Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, March 23, 2015

Outside my window...  everything is spring-soggy from the rain in the night, and the moist air better carries the smell of blossoming trees from the neighbor's yard.

Hearing...  crows (ravens? blackbirds?) whatever they are, croaking from behind the house, otherwise quiet - Tate and Gunnar are doing their schoolwork.

Pondering...  we had a fabulous weekend, celebrating my parents' 50th anniversary.  

My sister went all out and made and decorated a fabulous chocolate/caramel cake.

(I went out to Costco and bought a cheesecake ;D )

We had fun having them cut it - something they didn't get to do at their own wedding.

By the time they got through the receiving line, their cake was GONE.

Not this time :D

Praying...  Wyatt has finals this week and is not feeling completely confident about his pre-calc skills, Kerry is meeting with a couple about a project (house design) today - could be more work :D, and we continue to pray for our missionary friends in Myanmar and the Solomon Islands.

Thankful...  for many things, but here's a kind of funny/sweet one.  I'm so thankful the boys are mature enough now that I don't give a second thought to their behavior at events like lunch at a nice restaurant or hosting an open house (like this weekend for my parents).  It seems not so long ago that events like that required lots of coaching before-hand and close supervision throughout to make sure everyone behaved appropriately, and now it's hardly a blip on my radar.

I really don't care if they use the salad fork for the entree, but it's fabulous that the boys and their cousins all get along so well and pitch in to help, too :D

Going...  to the last choir rehearsal tonight - concerts this weekend.  I enjoy doing it, but I'm looking forward to not having Monday night plans for awhile!

Looking forward to...  spring break!  Wyatt has next week off, and Tate and Gunnar have the following week (after Easter).

In the kitchen...  lots of yummy leftovers from the weekend - pulled pork and rice to make wraps, seven-layer dip and tortilla chips, yam-peanut soup, homemade bread, desserts... woo-hoo :D

in the learning rooms...  Gunnar is already done for the day, and Tate is working diligently at his studies.  I think he's dissecting something today.  After lunch. ;D

Around the house...  forsythia and tulips - bright yellow!

The Mother Load...  I really wasn't thinking ahead past the weekend - not that it was a huge burden, but it was the priority!  Now I'm making plans for spring break, bwa ha ha.  Plans for me and the minions.

Noticing that...  I'm not the only one seeing the changes in Gunnar - getting taller and his voice is getting deeper.  Whew.

Something to remember for later...  while that may not look like good restaurant behavior...

Gunnar had been showing her his tongue-rolling skills and she was trying to imitate him.

And keeping a little-one happily occupied IS good restaurant behavior :D

Something fun to share...  one of the most fun things about the weekend was a surprise for my parents.  They knew we were having lunch out for family and then an open house for their friends, but they didn't know we had a special guest coming...

... my Japanese sister, Chinami.

We hosted her as an exchange student in 1976 and have loved her ever since.

She lives in the SF area now with her family and was able to join us for the weekend.

She's a joy to be with :D

A favorite quote for today...

A party without a cake is just a meeting.

- Julia Child

One of my favorite things...  

the cousins, all together.

A peek into my world...  

When I count my blessings,

they all have a first and last name.