Thanks for Rain

I LOVE rain -- for the first three days -- then my Colorado-bred inner solar panels start pleading for sunshine. (It is easy to get use to having at least 300 days of sunshine.)

Let the rest of the country snicker, it has finally started raining again in Northern California. So in an attempt to embrace the sogginess, here are four reasons I am thankful it will raining all week.

1. I have good reason to wear my cute rain boots. If there are puddles, you might as well stomp...


2. My allergies are going away. It has been so warm everything is blooming (Easterners shed a tear for me) and now I get a break.

3. Construction has stopped on the road in front of Moose's school. Aha! I am finally arriving early! I truly have been trying to adjust to the expected gridlock on the road and circle drive in front of the elementary school, but if you know me well you know that estimating the time needed to arrive on time is not my strong suit. I can now turn over a new leaf, for this week at least.

4. No baseball practice. I know that sounds terrible. I accidentally broke my self-imposed rule and completely over-scheduled my kids. Being new to Little League I didn't realize practices would start in FEBRUARY. So this was to be the last week of swim lessons and gymnastics, plus we would have had 3 baseball practices on top of it all. I'm sure some veteran parents are laughing at me, but to me that seems outrageous. One activity is plenty at this age, in my opinion, so thank you, rain, we now have more time.

(Oh yeah, and we need the rain to water everything and have water to drink. And it is beautiful. I was going to say that too...)

Is it Spring?

It feels like it's Spring here in Northern California. We've been putting the kids to work outside...


Yes, our almost 5-year-old is using a pitchfork. Everyone still has their eyes.


Even Her Royal Ladyship Bulgy Hat was in on the action. She was very regal in her shoveling. (Her beloved "Baby Dog" was being kept warm inside her rainbow hat.)

Jelly Bean's Room

It is hard for me to really get into decorating the house when it is a rental. Part of it may stem from the fact that we were in a new place every year for the first several years of our marriage. Another reason is that I can't always execute to look the way I imagined in my head. Whatever the reasons, I am trying to embrace the now of where I live.

I've had fun doing a few improvements to Jelly Bean's room. This wall decal makes me smile (AND it's reusable because you never know...)



This little squirrel is on the other side of the room from the tree. I think it may be Jelly Bean's favorite part because she continues to announce, "Squirrel! Squirrel!"

Fun Fungi

We've got some new schrooms in the house. I'm not sure who loves them more -- me or the kids.

BiggiE is usually the least inclined to join in coloring, but if it is Fungi on the WALL, well, who can resist?


Then there is Jelly Bean -- my tidy one. Don't get me wrong, she can leave a trail of toys with the best of them, but she loves to put things away and wipe things down. It's not child labor if they want to do it, right?

Weekends Are For Family Bike Rides

The last several weekends have been so lovely we've been able to get out and about and take a few bike rides. There is an elementary school two miles from our house that makes the perfect destination.

It is so fun to have one of the kids able to really make the trek on their own bike. I know it won't be long before BiggiE joins Moose and Jelly Bean will have the carriage to herself.


Os and Moose were riding so fast I could hardly pause to take a picture fast enough before they were specks, but I caught them on the hill...

A Good Morning

I've been reflecting recently on how so very often in my day to day life I function from a pre-Galilean perspective -- a view whereby, substituting myself for the earth, everything revolves around me. Not only is it cosmically inaccurate, it is a miserable way to live.

I don't show this reality in as obvious a way (I don't think) as say, a few professional athletes and celebs that come to mind, but it's there, nonetheless and is most harmful to those closest to me.

As I strive to acknowledge God as the center of my galaxy I find things falling into place. And I have more moments like the ones this morning painting with the kids.




BiggiE was cracking me up. He must be a Classicist, rather than a Modern, because he would not conceive of leaving any of his canvas blank. Though I will say he was rather free form in his brush strokes...

Os's Dream

Look, Ma, five isn't so hard!

Keep dreamin', my love.