Father's Day and Flakes

Father's Day at Morris Arboretum!  The sun broke through and the humidity was tolerable.  So, it was all-round amazing!

Confession: I'm complete crap when it comes to holidays.  Or event days.  Like weddings, birthdays, anniversaries.  Yup, total rubbish.  I think I get too nervous about the expectation that it needs to be incredible, or at least brilliant in some respect, and I psyche myself out entirely.  I epically failed on Father's Day.  I had great plans of doing matching Superman shirts, some sort of special dessert, you know, something.  But, none of it happened.  Andrew ended up purchasing his own bottle of whiskey and calling it good.  We gave him a card this morning.  So, if anyone has any tips on how to not flake-out on special days, let me know.  I've seriously gotta get it together or my children will be somehow crazily warped and I won't have any friends left because I forgot their birthdays and bailed on their weddings. 

A Few Things

A few things:

1. I will drink green juice because it's good for me.  But, I won't like it.  Or, haven't.  Yet.
2. Madeleine is dealing with her first major fever these past two days.  And, honestly, people, nothing makes my heart ache more than the sound of babies crying their "I'm sick" or "I'm hurt" cry.  I turn into jelly and want to cry with them!
3. We have story time every morning after breakfast.  We pile up the pillows in the middle of the living room, pluck at least half a dozen books off the shelf, and delve in.  William gets such a kick out it.  Especially when we cap off with a round of Old MacDonald.  My life is a hugely exciting.  And I love every minute of it.
4. Peonies at Robertson's on the Avenue.  Could make the grumpiest person happy just looking at them!
5. My basil hasn't died.  Yet.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!  All of you lovely people!

XOXO,
Jewels

Ponds and Peonies

I count it a very successful day if we come home from our morning walk and we're so dirty from our adventures that we all need to pile into the tub.  I dressed the babes in chocolate brown linen yesterday, grabbed my camera, and took on the ridiculous Philly humidity.  We headed to the local dog park, Pastorius.  William saw his first frog--followed the little fellow all the way to the pond--while Madeleine discovered stairs, clovers, and the taste of mud (Mama wasn't quick enough).  Dirty toes, wet bottoms, curly hair!  We had so much fun. 

Also, the peonies are popping out in frothy pink and white blossoms.  They are so majestic!

PS If you can help me out, I can't figure out what kind of flower was planted in those lovely chartreuse pots, at the top of the post!  Little, happy, button-like flowers!

Beautiful Good Things

The afternoon was filled with good things.  The wisteria, hanging heavy and fragrant, outside the frozen yogurt shop.  Gummies in William's vanilla.  Smooches from Mama.  Cherry blossoms outside of Cake (a favorite Chestnut Hill restaurant). 

I'm slowly getting orders out, crossing things off my To Do list, folding laundry.  And prepping for minor surgery on Friday.  *sighs*  Seems as if there were some latent complications from last summer's minor surgery.  I'm trying not to be nervous.  And I'm soaking up the goodness around me.  It fuels me.  Beautiful moments, beautiful images.  Beautiful giggles and kisses.  
 

Valuable

To quote You've Got Mail, "I lead a small life. Well, valuable, but small." And, it seems to have taken me a little while to fall in love with it, but, I do.  Most fervently.  I love the quiet mornings, when it's just me, my mug of tea, and my lists.  I love when the babies get up and chaos rules (well, mostly).  I love watching William's sense of humor shining through--notice, Radar, his puppy dog, wearing my sunglasses.  I love watching Madeleine try and pull herself up--getting into a whole different kind of trouble.  I love the small spaces I get to put my things, out-of-reach hopefully.  I love the routines that make up our days and the sense of accomplishment I get just remembering to put deodorant on before I walk out the door.  Trust me, it's the little things.  I promise you, it's not all sunshine and giggles, but, today, I feel that sense of value welling up inside of me, and I'm thankful.