Paul was wide awake, like I used to be as a kid, waiting for everyone else to wake up.

We had a small hunt indoors, like a practice before the game.

Then friends joined us to make the early trek up to Signal Hill.

Only requirement was pajamas.

I love watching and listening to the expression of children find anything hidden. It’s a mixture of wonder, surprise, and pride wrapped up in a single moment.

Joe did all the work (he hid 95 eggs) before we arrived.

 It is one of these parental moments when I am aware that my joy is a contagious effect caused by their joy. I never fully understood this before having kids. It’s how I imagine the delight of God is with us.

The kids were looking high and low, until buckets were full and we ready for breakfast.

There is always a count to round up any last eggs.

We came home and seriously enjoyed two full documentaries (Jiro Dreams of Sushi & Bill Cunningham New York) in the living room, with the projector.

For the first time in thirty-five years, I have been able to make the connection: I look around and see a symbol of life and hope. This year I spent the last few weeks hiding and moving these sparkle eggs around the house. A game for the kids and an active form of prayer as I think about the many ways the resurrection of Jesus has saved my life.

Even as Joe and I sat stuffing eggs last night, my heart said prayers. For those who are far and abroad, those we have lost touch with, those we miss who have passed on, those who are here, those who we wish we saw more, and I know God remembers even those I have forgotten.

Christ is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

The boys sat down this morning and drafted their “Bucket List” after watching me make a “to-do list.”
There ideas are full of adventure and amazingly affordable. This will guide us over the next ten days.

Joe and I squeezed in a sushi lunch date today, while the kids went to say farewell this afternoon because we won’t send them to childcare next week. Oh also, we all slept in until 9 am. This feels like such an amazing luxury.

This is the reaction to hearing the vacuum cleaner.

Like a bunny: she just hops up!

Sometimes I have to say thanks for this small, cozy apartment. I know that if we had a bigger place, they would each have their own room. Although I sometimes wish that was true for bedtimes, timeouts, or a little peace. Although truly- I am glad they are in a room together.

Paul has enough room to spread out his Play mobile figures and make believe all sorts of adventures. While Henry can play legos and maybe interact with him or just play nearby.

 And Olivine is happy to carry a baby doll and pretend to talk on the phone.

Is her expression making you believe that she is talking to someone? Because I do plenty of double takes wondering what in the world she is laughing at.

I look up and I see this

But my heart feels like this:

They don’t really need the same supervision and I’m the only one who notices.

I decided one rack would be all I needed to inspire this cupboard.

This was the type of cupboard I opened quickly because of how precariously I shoved it all in. Over half of the stuff I don’t need, once I took it all out and laid it across the kitchen floor.

The entire time I asked “Do I love it?” which is much more helpful than asking “Is it useful?” because what I have found is that in my kitchen, it ALL can be useful for something. That’s how I end up with cupboards that have so many bowls and cups.

In the end, only what I love is nestled inside. And the rack, did just the trick. What I had been doing before was justifying the clutter to help keep my cutting boards in place. No careful leaning to one side if they are shoved in.

Expect more spring cleaning shots as break approaches. I can’t do it all in one swoop, but I can have mini-bursts of inspiration.

And the bonus for this round was to hear Paul say “Wow Mom, you could actually see what is in there and it’s not all crazy looking.”

Yes Paul, I promise your momma doesn’t love crazy. It’s just what happens when I am not paying attention.

Friends from Minnesota visited yesterday. This time bringing along the exciting news of a new baby. Expected arrival: sometime in August and a possible road trip back this way, six months later.
 We had an afternoon of catching up
 walking to Lola’s (a serious stroll with so many little legs)
 many stories shared
even a little time for drawing and picture making.
A wonderful way to spend a Sunday.

These two words keep popping in my mind when I behold this baby girl.

This was the dress she wore over her clothes several days in a row last week. Along with the dress came random outbursts of singing. Did she care she had a heat rash on her shoulder from wearing this constantly?

She had her three year old check up last week (a little late). The pediatrician has a formula for her age, height, and parents height to let us know that of our three kids she will be the shortest. To make up for it, she is determined to be the loudest.

She is still carrying around her blanket. We don’t let her take it to the child development center for nap and she is managing. It is unraveling and she pays no mind. But we have begun asking: “when will you not need your yum-yum?” So far, we are getting the clear answer of “When I am five.” This is reasonable.

I cut her bangs in the tub again. Not one of her favorite past times but she is increasing in patience. Some days she even lets me pull it back in a ponytail.

Some staples in her wardrobe are boots (she has two pairs: rain and cowgirl) and just like the boys. She realizes that boots are the easiest shoes for a toddler to put on herself. And she loves a good hat. This is baseball hat given to her by George. In the photo above she is insisting on being the leader and is about to get distracted by the amazing window display of the roller derby shop. They have hello kitty skates and girls who smile and wave from inside.

Henry rested between breathing treatments and doses of medicine for the fever that is still high. Paul made him a fort last night that he wanted to keep up. Only his head would peek out, not much talking, a little smiling, and it aches a little to see this boy who is usually so full of life lay there zapped by sickness.

I kept myself busy on the rug nearby. More dumping, purging, and cleaning. It is spring time.

I love just quick organizing tidbits. My eyes are pleased by the sight of order. Instant gratification.

We took a stroll over to the Farmer’s Market for afternoon sunshine. On my list: kale, onion, garlic, and ginger for our tofu bowls with peanut sauce. Like any good browse, we picked up extras:

Red is still my favorite color.

I am praying for a recovery. But if it is slow, and I get to spend days on end with this little boy, I won’t complain. I actually noticed thoughts today, deep in my gut, about staying home. This is a new dilemma in our lives: who stays home? It’s always been Joe. No question. But now, I am going to admit, I like waking up to find out Joe is busy with a formal observation for student teaching and so I get to step in. A new role for each of us.

A first glance gage for Henry’s health is happiness. He has been a little under the weather all weekend. Every night he has battled a fever of 104 along with his barking cough that has miserable during the day due to lack of sleep. I called in a sub today, mostly because last time I took Olivine in, my pediatrician made me promise I won’t wait until day five of a high fever, but come in on day three.

While there, I had his blister checked on his hand. It has popped but looks very tender. I even remembered that Henry recently failed the hearing screening at school. So they did one in the office. The appointment felt productive, even if the flu and strep test came back negative.

He spent most of the afternoon in his bed. But he didn’t like the idea of me leaving the room for too long. I was able to clean the kitchen in spurts as he napped in spurts. I eventually resigned to just staying in the room.

I dumped out the dresser drawers one by one.

I practiced my Marie Kondo folding (yes, I have recently read, loved, and converted to The Life- Changing Magic of Tidying Up) and although I have yet to perfect the magic. I will testify that the horizontal folding for my children (particularly the one who likes dressing herself) makes for less of a mess, because she can see all the clothes in one glance.

At one point Henry really wanted to take a bath, so he sat in slightly chilly bubbles and the fever subsided enough to get in the car and go pick up siblings.

We had an early, easy, “make your own taco” dinner and man- it’s only Monday. On the one hand I am wondering how my weekend slipped by so quickly and on the other hand, I am wondering how I will survive the rest of the week.

Although I have no idea how it will happen, I am sure it will happen. As the song from the late 70’s goes, “I will survive!”