Happy 13th Birthday Timothy!

What a fun day! We got In-n-Out, and went to the beach. I actually didn't make the cake this time around, and I must say that my eldest son has great taste in cake and ice cream. We took him out to eat for his birthday dinner, too. It was a very nice day.The next morning began with a meeting with the principal of Valley Christian Schools, to determine whether Timothy would be accepted into their 8th grade class next year. We were handed an acceptance letter (already signed) mid-interview. He also got to meet with the music teacher and audition to play drums with their Praise Team next year. There will be a lot to get used to--early mornings, homework, bus rides, etc--but we are glad to begin what will hopefully be a good, long relationship with Valley Christian Schools.

My First Ever, Brand New, One-of-aKind...

Teenager! I'm acquiring one next Wednesday.

Weird.

I'm affected by the thought of it. Not because it makes me feel like I'm getting old, but because I feel like it's the beginning of the end. All of my baby birds have hatched, folks. Now one of them is getting to age where he'll be testing his wings for flight. This is where my nest begins to become empty...and as if the numbers weren't proof enough, Timothy has finally broken the 100-lb. mark and grown a good 3 inches this year.

Yes, I realize I'm being slightly premature in my melodrama. My youngest is not yet in Kindergarten, so I have a few good family years left. But....still. I love these guys. Having all four of them at home this year has been life-changing for me (in the very best sense of the word), so allow me a moment of sentimentality. Today I thank God for giving me the gift of motherhood.

Mother's Day

I got many wonderful gifts on Mother's Day.

-I got to sleep in.
-My father-in-law cooked breakfast for our family.
-I got a beautiful bunch of tulips and one yellow rose (I love tulips).
-I got cards, handmade and lovingly chosen.
-I got jewelry made especially for me by my eldest daughter.
-I got a drawing of a swan and a plastic beaded heart from both of my girls.
-I got a hug from my almost 13 year-old son (and everyone else too, but this was special!)
-I got a garden!

I love gardening, and haven't done much in the last 6 years. It's not so easy to garden in Tahoe. It's a fierce struggle, actually. Long Beach has to be one of the easiest places in California to garden. We have herbs, tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin, a grape vine, and a lemon tree. I love it! Here's some pictures:

Steve Martin's Big Bad Banjo

Tonight we get to go see some bluegrass performed live. It should be a funny night, too, since Steve Martin is the guest of honor, along with Dave Barry. And not only that, but it'll be just Chris and I going. Chris got some sort of special tickets too...not your average night! Apparently, though I wasn't previously aware, Steve Martin has won a Grammy for his Bluegrass skills (he played banjo with Earl Skruggs' remake of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"), and has recently released an album, The Crow. I'm not hugely knowledgeable about bluegrass, but there is definitely some I enjoy. Some of my favorites are Nickel Creek (Chris Thile/Punch Brothers) and Alison Krauss. I also love Gillian Welch, though she's more folk than bluegrass.

What I Look Like

Not too long ago, my husband (Chris) found himself with a pencil in hand and an urge to be creative. He grabbed a piece of scratch paper that had been left on the coffee table, and proceeded to spend a few minutes sketching my face. It's probably been years since he's tried to draw a face, and of course the perfectionist in him wasn't completely satisfied...but he contented himself with the fact that it was simply a creative urge, and needn't be perfect.
Audrey saw the picture the next day and declared that indeed, it was not an accurate rendering. She immediately decided to show us what I really look like. She sat down, and started her drawing, looking up intermittently to make sure that her perspective was correct. When she finished, she happily said, "There! That's what mom looks like!"

Favorite Albums

These are a few of my favorite albums right now:



Bad Nights/Better Days by Abbie Gardner and Anthony da Costa







Transatlantacism by Death Cab for Cutie







Soul Journey by Gillian Welch







Once by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova







Hideaway by The Weepies