My Michigan Memory: Perfect Spring Days

I'm linking up with Mrs. Weber's Neighborhood for My Michigan Memory! Local Michiganders, head over and enter to win a total awesome prize: a Hudsonville ice cream party for up to 75 people! Please note that the winner must be willing to host her party within a one hour drive of either Detroit or Grand Rapids. If you are a blogger and want to link up your own My Michigan Memory post, you can earn extra entries in the contest!

Some years, like this one, springtime in Michigan is lovely. Summer is not officially here for a couple more days, but already we've had some really fab weather. I hate chilly, wet springs - but this year I've been loving springtime!

Recently, the kids and I packed some snacks and picked up my mom to spend a beautiful spring afternoon at a local park. Local readers might recognize it as George George park. It's really clean, and well-kept, with a nice picnic pavilion and good play equipment. Bethany moaned and groaned a little, because she is getting to that age where everything is boring unless she's with her friends. But I think she eventually got over that and actually enjoyed herself!

Sonic is nearby, so when we left the park we stopped and got 1/2 off slushies for everyone. It's always good to have a little bribery leverage when you know at least one of the kids is going to loudly protest when it's time to go!

Summer is still my favorite, but this year I've learned to love springtime just a little more than usual!

Giving Thanks On Monday

Here's what I'm giving thanks for today:

• I tried on the bridesmaid dress I'm wearing in a wedding in a couple weeks...it fit...and I could breathe...and it doesn't have to be shortened like I thought it would need to be
• Leftover cake from Mathilda's birthday
• Sweet tea
• Another peaceful, nighttime walk
• I got a lot of reading done of the next book I'll be reviewing at Luxury Reading 
• Spending some relaxing time in the hot tub with Chris after the kids went to bed
• My chaise sofa, which is the most perfectly comfortable place to stretch out and read
• Pizza night 
• Paper plates

And a picture of something I'm thankful for...

Lucy and Bethany playing in the warm rain. Connor said he would rather get his chores done.

 So what are YOU feeling thankful for today?

Every Day Really Should Be Mother's Day

My days have been a blur of activity and every time I sit down to write a new post, I end up falling asleep in my chair before I even get started. And so it will continue for the next month until the long anticipated summer break begins. This weekend we will be celebrating Connor's First Communion, so that of course means a blitzkrieg of cleaning and baking and ironing (because the wet towel in the dryer trick has its limits). Today I spent some time doing a little yard clean-up, and it felt so good to be outside enjoying the warm sunshine (finally! spring in Michigan is worth waiting for!).

I know it will probably be two weeks before I get a chance to plant my garden, but in the meantime I am enjoying watching everything come back to life after the grueling winter we just endured.

Mother's Day was a nice reprieve from our crazy schedules. After blissfully sleeping in, I was served breakfast in bed, which I shared with four children who were clamoring all over me. I was treated to homemade gifts and cards from all of them, so I feel it was a fair exchange. Bethany wrote a song and sang it for me, Connor made a book about why he loves me, and Lucy made me a plate. Chris couldn't wait for Mother's Day to give me my gift, so I got my new phone a few days prior. I no longer feel like I'm living in the ice ages now that I have a Smart Phone. My only lament is really Android? No video editing apps?? (If someone knows of one, let me know! Please!)

After a lazy Mother's Day morning, we picked up both of our mothers and headed downtown for the afternoon. The plan was to park at the Riverfront, walk to the Ren Cen and take the People Mover to Greektown. After navigating our way through the maze of the Ren Cen to find the People Mover, we were disappointed to find that it was closed for the day. My blood was boiling a tiny bit because that place is so confusing, and you need a security guard to let you on the elevators, and since it was Sunday those security guards were few and far between, and taking a stroller on the escalator is a pain in the butt (and the security guards don't seem to like that, but they also don't seem to want to be bothered with letting people on the elevator). So we made our way back to the ice cream shop on the first floor and let the kids spoil their appetites by eating over-priced dessert before dinner. I didn't order Mathilda her own cone, figuring she and I could share. She was not on board with that plan, so I hurriedly ate the top and gave her the rest. The kid likes her ice cream (picture Cartman from South Park screaming "ma ice cream, MA ICE CREAM," all through Kroger, which is what Mattie sounded like the next day as soon as she saw that I put ice cream in the shopping cart. She really thought I was going to break it open and let her dig in right in the store.). Once we left the building and got back outside, I was no longer stressed and just enjoyed the leisurely walk along the Detroit River. This is one of my favorite areas downtown. I can't wait to go back in a few weeks when they'll have the fountain on and the kids can run around in their swimsuits to cool off.

A random ice sculpture. For you non-Michiganders, that's Canada across the river.

