One backpack is up..

Today was Maddie's last day as a preschooler:( Yes..the day came, as much as I wished she could stay a preschooler forever. I still cant believe she's ready for Kindergarten! One more week for Jack & summer is official.

Spring Flowers

Our house if bursting with colorful reminders that summer is right around the corner! Maddie loved getting these after her show. I think she likes getting flowers as much as I do.

Tale Tues. cont....

She had intended on being there early. But the adrenaline had actually slowed her swollen body. How would he react when he recognized her? She imagined his bright eyes gaping at her belly while she found her way over to him. Would he run to her or run away like she had?
Slowly, the chemicals in her bloodstream allowed her to breathe again while her mind wandered back to the day she saw the double blue lines. She had panicked. Never had she planned on becoming a mother. Victor would be a perfect father, but was she ready to give up her life to have a family and change their lives forever. The stupor she found herself in had turned to more confusion. How had their lives been turned upside down in just a few seconds?
Instead of confessing to him eight months ago, she left! She ran away, desperately awaiting him to follow her, somehow track her down and for him to see in her eyes the fear & the baby inside her. But that didn't happen.

Monday Music

Happy Birthday Jackie!!

Jack is officially eight today! This weekend was one of the busiest we've had in a while. soccer, more soccer, jack's bday party, soccer, more soccer, maddie dance recital!! ahh! It actually feels good to be starting a new week.

He had a blast with all of his 2nd grade buddies at the caverns. I still can't believe he's eight! Thinking back..

Pony Camera

We have been searching for a camera for Jack's bday, scouring the craigslist ads hoping for a good find. Luckily, we found one Wednesday; an old Minolta that seems to be in great shape. But while searching, John called about another Minolta that had been sold. To his surprise, the owner of the sold camera told him about another camera he had; a 50s Kodak Pony 135. He tried to give it to the other buyer of the Minolta, but they didn't want it. He asked John if he would like to have it & seemed excited that someone would be using it again. It belonged to his uncle. He wouldn't take money for it & we were excited about his generosity. He had the original manual & leather case. It looks a little complicated for an eight year old, but we are looking forward to learning how to use it & seeing what type of pictures it takes.

Fresh from the farm..

We got another delivery yesterday from the farm! Since we've had so much rain & cool weather, it's been slow getting much local produce in May. But the kids were excited to see their first local strawberries yesterday. Now what to do with a nice bunch of onions & rhubarb?? Need to look at some recipes.

Minuet No. 2 Bach

Tuesday's Tale

A short story cont...

Now he had even more proof that it was possible for their life together to return. Her call, the calm voice speaking to him through the wires. "Can you meet at the Chelsea for coffee tomorrow morning, 9 ok?, I'll be there. Hope you will too." How those few words could have so many hidden messages most wouldn't understand. Victor found himself replaying them, searching for a clue as to why he was here now, waiting for her to arrive, when she was the one who had said " I'll be there..."

He glanced around at the other customers, mostly couples exchanging loving glances, perhaps thinking of their previous night together; still naked and warm. Victor remembered how her body felt as he held her under the soft swarm of blankets . She had felt like no other, he could feel her heart pounding, almost as if it were his own after they made love.

Now as he scanned Chelsea's patio full of enchanted lovers, awakening with their hot cups of tea and coffee, he saw no sight of her. A few women had similar features as hers; soft blond hair and pale skin. He even found that some of their body language was identical to hers; legs dangling while their feet crossed under the table or a long caress of their own neck. Did all of this symbolize something? Were all women secretly narcissistic and only holding on for their own pleasures.

Victor pulled himself together as he almost hallucinated her appearance and decided to order a light breakfast. Maybe an eggs benedict would somehow ease his impatience. He knew she should arrive soon enough. How he longed to tell her how much he missed her and how their lives were meant to be spent together. He continued to wait.

Monday Music

J&M have their dance shows coming up. We've been listening to the show music cds alot, and it makes me wonder how they choose the songs. Maddie's show is mostly modern stuff that has me cringing..sorry Maddie! Jack's show song is hard to sit still to...Roll over Beethoven by Chuck Berry..redone by so many, but the orginal is the best!!

One moment..

Jack & his paperclip writings..

Turning Eight.

When May rolls around alot of memories flood my mind, some sad, some beautiful, but most of them cherished memories involving Jack & I. I became a mother in May; I lost my daddy in May; I left my career of teaching a classroom in May. It's just a month that always find me reminiscing, remembering so much.

