on firstborn sons

....that moment at which the nurse places your tightly swaddled firstborn son into your arms and you see his sweet face and finally understand your mother-in-law's hesitation to accept you into her son's life....

in which someone learns that ya don't say 'don't look' if you don't want someone to look

The two youngest were playing in the sprinkler a little while today.  No 4 ran upstairs and was already changing by the time No 5 headed upstairs.

"Don't look in my room, I'm naked!" he warned as she was nearly at the top of the stairs.

"Yep," I heard her say as she passed by his room.

book sale at the library

Two books, $2.  Love a library book sale!

1) Miss Fannie's Hat by Jan Karon (to replace the over-loved copy given to my oldest many years ago).  Very cool factoid:  it came with a CD that has Jan Karon reading the book.
2) The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd (she wrote The Secret Life of Bees)

just finished...

In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez - historic fiction based on real people.  Enjoyed it.  Easy to read.  Hard to put down. ('Course a lot of the reason I couldn't put it down was the fact that I had to finish it for a book club meeting that was mere hours away, but, as usual, I digress.) 

thirteen years until our nest is empty

I showed her once and reminded her the second time, now she "knows how" and can do it perfectly....

No 5 can tie her own shoes!

Recap: They can all talk and tell me what hurts (though now the older ones seem to have come down with an occasional form of muteness), none of them are still in diapers, and they can all tie their shoes!  Stop me if I complain that they act like they don't need me.  Promise?

sage in any generation

I have gotten to the age that I hear my mother's words coming out of my mouth.

My mother and her mother before her each gave their daughters sound advice:

When choosing a mate, remember to save your pity for babies and weak puppies!

My daughters have also been given that advice. It's just plain gross when a man is more moody, frail, and/or needy than his female counterpart.

just call 'em "maters" and no one will get hurt

King and I ran down to the local plant nurseries on Saturday.  We bought azaleas and dogwoods, and it was a glorious day.

While we were gone, the kids watched a couple of cooking shows. They are sorta weird like I was at that age -  I could waste a whole Saturday just watching Julia Child or Nathalie Dupree create simple or more complex dishes with ease.  Ahh, those were the days.  (when I wasn't actually responsible for cooking!)

Ennyhoo, back to present time.  Rachel Allen, the Irish Cooking Queen, was making Slow Cooked Lamb with Coriander and Cumin and Peperonata, among other yummy things.  She discussed the various aspects of blanching tomatoes so that the peels can be removed easily.  All throughout the she pronounced the word "toh-mahh-toe".  Over and over. Sorta like she does here.   Y'know, you'll have that with Europeans, 'cause they're all swanky and stuff. 

Finally, no 5 had had enough of that funny talk.

"It's 'tah-may-to' you Fat Pig!" she muttered under her breath....

No. 3 nearly passed out from laughing so hard!

faith ... a poem by no. 3

Faith

Where are you?

Here

Where?

Here

I can't see you!

I'm here

Are you really There?

I AM

You Are?

I AM

But I can't see you!

You with little faith.  I AM. Have faith.  I AM.

I'll try. You are! I see you! You are here.

I AM.

dawwww, and it's not even my birthday

No 1 hurried over to me, out of the blue, and hugged me. 
She who keeps a tight lid on her emotions.
And who sorta has a hard time showing affection.

Are you delivering a hug to me from someone?

Nope.  Just me.  Thank you for being such a great mom.  Of all the ones I know, you are the best.

not gonna lie



image found from the internet

I'm just gonna say this out loud: I think Bubba Watson is the cutest golfer ever!

I am thrilled that he won the Masters Tournament this year.  In fact, when he came and played a handful of years ago, I wanted him to win then, too.  His is an amazing story.  I admire him.  And I'm not gonna lie, he is quite easy on the eyes.

He and his fellow golfin' Besties made this video and I think how much fun it must be to be young and clever like they are.  (Be sure to watch "the making of" after you watch the video... funny stuff.)

spring break 2012

Auburn University campus visit
Perdido Bay
A very mean and nasty virus
Pensacola Naval Museum
A lovesick teenager
Coffee on the deck
Binoculars and bird watching
Palm Sunday
Joe Patti's seafood
Confession
Urgent care clinic
Boiled shrimp
Beach time
Crystal blue water
Sun-kissed skin
Holy Thursday
Blizzards from Dairy Queen
Good Friday
Stations of the Cross
Masters golf coverage
Holy Saturday
Fishing from the pier
Easter Sunday
Mass and lunch with the 2 Wrens

A busy week.
A Holy Week.
We have had some ups, downs, successes, and failures this week.
But one thread of truth runs through it all - Each moment we get to spend together as a family is sacred!
Happy Easter y'all!