Totally Fused

These little fusion kits have been piling up in our craft area for the last few years. Typically, Sister's interest lasted about, um, five seconds, at which point she became utterly frustrated and called it quits. I'm not sure what has happened, I suppose it might be attributed to the fact that my little girl is becoming a big girl, but in the last few weeks, she can't get enough. She's spent hours at the kitchen table making patterns and designs. Little Man plays, too. I'm surprised by his determination, but of course, anything she does, he wants to do, too. While they've placed their beads, I've read aloud to them from On the Banks of Plum Creek. I feel certain we'll finish it this week! Slowly, but surely, we're making our way through the Little House books. They are treasures!

Sister has also had two grand weeks of Dr. Seuss. If you talk to her, she'll tell you, "his real name is Theodore, but his friends called him Ted."

My MIL came for a visit last weekend and gave a helping hand with the children...they were still mending, but not quite well. T worked all weekend, so her company and help was very much appreciated. I mean, who stays up past midnight talking with their MIL? (me.)

She did an egg hunt for the children.

To say they were ecstatic might be an understatement. (Note Little Man's shirt...backwards...but, he did put it on himself...and I am all about some self sufficiency!)

I love spring! It's like God paints our little corner of the world with glorious colors and smells. It is fantastic and most welcome. Every spring a little mama bird makes her nest in the hanging basked on our door and every spring she lays several precious little eggs in that nest. Each time we open the front door, she darts a few feet away and keeps a watchful eye from atop a column. And every spring, we hear the chirping of those sweet little babies and it is wonderful. (The year Little Man was born, they hatched while I was at the hospital!) She hasn't yet laid her eggs...I suppose that will happen any day now.

A few afternoons ago Sister came running, hollering for me to come RIGHT THEN! I bolted out the door, expecting the worst. By the time I rounded the corner, she was leaning on her rake, all smiles. "Look mom. It's a logo." I looked at it for a second and asked, "the Shell logo?" Oh yes. It makes me so happy to see her eye for design...to see her creativity...to see something I love and am passionate about reflected in my sweet girl. She is so cool.

And who doesn't love a cool fort? Sister and Little Man have logged hundreds of hours out here during Spring Break. Literally...like, from the time we'll let them out, until sunset. (Just ask the neighbors.) They've foraged and collected from our scrap wood, they bummed fabric from our neighbor at the close of her yard sale, and this is what they built. (We helped a little.) They've played "house" and "bad guys." The "Indians" have come. They've traveled to "Winter" and back. They've grown a "garden." They've had children and played "school." They've had a "chocolate factory" complete with a "chocolate river "made by me and Sister and God."" (-'cause God sent the rain...) Sister threw a birthday party for Little Man and Little Bit...complete with cakes and remnants of her bike basket (eaten by Warrior) tied to the "advil" tree (ie: camelia). This afternoon I found them playing "tattoo parlor." They didn't call it that, but that's what they were doing...tattooing one another with mud and sticks. Sister: "How bad do you want a tiger tattoo??? Yell it!!!!!!" Little Man: "GGGRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr!"