This year, Jack will turn eight. I think back to 2002 when I was home anticipating his arrival, writing thank you cards for my baby shower gifts & trying to prepare.."nesting" I think it's called. Now in 2010..I helped Jack write his birthday party invites & find myself still nesting. I never really stopped. I have a hard time just sitting. If I am sitting, I usually have my hands involved in something.

So as Jack's birthday approaches..I think about what special something he would love to open from us on his 8th birthday. For so long, he was all about cars, anything really with wheels. Something he could watch the wheels go around & around on. This has always been soothing for him..still to this day, he transports himself to another world with cars/wheels. Then for the last few birthdays, it's been LEGOS. They became his new escape. But the LEGOS are slowly fading, much more than the wheels. & he's becoming more interested in books & his fascination of gadgets continues. He really wants a new camera..one he cant take apart for the fun of it, but one he can take real pictures with. He likes old things. One of his favorite things to do is go explore "junk" shops & we've found a few favorites we enjoy exploring.

I recently gave him my old 35mm camera from my teenage trips & it was so much fun to take his film to be developed, like I did so many times before. It's amazing how different it feels to take pictures without seeing the image instantly. Scary sometimes how our kids have a world of instant gratification.

So I'm thinking a camera will be just perfect for his 8th bday. Something I hope he will hold on for years to come & capture some great memories with.

Field Trip to the Zoo

We took our last preschool field trip to the zoo today. It's hard to believe the school year is ending in just two weeks for Maddie. Its also hard to say good bye to a preschool both Jack & Maddie have grown so much with. I don't look forward to the last day farwells to the teachers & the routine we've had now for 4 years.

Despite the rain & thunder, the zoo was fun. Always lots of walking & we hurried at the end to see the new polar bear exhibit. My favorite today..the sea turtle & Maddie taking everyone on a boat ride with Jack Hanna:)!

A Short Story

Something I have started...

Victor glanced at his watch impatiently as he sipped his stale coffee. His mind danced around possible scenarios for her tardiness. Maybe it was car trouble again, no she probably overslept. He remembered how deep she slept especially on cold rainy mornings, when even a light sleeper like himself could have trouble leaving the warmth of his cocoon. His image of her in bed drifted, as he suddenly noticed the bright eyed waitress buzzing around him like the mist of raindrops falling. Finally she stopped as he hoped the rain would, asking if he needed more coffee. He accepted politely and then wished she would disappear and the one he waited for so impatiently would arrive.

His avidity had begun when she phoned late the previous day wanting to meet for coffee. Only a brief glimpse of her had she left on his voicemail. If only he had been home and not out browsing the local bookstore for the latest self-help catalog. He'd read so many since she left him eight months ago. Still he found himself searching for some answer hidden in their empty pages. Why had she left? Why had it been so detrimental. Couldn't he just move along like the million others in his shoes. "It takes time." his friends told him. Even his family had started to worry about his loss of weight and absence at family gatherings. He had a difficult time understanding his life himself so how could he explain her absence to his mother. Carmen, his eccentric sister had asked him to see her therapist, but Victor refused. He wasn't ready for the honesty that psychotherapy required. He chose to continue believing she would come back. In his mind she would return and things would be as they were, happy, he thought.

All you need is love

My mother's day card had a John Lennon quote on the front "all you need is love" &
I was feeling the love today... Got to sleep in, the sun was shining & Maddie played her first baseball game with the Aligators. I also got lots of hugs & kisses from my favortie people.

Making Comics

Jack is excited about making his own comics..here's peek!

Lilacs in Bloom

My neighbor surprised me today with a bundle of lilacs..I love little surprises like this. It was one of those days & just want I needed. We added it to our "nature table," by the front door. So far we have bird nests, a monarch butterfly & a few other dead insects. The kids love looking at these up close & it is pretty fascinating. Most of the time anything flying & buzzing they are are running around screaming about, so it's cool to inspect them up close.



I also sent my mother's day packages today to NC..I had fun making little gifts for my grandma, aunt, mom & sister. Here's a little peek at something I knitted for them.

Pause

I too was a four-leaf clover girl. I would spend my entire recess looking for them & store them away in a "Peanuts" Book. Nikki McClure's art takes me home. I love her reminder of pausing to remember we all are part of the earth, we are nature. Her art is just beautiful & I wish I could hang her all over my house!

Nikki McClure by Dicky Dahl from PatCastaldo on Vimeo.

Monday Music

I just got Carolina Chocolate Drops' Cd (Genuine Negro Jig) in the mail today!! I'm dancin & playing air banjo:) YAY!! This is one of my favorite songs on the album!!

Happy May Day!!

Guess who got a new bed today!!