Happy 5th Birthday, Chase!

My baby is 5 years old today!

On his birthday wish list: crocs and a "magic wand," which is basically a balloon on a stick. The crocs have been a sticking point with me because we just got him a new pair of sandals for the summer, which he wore maybe three times and then refused to wear anymore. On the other hand, crocs cost about 8 bucks a pair at Target. If all it takes to make him happy on his birthday is cheap foam clogs and a $1.29 balloon on a stick, I'll count my blessings.

For his birthday celebration: we're going to Champps. Although we don't typically make a habit of going out to eat on the kids' birthday, we're so busy this week that we decided this would be easiest. Caleb has track practice tonight, the younger kids are supposed to have their last night of swimming lessons, I had a speaking engagement last night and plans for tomorrow night, Jeff is leaving for a camping trip up in Lake of the Woods tomorrow morning, and Maren has a special program at school tomorrow morning. Mom will be joining us today and staying through Friday morning to help out with the kids while Jeff is gone. I also had an early morning meeting scheduled for today, which I agreed to because when it was being set up I FORGOT it was Chase's birthday on the 28th. This is what happens with your last child. (I also missed the deadline to get him registered for all-day kindergarten, but the school found a spot for him when I mentioned I'd just enroll him in White Bear).

Regardless of all the busy-ness: Happy Birthday, Chase! My baby is growing up!

On second thought, let us NOT eat cake

So I'm watching the movie "Hairspray" with the kids. Tracy Turnblad jiggles through the opening number, every rounded body part bouncing around.
"Oh, look!" I exclaim. "Her name is Tracy. Just like me!"
"And," says Maren earnestly, "she kind of looks like you."

Let us eat cake!

Why I love spring:

graduation = cake

retirement parties = cake

end-of-the-school-year parties = cake

Chase's birthday = cake

Pass the frosting! Tra-la! It's May!

Happym Other's Day!

By Friday, Mother's Day was practically over in our house, thanks to the insistence of the two youngest family members who wanted to get right to the present opening. Chase gave me a hand-painted flower pot and a card that proclaimed, "Happym Other's Day!" That's exactly the kind of keepsake I like to squirrel away in the burgeoning baby boxes I store under my bed. In Chase's case, however, his baby box is less than burgeoning. Not only does Chase lack the enthusiasm for artsy craftsy projects that his two older siblings had at his age, but he insists on keeping everything he does make. And not only does he keep these projects, but he plays with them and transforms them until they fall apart and he throws them away. Any item I want to preserve I have to sneak away when he's put it aside temporarily. Unfortunately, in this particular instance, I wasn't sneaky enough. Before I could hide my Other's Day card, Chase decided he wanted to enhance his artwork. And while he was working, his meticulous older sister looking over his shoulder offered to correct his improperly spaced letters.

Maren gave me her gift today, a handmade frame with a picture of her that her teacher took on the playground. Miss Matulka captured a much better smile on Maren than the school photographer did earlier in the year. Also courtesy of Miss Matulka, an additional Mother's Day present arrived via email letting us know that recent benchmarking showed Maren has improved more than two grade levels in reading in the past year. I guess I can stop feeling guilty, for now, that we've let the nightly reading practice slip more nights than not the last few weeks.

Although I didn't get what I wanted for Mother's Day - a clean house - I can't really complain. I suppose I'll get that in the future, when the kids finally move out, just like Mom is now getting the peace and quiet she longed for all those years. You're welcome, Mom! And if you need a reminder of how grateful you are, just come visit us for a few days and you'll remember why you're so happy to go back home. Happym Other's Day!

Tra la! It's May!

Close your eyes. Envision the lovely Julie Andrews, and imagine her even-lovelier voice... taking you away from this wicked Minnesota weather and non-existent spring:

Tra la! It's May! The lusty month of May!
That lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray.
Tra la! It's here! That shocking time of year
When tons of wicked little thoughts merrily appear!

It's May! It's May! That gorgeous holiday
When every maiden wishes her lad would be a cad.
It's mad! It's gay! A libelous display
Those dreary vows that everyone takes, everyone breaks,
Everyone makes divine mistakes, the lusty month of May!

Whence this fragrance wafting through the air?
What sweet feelings does its scent transmute?
Whence this perfume floating everywhere?
Don't you know it's that dear forbidden fruit?
Tra la la la la! That dear forbidden fruit!

Tra la! It's May! The lusty month of May!
That darling month when everyone throws self-control away
It's time to do a wretched thing or two
And try to make each precious day one you'll always rue!

It's May! It's May! The month of "yes you may,"
The time for every frivolous whim, proper or im-
It's wild! It's gay! A blot in every way
The birds and bees with all of their vast
Amorous past gaze at the human race aghast!
The lusty month of May!