Botanic Gardens

Determined that I could go to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and come home and have energy to fix dinner in our 90+ degree weather was my goal. I went and conquered, then I came home too exhausted to move. Does that ever happen to you? What do you?

It was one of the most beeautiful days of the year! I loved every bright moment of being there. There was a slight breeze pulling the sticky hair from my hot neck. Two smiling children that laughed and ran separate directions for me to follow. My thirty pound bag filled with "essentials" a smashed lunch, water, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, extra T outfit, etc. We were set.

S was the most delightful, cheerful girl whom picked the spare cherry blossoms off the ground and took them to every stranger she met (mostly women) and every single time afterward she would say, "Those people really like me."

We saw some amazing drummers drumming their Japanese drums and the Suzuki beginner violinists that were from Brooklyn College and we got the information. There were beautiful Japanese dressed women getting their portraits drawn and several painters out absorbing the beauty and extracting it to their paintings.

When I got closest to the flowers and imagined all those people away I could envision myself in my back yard and at my Grandpa's back yard smelling the lilacs (I should have taken many more pictures). It made me realize how blessed we are!

Your Majesty

Ever have those times when laundry just seems to pile up? Well we are at the crunch point and S is out of pjs. Tonight I made it a special occasion and let her borrow my nightgown. There is something validating about using your mother's nightgown if you are 4. It feels like the epitome of elegance; queenly garb, if you will. I know, because my mother ended up giving me one of hers when I was that age. I felt SO grown-up.

Right after, S (or should I say night-gown-wearing-Princess S) immediately followed R around the house and said, "Your majesty." Following of course would be a huge smile and a delightful curtsy.

R turns to her and says, "I am not your majesty!"

"Yes, you are, you look like a majesty," S hastily replied.

"No, I'm not," R groaned.

"Then your my prince and we can get married," S chimed.

. . . you can guess what the rest of the conversation between them was . . .

Beauty-mas

So here are some pictures of me with short hair, but first a quick explanation. I thought the first one with the sun shining looked, to me, absolutely heavenly. The second one was when I thought I had lots of curls left when they had really been blown out by a determined wind. The last one we were attempting to show what we felt about the guy in the pic smoking a cigar. R is showing his artistic way of showing thought-felt sympathy for that guy's (the statue) liver--which he doesn't have--really--but if he were real . . .never mind.

You know what feels good? To be told you are beautiful. :) I love that.

This morning I woke up and my hair was curly and a bit rauchus but when W saw me he said, "Your hair is beautiful curly." He has also told me several times (because I need the verbal repetition) that my hair is beautiful shorter and that I'll have to keep doing it that way because he really likes it (points for W).

When I went to cut my hair I was soooo excited. The lady, Maureen, started cutting my hair. I divulged that I had never colored my hair. She got this Grandma VDG look in her eye and said, "For you, I will give a special price if you let me put some highlights in your hair (music to my ears--and hair). You will look like Mrs. America."

Suddenly I envision myself on some stage with a bright red lipstick smile, confidently wearing a crown, a bouquet of red roses in one arm, the other arm waving, doing that sideways, best-angle stance with a cheering crowd all because of a few highlights. Ah, heaven.

Yes, my imaginations is that vivid.

You can be assured I walked all the way home with my queenly walk (albeit faster) and radiant smile beaming from my face.

So what if all my spoons have suddenly gone missing, what does it matter, I am beautiful. (Mom, don't worry. I am really not that taken with my beauty and the spoons are in the process of being found).

Oh, about beauty pageants (my mother judged one on Saturday--in Idaho). In the Miss America Pageant I heard that the California girl spoke her opinion and was shot down for it. Well, they DID ask for HER opinion did they not? Ridiculous. Sorry about that tangent.

