Professional Brownie Model

I received these today from our college photographer (he is WONDERFUL).  It's not often that someone else emails you pictures of your kids...typically the other way around.  This was during the "Just Art" portion of Japan Benefit.  Henry brought his scrilla along (three gold dollar coins, and yes, we're calling it scrilla) and chose his purchases wisely--his name written in Japanese, a nice big brownie and a dish of ice cream for Mama.  I love it when he treats.

April 27: Good Morning Alice

A relatively calm moment in a craaazy wackadoo morning.  Hope you can hear Henry in the background.  He says everything that he thinks, which is probably my favorite thing about the age that he's at.  Why develop a filter at all?!  Just put it all out there.

April 25: In Bloom

Remember those tightly closed tulip buds from last week's monster post?  They've found their voice and are now making our home a bit more beautiful.  I would loooove to say that I just have such a green thumb, I planted and nurtured these myself and reaped the rewards of my patience and hard work.  FALSE!  The last thing I enjoy is dirty work, and that includes planting things.  I do love reaping the rewards of other peoples hard work and silently claiming it as my own.  These were planted by the very thoughtful, organized homeowners who lived in this abode before we bought it.

With all of that said, we will step outside of our comfort zone and plant a little garden this summer.  I've already begun preparing the raised bed (that should have been done two weeks ago...whatevs) and am hopeful that we'll get things planted this weekend.  I tried my hand at a plot in the community garden two years ago, but that only ended in public garden shame and humiliation, and a lot of plants that "went to seed".  I still don't really know what that means,  but my super-crazy garden plot neighbor made it PRETTY clear that this was NOT a good thing.  I failed, but like a good sport, I will try again, this time, from the privacy of my own backyard where the only judgment passed will come from my husband and two children.

I don't know why it's been so difficult for me to get on board with gardening.  I love the idea of cooking straight from the garden, and have heard that if children grow food, they will be more likely to eat that food.  I get secret garden envy when I visit the homes of friends and family members, and my parents have been known to grow spectacular gardens full of flowers and vegetables.  My grandfather was the greenest thumb you'd ever meet, I admire those that can commit to gardening, but honestly, the thought of having to do it myself?  CHECK PLEASE!  No thank you ma'am.  I'm really hoping  that this summer will change things.  Keeping a garden feels like something that a 30-year-old would do.  Just to be sure that it stays interesting, I'll be bedazzling my gardening gloves and coming up with as many summer garden cocktails as I can think of.  Fancy drinks and sparkly gloves?  That's my kind of outdoor activity.

April 24: Eggstrodinary Alice

 

Purple cat toile peter-pan collared baby dress?  Purrfection.  

Easter was hoppy, relaxing, delicious, holy, sleepy, lots of other words that make little sense when strung together.  We needed that down time so much, and after a ridiculously large meal at the Boegel farm (seriously...like four proteins...the fam knows how to entertain), we headed back home for lazy television-watching and nap-taking.  Now that April is slowing down from "speeding bullet" to "chugging locomotive", I hope to have more of those nonsense low-key family weekends. 

April 23: That's so college.

Worked again today.  Saturdays are much easier to handle when I'm really "on" in my information sessions.  They're like these mini-performances, and as with any enthusiastic public display, the success is often determined by the audience reaction.  Today, I had a great audience, maybe 25 families, around 70 people, all agreeable, engaged and interested in what I had to say--no "doubtful dads", always a good sign and a big confidence boost--I'm feeling pretty money today.

After work, I brought Hen & Kitten back to Dickinson for the "Just Art" portion of the Japan Benefit Festival.  I love being within walking distance of the college--there is so much to do on campus and so many opportunities for our kids to learn more about the world around them.  We perused the booths, watched students making paper cranes, listened to some poetry and live music, had Henry's name written in calligraphy and then made our way down the hall in the HUB to Union Station for yogurt and juice.  I offered french fries, but he requested yogurt.  I guess he's more like his dad in that way.

Henry with calligraphy--he paid for it himself...super grownup thing to do

Yoplait and Citrus Peach Punch?  That is sooo "college" of you, Henry.

JBF has just begun.  Tonight Mike and I will go on a little date (our first in I have no idea how long) to JAMnesty for Japan at the Carlisle Theatre.  Since I'm the staff advisor for this event, it's technically work-related, but it's as close to a date as we get these days!  

April 18-April 22: Back to Life, Back to Reality...

Dumb April.  The month that is so busy that it doesn't even leave time to update the calendar

Tulips stayed in tact even though our dog (the "other" one) dug up the flower bed

Ohh. Well excuuuse me fancy two-toned tulips? Show off much?

Alice is in the Navy, thanks to vintage vixen Aunt Sarah T.

In Henry's pajama shirt.

Well THIS is awkward.  A four day hiatus is relatively unheard of on kitten&hen.  It's a really funny story, one that ends with me being in the hospital suffering from memory loss, and then having one of those "awakening" moments and returning to real life, kissing my husband and children and delivering a tear-filled, poetic monologue about life and how we have to pay attention or it's just going to pass us by...sigh! 

Oh...wait...you don't buy it?  Yeah, ok, it's a bit of a stretch,  but it's fun to imagine, in sort of a "Dallas" soap opera-esque way.

Above are photos for 365 project from the days that I've missed this week (aka the entire week).  Working today and tomorrow but will get a good post sometime during the weekend.

April 17: "I run so fast, I did!"

Photo and video (sideways and a bit blurry...hate when that happens) of Hen in his new kicks AND bathing suit from Aunt Brigid.  I like that he demanded to wear both as soon as he got home.  This look is so fashion forward you haven't even seen it on the runways yet.