Spring Evening
Last night was the first night of baseball practice for both older boys. We actually didn't know that Isaac had practice until his coach called at 4pm to apologize that his email announcement of practice hadn't reached us. The coach said he understood if Isaac couldn't make it. Happily there are two other boys on Samuel's team who live in our neighborhood so Samuel got a ride home with one of them and Isaac made his whole practice as it started a half later. My only job was to put out a dinner at 4:30 pm and to pack a portable dinner for Matt.
I made an experimental version of tamale pie with pork carnitas instead of my Gram's traditional recipe with ground beef. It turned out tasty and was subsequently devoured. What a relief! Must make a note on the recipe that I should double the quantity in the future.
The baseball players were out the door at a little after 5pm, so Elsie and I got out the stroller and headed out to walk in the glorious evening sunshine. It felt so nice. I was vaguely heading toward Hobby Lobby, but ran into a family I've known for the longest time and stopped to chat for a half hour. The parents loaned me the book, Playborhood by Mike Lanza. I laughed and said that I had considered heading toward the library but that getting handed a highly recommended book from friends was even better. The book is all about how to create an environment where kids can play with each other without constant adult facilitation. So far, I'm enjoying it.
From there, we headed off to Hobby Lobby. Elsie was a great "shopping buddy", happily sitting in the stroller, commenting on things she saw and heard. "Mama, listen a playing piano music." (some jazzy piano version of a Steven Curtis Chapman song) or "Mama, see the monster on the plate." (ie. Cookie Monster) I purchased a tool for needle felting (it broke today after a single use! Boo!)and then turned the stroller toward home. Elsie was much amused by the seagulls in the parking lots we had to cross.
The wacky "odds and ends" resale place caught my eye, so I decided to stop in there. I found a type of granola that my family enjoys at a pretty good price and took a chance on buying two of them. (Yay! Not stale) Elsie was starting to take off her boots at the end of our time in that store, so shopping time was done. We cut across the park that was still so boggy there were ducks swimming in puddles on the baseball field (this has been a problem for practicing) and made it home a little after 7pm. Elsie got out and walked the last two blocks.
I am so excited to be outside more. I wasn't doing my best at getting outside this winter (and it was SO COLD). For baseball the boys both have coaches that we've observed in years past to be good guys who love baseball and kids and are interested in playing a good game and building community (unlike some of the coaches who are rather obsessed with winning - which looks especially silly at the coach pitch level). I do still need to get to the library. I want a book on needle felting so I can get some help and ideas with that. And Samuel needs a book on the Battle of Saratoga. I've got to write up quarterly reports because we just finished our third quarter here. And that means less than 9 weeks of school to go! Sounds shockingly possible.
A little sunshine goes a long way!
I made an experimental version of tamale pie with pork carnitas instead of my Gram's traditional recipe with ground beef. It turned out tasty and was subsequently devoured. What a relief! Must make a note on the recipe that I should double the quantity in the future.
The baseball players were out the door at a little after 5pm, so Elsie and I got out the stroller and headed out to walk in the glorious evening sunshine. It felt so nice. I was vaguely heading toward Hobby Lobby, but ran into a family I've known for the longest time and stopped to chat for a half hour. The parents loaned me the book, Playborhood by Mike Lanza. I laughed and said that I had considered heading toward the library but that getting handed a highly recommended book from friends was even better. The book is all about how to create an environment where kids can play with each other without constant adult facilitation. So far, I'm enjoying it.
From there, we headed off to Hobby Lobby. Elsie was a great "shopping buddy", happily sitting in the stroller, commenting on things she saw and heard. "Mama, listen a playing piano music." (some jazzy piano version of a Steven Curtis Chapman song) or "Mama, see the monster on the plate." (ie. Cookie Monster) I purchased a tool for needle felting (it broke today after a single use! Boo!)and then turned the stroller toward home. Elsie was much amused by the seagulls in the parking lots we had to cross.
The wacky "odds and ends" resale place caught my eye, so I decided to stop in there. I found a type of granola that my family enjoys at a pretty good price and took a chance on buying two of them. (Yay! Not stale) Elsie was starting to take off her boots at the end of our time in that store, so shopping time was done. We cut across the park that was still so boggy there were ducks swimming in puddles on the baseball field (this has been a problem for practicing) and made it home a little after 7pm. Elsie got out and walked the last two blocks.
I am so excited to be outside more. I wasn't doing my best at getting outside this winter (and it was SO COLD). For baseball the boys both have coaches that we've observed in years past to be good guys who love baseball and kids and are interested in playing a good game and building community (unlike some of the coaches who are rather obsessed with winning - which looks especially silly at the coach pitch level). I do still need to get to the library. I want a book on needle felting so I can get some help and ideas with that. And Samuel needs a book on the Battle of Saratoga. I've got to write up quarterly reports because we just finished our third quarter here. And that means less than 9 weeks of school to go! Sounds shockingly possible.
A little sunshine goes a long way!