Missing my mother

I missed my mom today. She is so far away in Wyoming. It's not that I don't miss her every day, but I was particularly reminded today.  I took the kids to the park this afternoon and we had fun. I watched them play on the swings and obstacles and then Karina decided she wanted to take a walk. This particular park, a favorite of ours for their awesome playground, has a trail that we never explored. So that is where we headed!

It is neat! There is a collaboration from the library (didn't I just mention their awesomeness the other day?), City of Gahanna, the local high school art department and some other sponsors. As you walk into the woods there are little plaque like things with some young person art with a short poem they wrote. Beside that on the plaque thing (name for this thing?) is a question directed towards children that had to do with the poem. It is very interactive, colorful and fun. So we walked and read and talked then they got tired of talking, asked me to stop reading and ran ahead. Ruining the romance of it all, that is their favorite. We went to the creek the path ran next to and skipped rocks.

We had fun but I would have loved to do that with my mom. She would have went to the park with me and walked through the woods.There are a ton of raspberry or blackberry bushes there. She would know what they were and when they would be ready. I'm sure she would have been happy, or at least willing, to go back with me when those berries would be ready. We could walk through the woods with the kids and pick and eat (gasp!) berries and I could complain about my week and she would listen. She wouldn't complain about being hot or tired. She wouldn't say how gross that creek water is or how icky it is to eat berries you find.She would listen to my crazy, lofty future plans and goals and be a realist and supporter.

I always miss my mom but especially this time of year. She was always so willing to do stuff with me. I can't wait till she and Steve come back for the wedding. I hope I' not crazy busy and so stressed that I don't get to enjoy her company.

End of a chaper

The kids and I went to the library Sunday. It was impromptu. We were driving and started talking about books or something so we drove by to see if the library was open yet and it was! So we went it. Before we did that I made rule we can only get a few books since we didn't bring a bag.  My first stop   at the library is  to the info desk. I always a fine to pay. ALWAYS. Today's was a whopper. $20! Another reason to limit the number of books we get.

The kids went to pick books; no one listened to my rule about just a few books. I should have given them a specific number. Like two. Two books each is good. They stacked about 12 each on the table. As they picked I went wandering for good read alouds for us. And then I looked around and got caught up watching them. In the young readers area. Not in picture books with me. It really hit me. I sat down and started sorting their books and almost cried in the library. Right there at a small table, in a small chair I had to fight back tears.  

We have spent countless hours in the libraries of Columbus. They are fabulous. From baby story times to rainy days it has been a source of renewable, free, quality entertainment. Entertainment that goes home for continuous enjoyment! And now it is yet another marker of my children's growth. Or a smack in the face reminding me I don't have babies anymore. 

Karina is going to kindergarten next year and wis beginning to learn to read. Jr is reading fluently at this point. He developed so much this year in first grade. Board books went years ago. Picture books are next and it will continue this way I know. Doesn't mean I have to be ready.

Oh look! the list of favorite books on the side of this blog reflects how much they have changed. The updated list would include Fly Guy and Desperaux  not little baby books anymore. Sigh.

Spring

Spring is officially here. Technically. But there is snow in the forecast for this evening. It's the end of March. I'm over it. I'm excited for it to warm up. I'm really excited to start our garden. I'm not sure how this will turn out. I've only had my own garden once and that was vegetables. This year we are doing flowers and some veggies if space allows.
We are not certain what we will plant yet. We went to Home Depot and picked some green Zinnias and other green things. I want to get some Dahlias in white but beyond that I don't know. I'll try to go to a nursery this weekend. I'm trying to stick to greens and whites for colors.

This represents my inspiration. ...never mind. Pictures not working.
Below is what I've already purchased. Again, I'm not sure how it will turn out. The arrangement above is clearly professional but it's the color scheme I was imagining.

    

I wouldn't mind more colors but sal is pretty set on keeping all the froofy, girly stuff away. I'm cool with that.

Grandma and I also worked on the dress a little this weekend. I did a terrible job of basting some pieces and the kids played with pins and buttons. Jr had all the spare spools of thread "training". He couldn't tell us what for. They appeared to be training for battle.

Karina sorted all the buttons. She found an earring in the box of buttons. Just one. Of course I had to wear it and take a picture.

I still have it on. To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if Grandma wanted us to stop coming over to "work". We are not very productive.

Once a week she says

What a joke. I said to myself, and everyone actually, that  I would try to update this once a week. Then the end of week one came and I realized nothing interesting has happened. Same with week two. As it turns out there is really not too much that I have to talk about. If you know me well you know this is also funny because I don't ever stop talking.

So here is a brief rundown of what has been happening:

• I am on the quest for new work shoes. Comfortable, stylish and cheap all in one?
• Karina turned 5
• We went to see the Lego movie
• I ignored the emails about the fundraiser auction basket for preschool 'cause I don't have the time or money
• Big Sal also had a birthday
• I skipped the gym last Thursday
• I put of signing Jr up for baseball to the point it is now too late unless I want to pay a late fee

So pretty much nothing worth blogging about. The thing is the internet is the one place you can make yourself look awesome! I need to dig deep within myself and find my wit and snark and sarcasm skills. (I gotta have them somewhere under all this blah). Then I have to take pictures with my camera phone and use great angles and lighting. I must make sure to share frequently so it looks like there are amazing things happening to me daily. If I can figure out how to get pictures from my phone to the computer I'll do that. If it requires using a USB cord it might not happen though. That seems like a lot of old school work.