birthday...

My birthday was awesome. It was filled with friends, family, cake, and presents. And, of course, I listened to the Beatles Yer Birthday song, so the day was complete.

This is a sour cream devil's food cake with cocoa icing cream. I also was priveleged to share raspberry yellow cake and what my mother calls Grandma's Cake with a great many of my favorite people, so when I say it was a good day... believe me!

My son brightened it by capering around the house yelling, "it's my birthday!  Happy birthday to YOU, Mommy!  It's my birthday!"

What Was Good About Today?

A lot of things, I would say...
Ian dessed himself this morning


Ian: I want to get some ice cream.
Daddy: Do you think we have ice cream?
Ian: SOMEBODY has some, Daddy.

Fence! Fence! Fence! Fence!

This weekend's beautiful weather brought an opportunity to finish the fence.





After an adventure at Home Depot, we eventually determined that it was NOT possible to get pre-made fence panels in 4' height as a stock item, although I had been told on two different occasions, and at two different stores, that it was.  Part of the problem may stem from the fact that it didn't dawn on anyone until told that I actually was trying to build a WOODEN fence, not a vinyl one.  Sorry, folks, I know that everyone touts the new vinyl fencing as the be-all and end-all of maintenance free fencing, but here's the thing:  Once it's broken, it's broken.  You have to throw it out.  Is it recyclable?  I don't know.  I don't care.  I'd rather be able to repair the fence and know it will last for years to come, even with Ian the Destroyer on the case.

Fortunately for me, as mentioned previously, everyone should have friends like mine.  What should have been a quick project turned into an all weekend affair, but the guys just kept at it and our beautiful, safe fence is ready to keep the kids INSIDE the yard where they belong!

Dear Ian,

We love you when you're clever
We love you when you're tall
We love you when you're silly
And when you're anything at all.

We love you when you're sleeping
And when you're awake
We love your hugs and kisses
And your very special ways.

Herbs & Turf

I have noticed that grass is extremely difficult to kill unless you are actually trying to grow it.

Every single thing we put in the yard seems to create a dead spot in the grass.  That, of course, is with the exception of places where I've actually dug up and discarded the grass in an attempt to grow something else, where grass springs eternal.

(The herb garden so far: bottom right, parsley, bottom left, Lemon Basil, top right, garlic chives, top left, cilantro.)

Today I weeded the resurrected grass out of the new herb bed once more. I'm up to four plots in the "kitchen garden" and one out front.  I planted regular chives out front and the newest addition (today, in fact) in the kitchen garden is cilantro.  (Top left.)  Two more herbs that tolerate partial shade will be going in the kitchen garden, plus a side order of marigolds.  They're my favorite and word is they help keep the bugs down in your garden.


The little dude has been "helping" me with the garden by "working" it with his little tractor.  He asked me to attach a "snow plow" to it for him.  Unfortunately, the "snow plow" was a dry oak leaf, and Mommy's invention failed her, much to his dismay.  We are negotiating the compromise of "pretending" a snow plow.  So far, so good.

My indoor starter seeds are running into some problems.  I'm seeing some "damping off" in the cilantro.  I was warned that they start better outdoors, so I'm being philosophical about it.  Aside from wanting a wee head start, I really wanted Ian to see the seed sprouting process up close and personal, and we've succeeded in that.  Besides, it's a few less for me to kill at hardening off time...

Happy Mother's Day

Throughout the animal kingdom, we are told that those who are good mothers are that way because they had good mothers themselves.

I am often told that I'm good mom. I can't see how it could be otherwise, when I'm building on such a fabulous example.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Richard Scarry

Just another beautiful moment around here.

Lovely family

"Let's play with helicopters, Daddy!"

Ian Longlegs

Yes, that's Ian on the "big boy" monkey bars. No, I couldn't believe it either.

Ian's first haircut

Resist though I might, it had to happen sooner or later.  The onset of hot weather forced my hand, since every time Ian would get hot and sweaty, his longest curls would get very badly tangled and no one was enjoying the combing-out process. So Mommy's Barber Shop opened for business today and trimmed Ian's topknot. Mommy survived. Ian could care less.

For giggles, take the time machine back approximately one year.

Before:

After:

I'll drive, mom!

I'm in the garden...

"I have to fix Daddy's Car."

As you can see, my little volunteer Japanese Red Maple seems to have survived the transplant and is doing well.

In the next step of my efforts to surrender a little bit of the need to do it "right" and just enjoy my garden, I looked up which of my collection of herb seeds would do well in part shade and got started with my "kitchen garden" today.  I planted sweet basil and parsley so far and several others will follow.

Naturally, I had help.  Ian and I talked about worms, planted the seeds together, dug together, and just generally enjoyed this gorgeous day, which was in the high 70s, dry, and breezy by late afternoon.  Just perfect!

Mommy, that's for you!

Best bouquet I ever got...

Daisies and Dialogue

It was Flower Communion Sunday at Church today.  For those who aren't familiar with this UU tradition, congregants bring flowers which are then distributed during the service.  The idea is that the individuality of each flower, like each member, combines to create something even more beautiful than its parts, and each person takes a flower to remind themselves of that beauty.

I took a daisy, because it reminded me of the Wise and Wonderful Betty Gray.  All day, I've been thinking of the story she told me about the day someone said, "Betty, you have the loudest laugh I've ever heard."  I can't remember who the speaker was, but it stuck with me because it was true.  Grandma had the most wonderful, big, big laugh.  There was no doubt when something caught her funny because she didn't hold back at all.

I've been thinking of her because this morning Ian found a coupon on the kitchen table, all folded up.  He picked it up and said, "'Oh, no!' cried Mommy, 'What happened to this?'" Grandma would have LOVED that story.  And she would have loved to hear how tall he looked standing at the end of King Street watching the boats and the ducks yesterday.  And she'd have been beside herself if I called to tell her about Ian saying, "Mommy, you banged the door so you gotta go in time out" after I shut the car door too hard.  (Well, really, doesn't some of that kind of make you want to shoot milk out your nose?) And I, myself, would have loved calling her to tell her about it, because nothing beat being able to say, "I made Grandma laugh today."

Summertime, and the living is easy...

It may only be the beginning of May, but around here, the line between "spring" and "summer" has been crossed. 

Irises are blooming

Little Man watched ducks and sailboats in Old Town

Finished the day dozing in the hammock.

Not too shabby. Friday marked the five year anniversary of the beginning of this beautiful life, and so far, the weekend has been a perfect monument.