We’ve had this weekend planned for weeks! Yesterday, we drove out to Ikea in Pittsburgh and bought the Billy bookcases. We also managed to bring home a big blue bag stuffed with random stuff we did NOT plan to buy, but I think that is just part of going to Ikea!
Lunching on Swedish meatballs and chicken fingers.
Looking at fun orange couches.
The wall: Before.
During.
After.
Happy, happy, happy!
They’re actually saying, "We love MOM!" at the top of their lungs. It’s for mother’s day. Kristen! Look away and forget! Look away and forget! Cute little punks.
That boy just melts my heart.
My favorite part of these photos? That bug terrarium that Liv insisted be in the photos. Because of course, Mom would want that too.
It’s so fun!
Sprouts, taken last week. They are MUCh bigger now:
Spinach and Swiss chard.
Before the Big Till:
After:
A big thanks to John Semmelroth for coming over yesterday with his tractor and tiller and doing this for us! Now I just have to figure out what to DO with all this loveliness!
In other news, I rode my bike yesterday for about 17 miles, and it never got hard or started to hurt. It must be residual fitness from last summer, because I shouldn’t be able to whip out 17 miles like that this early in my season. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to go farther next time.
And, Happy Belated Birthday to Jordan!
No, they’re not naming her Lulu. I am, though, and it seems to have stuck for a nickname.
Anyways, we had a shower for them last Sunday at church, and it was very pink and brown and girly.
Hannah’s mum made mini cupcakes for each place setting.
There was one boy allowed! He is eager to meet Lulu, too.
Hurry up, Lulu! I’m sure Mommy won’t mind if you come a bit early. . .
Growing up, we had a valley in the garden filled with ostrich ferns. In the cool of the day, they would emit the most wonderful fragrance. It could only be described as "green." It is the most wonderful smell in the whole world, apart from carmelized onions deglazed with sherry. I miss that ferny valley, a very fairyish place with an ironwood tree, a pond, columbines, bleeding hearts and of course, the ferns. I have a few ferns here, and I love them. They never quite perfume the air like the ones at home did–there just aren’t enough. But sometimes I catch a whiff and break my heart with memory.
Ferns.
It’s always grey and/or rainy on May Day here in northeastern Ohio. I want to do elaborate, lush things, like May baskets and May poles, picnics and flower crowns, but gloomy Thursdays when your number one partner in crime is going away for the weekend (Heidi! but it’s ok, she’s going to see baby Aidan!) are not good for these plans.
I can’t really listen to any kind of music other than Bach in the morning. I think something is wrong with me.
I bought melamine monkey plates and acrylic monkey cups at Target yesterday. Three of each. Because they are super cute, and because it makes me feel like this whole thing is real. I will at some soon point need kiddo dishes.
The lilacs are blooming. I can hardly bear to smell them, they are so heavy and heady with memory. One little inhale, and I am in another world. Sometimes that just stings a little to much.
My Swiss chard and spinach have sprouted and are growing quite happily in their long container gardens. I’m hoping for LOTS of each, so much I have to share.
Speaking of sharing, have I told you how much I love Kristen and Mike, the parents of the kids I watch? ( I was going to say, "the parents of my children," but we don’t need to get that confusing). They have asparagus growing in their backyard, and the other day, Mike said my favorite thing: "Go cut as much asparagus as you want and take it all home with you." We had asparagus growing in our garden when I was growing up, and that’s one of the reasons I’m still working to forgive my dad for selling the place (sorry dad!) a few years ago. Fresh asparagus, roasted with lemon and salt, oh my, it just melts in your mouth!
I’ve been enjoying Facebook these past few weeks, especially connecting with old friends and family members I don’t keep up with all that well. I need more friends though, because Chad has TWICE as many as me! Go get a Facebook account (it’s free) and then be my friend. I know, I know, what grade am I in again?
Look at these cuties. Their cousin, Jade-i-bug is staying with them this week. Oh the cuteness! It is too much, too much!
Well, the three of them take turns being my favorite. But she makes me laugh and marvel, because she is so smart and so real.
She drew a picture of a star during church this past Sunday, and she labelled the five points with the names of her immediate family. "Oh my gosh!" Kristen whispered to me, laughing. "Look who’s in the center of her star!"
It was me!
Here he is! The "AX-Man," as per his initials:
Can we give this beautiful woman a round of applause for carrying and delivering this big boy??!
Yesterday, Aidan Xavier was born to Luke & Willow. He’s a big boy. 10.5 lbs. (yes you read that correctly, ten and a half pounds!), 21.5 inches long. They are doing well, but are exhausted, as you can well imagine.
No pictures yet, but you know me. Soon.
Happy Birthday Meredith!
Today is her 30th birthday. Here we are a long time ago. I am the big one.
This was my third birthday, so in October, we can say, "This photo was taken 30 years ago!"
And here we are on Christmas Eve this past year. Now we are both big:
Another exciting thing about today is that Willow and Luke are going to have their baby today! Hopefully. So Meredith will have a birthday twin! I have two birthday twins. My cousin, Aaron, is ten years older than me and shares my birthday, and Lily, my cousin Dianne’s little girl, is four, and shares October 13th as the Best Day to Be Born with us. Willow was induced last night, but Baby Fodor (we still don’t know if it’s a boy or girl yet) is rather stubborn and likes it quite well where he or she is at the moment. Please pray for them when you think of it. I will post as soon as I find out what happens. I’m sad that they’re in Brooklyn and I’m in Ohio, but I’ll try to get photos from Luke, who is a quite good photographer, and post them.
I can’t believe it’s Friday already. Seriously, it feels like it should be Tuesday! I’ve been busy this week, busy in a way I do NOT enjoy but have to muddle through any way. It’s not that bad, but after the retreat, I just want a break. Not going to happen.
Anyways, as those of you who read Chad’s blog might have already heard, we are embarking on a new chapter in our lives. We’ve started the process to become foster/adoptive parents in our county, and that is one reason for all the busy-ness. I have a lot to say on the matter, but I’m not ready to blog about it yet. Stay tuned for more in the upcoming weeks.
I went out and rode my bike this week, aren’t you proud of me? Of course, I forgot my water bottle, so I didn’t go as far as I planned. It was stilll really good to get out there.
The kids and I have been "gardening." Olivia is a real help, and the twins enjoy digging holes in the dirt and finding worms, which I think is a fine thing for them to do. Although it might mean I’m out of my mind, I also taught Ben how to climb the pear tree in their Secret Hideout Garden. He’s better at going up than he is at coming back down.
Today is supposed to be another warm, sunny day, so I’m sure we’ll be out there again.
Happy Spring!
