Weekend in Pics.

What I'm Listening to...

Death Cab for Cutie is slowly becoming my new favorite band,

May 2004

Swinging back on Sturdivant with Poppy...May 2004.
I was looking at past pictures & thought I'd post some from way back in 2004:)
I can't believe that was five years ago. Jack has a hard time remembering living there, but I have these pictures/words to remind him & hopefully spark a memory or two.

The blue swing set,..your first.
The tricycle rides around our loop
that must have seemed like mountains.
Tall pines that whispered in the breeze.
Your 3rd birthday party in the backyard,
Maddie just 3 months old in her bouncy seat staring..
Our neighbors, Ruby & Dalton always inviting you to cruise their smooth, blacktop driveway.
Chalk drawings on the back patio.
Your first bedroom with blue & green dogs thanks to Ms. Cindy
& a train table.
mosquitoes!!

Feels like summer...

what reminds you of summer?

Long Birthday Weekend..

Wow...what a busy weekend we had...lots of lots of parties, baseball and fun with friends. Jack had a great bday party at Plain City Bowling. He loved all having his friends there to bowl & all of the present opening... more legos of course & some cool science kits, bakugans, & moon sand (which Maddie LOVES) messy, but it doesnt dry out which is nice.
Here are a few pics from our busy day.

Ohio Sunset

I got this pic Thursday night in the car...who said Ohio doesnt have cool sunsets:)
Bday blog coming soon:)

Lego Invasion

Jack's big 07 is fast approaching!! I look at him & cant believe how quickly he is growing up and how in a flash he has become a tall, smart, beautiful seven year old.

i look at you & smile
i gaze at your profile
dreaming, wondering, wishing
for all your wishes to come true..

Legos are his biggest wish this year & yes they are invading daily.

Summer Cut

Maddie's new do & a little art from my little girl:)

Ladybug Ladybug

Remember this one:
Ladybug, Ladybug flyaway home
Your house is fire
Your children are gone.

I dont remember it being so sad as a kid, but as I typed it I thought that was pretty depressing for a kids poem:)

Honey Bee Buzzing...

Maddie had her "Enchanted Garden" performance yesterday. The day finally came when I could answer "yes!" to her question of "am I dancing on the big stage today?" It was a sweet performance full of cute little insects dancing their hearts out.

Around the house...& town

My mom aka "Nana" & GP Ben are visiting from NC, so I havent had much time to sit & type. I thought I'd post a few pics from our weekend. So far we had lots of lego & polly pocket playing with a new fire station & polly ride, Jack's last soccer game of the season, Maddie's visit with Dr. Mike (her dentist) she was the drawing winner this month & too much ice cream. More to come later...

Poem share...

Our bookclub bk this month is "Gossip of the Starlings" by Nina de Gramont (a NC writer:) I didn't realize the title was a Shel poem until it was mentioned in reading. Sure enough it's from a poem entitled "Forgotten Language." I love the line about the conversation with a housefly in bed. A sweet little poem that reminded me to never grow up or at least stop & listen, soak it all in more often.

Forgotten Language (from "where the sidewalk ends") by Shel Silverstein

Once I spoke the language of the flowers,
Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,
Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,
And shared a conversation with the housefly
in my bed.
Once I heard and answered all the questions
of the crickets,
And joined the crying of each falling dying
flake of snow,
Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . .
How did it go?
How did it go?

Shel Silverstein

Beco

I read today that the baby Elephant (born in March at our zoo) finally has his official name...BECO!! A combo of mom Phoebe & dad Coco. He's too cute.

Mom's Rock

Happy moms day to all those special ladies in the world. I think we are pretty cool!

We had lunch with Grandma, Grandpa & Yaya & Poppy at Bel Lago in Westerville. It was very nice.

A little bit of chalk..

Having fun with chalk..

Zoo fun..

Today Maddie had her class field trip to the zoo. The zoo trip is always a reminder of the school year's end. She was so excited to go & be there with her friends. I cant beleive how quickly her first year of preschool has passed. She'll miss her morning routine when June arrives. But next year she'll be with the same teachers & most of the class will move up to the 4/5 yr old afternoon class.

Maddie's favorite animal today was the kangaroo. She was hoping to see the penguins but they weren't out. We also were hoping to see the new baby Elephant, but there was an half hour wait. Maybe next time. My favorite was the koala...they always seem so happy & sleepy.

Children's Books...what's your fav?

I've always loved the children's section of the bookstore & library. Even before kids, it's always been a happy place for me. I remember as a kid, anxiously awaiting my troll book order every few weeks:) It was like magic.

Certain books stand out in my mind when I think about reading as a child, "Pierre; A Cautionary Tale" by Maurice Sendack was definitely a favorite. I loved the little chapters & Pierre's repetitive "I do not care" line. I wonder what book/character Jack & Maddie's "Pierre" will be.

Nowadays, I get excited about reading all kinds of books, but some of my favorites to read with the kids are by Mo Willems. We all giggle at his stories & characters. Jack decided to draw Mo's Piggy on his bday invitations. Maddie has memorized the Knuffle Bunny books & Jack's fav is "There's a bird on your head"..we crack up every time!

I just listened to Mo on NPR ATC interview talk about the importance of drawing as an adult. He's so smart. I want to be invited to one his dinner parties, but until that happens we'll just have to have our own. Bring on the butcher paper!!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103818071

http://mowillemsdoodles.blogspot.com/

They're growing..

I planted the zinnias in the ground last night that we started by seeds a few weeks ago. Let's hope they can survive the chilly mornings & nights we are having.

A May Monday

I've decided to start a "100 ideas" project
http://www.kerismith.com/funstuff/100ideas.htm & see how far I can get. why? something to spark a little creative wire & keep my brain waves moving.
I picked #5 & 55 (yes I think I'll do 2 a day) & see if the John & the kids want to participate:) sooo my poet of choice for today's #5:
Maya Angelou. She's such an inspiration & has always intrigued me. I love to hear her talk & read her words. This poem we read at our wedding & I'll put it in my 100 ideas journal:

Touched by An Angel by Maya Angelou
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

Weekend Pics.

watching, smiling, laughing, dancing, running, pedaling, reading, imagining, playing,
...loving weekends..

Welcome May

Magical
Airy
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