Someone is turning seven....

Tis the season....

For baseball..

and birthdays...

and hopefully some warmer weather!

So, seven years ago tonight....I was as big around as a barrel!

Isn't it funny that that is the part I always remember...

ACC tournament, labor, wind, storms, labor, ...

I love you Victor!

Something special...

This little plant just decided to bloom this past week!  This is the first bloom we have seen in five or six years. :)  I have no idea what kind of plant it is...when I bought it, going on 10 years ago, it was a teeny little plant at Whole Foods.  It was a bargain, and it was so cute in a little pot.  It has hung around ever since! :)  Maybe things in the yard will take the hint.. ;)

I found...

...something SO good to watch.

Melissa, Bethany, this is for you!

It is called, "Call the midwife"  It is a British show.  I was on Netflix and they recommended this for me.

Oh my! --It is the same kind of good as "Downton Abbey"  

The filming is beautiful!

The stories are just enthralling.

It is the story of a midwife in Post World War II England--she lives in a Convent with some nuns and other midwives.  The midwives are in their early twenties.  

The area they work is the East End of London, which apparently is the place where the poor live, and the where the immigrants live when they arrive etc.

So, the newest season comes on PBS March 30th, but if you hurry, you can watch seasons one and two on Netflix so you will be all caught up.

I watched two seasons in the matter of one week--That is how good this show is.

Now, for season three--I am going to stick to watching it on the tele, as I need my TV rationed out for me. 

Top O the Mornin To ye!

It is Saturday morning and we are all up bright and early.

6:00 AM to be exact.

Usually we have pancakes a la Andy on Saturdays in the morning, and they are cooked at around 9:00 Am, but yesterday I stopped at the yummy bakery and picked up bakery treats.  Can you see Eva's face?  true to mothering odds--she did not like hers. ;).  --before she even tried it she knew!

We had one Cinnamon Roll, one Chocolate Croisant, and one nutella tart!  

So, while I was laying in the bed with Eva and Victor--where we all convene on Saturday mornings with two dogs to boot--we had the strangest conversations--led by the wandering thoughts of children.

First off, Victor:  --from his bedroom, before he even got up..."Hey mama, one time I found a dime at Food Lion and another time I found one at McDonald's.

Eva:  Mama--I don't care if I find a dime, because I just like pennies better, anyway.

Eva:  Why did God make us have eyes?  And.. why does he make them so they see?

Me:  I do not know the answer to that Eva, except to say that God made everything, and he made it all happen just the way he wanted.  Isn't that amazing?

Victor:  If I had a really big loom, like this big (gesture)--he was now lying beside of me snuggling--I could make longer bracelets and I would not have to add parts at the end. 

Me:  I hear the dogs at the door, I think they want to come in...

Eva:  Okay Mama I will go and get them real quick.

Eva:  --gesturing with her hands:  Mama--this is my little magic sparkle ball--giggle, giggle..

Elena came in at some point too, and I think she was laughing at Prissy b/c Prissy was standing on her hind legs like an otter and we were calling her a "dotter".

That is the morning before seven A.M. AND it is so sweet!

I have not even had my coffee yet!

I just really want to hold on to some of these memories and conversations that one can only have with a group of children under twelve. ;).  

Yin Yang

The good, the bad, and the ugly

The mom's work

The kids' fun

The warm, cozy place to be

The safety of Mama's hug

The beautiful scene

The ice cold

The adventure

Yesterday while we played I had the song by Jarabe de Palo in my head all day.

Then we went to one of my favorite spots in the woods, and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Then we came back in the house, that the backporch looked like (see above)...

Then, this post composed itself to me.

Winter time fun

Winter time has never been my favorite, but as I have aged I have realized that Winter is one more thing that, when made empirical and organized, can be overcome, and even {enjoyed}.

For several winters I spent eight weeks of Winter teaching Sunday school and coaching Upward Cheerleading.  After the eight weeks of January and February--well, winter was on her way out the door!

Since then, I am not coaching upward, nor am I teaching Sunday school, but I still have a little one who is playing Upward basketball, and that timeline has stuck with me.  Eight weeks.  I can spend that time being sad and complaining, or I can suck it up and enjoy watching all these sweet kiddos playing ball, b/c they are enjoying it. :)

We will spend these winters baking muffins and cake pops, making hot chocolate, praying for some snow, being in Christmas shows, cuddling, bundling, cozying...

BUT, I not going to spend them complaining.

Yes. It is cold.

Yes.  It is dark.

Yes. My house is cozier than my trailer at work.

BUT, The Winter is what brings the spring. :)

The Winter is what makes us appreciate the Spring.

Winter gives us snow days, cozy, and snow cream!

Viva el Invierno, digo yo! 

Do me a favor

Over the next week or so please notice the over use of the word, "myself"
People have started using this word all the time.
Most of the time. they should actually be using the word, "me."
Just like anything else that starts with someone just trying to sound "smart" (or cool, or whatever)
it is running rampant --and driving me crazy!
I really wish there could be a PSA and people could be instructed on the correct use of this word.
ick...
listen out for it. :)
Remember the overuse of the word, "like"?
It drove my Mama crazy!
This whole, "myself." thing is the same way.
Has anyone else noticed it?