In the afternoon

We are winding down the school year, ready to welcome the change to summertime. In the afternoon, after school when activities are bare and the afternoon is open for anything they make up games, build forts and let their imagines roll on. So carefree and joyous! They enjoy each other's (and my) company and laugh together at their made up games. Sure, an occasional "she did this and he did that" but overall they are best buddies. 

the Flu and Fancy Nancy

We've been home, recovering from a whammy of the flu - yes the flu!?! Despite the flu shots and diligent hand washing. Luckily, it was mild, if the flu can be that. The thing about being sick is that I didn't feel like I COULD be doing anything else but laying on my back, much less HAVING to do anything to keep up with the usual things that keep life going. My little one was home with me too, a couple days of her and I, resting on the couch, watching her favorite cartoons and reading Fancy Nancy. One book after the other, we must have read more than 10, ten times. Of course, a little knitting here and there too. Really, not too bad when you have a good other half who happily keeps the rest of the days going. I'm ever so grateful for that indeed.

Winter break

We went skiing with some friends in New Hampshire and had great times together. How fun it was to watch my little ones SKI!

Around the house

A sunny morning greeting us today; a good day to document what's in these parts. My sentimental self is constantly trying to remember, document what these every day events are like. They are precious, when this little family of ours is happy to be, enjoying each other's company, playing games, smelling flowers and sharing our cozy space. My kids will ask me what I was like when I was a kid, what my house that I grew up in was like. I think carefully about these questions, try to recall what it was like, what it felt like. My daughter could spend hours laying in bed with my mom hearing about stories of me and my sister and our childhood games. I often wish that I had pictures to look at, pictures of my childhood bedroom. The room where my sister fixed my hair, helped with homework. Pictures of the kitchen I learned to cook in with my grandmother. With the internet, digital photos and blogs today, its much easier to document and save these images. I'm thankful for that knowing that I will enjoy these years later, hoping my kids will too. 

birthday

I have officially known my husband for 20 years (yikes)! He turned 38 today and celebrated these past couple of days exactly his way. He worked on the boat and together with his (92 year old) grandmother, designed an awning that she is sewing for him. What a gift!

 We celebrated with a kid made and decorated cake....

and with a quiet morning breakfast with his favorite beer bread muffins, coffee and fruit.  Happy Birthday Hubs, may you have 38 more years with me by your side.

My helpers

After a tiring day at work, a longer than usual commute home and being locked out of my house, I needed a lot of help getting my aggravation under control as I made dinner. Thankfully, my helpers were stellar at helping to orchestrate our dinner, much like they have been these past couple of weeks. There have been many requests for helping us cook dinner, cutting with a "real" knife. And a lot of "I did it's!!" Their eagerness is so contagious it really makes my heart do little flips. 

Helping with the garlic bread

Tonight it's shrimp with homemade garlic bread and green beans. Yum, yum, triple yum.

I am enjoying their eagerness to help. Last night they were "team washer and dryer". I had a specific request from Frank, "Mama, could you teach me how to wash the dishes the right way?"

I almost fell off my seat as I answered him, and then thought, "How long does this last?!?!" Elena, of course did not want to get too wet, so she was the dryer. I'm enjoying these evenings for sure, and am so thankful that my bad mood has left me!