After the kids enjoyed a ride on the carousel, we drove over to Greektown and had pizza for dinner at Pizza Papalis. Last time we were in Greektown, we ate Mexican. Maybe next time we'll actually eat Greek. Mathilda slept through the entire meal and woke up screaming just as we were getting ready to leave. She is in full Terrible Twos mode (when she is not being sweet as can be and saying things like "hug" with her little arms reaching out to me, or even "I love you, Mama," because YES! she says that now!) and I felt for Chris as he drove us home while Mattie screamed bloody murder the whole way, because driving with a screaming banshee in the backseat is no picnic. Her latest party trick is getting her arms out of the car seat straps, and that's really fun while driving along the freeway. When we got home, she brought me her jammies and asked me to put Diego on for her, and all was well in the world once again.

May Flowers

I'm feeling slightly guilty because I sort of did a bait and switch with Lucy. I convinced her we should skip her preschool field trip tomorrow morning by bribing her with a trip to the library. She actually said, "sure mom, that would be wonderful!", so I'll try not to feel too guilty. It's not that I don't want to go on the field trip, I'd just be much more enthusiastic about it if it were later in the day. We had a rush around morning today and by bedtime I just couldn't face the prospect of another one tomorrow. With Mathilda screaming while I try to get clothes on her squirming body and attempt to feed her breakfast in the car. Oh wait, that was Lucy. I'm getting my days confused. Or, more likely, it was both of them. Lucy did, in fact, dress herself, but not without a great many tears about how unfair it is that no one ever lets her sleep. (See? My mottled brain is at its limits!)


Anyway, it was a busy day today, which included Kindergarten Orientation for Lucy. A couple months ago she was not at all enthused about starting kindergarten this fall, but now she is totally excited about it. She ran off to the kindergarten room with the other kids without a moment's hesitation. (Meanwhile, us parents stayed in the cafeteria and were bombarded with information that those of us who have school aged children already know. How about an orientation for us where we just drop our kids off and pick them up in an hour? kidding, sort of) On the way there, I instructed Mathilda not to fall asleep in the van, but that she was welcome to go to sleep in her stroller as soon as we got there. Of course she didn't listen (keeping in mind the school is less than a 5 minute drive), but she must have really been tired because miraculously she stayed asleep when I transferred her from her car seat to the stroller, and remained in deep slumber throughout the entire orientation. It was hectic, which I hate, and I didn't get a chance to talk to the kindergarten teachers like I wanted to. What I'd like to know is whether or not we're the only half-day hold-outs so far. The school gives us a half-day option, but because interest is so low, the kids have to stay in a class with the full-day kids and leave just before lunch. We'll have the opportunity to switch her to full days when and if we think she is ready. Boy I am going to miss her, even just for half days. But I'll save my boo-hooing for another day.


I am happy to say my yard is beginning to wake up to the fact that it is spring, even if it doesn't feel like it (the temperature in my house has reached a new low, but so help me that furnace is not getting turned on in May!). My tulips are still straining to open, but my rhododendrons are in full bloom, and since we had a reprieve from the rain today, I had a chance to photograph them, along with a cuddly little bumble bee.

Now I'd better buzzzzz off to bed (Chris loves when I talk like that...hehehe), since I'm pretty sure no one is going to let me sleep in tomorrow.

Spring Is In The Air (Or Not): Toledo, Ohio

My big kids are on Spring Break and although we're not doing a big trip, we've been having loads of fun. Friday night they got their break started with a sleepover at Chris's mom's house with their cousins. Lucy had a birthday party to attend Saturday afternoon, and then we had three of Bethany's friends overnight (sleepover with 3 girls...deja-vu???). I took Bethany and the three other girls to an ice show at the local ice arena to see Wizard of Oz on ice. Another friend was performing with her synchronized skating team during the intermission, and it was a very entertaining show. Going out with all big kids was such a freeing experience. They want a snack? Send them to the snack stand. Without me. One of them needs to go to the bathroom? Send them to the restroom. Without me. I had a small glimpse of what life will be like in a few years, and it was nice. Not that I'm hurrying anything along...

Sunday morning our guests went home and the kids and I headed for Toledo with my mother-in-law. Toledo, Ohio probably doesn't sound like an exciting Spring Break destination, but we really had the best time. Our first stop was The Toledo Museum of Art, and it was fantastic! We stayed for hours and no one was bored for one second. Admission is free (donations appreciated), the cafe serves delicious and reasonably priced food (turkey and brie wrap with dried fruit and nuts and a fruit salad - SO GOOD!! - for like $6), the place is huge (we didn't see nearly everything), and there is a sweet family area with all kinds of fun (free!!!) things for the kids to do, like painting, arts and crafts,blocks, dress-up clothes, and lots more. We did pay to see the special Egyptian exhibit, which was well worth the money because who wouldn't sacrifice some cash to see the centuries old blackened corpse of an Egyptian priest (or priestess or prince or...something)? Here are a whole bunch of pictures commemorating our day at the museum...

