No words left today. Yesterday kind of took it out of me.

I will miss this place

...

Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day

Really. Yesterday was great.

My parents are here. We worked in the yard all day. I am tired. They are workhorses. I can not keep up with them.

Do you mind if we... What would you think about... If it's alright...

Yes. Yes. And Yes. Do all of it. Do none of it.

Yesterday we got the pots planted, flowers at the mail boxes, the trees trimmed, and the plantings cleaned up. Oy.

My Minnesota skin shows. Even with sunscreen.

It was exactly how I wanted to spend the day.

...

Mark your calendars...

Tonight was the first nice night since October.

We were standing in the garage talking.

The police stopped by.

We were too loud.

Talking. In the garage.

Anyone want to venture a guess what the tally of police visits will be by the end of summer?


...

Happy Birthday, My Boy.

Last night, I curled up beside him.

"Mama, I'm so excited I can't sleep."

Why?

"Tomorrow is my birthday. I'm going to be SIX!"

I know. That is very exciting.

I laid with him for a few minutes trying to memorize that very moment. The smell of his hair, the look of his face, the feel of his ever growing body snuggled with mine - just hold on to it for a minute.

Already the details I never thought I'd forget are fading. Eight pounds, how many ounces? Was it 8:20 am or 10 am? Twenty or twenty one inches long?

I do remember it was Mother's Day. I hadn't slept well all night, and finally decided around 7 am to call my mom. We were supposed to go to her house for Mother's Day. 'Mom, looks like we won't make brunch.' They rushed down to watch our then only child. She was still asleep in her little toddler bed when we left. I caressed her downy curls as I shed a quick tear knowing that not only would our lives change, hers would too. Quick hugs and off we went.

We arrived at the hospital, and I waddled up to the registration desk. 'I'm having a baby.' The gal smiled and asked if I could walk to Labor and Delivery or did I need a wheelchair. 'I can't make that decision right now.' She smiled again, knowingly, and replied that someone would be right with me. My husband arrived from parking the car the same minute the attendant came with a wheelchair.

Upon arriving at Labor and Delivery, we were informed that the Inn Was Full, but we could wait in the interim room. Checked in, IV'ed and ready to wait. At least there was a TV. All too soon, it was time. They wheeled me to the OR, as the room didn't have the 'functional necessities' that the birthing suites did. I was promised that there were several mothers leaving, and by the time I was done, they'd have a suite ready for me. At that time, I really didn't care - I just wanted to be done.

At the OR, the doctor walked in, sat on the foot of the bed, and checked things out. "Wow, fully dilated and effaced - you're ready to go!" He started telling a joke when the need to push struck.

There is nothing like the need to push. Nothing.

He looked again and the baby's head was nearly out, he quickly robed up and delivered.

One push.

One push and I was The Mama to The Boy.

He didn't holler right away, he'd sucked in some meconium right before birth. That was quickly suctioned out, and then he started right it.

Soon enough we were wheeled back to the interim room. It had gone so fast a room still wasn't ready. No problem for me, the baby was out - that's all that mattered.

All the nurses told me what a beautiful baby he was. 'I know you say that to everyone.' No, they said, we don't - he really is a beautiful baby. 'Thank you.' Was all I could reply.

Before long, a room was ready and I got situated. Took a shower, dried my hair, put on a little makeup, felt eighty pounds lighter though I'd probably only lost about ten, I got ready for our now big sister to meet her younger brother.

The rest of the day went by in a blur.

These days you're into Star Wars and Legos, and Star Wars Legos. You play outside every chance you get, and are a whiz playing baseball and riding your bike. You out-wear your jeans before you out-grow your jeans. There are so many things you're good at, and I can't wait to see what you're ready to do next.

Happy Birthday, my boy, Happy Birthday.

This is heaven after all.

Of course it is.

Great weekend.

Fired the grill up...
The kids played.

The boy caught a butterfly. He let it go shortly.


I grilled.

Joe's recipe.

It was very good. Very.

Took the veggies out and skewered them with some fresh pineapple.Lord almightly.


The pictures don't do it justice. The steak was, simply put, beautiful. I had recently purchased some new steak knives, and this was the perfect opportunity to break them in. The pineapple turned out carmelly golden brown and the veggies grilled to crisp perfection. The foil packet? Itty bitty red potatoes with garlic I'd found at the farmer's market that morning.

Living off the land, I tell you.

My parents came yesterday for a few days. They'll hang out with the kids; I'll get a couple projects done - really fun ones like cleaning out the kids' closets. Dad and I will go for a couple runs.

And I'm sure we'll find time to have some fun.

Before and After - The Four Year Old Version

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
















He's growing up and I can't stop it.

For now, I'll laugh.



(gratutious shot of the two year old)

Valhalla

Because this is what you do when it's January in Minnesota...

Thursday night, the big girl was invited to go ice skating at the park down the road. No skates? No problem - she borrowed some from the neighbor. It was love at first glide.

The next day she didn't have school. We went to the local "Play It Again Sports." Sixty three dollars and forty-eight cents later we walked out with two pair of skates. New figure skates for the girl, and a pair of beat up hockey (or hah-key) skates for the boy. The Toddler wanted some, but I told her she had to be three.

That's what they do here - have ice rinks at about every park. During the winter they flood them, set up a warming house, and put up lights. In the summer, they're used for either running dogs around or soccer. They also flood out a section of the park and set up a makeshift rink.
I tell you. These kids today. Friday afternoon we went out for about an hour and a half. The weather was nice - in the mid 20's. Went around and around. The ice was a little 'soft' - still ice, but there was just a little more give. Sunday it was much cooler - around 8 and breezy - and we only lasted about thirty minutes. The ice was as hard and a little pitted after the balmy weekend. After watching the kids go around and around the loop on Friday, though, I'd say the skates were a pretty good investment.

Good times, I tell you...