We have books in shelves, bins, stacks, and piles which I am fond of because books serve a multitude of purposes.
I am finding comfort and healing in the pages of a Henri Nouwen book (love him)
and also finding books that sometimes better express how I feel so that I can talk with my children about grief while Henry is learning all about the body from a book he loves.
Paul is practicing his decoding
but also his comprehensionand then using books to inspire creative play.
Joe is happy to thumb through the newest addition in our vintage book collection this one from the author Lois Lenski (She rocks) We have already started compiling our summer reading list.

We are lingering longer in pajamas and watching Mr. Rogers episodes on-linewhile Henry is mostly on the couch with frequent icing and elevating.
Joe made lemonade
while I made my friend Cara a birthday cake topper in the form of a mini banner (because I am better at crafting than baking-Thank you Whole Foods). An evening out with lady friends talking about teaching and weddings. Paul spent the morning crafting an elaborate diver costume.
He becomes insistent with his ideas, but I am always blown away by his creativity
and I redirected his frustration about a mask that wasn’t turning out like he imagined, by quickly making a “sea cave” with a blanket and tossed in treasure pieces for him to dive after.I sometimes wish real life problem solving was this easy.

Today we called with enough time to avoid urgent care and instead get a same day appointment for Henry. I raced home from work when Joe called to say Henry had hurt himself while stretching his leg out into the moving wheel of the bicycle, while wearing flip flops. When I came in the door this is how I found him.
Joe took him and said he was exceptionally patient while they x-rayed him.
Two hours later, they came back with a sprained, wrapped, ankle.
Bonus: he was given dinner on the couch so he could keep his foot elevated
and after dinner was done we gathered around to read stories
and share lollipops
and he will say he only has one leg right now. He isn’t supposed to walk, climb, run, etc. If you know our Henry, this is near impossible. He is our go, go guy.

We bought a pineapple tonight after plenty of inquiries by Henry. Repeatedly he has pointed it out at the market wondering aloud “what is that?” and “can we buy it?” Like any loving parent: we gave in.
After dinner we set it on Olivine’s tray, not realizing she was not so fond of its texture, size, or shape. Yikes! Joe whisked it away, to the cutting board, using our wonderful tool
that will slice off skin and core it in just a few twists.
All of which made Olivine calm but still serious
and I can’t forget that for all the hard work there is a reward (in liquid form).She quickly discovered the sweetness of this new fruit
or as her cousin Fiona likes to rate fruit- I think Olivine would say this was a real “elbow-licker”
and Henry would agree
while Paul’s face says it all.
Dessert is sometimes like a party and we love that.

Olivine has definitely been standing, walking while holding, and even taking a few steps.
Tonight was the first time she tried over
and over.
She would land in her brother’s arms
as they cheered her on.
She would walk all the way around the roombut then stop to take a thumb sucking break.
Sometimes in the standing up from a fall she would act super silly.
All eyes are on her and she loves the attention.

Everyone was awake before I left for work:
I carpooled in the morning so Joe could have the car. It is one of my favorite days of the entire year. My students have been studying about India (counting in Hindi, greeting each day with “Namaste”, labeling maps, reading about Gandhi & Mother Teresa, etc.)
I have a table set up with artifacts that enhance our learning. All of this culminates in a school-wide, multicultural day celebration. The last couple years I have been teaching my students some of the dance steps to “Jai Ho” (the song from Slumdog Millionaire) and this year they were so synchronized:
Parents come out and this year many students had outfits to wear. One student had a grandmother who made her a dress from looking at a picture in one of our books.
I even had a parent who found some clothes in her garage from when she was younger and so I dressed up. I am posing with my student who earlier in the week won the oratory contest at school for her recitation of part of a Maya Angelou poem. This is the first part of the day, and then the students are treated to an Indian meal which Joe usually picks up for me and brings to school with children in tow. We enjoy rice, curry, naan bread, chutney, samosas, and mango juice. It is exhausting but so worth the effort. On the way home, little ones fell asleep and had a late nap. Dinner was celebrated with classmates who are  all officially done with the purple side at Isabel. He is moving to the school age side in the fall. There was an amazing slide show and plenty of play time after eating.
There is my guy who is insisting he doesn’t need any help and has a look that disdains my even asking. I can’t believe he is already five. Where has the time gone??

We give lots of warnings so that little ones don’t feel like play is being interrupted. Tonight it was a fantastical game of climbing with a harness made from shoelaces while wearing a glove, belt, and various other climbing tools.
We try to sit down at our table most nights.
Although we are falling into a routine where Olivine starts her meal early so she can have plenty of time to practice using her fork or spoon without distractions.I caught those wiggly toes again, this time long enough to add a dab of polish.
I am grateful for a table full of happy faces to share my meals with. It’s never perfect. There are meltdowns and disagreements about what is being served, but then I remind myself of the routine we are in the midst of creating. This is the one meal where we gather together. Our chance to practice slowing down, listening, and taking turns.

Today marks my first day (after many) without tears and I feel loved. One of my students gave me this miniature rose plant last week and as the buds open slowly in my windowsill they are a reminder that life continues.
Timing is Everything. So when Henry handed me a package from my dear friend Angela today my heart swelled. Angela is my soon to be momma friend who I had hoped to see in Portland a couple weeks back.
I haven’t seen her in a long while and I had randomly booked a flight to attend her baby shower. I never made it to Portland and my suitcase remains packed. Frozen in time. Not wanting to fully acknowledge that my Ji’chan is gone and that I never made it to Portland. She put all these treasures together, small and significant, from her doorstep to my own.
My package for her is overdue, her thoughtfulness is never ending, and my guilt is overpowered by being reminded of how loved I am. It is easy when you loose someone so close to your heart, to fear that feelings of being loved will never be the same. However, friends and family keep reminding me and reaching out to offer their love.