Walk like an Egyptian

Matisse tile mosaic

Little Miss Attitude

Meema and her grandbabies

I whip my hair back and forth...dancing in the cafe

Meema and Lucy

Entrance of the Egyptian exhibit

Lucy & Bethany painting together

Lucy & Bethany modeling the hats they made

Mattie having fun in the family area

Connor doing a puppet show for Mattie

My kids are crazy and loud and fun and maybe people sometimes inwardly groan and run in the opposite direction when they see us coming. But I am so happy to be able to experience things like art museums with their joyfulness and excitement.


We left just before they kicked us out (it was closing time!), headed to our hotel and went for a swim before dinner. Dinner, where no one ate their dinners because they were falling asleep (literally) at the table.


After breakfast Monday morning, we went swimming again before heading to the Imagination Station for the afternoon. We have been going to this place since Connor was younger than Mathilda is now, and every time we have a blast. My one complaint this time - visitors are no longer permitted to bring in their own food and drinks. I don't know how vigilant they are about checking, but I did see a few signs. We didn't bring food this time, but often we do, so this is a bummer. Plus the food cost as much or more than it did at the art museum, and was not nearly as good (kind of yucky, in fact). We stayed for a few hours before heading off to our next adventure.

Uncooperative Mathilda? No Way!

Lucy getting ready to knock an egg into a glass of water

Bethany's turn

and Connor's turn

Mattie driving the mini-me ambulance

Television stars

They could have watched themselves on "TV" as pseudo sportscasters all day

Did I mention it rained the whole time we were in Toledo? We had planned on going to the zoo, but the weather did not agree with our plans. After we left Imagination Station (in the rain), we fumbled our way to a movie theater (GPS would not recognize the address...GRRR!) to see Hop. It was a cute movie. I liked the concept of an Easter movie, and it was entertaining, but with a pretty flimsy story line. Nonetheless, we all liked it and I didn't have to leave the theater with Mattie one time! Progress! We took a pizza and some salad back to our room for dinner, and then Meema took the 3 big kids down to the pool yet again. I stayed behind with Mathilda, trying to get her to sleep, which was totally fruitless. Tuesday morning we went swimming one last time after breakfast. Mathilda was loving the pool beaucoup. Every time we walked past it, she would gaze through the window and mutter "my pool" or "bye bye pool". At one point she got her swimsuit out, brought it to me and said "me pool." "Pool" sounds a lot like "poop", so it did get a little confusing.


When we checkout out, we went to Friendly's for lunch. I loved Friendly's when it was here in Michigan, and I thought they were all closed. I had no idea Ohio was keeping such a secret. The kids got Peeps sundaes for a treat. Yep, that's right. And not just regular old Peeps, but chocolate dipped Peeps. With marshmallow sauce as a topping. 

We have lots more plans for the week, and I am going to enjoy every moment of the break. We might as well leave out the "spring" part, because it is definitely (pretty much) still winter, despite what the calendar might say.

No Girls Allowed

Connor had some buddies over to celebrate his birthday on Friday evening, which was really great because typically he is just floundering in a sea of girls. I love that when he is with his friends his number one most commonly used word is dude, and when he is not with his friends he never ever says dude. I'm sure he enjoyed playing Mario Brothers with his friends way more than he enjoys playing it with his 4 year old sister, who is the most lazy video game player ever. I'm also pretty sure he was thrilled that the boys in the house were outnumbering the girls for once. Besides playing the Wii, the kids each made their own pizza, played Bey Blades and Lego Ninja-whatever-you-call-'ems, ate cake and ice cream, and that's about it. 

After Connor's last guest had left, Chris and I took all 4 kids to his mom's to spend the night. Which turned out to be a good thing since Chris woke me up at 3:30 in the morning to let me know our basement was flooding. And then I was up, like for the day. Fun night that was. Gotta love living in a flood zone. But we got lucky and moved everything that needed to be moved before anything got ruined, and got a plumber out pretty early Saturday morning to snake our line (damn tree roots + snow thaw + rain = bad news).  

The irony too was that after all the snow melted it snowed yet again Saturday. Hahahaha. Pay no attention to me as I use every ounce of self control available to my being to not lose my mind while I'm not very patiently waiting for Spring's arrival.  I am dreaming of a green backyard with no mud, flowers blooming all around, kids riding bikes, leaving the house without being bogged down in winter gear, ice-free sidewalks, turning off the furnace and opening the windows, cooking on the grill, and open-toe shoes. Soon...

