A lot of things, I would say…
Ian dessed himself this morning

Ian: I want to get some ice cream.
Daddy: Do you think we have ice cream?
Ian: SOMEBODY has some, Daddy.

I have noticed that grass is extremely difficult to kill unless you are actually trying to grow it.

Every single thing we put in the yard seems to create a dead spot in the grass.  That, of course, is with the exception of places where I’ve actually dug up and discarded the grass in an attempt to grow something else, where grass springs eternal.

(The herb garden so far: bottom right, parsley, bottom left, Lemon Basil, top right, garlic chives, top left, cilantro.)

Today I weeded the resurrected grass out of the new herb bed once more. I’m up to four plots in the “kitchen garden” and one out front.  I planted regular chives out front and the newest addition (today, in fact) in the kitchen garden is cilantro.  (Top left.)  Two more herbs that tolerate partial shade will be going in the kitchen garden, plus a side order of marigolds.  They’re my favorite and word is they help keep the bugs down in your garden.

The little dude has been “helping” me with the garden by “working” it with his little tractor.  He asked me to attach a “snow plow” to it for him.  Unfortunately, the “snow plow” was a dry oak leaf, and Mommy’s invention failed her, much to his dismay.  We are negotiating the compromise of “pretending” a snow plow.  So far, so good.

My indoor starter seeds are running into some problems.  I’m seeing some “damping off” in the cilantro.  I was warned that they start better outdoors, so I’m being philosophical about it.  Aside from wanting a wee head start, I really wanted Ian to see the seed sprouting process up close and personal, and we’ve succeeded in that.  Besides, it’s a few less for me to kill at hardening off time…

Just another beautiful moment around here.

Best bouquet I ever got…

93.6 miles from my home is Gettysburg National Military Park.

From http://www.npca.org/parks/gettysburg-national-military-park.html:

In the summer of 1863, the farming community of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, became the site of the bloodiest battle in the Civil War. The fierce fighting left 51,000 casualties in its wake, turning farm fields into graveyards and churches into hospitals. The battlefield’s first visitors were thousands of relatives searching for dead and wounded soldiers.
The preservation of the battlefield and the establishment of Gettysburg National Cemetery are a testament to the resolve of Gettysburg residents to not only rebuild their town but also to honor the fallen. Today, visitors who come to learn more about the battle can tour the battlefield and see more than 1,400 monuments and markers, or choose to walk with a ranger through Gettysburg National Cemetery.
Over the years, Gettysburg has continued to be a treasured and popular destination. As a result, the park has faced continuous threats from commercial development. At the end of the 19th century, developers built railroads and tourist facilities at the edge of sacred battlefield lands, but many of these inholdings were eventually sold to the government and removed.
NPS is currently engaged in an ambitious program to restore the battlefield grounds to the way they looked in 1863. This will allow visitors to understand how small features of the landscape, such as fences and orchards, played a large role in both the battle’s outcome and the life and death of individual soldiers.

Ian and the Easter Bunny are tight now. Apparently EB knows what Ian likes and also that Mommy prefers he not have too much candy… so he brought candy to church and toys to the house.

Easter Morning

MVUC Egg Hunt

They say many hands make light work.

I want to be that mom someday.

I want to be the mom whose house and yard always need a little more attention than they seem to get because of the wear and tear of holding so many young people all the time. I want to be that mom whose kids’ friends are always around. I want to be the mom whose kid hits those teenage years having spent so many days with his friends building things in the back yard, conducting experiments in the laundry room, and getting the band together that they don’t even realize how habitually they gravitate to my house.

I want to create an environment where after so many puppet shows, play-dough castles, and back-yard ball games, it seems natural to my kid and his friends to have a poetry reading in my basement on a Friday night instead of going out looking for trouble.

So I let him jump on the couch. I think it’s okay for him to have a sandbox in the sun porch so he and his friends can dig and pour to their hearts’ content even on the rainiest of days. I have a container of play dough on hand at all times and I spend my precious free time scheduling playdates and outings and story times. I read up on the practicality of Montessori, the whimsy of Waldorf, and the inspiration of Reggio Emilia. Because I hope to build my son’s foundations so solidly and firmly that he knows he can fly.

I want to be that mom who doesn’t try to live through her child but is successfully there for him.

 

Many of you know that last year we decided not to send our holiday card via US Mail.  I hope those of you who wish our card to enrich your holiday card display will print ours and add it to your collection.

As you can see, our little man has grown so much this year.  Right now Alexandria is under an uncharacteristically deep snow fall, much to his delight… he’s been shoveling snow and “climbing the hill” all morning.  Santa has nothing on him in the “nose like a cherry” department…

I hope 2009 has been good to you all, and I hope that 2010 is filled with Peace, Health, and Hope.

All the best from the Gray/McNamara family:
Meghan, Michael, and Ian