Inspired by Soulemama’s moment.
Sunset in the San Juans
As the Chaos level at the Burrow reaches the trip over it, what was that, stage of painting two separate rooms at once and the confusion of sleep situations with the boys room stuffed to overflow with household stuff….
I find myself looking back fondly at the five hour road trips we were pulling last week.
After we drove five hours to Wenatchee we got up early and drove some more, many hours North to the Islands. Not the Hawaii Island, because that just wouldn’t work. But we did make it to the San Juan Islands. they were beautiful, the sun favored us by following us all the way from the East Side and we spent an incredible night with some new/old friends.
About two years ago I found Sarah, on Facebook. Sarah and I went to undergrad together, and after several starts and stops on this visit we remembered that we had met through her roommate who had been my crewmate for a time. Sarah was someone who I just new throughout all four years of school, we always ended up in the same classes, or the same places. You know the type.
And we found ourselves on Facebook in the same situation, with sons born within a week of each other, both looking for a little more stimulation than school was offering them and we concocted the Pen Pal plan. The boys have sallied forth with this plan for over a year now, and we have entertained vague plans of visiting.
I’m not sure what pushed us over the edge to actually make a plan. It takes a lot to rally the Stitches to action, we are generally content to stay in the Shire, puttering about and pretending we are making improvements to our wayward abode. Nevertheless we set the plan in action and found ourselves on a beautiful Island, in the Sun no less.
An Island of snakes! skeletons! Dragon bones (of course) and the Dragon caves. There may or may not have been some talk of Dragons (the entire visit). Secret meetings, letters written and deposited in the Dragon caves. Stories concocted, plans made and then alternative Mama approved plans carried out.
And of course there were rocks to be thrown.
Meetings to be held, high above our heads. Very, very high. The hyperventilating I was doing here was embarrassing for everyone. The boys, and the growing up. Why?
The penpals plus one had a fabtabulous time, and The Man and I somehow managed to enjoy ourselves through the fabulous cooking, amazing setting, and constantly intriguing conversations. We powered through some….how….and we tried to concoct a plan to move in with our hosts, but nothing came to us, so we’ll just have to settle for visiting, often and keeping up the online and snail mail correspondence.
*I saw a dragon-Helen Reddy (Pete’s Dragon)
Remember when I used to quilt? Me either.
But this little snail says maybe there will be some quilting soon. In the meantime there will be reading.
and hair, you can’t forget the hair.
*Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk-Rufus Wainwright
While a homebody at heart, I have embraced the traveling life over the last few weeks (and the next few). The Man seems to be a travelin’ man lately and our new life style allows us to embrace the fun of seeing different parts or our state. As I said to Supermom tonight, it’s pretty amazing when you live in a state that you can drive 5 hours west and still be in the same state. Of course in our case, there were mountain passes involved. Which generally means snow, but it also means that once you’re on the Eastside? You realize, thats where they are keeping the sun.
It’s rude frankly. Here we are, on the west side, all wet and chilly and hearing rumors of thunderstorms. And there they are all East sidy and Sunny. We journeyed to the town of Wenatchee, where once upons a time I participated in the Apple Century Bike Ride. We saw a lot of apple themed things but not many apples (something about the seasons?)
After dad was all done with his work we frolicked along the shores of the Columbia, before it joins the Snake, talked geography and mountains and Islands. We spent some time in the hotel pool, getting our swimming in and guaranteeing that Moo’s hair will never again lie flat. The chlorine makes his hair crazy. Our new homeschooling life offers us such amazing oppurtunities to be together, that even though I consider myself a homebody I’m beginning to wonder if that is just because that is where we all are together?
*The House of the Rising Sun-The Animals
Grandma and Grandpa were unfortunately hit with a stomach bug early this morning, so our Easter morning was much quieter than we had expected. Eggs and bacon and hot cross buns after a short egg hunt followed by resting and more than a few naps.
It was perhaps, exactly what we needed. A rain soaked, day complete with lots of ambling about. After almost a week of being on the road (was it really only four days?) we woke in our own beds surrounded by our own things, with more than a few new! improve! the! house plans! We began a couple of big transitions, mostly the move to separate rooms for the boys. Moving Mama out of that space may take a few more trips up and down the stairs. The midst and mess of upheaval is a bit strenuous and best taken under consideration at a slow, snail pace. Our day was perfect for this holiday of renewal and rebirth.
A stopping to pick all the dandelions type pace. It’s here, dandelion time. The time of year when my second son will work his darnest to pick me every single dandelion he can find and cram them into every container (possibly ones I’m drinking from) in our house. And I love that about him. Each of them are so focused. Always on different things, in different ways. But the focus, it’s the same.
*You get what you need-The Rolling Stones
Inspired by Soulemama’s moment.
Wah: Mama, maybe you could get a bowtie for your hair.
Mama: okay
Wah: Then everyone will knowed your a girl!
Mama: Excellent
Wah: yes.
*I”m just a Girl- No Doubt
Legolas has my number. She knows that is she buys me cute, yummy yarn that I will make adorable clothes for adorable Seymour.
I may eat her up.
A final boring picture of the Blue Bloomers, baby leg, less.
It’s true, I now ‘knit for yarn’. I would make a cardboard sign but I’m busy knitting 
Freebird- Giles (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
We studied Steam Engines last week, particularly Mike Mulligan and you really can’t have a discussion about Steam Engines without the Island of Sodor coming up. Well not in this house. This house that has seen the wane of Sodor themed days. However I brought out the packed away tracks and much engine pushinjg enused.
This went on for hours, I was impressed, it involved some gentle re direction at times because everyone loves Cranky the Crane! or the same troublesome trucks but I was wowed by the staying power. The trains have been a favorite with all these kids for years, and last week it helped bring steamies and stinky diesels together in our understanding.
Of course we didn’t limit ourselves to the island of Sodor, we also went up and out and built some robots.
Some of us got 3D and some of us got a little help from our dinosaur friends.
*I get by with a little help from my friends-Joe Cocker
Easter’s on it’s way. It’s also what I bet Juls is doing tonight, Congrats to one of my favorite Runners who ran her Boston race today. Happy Unicorn Wearing Juls, you earned it. You are amazing!
Here at the Burrow? I’s time for the annual Easter Pictures.
Not Happy
This Session a No Go
Mom pulls out the Rasperry noise
Mom says the word poop
I am such potty mouth, it’s hilarious
Oh my…
And then Brother got in on it..
And the tongue is back….