A Shadow of a Thought

There's this great scene in American Gods, by Neil Gaiman, when the mysterious Mr. Wednesday asks Shadow for a snow storm to distract everyone while he robs a bank (or something like that -- it's been a bit since I've read the book). And Shadow creates a storm, just by thinking it.

I think might have done something like that.

This fall was hard for me.

Lots of changes and me scrambling to keep up and keep it all together.

I remember thinking that I just couldn't handle another winter like last winter -- gray, cold, white.

And so, I think I willed winter away this year.

The sun was shining today and melted most of the snow from this weekend. I didn't even wear a coat. It felt good. I feel good.

And, I just needed this. Not just today, but the past couple months. The snow feels suffocating at times. It becomes a chore to leave the house -- the hats and gloves and boots, brushing off my car, the cold that seeps into your bones. Even if it snows every day for the rest of winter, there's really only a month or so left.

So, the inevitable conclusion is that I am a god. Or at least god-like.

(don't worry, we can still be friends)

Dinner tonight will be zucchini with a side of zucchini followed by zucchini dessert

I spent an hour today grating zucchini while David was at school and Kate played with play-doh. It was about as awesome as it sounded. We joined fruit co-op again this year and part of our share this week was a giant bag of zucchini. Part of our share last week was zucchini. Part of our share the week before was zucchini. Part of our share ... Well, you get the picture. When we were kids my parents had a huge garden that seemed to only produce zucchini. My mother couldn't give enough of it away. It became a joke in the neighborhood, how we would be eating zucchini that day. So, tonight I sautéed up some zucchini with tomatoes and sauce. And made some zucchini bread. And remembered home.

This is the game that would not end

 

This was one of Mike's games when he was a boy - The Battle for Hoth. 

David found this in the closet and we decided to play.

The first time we decided to play was a week ago. 

It was a nice day, so we set it up outside and played on the grass.

We played for hours.

And hours. 

And hours. 

No one won. Not even close. 

Darth Vader seemed impossible to beat. 

So, we finally decided to take a break from it and try again another time.

David set it up this morning. 

And won the game in minutes. 

Dark side of the force? 

Destroyed.

Sometimes it helps to change the scenery. 

Catching the sun

Kate and I went swimming at the YMCA yesterday.
Swimming has been one of our favorite things to do this summer.
There's a huge indoor pool at the Y, surrounded by large windows that let patches of sun in.
Kate and I caught the sun yesterday, that came in through the windows, and put it in our pockets.
And took it home with us when we left.
We are going to save it for the next rainy day.

summertime (and the living is easy)

This is my first post in a long time.

All summer actually.

I'm not sure why exactly ...

So, what have we been up to all summer you wonder?

The honest is answer is not much.

Not to say that we are sitting around in our jammies all day hanging out - although we certainly have done that.

Some days are busy.

Saturday, David had t-ball in the morning. And then we ran some errands, stopped by a charity lemonade stand. In the afternoon we went out to Wickham Farms - Mike and David went to the batting cage, Kate and I jumped on the giant pillow. That night we made popcorn and watched The Fantastic Mr. Fox - which we had just finishing reading.

Sunday, we sat around in our jammies all day.

We've all been home together this summer and somehow we've managed it. Not to say that some days all I want to do is scream. Or that we have to separate David and Kate.

But, it's been nice.

It hasn't been amazing.

But, it's been nice.

School is just around the corner. Mike will be going back to work, David starting Kindergarten and Kate starting preschool.

I thrive (THRIVE) on structure and order.

I can feel the new year creeping up on us.

And, I'll miss not doing much with my family.

T-ball

Davids first day of T-ball was Saturday.
Our instructions were to be on the field by 8:30am to pick our team, but had plans to meet a friend there a little early, around 8:15am, to make sure we got on the same team.
David and Mike were dressed, breakfasted and ready to leave the house by 7:30am.

We were one of the first cars in the parking lot.

David and Ryan joined the Nationals.
They got "official" t-shirts and hats.
(fun fact: David has only taken his hat off to sleep at night)

Team selection was followed by some chaotic opening day ceremonies.

And then practice.

The boys practiced catching, fielding, hitting, running the bases.

Mike helped the 2 coaches with the boys - directing them where to go, how to hold their gloves, reminding them to pay attention to the ball.

Kate and I sat on the sidelines with some of the other parents.

(Baseball is sort of a big deal in our house.)

As we were walking back to the car after practice, we talked about the drills David was learning, the new friends he made on his team, how much fun he had.

"You were great out there today, David. It looked like you had a fun time!"

I turned to my husband, who had been quiet most of the way back to the car.

"I think Daddy had a good day today too."

Mike smiled.
(fun fact: Mike doesn't really smile.)
"Yes," he said "I had a good day today too."

Mother's Day

Some things I love about my mom, in honor of Mother's Day:

(look, sorry about this, but, I am really into numbered lists lately)

1. Her vast knowledge of show tunes. And, her ability to sing them at the oddest moments.

It is a gift I am passing on to my own children - Kate in the bath will occasionally break out into "I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair ... "

2. I tease her a bit about this, but she is one of my biggest fans. Always quick with compliments and support - that I usually tell her is part of her job description as mom. (but, I'll let you in on a bit of a secret ... as a mom, I now know we compliment and support because we really do mean it)

3. Always accepting .... I became a vegetarian at 14, I think in a way to rebel a bit - my mothers response was that we should all eat a bit healthier. I don't think dyeing my hair pink got any sort of a negative response. Neither did tattoos.

4. She is confident in who she is as a person. It's refreshing. And, was a fantastic model growing up and still as an adult.

5. She's a friend. Someone I can talk to and laugh with.

And, really, who could ask for anything more?

fences make good neighbors

Our neighbor across the street may have passed away.

I think he had been sick, but to be honest I don't really know.

There had been signs of "something" going on

We live on a fairly busy road

Which we chose primarily for the privacy

And our huge backyard

I grew up in a cookie cutter development in suburbia
We always left our garage door unlocked

Because everyone knew everyone

We could sit on our deck and see the neighborhood
(and the neighborhood could see us)

But ...

I could ride my bike anywhere I wanted in my development,
I just had to step outside to find other kids to hang out with

And there was always something sort of comforting about entering a home that looked sort of like your own

I fell once while working and fractured my wrist. My parents weren't home at the time, so I went to my neighbor - who was a nurse. She took me for X-Rays.

You always knew what was going on in the neighborhood
the good and the bad
(because everyone knew everyone)

You definitely knew when someone passed away

And, that is difference

(Before I built a wall I’d ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
from Mending Wall by Robert Frost)