Super Day

We have finally fallen into a family groove. Despite radical work schedules, we have found that golden moment when a day off is a day to be celebrated at a family. Well, at least we did yesterday. The weather just highlighted the light breezy nature of the family. Wake, eat, run together, tinker in the garage together, make salsa, clean the car, go to the zoo, have dinner out, play in the backyard, sing songs together, bike rides, smores, family, bedtime. Can't think of anything we missed that could have made it better. I married a splendid man and we have made goreous babies and then added some more lovelies into the mix. Now, we just enjoy the days. This, I am certain, is what love feels like.

Boy

I was playing with the camera settings while my boys were playing football in the backyard. Do you see that studdly kinda-paused look on Danny's face as he has just tackled his dad and is now going for the touch down? Give him some 13 years and the girls will be falling at his feet. I nearly do already (and Josh obviously does).

I like to ride my Bicycle

On May 7th a love affair began. My kids found out that bikes are very cool. Since then, they have been inseperable. It still strikes me as amazing that just a day before that I couldn't coerce them to ride on bikes. They did their first long ride this morning - after doing their first out of backyard ride last night. The keep asking for more, like a drug. Thank heavens this drug will not shorten their life, rather prolong it. Yahoo for family bike rides coming up! No more carrying scooters half way to the park. They want to ride, Ride, RIDE!

Animals, all of them

Just as it begins to be summer (aka unbearably hot) we decided to get a zoo pass. We hadn't realized what a wise choice a zoo pass would be until after the first 10 minutes of our paid entrance into the zoo. Like good parents we coated our children in sunblock. It is the spray on kind, super convenient. Josh, however, forgot that although you tell little people to cover their eyes it is best not to spray chemicals right into their faces. Spray on your hand then wipe on the face. Josh directly applies the spray to Faith's face and we paid for it for the next hour. Not even the distraction of wild animals could get her screeches to stop. I did wonder if the peacocks were starting to answer her cries as I hear d the echo across the lake. Even a well built water adventure park could distract her (skip the animals which is really the point of a zoo straight to the water park).

So, we just let her scream intermittently why we tried to see a few more animals around the loop, including the baboon which was the incentivizing animal for this adventure (Josh tells stories to the kids about different animals and Danny was most interested in the baboon). Near the front exit/entrance is a nice, quiet little splash pad. Finally, Faith stopped crying.

The kids were enjoying themselves and we had a moment to just be there. Until Josh started to complain and want to go home. Poor guy, even waking up feeling a bit fluish he still manned the expidition, but when it was all said and done, so was he. Total time spent in the zoo: maybe 2 hours. Glad all the money spent will help for the next 2 hour stint we are there.

Easter and Renewal

Easter time was deliciously lush. I was struck as we had our neighbors over again for an egg hunt how much has changed since last year. It has been quite awhile since I could compare holidays in the same location. One whole year in one place has been pretty rare for the Button family. Yet, here we are, in our own home, celebrating in our backyard that his most certainly improved!

coloring homemade eggs (thank you hens) on the back porch, which you can see is extended beyond what it was last year.
That is Danny sitting in basically the same spot last year as we colored eggs this year. Still and extra cute little boy.
The naturally brown eggs would have blended in better last year. Whereas, this year the colors has plenty of places to hide in the renewed backyard!


Oh how I love this backyard and it just keeps getting better.

Garage Sale book review

I just finished "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodie Picoult.

Honestly, a well written book. Most people have heard of the movie, and I think I saw parts of it once as well. The movie may have been better in only one aspect - language and sexual content. Otherwise, I am certain the book tops it. There was nothing graphic in the book, which was nice. Whereas I try not to use potty language myself that is the only reason it is striking to read it sometimes. Just didn't want to give a high recommendation out without a fair warning for very particular readers.

I loved the hypothetical situation of this book - genetically creating a sibling to help one with cancer. This has not been done, yet, to my knowledge but I don't think it is too far off. The main struggle in this family is not, necessarily, the court struggle of medical emancipation, but how each of the people and how they deal with decision making. Picoult narrates the 7 days leading from filing the petition to actual court day closing through the first person of 7 different people. It is a unique way to stay present time while utilizing the personal thoughts of each person in the situation that tie into past memories. That also meant taking on the voice of age ranges from 13 to 54, and it was well done at that. Each character was strong and realistic. There was only a little stretch of relationship reality with two of the characters that probably would not of factored in naturally, but it did play out as enticing to follow despite it's unbelievable quality (gotta have some romantic drama sometimes).

Because the plot was compelled forward in such a short time frame by so many voices it really pulls you through the book rapidly. I appreciated the research done by Picoult to really bring truth to the story, she has to be quite the jack of several trades in this one: arsonist, firefighter, oncologist, attorney, guardian at litem, astronomer, yacht sailor. Enough little facts to make you feel as though you were learning something at the same time as being well entertained. And, as a bit of a cherry on top, she artfully introduces each day/chapter with an excerpt from classic poetry or literature. Well done.

A good find for a garage sale book of $.50. I probably won't keep it in my house, not that classical, so, if you want it, you can have a good read too.