Exploring our frontyard

“The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” -Henry Miller
Today was busy, and a little less enjoyable than other days…I was rushing, and my mind was swirling with little things that needed to get done…Joe helped me see today. After school, I went to pick the boys up and was almost late, then I had to finish a task I started in one of the boys’ classrooms and make it to Nicks swim team practice on time….Joe pulled the globe down from a shelf in his classroom and asked where we were on the globe. He mattered, and the question mattered, and the busy work stopped mattering as much. I got Nick to swimming on time. Missed a city council meeting I really wanted to attend. Tried to pick up Joe at Tony’s flag football practice but he wanted to play catch with his dad. Took Nick home and made him a snack before his flag football practice. Got Nick to Practice met Tony and Joe there with Hubba and took them home. Joe plopped down in the grass and started investigating some mushrooms. He asked if they were poisonous and why they were in our grass…..then he asked for a magnifying glass and my camera. I slowed down and savored his curiosity and his focus….both of which I feel like I am currently lacking, I dig him. I dig him and the reminders he gave me today. Simplify, focus, and enjoy life. Big message little package. And the day got better….

all the below pictures were snapped by Joe on his exploration of the yard curiosities

Birdhouses

“Use the talents you possess – for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.” ~Henry Van Dyke
Hubba built Birdhouses with the Cub Scouts. And I shall share with you my favorite Cub Scout and his favorite Den leader:

3 critters 2day

“I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the “lower animals” (so called) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me.” ~Mark Twain, Letters from the Earth, 1907

Nick found a caterpillar as we were leaving his tutor’s house. On the way home it was tickling his hand so much he decided to give it to Joe. It let out a green ball on Joe’s hand…and he shared that bit o’info with the neighbor lady, who in turn shared with us that she adopted two turtles.

We went to her backyard and checked them out. They have cool African names that I forgot the minute she shared them with me.

Nick walking Beag….confused to why we were at the neighbor’s house with the caterpillar…..not confused enough to ask!

Blue and Gold Dinner

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”  -Albert Einstein
Tony made the bridge for the bridging ceremony. Others helped, but Hubba said out of the corner of his eye he saw Tony undo and redo the knots and test it for safety.

Nick moved up a level in cub scouts….this coming up year will be his last.

Joe got some belt loops, he was super excited and I dug it!!

Like Christmas!

Rolling

“There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me.” -Thomas Jefferson
It was a great spring day. I picked the boys up from school, and I needed to talk to a teacher briefly so it took a minute or two, then…I got in the car, no complaints, no anger…I thought to myself, I will reward their patience and manners with a roll down a grassy hill. I had forgotten that Nick bit it walking Beag last night and had a nasty road burn on his elbow, so I shared with him that he could roll with one arm up in the air….and he did. They rolled, hopped, skipped, ran, and walked up and down that grassy hill for about an hour. Joe was the judge, Harrison and Nick were the very agreeable competitors, who patted each other on the back and said, ” good job” at the bottom of the hill each time. Magical.

Den Leader

“No man stands so straight as when he stoops to help a boy.” -Knights of Pythagoras
First meeting of Joe’s Den and Hubba is the Den Leader. They got some belt loop activities done and are getting to know each other.
Hubba taught them some map reading and how to play marbles. Fun times.

Joe is a lucky Ducky!

spring TIME

“Time is the coin of your life.  It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.  Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.”  -Carl Sandburg

Hubba decided to take time for his boys, others wanted his time…..and they didn’t get it. We both have been overwelmed, it always happens in the spring. Lots of “could you…..” Little things, but they take up our time.

Joe and Nick’s first time at a Gun Range.

Family Work Day

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” -Thomas Edison
The play parents are asked to volunteer to help with props and what-not and to devote one Saturday to get the big stuff done. This was the Saturday. The Producer asked me to take pictures of other people working(Much to my delight). It was very interesting. A lot got done by a little. And a big percentage had their hands in their pockets waiting for direction…..people watching is fun!

One of my favorite early spring guests

“If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.” ~Author Unknown
Found three caterpillars climbing up the wall at the school March 9th
Formed Chrysalises March 9th
Presented as Morning Cloak butterflies March 25th



and now they are free to spread good cheer all around the neighborhood

Happiness found here

“Be what you would seem to be – or, if you’d like it put more simply – never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.” ~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

I love it when you are happy, Tony……if I were a glow worm, I’d glow with this amazing energy that I feel in my tummy when I see this: