There's no place like home

As Mark blogged, I went to Delaware to attend Chas' funeral. I was gone for four days and three nights. I got a 'Rock Star' welcome at the airport.
I'm not sure who was the happiest that I was home: me or the kids. Mark did an amazing job as Mr. Mom. Thanks, honey, for your support!

Who's been sitting in my chair?

Madelyn's class did a performance of Goldilocks on March 9. The children had been working with the Albuquerque Little Theater for 12 weeks and this concluded their workshop. Our sweet Madelyn was Goldilocks, complete with gold locks. The younger children got a kick out of seeing Madelyn in the wig. We did too!

Happy 2nd Birthday Brothers!

We started a day of birthday festivities with flaming pancakes. The boys didn't understand why we would put fire in front of them when we've spent the entire winter warning them about how fire is hot.

We then headed to the zoo to be both spectators and spectacles.

I love this picture of the boys. It's such a true image of their brotherhood at the moment. Sam is always my helper. He likes to help with everything, including leading his brother around. Seth is either mad that he's being pushed around or he thinks it's a game and runs away hoping to be chased. In this case, it's the latter.

We came home to cake and ice cream. I did a train cake this year.

More fire...why do we send our children these mixed messages?

Our dear boys, we love you so. Through your early arrival into the world, you taught us to love more deeply, more urgently than ever before. You have enriched our lives and those of your sisters by your love. Seth, you are so tender and sweet. I love how you study your toys, how you love to snuggle with me, and your mischievous grin. Sam, you are so helpful and warmhearted. I love how you always get juice and snacks for both you and Seth; how you love to be part of the group; and how you cling to me when you wake up. We look forward to watching you both grow to three and beyond.

My Uncle Chas

My Great-Uncle Chas died on March 7. He was 93 years old.

It seems so simple to say, even write, but it's not so simple to feel. Chas was more than an uncle, he was a playmate during my childhood. As I grew up, he continued to tell the stories of my youth. He kept it alive in his memory, mine and anyone else who knew him. His neighbors (whom I had never met) shared a meal with me after his funeral and they told me they felt like they knew me, albeit through someone else's eyes. I will miss hearing Chas tell those stories and, more than that, I will miss hearing Chas tell my children those stories.

Chas was the biggest kids I know. He met Madelyn when she was 5 months old. He did everything he could to make her laugh. Even at the age of 87, he immediately got down on the floor to play with her.
When the boys (also 5-months-old) came to meet Uncle Chas over Labor Day 2007, he was thrilled. He snatched them right up.
I am grateful for the time I had with Chas. There was never any doubt that he loved me. I will miss his smile and just knowing he is there in Delaware waiting for our next visit. Of course, that's selfish. For Chas, I am thankful that the Lord took him quickly and that he is now reunited in Heaven with my Aunt Marie, his brothers and parents.

Mr Mom, and Boys will be boys...

It's now our 3rd day without Mommy (Heather is back in Wilmington, DE to attend a family funeral), and the kids are ruling the roost. In her sted, I'm attempting to experience all of Heather's daily life including the grumpy wakeups, finicky & slow eaters, ill-timed poopy diapers, twin anger management & mediation, endless school & dance class shuttling, bedtime routine, and the multiple middle of the night disturbances to my beauty sleep. Now, I must time to make a blog entry! Heather's return tomorrow can't come soon enough.

I must say that I have a renewed appreciation for what Heather's life is like during my 3-4 day workweeks that leave her a single parent from 6am-7:30pm. WOW - what a woman! I love you Heather!

Dad's measure of control and discipline is definitely lower than Mommy's, but the kids are starting to chip in with the housework. Seth & Sam took a turn at washing dishes tonight. I'll skip the picture of the resulting mess...




Earlier today, Sam took initiative to "fix" a TV display problem while his sisters were playing Wii. Problem solved: brother had the TV remote & turned it off. I love that he had the foresight to wear his hearing protection!




And when you're playing hard, it's important to stay hydrated. Sam knows this well & insisted on carrying his (aka Daddy's) soda with him at the park until he chugged every last drop. Extra points to those of you that can identify where we bought the soda...hint, think cheap & big.







WE MISS YOU MOMMY!!! COME HOME!

More haikus by Madelyn

Flowers blooming up
Little seedlings from the Earth
Spring is coming soon

Love is in the air
Air is bursting with balloons
Air is for loving

Teddy bears are cute
Bears are as soft as pillows
Build-a-bears are fun

By the way, the picture at the top of this post was taken this morning in our front yard. What month is it?

Balloon Museum outing

Today's family adventure was to the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum. I went in the fall with Catherine and Chloe for a field trip but we've never been as a family. After learning about the history of hot air ballooning, we went to the hands-on kid zone. We made little paper whirly things that when put over a fan demonstrate Bernoulli's Principle. You know, that scientific principle that explains how as air travels faster than surrounding air across a surface (like the whirly things), the air pressure against it is reduced and the object lifts. Catherine was the most impressed...Then we headed upstairs where Chloe and Sam worked on puzzles...And Madelyn rode an airplane...Madelyn and I also wrote a haiku as part of an open house the museum was having celebrating its new exhibit.

Balloons flying up,
Green, yellow, red, blue and pink
Rainbows in the sky