NY Museums

If you are like me, you dream of museum hopping. I love museums. I love walking through thinking how wonderful life is that we have so many blessings and that people are so inventive and create masterpieces for others to enjoy (because they have God behind them helping out). Sooooo, if you are in the area anytime or you are interested in museums in NYC then check out this website:

http://www.newyorkology.com/archives/2009/03/free_hours_at_m.php

Truth be told, I am listing it here so I can check my blog and click on it to find the updates. :) But. . . you may find it helpful too!

And just when you thought things couldn't get weirder . . .

My good friend Terrah Harper keeps me somewhat connected to the events happening around where I grew up. In Idaho Falls, ID the local news reported on . . da, da, dum (somethings-going-to-happen music) . . . a SOCK thief. Yes, you read right. A woman was put into severe distress (not medically speaking) when she awoke to find a ski-masked person tugging a sock off of her foot.

She thinks it may have been a previous roommate. Word to the wise. Don't steal your roommates socks.

If you feel your socks are in danger while you sleep, don't wear socks to bed or napping.

Check it out. http://www.localnews8.com/global/story.asp?s=10139797

Beware users of gold toe socks (the brand). This is such a worry. Next thing you know there will be people going after your used dental floss.

If you are feeling a Springtime deficit

S and I have started taking photos of the flowers around our neighborhood with my phone (it also is my way of keeping us focused on happy instead of the "I am so tired, mom" or "I'm ssstaaaarrrrvvviinnng"). It makes me feel happy that there are so many flowers out. This winter seemed exceedingly long and finally the spring is here. Here is some proof and how we feel about it! Our smiles cannot be contained by our faces.

Night Three

Last night W put the kids to bed. He did the routine and put T in bed and T immediately rolled over and went to sleep. Yay!

However, it was not to last, about 2 a.m. He woke up and cried for about an hour--I sat by his bed so he knew I was there, but I am not sure if that aggravated the problem. What do you do during the night if your kids wake up?

W checked on him when he woke up this morning and T was sitting cheerfully in his bed flipping through a book that was in his bed. Needless to say I feel exhausted. We had a repair guy and the landlord drop in unannounced (they didn't call in advance). The house looks like I have 20 kids and I forgot to tell him about everything that needs to be fixed. But overall things are going well.

If he wakes up in the middle of the night next time I think I will just cuddle him and get him a snack or a drink (like W does). Please give me your ideas. ;)

Old Mad Lady

Today, when we were at the library and preparing to leave T got a little rambunctious and started doing an impatient squeal. He did it all of three times. S went to throw something in the garbage and a little old lady came up to her and practically shouted, "Stop screaming! This is a library, you are SUPPOSED to be QUIET. YOU are disturbing ME!"

There was a multitude of shocked and disdainful faces and S immediately looked at my face to see how she should react. You'll be either happy or disgusted that I acted unsurprised and unapologetic, but still lovingly (at S).

The police officer standing nearby (hmmmm, wonder why) rolled his eyes and looked upset that that woman would accost my child in such a manner. I think he was offended enough for both of us.

S ran over to me and said softly, "Mommy, I didn't scream. Why did she talk to me like that?" I told her not to worry and that we should leave.

We left quickly and when we got outside we talked about it. After about two minutes she seemed to completely forget about it. Oh to have the forgiveness ability of a four year old.

Night Two

Recaps of the first night. T woke up at 6:30 a.m. and stayed awake until 8:45ish--then took an hour and a half long nap. No incidents during the night. He was completely out of the covers. Thankfully we have warm pajamas.

Goals:

• quick pick-up (3 things to pick up--it's a miracle)
• bedtime routine (which ended up being a little slower than normal--bathroom breaks were some how elongated--tooth brushing took forever)
• move chair further from crib
  

So I moved the chair and sat on it after the routine and he must not have liked that one bit because he cried for about fifteen minutes. I learned that I have to make sure the kids don't have toys in their bed because S had her jewelry box and made a small racket--big enough to start the whole ordeal over. But over all they were pretty quiet.

Thank you for your prayers in our behalf. Doing this kind of thing for me is really challenging, but I know it will be better for everyone. Thank you for your comments--they were really encouraging!