The Sunshine Brought Me Out

That's still snow on the mountains, but look at that sky.

It's still cool but warm enough to shed coats, getting up to the high 50s during the afternoon.  When I left to come home, Emily and the girls were ensconced on the big swing in the park, totally enjoying their outside time.

Graysen is fascinated by the construction site as we get on the parkway, especially that crane.  We can't seem to catch it moving, but it's tall.  We're getting a new Safeway and Bartell Drugs and several other stores by summer.  While it will be nice to have a grocery store so close, I've come to enjoy driving to the Safeway in North Bend.  Extra nice folks every time I go, employees and customers.  I might still go back sometimes.

I haven't been out walking yet to enjoy the new growth, but I see cherry trees starting to bloom and forsythia.  Today as we pulled out from the school, I saw what I thought was a dogwood, but it turned out to be a huge star magnolia.  I couldn't get a good picture, but it's one of my favorites. I've only seen small ones before.

I had a nice surprise Saturday when I received a package from Georgia.  I had been too tired and cold Friday night to check the mail, so I went Saturday morning after I cleaned out the car a little.  I was already feeling sad because in my cleaning, I found little reminders of Mike - his library card that had slipped between the seat and the console, a few notes he had written, some mints.  Just enough to make my heart hurt.  Then when I opened the mailbox, I saw the new title to the car - the one in my name only.  Just one new pain after the other.  But then the package from Barbara was just what I needed.  She always thinks about the children when she's out and found just the perfect gifts.

The fabric kit looks like a little stuffed mermaid, and the girls will truly love that.  I'm going to try not to put off making that, but I do seem to be having trouble doing anything when I'm home.

I give myself pep talks several times a day and really do want to lift myself out of my rut.  Maybe it will come with the sunshine.  Right now, I am so comforted by reading by the fire and letting life just pass me by.  I think I have to do some of this right now.  Friends and family are pretty understanding that sometimes I don't feel like being social or even talking or answering emails.  I'm not sure how long it will take or what it will take, but I'm ready to see.

I'm really ready to get my balcony pretty again and spend some time out there, and, of course, there is going to be a big garden starting on Steller Way that I can dig in to my heart's content.  Graysen is like me about worms and snails, but we spent a good 10 minutes watching a worm make it's way across the yard until we lost it.   It's going to be a good summer with those girls.

Katherine is now obsessed with "draw draw" which is coloring - on everything she sees if we're not careful.

And always Play-Doh - except the cleanup is usually more than I want to tackle most days.

And also obsessed with shoes - hers or anyone else's. 

We're going to add some housework to the day as they are able to do it.  Graysen is really good at asking to be excused and taking her plate to the sink.  Katherine will say, "Cuse?" and loves to help me sweep.  She always runs and gets the dust pan when she sees me start to sweep (and I cringe, knowing my pile of trash is going to get scattered).

Graysen here is drying a pile of clean things for me to put away and doing a good job.  They would both prefer to stand in front of a sink of soapy water and "wash dishes," but my patience is not up to that every day.

The UNC flag has been flying on Steller, so I'm doing my best to watch the game tonight and cheer them on.  Basketball is not my favorite, and it's too close for me.

I did this video from the car last week.  A little rain doesn't keep the preschoolers from play time.  Elsie the guard dog doesn't linger after the last child is across the street - which happens to be Graysen in the yellow raincoat.