Has spring sprung?

Oh, I feel like such a disorganized mess! The camera batteries died, and I couldn't remember where the other rechargeable batteries were, so we couldn't get pictures for days and days!

Paul's folks visited us last weekend, and stayed Saturday through Tuesday. We had Easter dinner at Aunt Cindy's, and just spent the rest of the time visiting and hanging around. I made a small Easter basket for Henry, with some eggs, bubbles, and a stuffed lamb he already had (but has been packed away). I also threw in a UP T shirt that I bought at the Yooper's store. All Henry wanted were the colored eggs...he carried them around, smashing them together and so we had hard boiled eggs for breakfast!

Paul's parents brought Henry a life-sized stuffed cat, as he is in love with kitties and ours don't really tolerate his squeezes!
Paul decided to call the kitty Ralph, so we'll see how long he stays in rotation. Henry likes to take him into the grocery, and in the car, and he went on Henry's first trailer/bike ride yesterday (for which I didn't have a camera...bad mom!).


I spent a fair amount of time on Monday driving around with Paul's folks, looking around Negaunee, Ishpeming and Marquette. They were so happy to see Henry, and as usual, showered him with affection. They also brought him a toy kitchen and some dishes to play with. With the way things are here at Grandma's, I've set it up in the basement for now, so he can play with it and make a mess sort of "out of the way."

Paul's parents with Henry:


We got some snow last week, a couple of inches in fact! I had made plans to meet a local mom and her little boy who is 11 months old, at the park around the corner at 11am. When I woke up, I heard wet traffic sounds, and thought "rats, it rained!" and then looked out the window to see snow, and more falling! So, we ended up meeting up at her house, with another mama and her 11 month old. It was really nice to meet some women who are of like mind with their lifestyles and parenting. They are part of a bigger group of parents that gets together regularly during the warmer months, it seems, to do stuff outside, or at folks' homes. I am really excited to become a part of this community, especially as I have been mourning the loss of the community I was just starting to become a part of back in Ypsi.

We have been moving forward with the house, and we're just soooo eager to get into it. It sounds as though we may be able to close within 4 weeks or so...more on that as it develops. We're just so full of plans and are really looking forward to making the house our home, and one that we can really get comfortable in and stay for a long while.
I'm anxious to get my own kitchen going again, and for my days to settle into their new flow. We're hoping to get a few veggies in the dirt when we get there, but there may not be enough growing time...we'll see. Maybe some potatoes at least, and/or some lettuces? I don't know much about gardening yet, but I am on a mission to learn. And to decrease our food budget (and our budget overall). Any suggestions?

Paul, Henry and I went for a bike ride on the Marquette bike path yesterday...it was so fun! We were feeling really grateful that we get to live here, and it still seems quite unreal, like maybe we'll have to drive back to Lamay Ave sometime soon. The lake is always a source of magic to me, and I can't wait to experience it through the seasons, and through Henry's eyes. He cried so hard when we wouldn't let him walk into the lake yesterday...I just know he's going to be a water baby. I've been thinking about getting him into the Negaunee community swim classes, because I don't know how to swim well, and can't teach him. Starting soon would be a good thing. They're super cheap, like $20 for 5 weeks of class! Same with yoga for me...this community, though small, has a lot to offer.

I don't know if anyone really reads this blog, but I enjoy thinking about it and writing it. I think of stuff to write all the time, but just don't sit down and do it. Mostly, I make a lot of mental lists and have scraps of paper floating around in odd places!

The snow has mostly all melted again, and it's a beautiful sunny Sunday here. We walked for an hour this morning, and are heading down to Marquette as soon as Henry wakes up to hang out with Heather and Eric and Paul (well, the guys are fishing today, but when they're through, we'll all have supper together).