The Boy Next Door

Henry is the sweetest. He treats Greta like his special girl and teaches Jack how to throw rocks into the creek. We had a play date with him this week and we tore it up at Deanna Rose Farmstead. It was so windy that the stroller kept blowing away. The sun felt so good and the animals were eager to nibble the diaper bag and our sandal straps. Jack was amused, to say the least. He warmed up to the goats and cows but he is definitely not a fan of chickens anymore. While feeding them corn, one pecked Jack's finger and he lost his mind over it. He shot backwards on his butt and shouted, "huuuuh!" and then came "Whuuuuuuuh!" And streaming tears. When he cries like that it melts my heart because he is so vulnerable...like this little boy who is trying to be a man, but still needs his mommy.
We walked on gorgeous trails and talked about all of our summer plans. We hope to spend a lot of time at the farm.
Henry gave Greta a kiss on the cheek when we said goodbye. She started crying.

So, be it a peck on the hand or a peck on the cheek, have a tissue ready.

The Boy

I am fixating on Jack the boy, as he is fixated on me these past days....weeks. Jack has been sick. And he has been needing mamma's arms to hold him at night for hours at a time. He has me wrapped around his little boy pinkie, too. I can't deny him comfort, especially when he is suffering with a cough and stuffed nose. And I also think his teeth glow in the dark because I see him smiling up at me in the dark nursery. Sharks would envy this toothy smile that I see in the dark...grinning at me while the rest of the boy is asleep.

We have gotten closer and are enjoying our time together. We have had some beautiful mornings out in the backyard. It feels so good to get fresh air - especially since the lilacs are blooming. Lilacs are my favorite. I think they might also be Jack's favorite because he seems to love the scent on the wind as he swings in the backyard. He relaxes totally and even shuts his eyes unlike his sister who would kick her legs and squeal with every push! Higher, HIGHER! But then he gives you that smile again if you push the swing enough to tickle his tummy.

And, Jack the boy loves to slide. He is also much better at it than his sister who could always manage to come down end over end rather than what she had predicted. He is proud of his skills. He is also proud of his wardrobe. Never would I have imagined that Jack the boy would have such ideas and demands for what he will and will not wear. I should say, "WILL NOT WEAR!" He has opinions and we know it. He wants to dress like his daddy in hipster jeans (skinny leg) and black tee shirts. Here, he is pictured in half dress/ half jammie because sister ran outside before he was finished picking out a top. But, robots are hip. Daddy said so. And, mommy is too tired to protest!

Jack, you make me smile, you happy little boy!

Tinkerbell

We lost her. On one of the visits to see Papa, Tinkerbell and Beauty were left behind and I assured Greta that Papa would take good care of them until our rescue mission a week later. We went back to find Papa had put them in a safe place in his room, but Tinkerbell was missing at this point. Oh, heartbreak. Papa was crushed and we looked the room over good, just incase she had jumped down from where Papa had kept her. We assured Greta that she was safe, but was hiding somewhere because she wanted to stay and eat Jellybeans. (Have I mentioned that Papa has a secret place out in the TV lounge that he hides a cup of Jelly Bellies? Well, he does, that funny Papa!)

Greta has asked about her every single day...several times a day and especially at bedtime where she and Dad do fairy roll call and status updates on Tink. Greta anticipates her arrival back home within the week.

I am going to time her upon waking from her nap until she spots her lost treasure hiding up in the clock above the desk in the family room. I will update here.

UPDATE:
After eating a snack the clock read 4:29 and at 4:33 Jack went running to the clock with his finger pointing and Greta spotted her almost went airborn, "Tinkowbell! You came back! I wuv you!"

CHOCOLATE CARROTS!

On a Pretty Day

Greta

Her light shines bright. Sometimes it is hard to find words to express the way a child can radiate love and pure beauty... What I see in Greta . But it is a lot like this.