Don't Wait

Last week my friend's mom passed away. She won't see her daughter walk down the aisle this June, except in spirit. What I've been thinking about is staying up all night talking to her at sleepovers after my friend zonked out. And also promising we'd get together soon every time we bumped into each other at Target or whatever...and never doing it. Life gets crazy...obligations pile up. But I wish I'd had that lunch with her, I really do.

Just two days after my friend's mom died, an old friend of my family also passed away. Frank and his family lived next door to my grandparents when my mom was growing up. His son (who is my godfather) still lives in the house, and my uncle still lives next door in my grandparents' old house. Frank and his wife were dear friends of my grandparents. Now all four of them are gone, which makes me sad. 

I can't imagine what it would have been like to live in that house where my mom grew up back in the 50's and 60's and 70's, when the block was chock full of friends, for the grown ups and the kids. When the neighbors took turns hosting card parties and the ladies met on each others porches on summer mornings for toast and coffee. At the funeral home last night my mom was treated to a story my Grandma never shared, of how my Grandma and a couple other neighbor ladies helped deliver one of Frank's babies when they couldn't get his wife to the hospital in time. People die and their stories die with them. I'm glad someone shared this one. As much as my Grandma and I talked, and as many stories as she told me, I wish there were more. So when I hear one like this, that I've never heard before, it's like finding a little treasure.


Make those phone calls and lunch dates while you can. Share your stories. Someone wants to know. Really. If your kids act bored now, they'll be glad later.

*****

Don't worry, it hasn't been all dark clouds of doom around here. 

Chris has been working on the play room in our basement. He painted, put up some drywall, and put a rug down. Tomorrow we are going to pick up some shelving, then we can really start to put the room together. This is a major project we've been talking about since we moved in, so it is kind of exciting to see it nearing completion. 

A few nights ago some friends and I went out to dinner to celebrate my birthday and my friend Angela's birthday. I haven't laughed so much in a long time, especially when we almost got kicked out for being too loud, even though there were no other diners in the room with us. Also we were at the restaurant in the middle of a snow storm. YES! Another snow storm. After all our snow melted with the Easter weather last week, we are once again living in a winter wonderland. 

Spring is near. Spring is near. Spring is near. Spring is near. Spring is near.

I Can Practically Taste It

We've been having more of that Easter like weather. The snow is melting. I actually enjoy leaving my house because I'm not freezing my butt off. I'm thinking Spring, but it is my goal to enjoy the here and now, and not try to rush into the next season. Anticipation takes away from the beauty of the moment.

(Note:  The current moment for me consists of listening to Mathilda alternating between pathetic whimpering and full on sobs in her crib as I decide whether it is going to be necessary to go get her, and a throbbing headache. Searching for the beauty in the moment.)

Mathilda and I did some Macy's clearance shopping while Lucy was at preschool this morning. She is my little shopping buddy and is generally quite happy as long as I keep a constant flow of snacks going to the stroller tray. She likes saying "hi" and "bye" to everyone we pass. It makes me happy when people respond to her, because she loves it, but sometimes she won't stop and it gets awkward because I don't want strangers to feel obligated to answer her greetings and salutations 50 million times. I got some really great deals, and could have done some damage with that Macy's card, but I restrained myself and limited my purchases to a few things my mom got me for my birthday. Thanks Mom, I love picking out my own birthday gifts.

After Mattie and I picked Lucy up from school, the three of us went to meet a few of my friends for lunch at a new Mexican restaurant nearby. The food was good but the company was better. I have the best friends. 

(Note: I brought Mattie downstairs, thinking maybe the other kids would enjoy getting some sleep. Toddler hugs, kisses, cuddles, hand holding, giggling, and tickles...beautiful. Toddler exhausted out of her mind yet not falling asleep until after midnight...not quite. Is this the living definition of ying and yang?)

One of my best friends called to tell me her mom is in the hospital and she doesn't think she's going to make it. Friends losing parents seems surreal. Is there anyway to put into words that even though I'm a grown up, I sometimes don't think I feel any different than I felt 20 years ago? My heart is aching for my friend today, who is getting married this year and her mom might not be there to see it. I am praying for peace for her mom, who I have known and loved since I was in the 4th grade. She always seemed like she would live forever. But doesn't everybody? 

We are mere mortals, yet convince ourselves otherwise just to get through the day. There is an invisible clock ticking away the minutes of our lives. How many minutes are left? No one knows. Each one counts. Each one is precious and irreplaceable. Some get wasted. Lots get wasted. Is there a giant dump somewhere full of wasted minutes, sort of like the great plastic island floating in an ocean somewhere that I've heard about? I don't want my minutes to end up there. 

I can smell Spring and it smells like life and newness. And at the same time my friend's mom is dying.  I want to say it's not fair, but it just is what it is.