Jane went to bed late tonight. In fact I still hear her rustling as I type this.
There were reasons of course. Ivy and I were too noisy. I didn’t tuck her in fast enough. She needed another book. She was starving…
There are always reasons.
And because I’m tired and she’s the baby and I did a completely crap job of making dinner so she probably is hungry because personally I’m starving, I let her stay up.
Also. She makes these faces…
Jane is going to bed way to late tonight. I’m not proud but these things happen because… reasons… and faces.
We have never been big movie watchers. There always seems to be somewhere to go, or something to do, or someone to see… or at least there was.
Lately we’ve instituted a once a week movie night. And while it is nice to watch a movie more than once every six months the actual reason we started it was for the snuggle time. The girls have all been in need of more hugs and more cuddles, (Who hasn’t?) and everyone, even the teenager, wants “just two minutes of snuggling” at bedtime.
So now once a week we all pile on the couch, the dogs and cats are optional and frequent add-ons, and re-charge our snuggle-meters. And if we enjoy a movie in the process, so much the better.
Where is your snuggle-meter at these days and do you have a family movie recommendation?
As I write this I can confirm that we have officially survived the first day of virtual school. I am happy to report that things went smoothly and even our sometimes temperamental internet behaved. All in all, I would say it was better than we feared.
Of course before the day started, we had to take the traditional first day of school photos even if it wasn’t a traditional school day. While other mothers manage to post smiling faces with cute signs delineating grade on their children’s first day, I feel that our girls’ pictures often tell a broader story. Here is my interpretation of this morning’s quick photo shoot…
Clara: School at home means I don’t really have to pay attention- or wear pants!
Jane: New things are terrible, also I can’t find my pants.
Ivy: Seriously? Just pull up your pants like this, it’s almost time for me to log on.
Clara: I don’t want to do this so I’m not wearing pants, also I’m still in my pjs under this sweatshirt so pppbbbbttt.
Jane: I can’t do new terrible things without my pants.
Ivy: If I smile like this can I go log on now?
Clara: Fooled you I have shorts on!
Jane: I can’t smile because new things are terrible, also I still don’t have my favorite pants.
Ivy: *through gritted teeth * I’ve been smiling forever can I go now?
Clara: Just kidding. I don’t have pants!
Jane: I can’t believe this is really happening without my pants.
Ivy: I’m done.
I may never have a picture of them all smiling at the same time but I’ll not be short of memories looking back at photos like these!
Last week we left John at home working with all the animals to keep him company and traveled the few hours north to my family’s cabin to help with the annual spring clean up. It was the first time we had spent away from the house in months. We were off the property! I was ready for excitement, what I got was education.
I learned that the kids do not in fact need to pee every hour on a car ride. As it turns out, after months of Covid talk and faced with public restrooms and face masks, they can all hold it the whole 3.5 hour drive. A fact I will remember.
I learned that a change of scenery will not make a single bit of difference in the amount of fighting the girls do.
I learned that if Grandma and Grandpa are the only people they have been able to see in two months, the additional presence of Grandma and Grandpa won’t make a bit of difference in the referenced fighting.
I learned that different chores, no matter how enthusiastic you present them “Yay! Let’s rake pine needles!”, are still chores and they will whine about them just as much.
I learned that Clara will happily pick up and drag home every bit of garbage and “treasure” she can find when out for a paddle.
I learned that Jane will pack herself up two live snails to bring home without asking for permission.
I learned that Ivy can make fantastic cookies in any kitchen.
And I remembered that life always feels better on the water.
Today is the last day of the April Squares challenge hosted by The Life of B. A month of square pictures, posted everyday, somehow themed around the word “top”.
It was a good way to get back into the habit of keeping the camera handy. It was good to get back into the habit of blogging. On days that my still recovering brain was up for it it felt good to blog surf again and see other “top” pictures.
Some days I wobbled. There were days that I stretched far for the “top” connection, for a photo that might work and to post before midnight.
But I stayed the course and posted the whole month.
The last months have been rough ride but some things never change. Taking on a challenge and coming out on top always feels fantastic!
If I were to be totally honest it’s the other two who are significantly more self motivated who would truly be top of our distance learning class but these two do an admirable job with everything that’s been thrown at them as well.
Clara loves pigeons. I think her pigeon love may have started with a young barn pigeon she tried (and sadly failed) to rescue a few years ago. Since then she has successfully raised multiple pigeons by hand. Young or sick pigeons have accompanied us on family vacations and at least half the time she has a pigeon living in her room with her for reasons that we at least tell her Dad are quite valid.
Last fall, for her birthday, we wanted to get her some more pigeons. Plans were made, pigeons were promised, housing was constructed and six long months (for a ten year old) later, we made it to the big day.
Today Clara brought home a flock of pigeons that needed a new home and new person to love them.
Clara is truly on top of the world today!
And the pigeons are settling into their new home nicely too!
That last picture (the square one of course) is my contribution to today’s April Square’s challenge, theme “top” hosted by The Life of B.
We were gifted a fun egg decorator this year that we immediately dubbed “The Egg Lathe. ” Today we pulled out traditional egg decorating supplies as well as The Egg Lathe and three hours later the kids decorated four dozen duck and chicken eggs and three goose eggs.
They turned out beautiful but unfortunately we are a family where zero people eat egg salad.
I hear you can make chocolate chip cookies with hard boiled eggs. How many bags of chocolate chips do you suppose we need to get through four dozen eggs?
I’m participating in the April Square hosted by The Life of B. Have you figured the theme out yet?
Behind the Willows 