Jack Rabbit on Easter

We can't even believe it, but, we have now known Jack for 18 months! He has such a strong presence, he is such a joy. We knew he was a big baby boy, and at his well visit with Dr. Hartman he weighed 25 and a half pounds and was 34 and a half inches tall. Jack makes us laugh so much through out each day with his funny dances, and expressive faces and big sounds. He is adding new words daily and this makes me so happy because I am ready to hear some of his jokes.

This Easter he was pleased with all of the goings on. He picked out a hat to wear and got new sandals that were just a smidge too long and they made him high step and trot like a horse. Jack enjoyed the egg hunts and the Easter baskets as I knew he would. This little baby boy fits in so well and he makes it all seem so right.

We drove to see Papa and have our first picnic of the season. We had great fried chicken, hot baked beans, deviled eggs, potato salad, picked beets, cut veggies, home made chocolate chip cookies and Papa's favorite white cup cakes with white icing. We brought a checkered table cloth and had pretty colored plates and napkins left over from the kids' birthday parites. The table was so festive and at the head of it sat Papa with a big smile on his face. To me, that was better than anything else...in the whole world. And I sat across from him and watched him enjoy every single bite. Derek helped the kids eat and made sure they didn't sneak a cookie, and this was all in their best interest because we knew that the Easter bunny had been outside hiding eggs and candy for them!

The sun was so bright and beautiful in the sky and the daffodils were gorgeous. We went out and watched the kids find eggs and jump for joy and wander through the green grass and gardens. And they had an audience bigger than just us. At the Veteran's home, all who saw the bunny hiding the eggs stayed around to see the fun. There were so many grandpas to cheer them on. Gee made Easter baskets for the kids and their cousin, Makenzie, who joined us. The kids got Fairies from Tinkerbell, big bright lollypops and fuzzy chicks and ducks. Jack felt extra special because Gee got him a very boyish Spiderman so he could act cool and make him fly with the other fairies.

And, the sun started to set and we were on our way home after hugs and kisses to Gee and Papa. It made me cry. There is so much promise in our lives right now and so much good stuff and without even thinking about it, on the holidays I know this and I feel it with everything, but I also see the changes that make me long for how it was...like with Papa home...and Papa talking and walking and knowing everything was going to be alright. I want my babies to have it like that. I want them to know that everything will be alright. And, it will. Because of Easter.

Patience

Patience, originally uploaded by DerekandRebecca.

Green Eggs and Hams

I love dying eggs as much now as I did at Greta and Jack's age. Greta said we should do this every Saturday from now on. Deal!

Rejuvenation

This beautiful Spring is what we needed. Every Spring I feel a sense of newness come alive in me. The windows are open and breezes blow little girl dresses and ponytails and laughter in from the kids playing outside in the new soft yard. I feel excited. It is like being a kid again with not a care in the world, and I will repeat, it is what we needed!

Time to uncover the grill and heat it up! Time for new sand in the sandbox and new shovels and buckets to gather the pet worms before the robins get them all! Around this house we feel there is so much more to do and even have extended bed time for the past week. It is too hard to fall asleep with the sunshine still peeking through your window shades.

On the bright and warm mornings I have gone outside and watched Greta and Jack stand side by side at their sandbox playing while I sit and have a big glass of grapefruit juice and I have laughed out loud and even had those crazy mom tears where you realize how perfect something so simple can be and you feel so lucky for it. They play so nice together with their toys in the sand. They chatter to each other about the toys coming to life and squeal and then they pour sand over their heads and I laugh even harder because this is karma. I used to do that and my mother was a wreck over the sand in my hair. Now I know why and I love it and the dirty bathtub even more.

And even though outside is so nice, we are working so hard on finishing up the playroom. It needs to have a few more coats of mud and some serious sanding, then painting and carpet and finishing touches. Rainy days will be welcome around here very soon. Our imaginations are coming up with so many fun ideas - I can't wait to see what comes to be. Though the slide from our family room is out, I know there will be some swings and a club house and possibly a wardrobe to a far away land...