Brothers or Friends?

At the end of summer last year, I remember thinking that we had been having such a fun time together that I wasn't sure if I was ready for it to be over when the boys had to start school again.

Why is it now that I'm almost desperately looking for ways to fill our summer calendar in a panic at the prospect of having two boys who seem to vie for my favor and attention in hardly appreciated ways whenever they are together? I know I'm not alone. I'm looking through the community catalog at those week-long camps that last for solid chunks of time that scream "Errands!", "Pedicure!", "Naptime!", "Workouts at the Gym!" and any number of indulgences that I'm worried about imminently giving up when school's out. Many of them are already full. And I can't help but wish I could meet the mothers who signed their kids up for those camps and give them all a sympathetic hug.

Well, I better wind up the blogging... clock's a tickin'...

Pray for sun, so that we can take all of our big personalities outdoors.

Pray for rain, so that we don't have to pay to water our garden.

Pray for clouds, so that I can finally finish painting the boys' room.

Pray for bugs, so that the boys will have something to catch and entertain them.

And anything else that comes to mind!

We got to have a Party!

Jamie was very decisive about what kind of party he wanted. He wanted to bounce and slide like a king for 2 exhaustive hours, eat cake on his throne, and then be showered with presents from his favorite people. It was a blast!

And we're pretty sure everyone had a great time!

We even managed to photograph his big brother having fun, too, though he worked pretty hard at convincing us to the contrary.

Three cheers for good friends and silly faces!

Finally Five!

For five years of laughter, tickles, snuggles, nonsense, and pure sunshine, I love you, little one!

These are supposed to be sunny cupcakes for Jamie's preschool class. I confess that cake decorating is usually a fun and creative process, even when it means copying someone else's ideas. I can't think of a novel, visual craft of my own, but there really are so many great ideas out there to keep me happily entertained for ages and, not the least, a hero in my kids' eyes. Does that end when they become teenagers?

May I suggest the best birthday present ever? (Thank you, Mimi!)

Kids Day

So, Joel was looking at the calendar and getting upset today. He complained that there's a Mother's Day and a Father's Day, but no Kid's Day. "It's not fair." And then came the tears.

And my response?

"Every day is Kid's Day. Mothers and Fathers have a special day because kids don't thank their mothers and fathers every day for their hard work."

But neither do I thank the kids every day for their hard work. This has gotten me to thinking. I'm too tired, though, to think for long.

Day of thanks.

fragrant lilies.

moments of quiet and peace in my day.

washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher.

happy children and spouse.

the Atonement.

electric blanket.

a mother and father who loved me.

jobs.

my testimony.

libraries.

Grow, babies! Grow!

Last year we had the most amazing crop of little cherry tomatoes. This year, I'm giving it another go. Only about half of the seeds germinated. I'm not sure if I should cover my bases and germinate another round of seeds, yet. That's a lot of faith and hope to put in a couple of dozen tiny plants, isn't it?

Hamantaschen

I'd never heard of Hamantaschen before. Do traditions usually have to stem from strange ideas of eating cookies that look like an evil villain's pockets in order to last thousands of years?

Perhaps it has more to do with an excuse for delicious, buttery cookies with honey fig fillings, in which case, folks should be celebrating Purim more often than once a year. I googled Purim to find out when it will be. Alas, we just missed it and will have to wait another year.

But I did run across an interesting fact about Esther. She didn't reveal to anyone near the king that she was jewish. Since kosher foods weren't available to her in the palace, she primarily ate nuts and seeds there. I was glad to hear that at least the fillings for Hamantaschen had something to do with the good Esther rather than only the vile Haman.

Now, what was that scripture about if the fruit of the tree is good....?? Yum.