5!

Today is Sam's birthday. He is at such an eager age. He loves to help me with every task - cleaning, cooking. He likes to just be with me. When he wakes up in the morning, he comes padding into the office and climbs onto my lap with an, "I love you, mommy". He likes to play near me, even if I'm not playing with him. I hear him "pshew-ing" his 'guys' as I nurse Mary to sleep. If I'm in the bath with Mary, 9 times out of 10 he will climb in with us. He likes to snuggle right up to me when I read to him at bedtime. He adores his older brother and is incredibly gentle with his baby sister. He's really into drawing lately, and today drew a perfect heart on shrinky dink paper for me. Even with everything going on right now (Mary's heart, my health, Scott's job, his dad dying), these days with Sam (and of course, Charlie and Mary, too) are the happiest of my life.

Scott and I started a birthday tradition many years ago. It stemmed from the fact that our birthdays are only 10 days apart, and we used to go out to eat a lot. Back then, if asked where I wanted to go out for dinner, I would always choose Maggiano's. So, we started this thing where we each had to choose a restaurant to go to for the other person's birthday, but it had to be a place that person hadn't yet gone. It also helped if it was sort of a sacrificial choice - i.e. I would choose a seafood restaurant for Scott, even though I. hate. seafood. Or Scott would take me into Chicago even though he hates driving down there (and one time a valet took his car for a joyride!). The birthday person has to drive in the car with his or her eyes closed. It really is a lot of fun, even when they are flops. We've gone to some really spectacular places as well. We started doing this for Charlie the year he turned 6, and went ahead and surprised Sam this year. Even though our kids are pretty good/adventurous eaters, we've tried to choose places that are more of an experience rather than superb food. Sam was prett happy when we showed up for this tonight -

Technically, Sam has already been to Lucky Strike, but that was in Denver, almost 2 years ago. Despite the blizzard - tonight was a lot of fun.

Oh, Sam, so sweet. My middle child. I hope you are more normal than I. So far, so good. I love you, Bones.

soup du jour

Tonight I hosted a soup exchange with 6 women. We each brought 6 6-cup containers of our best homemade potage to share with one another. If I had my act together, I would have taken a photo of each bowl when we were sampling (alas, I had a snuggly baby in my arms the whole night!). We also enjoyed homemade bread, delicious salad, and wine, plenty of wine. It really was a very nice evening. And filling. I can't wait to pull some yummy soup out of the freezer on my next too-overwhelming-to-cook day.

There was corn chowder, tomato dill, kielbasa bean, pumpkin mushroom curry, chicken tortilla, African peanut, and old fashioned chicken noodle. Thanks, ladies.

"Do you have a kinder, more adaptable friend in the food world than soup? Who soothes you when you are ill? Who refuses to leave you when you are impoverished and stretches its resources to give a hearty sustenance and cheer? Who warms you in the winter and cools you in the summer? Yet who also is capable of doing honor to your richest table and impressing your most demanding guests? Soup does its loyal best, no matter what undignified conditions are imposed upon it. You don't catch steak hanging around when you're poor and sick, do you?" Judith Martin (Miss Manners)

Away - School

Here is Charlie on his way to The Greenhouse. This is a one day a week program for homeschoolers focusing on History/Literature, Art, Science, and Performing Arts based on the Classical Education model. Truly, we are what I consider "relaxed, eclectic homeschoolers", but The Greenhouse gives us a nice outline from which to work. Aside from the amazing teachers and curricula, Charlie and I both appreciate the social aspect. It is nice for him to have a safe opportunity to develop relationships with adults and children independently of his parents. Charlie really loves The Greenhouse, and we are so blessed to be a part of such a stellar organization. I can't say enough good things about it, or my son.

3 Ring Circus

Charlie with the wizard sticks-

Every challenge (flipping the sticks while tapping his head or while hopping on one foot) I threw at him, he accomplished.

And here is Sam swinging the poi.

Noe gets in on the action.

Sam took the top photograph and Charlie took the bottom two. They are both such cool kids. Mary has no idea what amazing feats await her.

All Better

I cut Sam's hair. As much as he liked his handiwork, I wanted to clean it up a bit. We had Scott's dad's funeral today. Thank goodness for the distraction that is children.




Bonus picture - complete with tights...

He Strikes Again

Today Sam asked if he could have a beard and mustache for his birthday. I said sure (his birthday is 3 weeks away), and figured he would forget about his request by that time. As usual, he took matters into his own hands...
He's cute, but I prefer him clean shaven.

Excuse Me

These are some burp clothes I made last night for Mary. I hope she likes them - I know the shoulders of all my shirts will appreciate them.