Olivers

There were some dark purple grapes hidden underneath cut melon this morning when Kuba was eating breakfast. After eating enough melon so that the grapes were showing, Kuba exclaimed "Aw, I don't like olivers." Needless to say, he was happy to hear they were grapes and not olives!

Jerk

Anna was walking with the boys and tuned into a game of tag they were playing. She noticed that it sounded like Anders was saying the word "jerk" every time Kuba would try to tag him and then would duck away from him. Anna asked Anders what he was saying and Anders confirmed that he was saying the word jerk. Anna went on to say that it wasn't a very nice word and was about to explain when Anders asked "Why - I'm just trying to jerk away from Kuba?" A good example of a 6 year old interpretation of the word jerk. I am imagining he heard this on the school playground and found a way to make sense of it.

Signs of Spring

Anders decides to wear shorts on the first day of Spring...
even though the temperature is only 45 degrees.

We shoveled the remaining snow off the basketball court so the boys could scoot.

Miniature daffodils are blooming in my duck vases.

The chickens have decided to come out of the barn.

POP ART KIDS

Shadow Haiku

exhuberant boys

filter the sun

as sugar moon rises

I Love this Art Museum!

Anders

Anders is six!

In honor of this little fella peeking out at us, and because he is no longer a little fella, I'd like to name some of the things I simply adore about Anders.

1. He is just a beautiful little boy. His hair is an amazing color, his eyes just a lovely green, and his smile...simply a flash of divinity.

2. His kind heart...I mean really kind heart. This boy knows how to love.

3. His sensitivity to the world. He soaks things up, pays attention, and responds.
You would never call this boy shallow. And you would definitely want him for a friend.

4. The way he likes to collect things. He's sort of a wonderful example of a kid bag lady....in a way. He loves to gather things up in collections....for his "store," or to tote around just in case you just might need something he's got. It comes in spurts, and right now he has a treasure of things in a new rolling suitcase he got for his birthday. Couldn't have been a better gift for him.

5. His eagerness to learn...to play....to engage in a playful way. Audacious.

6. His loyalty towards the people and things he loves. Be it a polar bear, a dragon, his brother, or one of his good friends...he's a loyal little fella.

7. His wonderfully skilled kinesthetic little body. He's good at moving...running, jumping, climbing, gymnastics, etc. When I watch him I am reminded of what it might feel like to be so in synch with one's body - I don't think I've ever moved like that.

8. His love of humor...and being silly....and wanting to be funny...and trying to be funny....and laughing his head off when things are silly or funny. Cracks me right up.

9. His love of his age. This year on the eve of his 6th birthday he thoughtfully said..."Mom, I'm going to miss being 5." He said that about being 4 too. He has loved every year...and even though he greets each new year with wonder, he also knows that he had a wonderful year before and really treats it as if he is losing an old friend.

10. His big love for his family and home. Being a water sign with a cancer moon, I can see how this manifests in his life, and we are so completely lucky to have him in ours.

Hip Hip Hooray for Anders!

Happy 6th year!!

Leonard

My brother just emailed me this photo of us at the hospital four days after my dad's quadruple by-pass. My dad looks so much better today...four weeks later. You can see how traumatic this was for his system just by the look in his eye. I can only say that this experience was amazing - with the best news of all being that my dear father's heart is pumping blood in a way that he hasn't experienced in years. Soon, I know my father will be completely recovered and able to speak to this surge of oxygen to his system. Right now...he's still recuperating.