Helen and Lou Revisited - 2012

 Jim's Grandma Helen was very special to us both.  She passed away about a year before Owen was born, but the kids will know her through our stories and through our visits to the beautiful cemetery where some of their ashes are buried.

 It's been awhile since our last visit. Last time, Evan was about Mia's age and he was equally as interested in all the little statues resting around the graves.  One of the things I love about this cemetery is how each grave has a personal touch.

 During this visit, the boys spent most of their time wrestling in the grass, but I think Helen and Lou would have enjoyed watching them.  I bet it would have reminded them of when their own boys were young.

 Gina brought flowers to place next to the grave site.

A few strides away from their grave, there is a memorial bench.  Mia & Charlie must have jumped off this bench 20 times, laughing equally as hard each time.  I just love celebrating the continuum of life.

Gone Fishing at The Land

We've Gone Fishing at The Land.  We'll be back soon...

unless the wolves get us.

A Most Mellow Mother's Day

For Mother's Day we went to the Saint Paul Farmer's Market.  We bought rhubarb, asparagus, green onions, bread, honey, and a few tomato & cilantro starter plants for my garden.

As we were leaving, we walked past a series of tables with kids painting flower pots.  It was a mother's day activity.  Mia & Evan decided they wanted to paint a pot while Jim and Owen went and got us some kettle corn.  After the kids painted a pot, volunteers filled the pots with dirt and a marigold.

The activity inspired me to get creative with my kids.  After the Farmer's Market, we headed over to Linder's for the Farnsworth Fundraiser.  We bought the rest of our spring plants and three pots.  When we got home, Dom (our neighbor & Ev's BFF) wanted to play, so I found one more pot in the garage.

After painting, the kids picked their flowers.  Dom decided he wanted to add some "bling" which entailed of some shiny beads I happen to have in my paint box.

Sarah had to work today so she was eager to see her little guy when she got home so we got his done first.

Then we went back and planted some marigolds for Ya-ya.  I LOVE digging in the dirt so this was an ideal Mother's Day activity for me.

Mia woke up from nap just as we were finishing.  I painted a little message to my mom on the last pot and Mia painted the rest.

I hope everyone had a relaxing mellow mother's day!

Neighborhood Bonfire

When you buy your dream home, you have no idea what your neighbors will be like.  Will they get mad when your grass gets too long?  Will they cut down the trees that are on the property line?  Will they complain about the toys left out in the yard?  Will their teenagers egg your house?  

Or will they send you home with frosted Star Wars cookies, banana bread, fresh-from-the-garden tomato bisque & homemade lefse?  Will they fix your garage door opener and your water spout?  Will they not only lend you their pressure washer, but actually clean 1/2 your deck with it!?  Will they let their daughters babysit for you at the last minute?  Will they have kids that are all the perfect ages and genders?  Will they see eye to eye on you on all the important environmental and parenting issues that concern you most?  Will they host a bonfire on the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend when your husband is off being one with nature and you are desperate for another adult to talk to?  

In my Lucky Letts Life, they do all this and so much more.

Meet the girls.  These are the girls of the neighborhood ranging in age from 2 to 17.  Guess what?  They play together.  They really, truly play together.  They enjoy each other's company.  The 17 year old and the 12 year old are very good friends.  The 9 year old comes over to play with my 2 year old on a regular basis.  It. Is. SO. Cool.

My lost-in-the-middle son, who has spent most of his short life trying to catch up to the friends of his older brother, has found his own best friend.  They are 1 month apart in age.  Look at them in their lawn chairs.  I can just picture them doing this same this same thing when they are 60!  Somehow we found the perfect house with a goofy little 5 year old living right next door who happened to be in the market for a best friend.  These two comedians could say the word "fart" every minute of an entire day and still find it funny.

The Basin.

Across the street, where our friends The Geurkinks are about to move, there is a large basin where many yards come together.  Although some of the kids' backyards open up to The Basin, it is mostly owned by a man whose kids are grown.  All of the kids claim it as their space.  They sled there, play soccer, football, tag, and roll down the hill like steam rollers.  When The Basin isn't filled with kids, it is a bird sanctuary.  Deer and turkey graze through the yards.

To the point of the story.  The kiddy-corner neighbors decided to have a bonfire and invited all of the neighborhood kids.  Mia is the littlest by far, but she does her best to keep up with the rest.  The older kids of the neighborhood always include the younger kids.  Owen, Evan & Mia all played in the football game, although I think Mia had some trouble doing stances with a marshmallow in her hand.

She pulled up a chair to the campfire and roasted a marshmallow.  I believe this is the first marshmallow she has ever roasted herself.

Children's Museum with Little Sibs

We have been members of the Minnesota Children's Museum for about 7 years.  For years, we've roamed the exhibits with the Yeagers (and the Knights). Now, there is a new crew of wee ones, ready to explore.  Today Evan, Mia and I were joined by Jackie and Baby Wy-wy, who is really not a baby at all anymore.

 

I always like to start in the art room.  For one thing, if you make something that needs to dry, you've got time.  But also, because after the boys start running around, they usually don't want to go back to the room where you sit still.

 It's been a really long time since we could play in the Habitot Room.  It is a room for infants and toddlers (and their older, appropriately behaved siblings.)  Mia enjoyed dressing up...

sliding down...

and planting a garden in a room just her speed.

We spent a long time at Habitot and then decided to give Evan some time in the Big Kid rooms.  While Evan drove the bus...

 

Mia and Wyatt played in the kitchen.  It's so awesome to see Wy & Mia's personalities emerge.

Evan wandered off while Mia & Wyatt played in the water area.  Usually I find him and his brother in the construction area, but today I found him in a different area.  He had made a friend and was being "schooled." I think he's really going to love Kindergarten.

We didn't want to interrupt a budding friendship, so Wyatt shared a snack with Mia while we waited.  What a sweet day!