somebody please help this poor girl

Left to nap on the floor while Mommy chases after other people. I'm sorry, Clara.

palm sunday

Well, usually we only use the mantle of our dining room fireplace, and just as a "place to put stuff." But now we've found a way to utilize the entire thing. We turned it into Jerusalem. And this Sunday the palms and banners were out to welcome Jesus. (He's riding a donkey... that's the blue thing... Annie made it.)

And here is Henry. In a bow tie.

And here is Clara. So cuddly.

supervisors

Joe, Henry, and Annie are overseeing the basement project. They like to take their snacks downstairs and monitor the progress. Things are on track, they say.

Look how tidy our contractor is. I appreciate that. His stereo is pretty loud. I don't necessarily appreciate that. Also, it affects Annie's impression of him.
"Mr. Damien is here," she tells me.
"Yeah, what's he doing?"
"Listening to music."

Just a stranger man who comes over to listen to music in our basement. That seems okay.

this is gross

I warned you.

This past week was our March break. We had fun with some playdates, bike-riding, and trampolining. I also wiped noses and broke up fights. And we planted seeds in egg cartons, got haircuts, listened to music, and made lots of lego creations. So it has been a busy and good week... except for those fights... and that nose above.

everything is awesome

What does Joe think about his first day riding his bike without training wheels?

It's awesome.







































They boys were excited to go up and down the sidewalk today on their bikes. Joe got his training wheels off on Thursday, practiced once with David, and then today - bam - he can ride his bike. Amazing. And Henry's loving going faster and faster. In the many back and forths, we did have one collision, of which Henry took the brunt. But he got up and back on his bike, telling me that he wants to be a football player when he grows up, and "football players can't get smooches or hugs when they get hurt," so he needs to be tough. And just look at his face. That's tough.

frogs

Today we went searching for some spring, and found it at the Royal Botanical Gardens and their frog exhibit. The frogs were cool, the flowers were spring-y, and the kids had fun practicing their froggy jumps.

product placement

She is cute and this could be an ad for cheerios.

hello 37

Happy Birthday to Gillian, as Annie has taken to calling me. My birthday was celebrated amongst the rush of school schedules, girls (not) napping, and basement renovations. The kids and I enjoyed a pizza supper while David worked with his cousin in the basement, breaking up some concrete for plumbing, and we postponed birthday pie to tonight. So here I am, mid-to-late-30s. Weeee!

this is my friend

For whatever reason, a rather large family of ladybugs has made our bathroom their winter home. This, to the delight of Annie, who has adopted them all to be her best friends. Unfortunately, hers is a somewhat aggressive friendship and she may have inadvertently squashed a few of her friends. Also, what sort of sheltered life is she living that she is satisfied to have bugs as friends? Still, she smiles like this when she picks them up, so let the friendships flourish.

happy birthday, grandpa!

We had such fun celebrating you today. Thank you for all you do for us!

midnight visitor

Clara stayed up late to help me finish a quilt on Friday night. We celebrated its completion with some snuggles.

And this is the quilt. I'm really happy with how it turned out - thanks, Clara!

seven months