Ummm... Happy Arbor Day?

Monday is the day the city comes along and picks up all our lawn and garden clippings and trimmings and turns them into mulch. Everyone wins!

This is the little pile we started:


We made good use of all those kids we have and put them to work. Some worked more cheerfully than others.


Hey, camouflage! We learned about that!


And, finally, we get rid of the Christmas tree that's been hanging out in the yard next to the garage.
The Pile.

Slaying the Dragon

Happy St. George Day! After telling the story, we had to set up our own scene. Nicholas particularly enjoyed acting it out.
We were going to go outside and play dragon tag (silk in the waistband for the dragon's "tail" and everyone has to try to catch it) but we were surprised by the first thunderstorm of the spring.

We did manage to make Cheese and Chive Scones to go along with our not-so-British baked spaghetti. We were going to have some plum pudding and hard sauce I found at the Surplus Grocery Outlet, but I couldn't find it. Ah well, there's always tomorrow.

I found some other great St. George ideas I'm going to tuck away for next year:
Recipes from Catholic Cuisine (and how did I not know this blog existed? It's awesome!)
Some Teaching Tips from Britain on St. George's Day
A pattern for a dragon hoodie that once again leaves me wishing I could knit something more than dishcloths.
A ferocious crocheted dragon
And Norbetta from Knitty


And finally, a really cute baby playing dress-up. I should have added this to my list of things that made me smile today!

Five things that made me smile today

After yesterday's crabby post, I thought I'd put my energy into something happy.

1. Katie Grace spent an hour in the attic helping me sort through clothes. At the end of it she sighed and said, "Mama, I love spending time with you... even when we're working."

2. This twirly skirt tutorial that I swear I'm going to make for my twirly girl.

3. Green Mom Find's linking to this eco-conscious online consignment shop, The Conscious Child.

4. Chip finally made my copies for the MOMYS preschool activity swap I'm doing. I think they were due three days ago though.

5. Michael's recounting this conversation with the strings director:
Mr. R: Michael, I didn't know your parents were both music majors.
Michael: Yeah, but I think they sort of overshot. Dad's a pastor and Mom just stays home.

I'm having an organizational crisis.

I'm not sure why, but I can't seem to get anything done, and I'm exhausted. I've been meaning to make an appointment for a physical for a while, and I'm definitely going to do it tomorrow.

Meanwhile, if anyone is reading this and has any advice on balancing schooling and mothering and housekeeping and being a wife and everything else, please let me know.

Reptiland!

It's not every week we can count Sunday as a school day. Today was WVIA Member Day at Reptiland, and we had six free passes. We enjoyed the Rainforest Show, and saw more poop than I really like to see, and had a lovely time.

Assorted snakes, lizards, and other things I wouldn't want to meet without a barrier between us:










Katie and Nicholas and Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat.


Giant snake, some kind of constrictor. I was too busy moving the baby away from it to pay attention.


You can't see it, but he's holding a toad. It peed.

A great horned owl.


A kinkajoo. I may not have spelled that right.Big tortoises. They pooped.
Many turtles.

This Week's Plans and Projects

All week long: Orchestra!
Monday: Scouts (Michael)
Find out what's up with Michael's cello pegs.
Michael starts fourth grade math, assuming we can find the books.
Tuesday: Make Earth Day Bars for Earth Day.
Wednesday: Soccer Practice (Michael)
Do some fun St. George and the Dragon stuff for St. George Day. It's all rather nebulous at this point.
Thursday: Ballet Recital Practice (Katie Grace)
Friday: Co-op-- Last day! In the first class they're doing St. George and the Dragon from Catholic Mosaic. In my (last!!!) geography class, we're doing England. Then after the pot luck, we're going to the park to hang out while the big kids have their final rehearsal.
Saturday: Soccer Game (AM)
Katie Grace's Ballet Recital (Afternoon)
Sunday: Michael's Play (Rumpelstiltskin)

Another crazy busy week!

This week's feasts and festivals

All Week Long: Turn Off TV Week!

Tuesday, April 22: Earth Day
Wednesday, April 23: St. George's Day
Friday, April 25: Arbor Day
Friday, April 25: St. Mark
Saturday, April 26: Our Lady of Good Counsel
Sunday, April 27: St. Zita

Puppet Power!

I can't believe I forgot to post this. Gigi from Inca Kids sent some great finger puppets for my kids to play with.

Not only are these awesome, open-ended, multicultural, safe (lead free!), cute, and fair trade-- they're just a lot of fun. All that, and reasonably priced, too. At about $2 per knitted finger puppet, you can't go wrong.

We took them with us to co-op when we were learning about South America and all the kids agreed they were a hit.

I hope to have some pictures up of my kids playing with these soon, but meanwhile, check this out:
These would be awesome in an Easter basket (maybe next year!) or as party favors, or just as an "I love you" gift.

This Week's Plans and Projects

It's one of those crazy insane weeks where all I can hope for in not to forget anything or leave anyone behind anywhere.

Monday: Katie Grace had Brownies. Michael went to the mayor's office with the Boy Scouts (with explicit instructions not to tell the mayor we didn't vote for him) and I had a baby shower for two co-op moms which I almost forgot about, despite the fact that it was my idea in the first place. God bless Rachel, our wonderful sitter, who showed up with basically no notice to watch Nicholas!

Tuesday: Katie Grace has ballet. Chip is picking up our new-to-us picnic table we found through Freecycle.

Wednesday: Michael has soccer practice. I'm going to see Evita.

Thursday: Chip goes on retreat and we host La Leche League here at our home.

Friday: Co-op! Also, in the evening we have a pizza party to celebrate with the Scouts who earned their God and Me award.

Saturday: Chip's parents are bringing us some new-to-us furniture- whoo hoo! Also, Michael has a soccer game and Katie Grace has a birthday party she might not be able to go to.

Sunday: Sunday School and church, of course, followed by WVIA Member Day at Reptiland.

This week's feasts and festivals

Tuesday, April 15: Tax Day
Tuesday, April 15: Leonardo DaVinci's birthday
Tuesday, April 15: Swallows Day (England)
Wednesday, April 16: St. Bernadette of Lourdes
Thursday, April 17: Blessed Kateri Tekawitha
Sunday, April 20: James the Greater