celebrate life

or to put it more accurately – Monkey wore his costume for Halloween. I had him wear parts of it for several days getting used to it, on walks. He loves his walks & tolerates things like coats & hats in order to go for his walk.

It was a splendid evening!

Monkey is crazy about FISSSSSSHIES!!!! He wants to watch them on the computer, my betta, his dad’s tank. He will run to computer, point at it, sign, “more” and yell fishies. His first full sentence, lol I play 3 fish games on facebook so he can watch the fishies.

It seemed that the most appropriate costume for him would be to be a fish. I spent the majority of yesterday hunting supplies at thrift stores & a fabric store & sewing. I made pants out of a fish print that had him excitedly gibbering at the fabric store. He wore them home.

The hoodie vest is orange and he has a revamped stuffed fish on the top of his hoodie. Then he has shoulder epaulet fins, a big back fin & a tail. It turned out really well, if not anatomically correct. Now if he will wear it -lol. He just keeps shaking his head, “No.” Maybe I had better make a fish print tunic, buy a doctor’s bag & call him a pediatrician as a back up.

Halloween is our family’s favorite holiday. Last year, I missed Daddy terribly. Monkey was only 6 months old & not interested in the festivities. This year, while young, he is more excited. We have been to a pumpkin patch, decorated & read Halloween books.

I am so looking forward to Halloween this year, even if my all day project of a fish costume goes unworn. :D

Mom & I planted a few upside down tomato plants this Spring. The Boy was horrified! I was perverting Mother Nature, Gravity, and I know not what else he ranted about, it was long and boring. He can be so boringly conservative!

The first tomato had something wrong with it and was rotting on the vine so I tossed it. Today, I finally harvested two small but beautiful tomatoes, a hand full of grape tomatoes and a couple of cukes. I split the harvest with Mom and brought my half home.

I had the BEST BLT sandwich!!! Yes, tomatoes WILL grow upside down!

I am sure that there are some who think it odd that a Pagan joyfully celebrate Easter. I am quite comfortable in doing so, tho. I was raised Christian and there are a few members in my family who are Christian. I honor them & my heritage by celebrating with them.

Today we had a nice family brunch at a restaurant. As the chief cook for family gatherings, I do not feel compelled to create a huge meal for Easter, hehehe, it’s not my holiday. Brunch was nice, and the baby who turned one Friday highly entertaining. He is a thinking child & watching him observe and categorize is a delight.

After brunch, the majority of us went to the park and flew kites. I found that I apparently missed teaching my daughter a valuable lesson. I had been flying a pooh kite for quite some time & asked her to hold it for me while I drank some water. She then broke one of the cardinal rules of kite flying and life. She ran out of string and did NOT hang on. Pooh kite now resides in a huge evergreen near the park outskirts.

I always feel a unique peace when I am holding my kite string and watching a kite flutter in the sky. I consider it one of the great centering experiences of life.

My kite strung up in a tree, I called it quits. I did pick up another one, later tho. Tomorrow when I walk the Monkey in the park, I will check & see if Pooh still resides in the evergreen.

It was a very unusual St. Pat’s Day – but an absolutely wonderful one!

Chunk baby and I went to McDonald’s for the first time. I debreaded some mcnuggests and shredded some burger. He gnawed on them and two french fries. He is teething & just needed an outing.

As we finished lunch and were getting ready to pick up the Boy from Uni, I got a call. We were invited to an impromptu steak luncheon at Crow’s house, with him & his dad. I helped raise Crow in his teen years. His step-mom & he didn’t play nice, his Dad is a wonderful man whom I call Papa, but in his 80’s not up to the running to keep up with teen boys. Boy & Crow were best friends, but have grown apart since graduation.

I picked up Boy & he said that sounded great. We went to Crow’s and Papa was also there and I haven’t seen him in a couple months. I didn’t eat, but the men all dug in. Chunk tried bits of steak and gobbled green beans.

Chunk played on the floor with his Uncle Crow, while the Boy & Papa discussed politics, religion & saved the world. I just sat there happy to have my favorite men all together again. It has been a long time!

In the evening, rather than corned beef or stew or something a bit more traditional, I went to a fund raising chili dinner with the Princess & Chunk. It was for the Children’s Choir – which Boy sang in years ago. A friend has a daughter in it now. The kids sang so we had entertainment, too!

Chunk was extremely happy – he got to go out and people kept feeding him. It was his idea of a great day, and mine too!

Chunk had his first Christmas yesterday. He was getting quite skilled at ripping paper open to reveal presents, by the time gift opening ended. I fear we have created a monster. He is going to expect a toy after shredding paper.

He liked his presents, he played with them all. His play involves holding & hitting primarily. He hit one toy with another toy making both toys more fun to play with!

Our side of the family took brunch, his Dad’s side dinner. I have a tired baby today!

This was baby Chunk’s first Thanksgiving & all the chairs were filled again. We went for a lighter fare Thanksgiving, all the foods but lighter versions. The Boy had to work so we ate at 1, leaving plenty of down time in afternoon.

Mom & I took Chunk for a short walk. Then his Mom took him home, she isn’t feeling well. I had a lovely nap and have done some light reading.

A quiet celebration of what is really best about Thanksgiving.

Today was my Daddy’s birthday, and baby Chunk’s half birthday. It really helps the grief of missing Daddy to have the grandbaby.

A plaque in the new geologic rock garden at the University was unveiled today dedicated to Daddy’s memory. My brother is here from Florida, friends came. I gave a speech about growing up the daughter of a geologist. Colleagues and a former student talked about him, also.

We visited Daddy’s grave & put out flowers. Then we went out for dinner. Princess & Daddy having birthdays 4 days apart celebrated together. She elected to wait for her birthday dinner until tonight, when my brother was home.

Grad school friends of Daddy’s I haven’t seen since I was a child even drove in for the event. They told stories I had never heard before, there was a prank on a stodgy professor with a stripper….

All & all it was a wonderful day, good food, friends & family.

My grandson RJ was born 4-10. It was my Daddy’s half year birthday, and RJ’s due date. I admit to partiality but he is darn cute! I told the Princess he was cuter than she was, and that was much cuter than her brother. The Boy was called Yoda due to a similarity in looks. RJ could be a Gerber baby. It may help that he isn’t all squishy as my daughter had an emergency c-section. Whatever the reason, he is adorable!

I slow cooked, corned beef, potatoes, carrots & cabbage in beer for dinner. Watched Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers – The Last Leprechaun and Darby O Gill & the Little People.

A quiet night, but enjoyable! The Boy liked the corned beef, he ate at least two pounds and there is barely enough left of a 4 pound roast to make a sandwich.