spring showed up this week

This past week was Nicky's spring break (well Ricky's too, but he does have that pesky job). We spent the first few days cooped up because it was cold and windy outside, but as the week progressed the weather turned lovely. We had some fun outings, and a lot of downtime. Now it's back to the routine for a few months before summer....

We also took a quick trip to visit some good friends and celebrate their sweet son's first birthday. I always leave our time with them feeling refreshed and validated. And there's something so special about spending time with old friends: laughing and tearing up about old times and making plans for the future, watching our kids play together (aka keeping our baby from knocking their baby down repeatedly), talking around a fire late into the night. This is the stuff of life.

And look, we went to the zoo!  It was a perfect Sunday afternoon, and a much-needed getaway.

Now back to life, with new energy. Spring is here.

blustery Sunday

It is so, so windy outside. The air is full of dust; the mountains are totally hidden from sight. I'm really glad we didn't plant the garden like we had talked about... Anyway, some phone pics from the week:

I like our little routines with these guys. These days are sweet and simple, mostly--and never am I more reminded of that than after a hectic, taxing day at work. Yesterday after I finally finished charting it was 9 pm and I was making my rounds, replacing some forms on the patient's doors and checked in on a pleasantly confused older man who I was a little worried might try to get out of bed on his own. He called, "Come in and talk a while!", and so I did..."Whatcha doing?", I asked. "Oh, just thinking." He paused. "What else can you do at bedtime?"

I'm often taken by how much babies and the elderly look alike and I just saw my sweet Silas' face in his face (this happened all the time when I returned to work after having Silas--somehow I managed to not break down weeping every five minutes but I sure wanted to). I explained that I was going to go home and sleep and who would be taking care of him that night, in case he had forgotten, and tucked his blankets around his chin, and we said goodnight. I had a good cry as I drove home, letting the day go. In my profession I often feel like I'm letting someone down, tending to the most pressing need. I don't think I've ever left work feeling totally satisfied with my day. I'm not sure that ever happens, because I see the experienced nurses running around just like I am, and staying late to chart, and dropping one of the fourteen balls they're juggling. Maybe it's just the nature of the beast. I love it except for when I hate it...

So we're off for Spring Break this upcoming week and planning a quick getaway to Albuquerque this weekend. I'm excited to maybe catch up on a bit of sleep, and hang out with both boys during the day. And maybe plant that garden if the weather starts cooperating.

Happy Sunday!

week in phone pics

This morning we woke up early to three chirping smoke alarms and of course, no spare nine-volts. The interval between each chirp was just long enough to sort of drift off to sleep again, then the next one would come along, cruelly. So we got up and Ricky made tea, and the boys snuggled for awhile before Nicolas said "I'm ready to switch from boring time to having fun time", and went to play. He is all about tops right now and begs me to let him stay for daycare after school so he can "battle" with his friends.

This week:

• we enjoyed warmer temps and more blooming trees, and endured the dreaded spring wind
• we got our hands in the dirt to plant just a few flowers (couldn't help myself)
• Nicky started piano lessons
• Silas discovered Nicky's old little tikes piano
• Nicky showed us how much progress he's making with reading. We're working on it every evening for a reading challenge his class is doing. I'm amazed at the pace these kiddos are going!
• Ricky and I had a breakfast date, along with Mr. Silas. I can't remember the last time I just sat at a coffee shop. We need to do that more often.
• I decided that for my 29th birthday, which is coming up soon, I want to get a tattoo. I definitely want some script on the side of my foot, but picking the perfect words is proving to be a challenge. I think I've narrowed it down to two phrases that are quite meaningful to me. And I really do want to put a bird on it but may have to restrain myself, sadly.

Today we're going to church and helping some friends move, and hopefully going to the indoor aquatic center this evening. I can sense the shift that happens this time of year--I just want to be out and about. I guess I'm done hibernating (for now anyway)...

Happy Sunday!

week in phone pics

Yesterday was the first Saturday we've had all together in about six weeks. It was gorgeous outside so we went for a hike, and stayed out on the trail for much longer than we're usually able to. Silas' ability to nap in the Ergo really helped with that.

Also this week, Silas figured out how a new scream/cry hybrid that we all love, and Nicky dressed up for cowboy day.

Happy Sunday afternoon!

rest

I love Sunday afternoons. I depend on them actually. Sunday afternoon comes around just in time, and maybe the baby is fussy but everyone is home and slowed. There are ideas from the morning to process, there is community, a big lunch, maybe a walk, a game around the table. The week ahead to plan for and the week behind to be grateful for. Rest doesn't look like it used to--it doesn't mean no interruptions. It's a deliberate state of mind, and on Sunday afternoons it's become a habit so now I just slip into it. I look around and smile because it's all so, so good.

this week (a little late)

So this week....

• Nicky had 101 Dalmation Day at school, and cuteness ensued
• then he fell asleep for two hours after school
• Silas got sick, and stayed sick
• then Nicky got sick, and slept a lot more
• then I got sick, at this point all of us seemed to have the same virus
• then Ricky got sick with food poisoning. I guess he felt a little left out.
• I took a nap. In the daytime.
• we watched a lot of the show Parenthood. It's really good.
• we finished all but the last foster/adopt session
• Nicky signed his Valentines. No crafty Pinterest-worthy valentines for us this year, but I think he's happier with the transformers ones anyway. I'm kind of sad we didn't do this one though.

I'm so ready for a productive day or two. And well-rested.

Happy Valentine's Day :)

(mini) week in phone pics

This week was quite full of activity and I hardly took any pictures. Only these three: Silas sharing his milk bottle with Penny, and proof of my children consuming spinach. And yes, instead of stopping him I took a picture. 

I'm a little late to the green smoothie party I know, but they were such a hit. I threw some strawberries, banana, ice, plain yogurt, honey, and raw spinach in the blender. I've seen recipes with kale as well. I'm thinking they'll be a regular after-school snack around here.

Excited for a slightly less full week ahead. 

week in phone pics

Nicky is really getting the hang of reading and Silas is really getting the hang of walking. (Suddenly "getting the hang of" sounds like a really weird phrase. Where did that come from anyway?)

I am so ready for Spring, minus the wind. It's been so nice to be outside more, especially yesterday. We chalked, Nicky kicked a soccer ball into the neighbor's yard, Silas was absorbed in playing for over an hour, then Ricky came home from music practice and we had BBLT's (well, BBST's I guess-black bean, spinach and tomato) outside. Then our chalk and dirt-encrusted boys took a bath and we cozied up the rest of the day. Made brownies and hung some new curtains in the dining room, and I got in some serious reading time while the boys played. Good Saturday.

This coming week holds three training sessions for foster parenting plus our final homestudy, Nicky's 100th day of Kindergarten, and a big project due for Ricky. So a day of rest and planning is in order, then off we go.

week in phone pics

Highlights: warmer weather, MLK Day-all of us off together, obsessive quilt-making, Kinder Appreciation Night at a basketball game, brothers who love to play. Good week.

week in phone pics

Between two shifts, three doctor's appointments, school starting again, my work holiday party, and all the usual household to-do's, this week was busy and productive. We're a few papers away from completing the foster care paperwork. I'm so excited to be done with that part and finish up the homestudy. Also exciting: I heard from a friend that her family is starting the process of foster adoption as well. 2012 has so much in store.
So it's been busy but good. I've been reading more, and getting a little craft time in too. Still feeling the newness of the year, and dreaming about the future while enjoying all this life around me.