What to do on a rainy day.

Burn a pizza. Really, really burn it.

Make a cake (and wonder where the good camera is)

Make truck art

Get out in it!

Take a self-portrait

Easter! Easter! Chocolate for my keister!

They even sit the same

Sweet Grandmary and Baby Michele

The happy Easter couple

Grandmary tries the candied apples

And you think your family is silly? Check out this video:

BOYS!

What more can I say?

Childhood

My dear friend, Autum, posted this in her Facebook notes and I loved it so much I just had to post it here.

"When we adults think of children there is a simple truth that we ignore: childhood is not preparation for life; childhood is life. A child isn't getting ready to live; a child is living. No child will miss the zest and joy of living unless these are denied by adults who have convinced themselves that childhood is a period of preparation.How much heartache we would save ourselves if we would recognize children as partners with adults in the process of living, rather than always viewing them as apprentices. How much we could teach each other; we have the experience and they have the freshness. How full both our lives could be."

John A. Taylor

Mailbox surprise!

This was in my mailbox when I came home the other day!

How FUN is that?

(I did call her, she came over and we had a great time)

I'll post some pictures soon of our magcial home that inspires notes in the mailbox. Promise!

Love,

Michele, Jack and Finnigan the Curious

Go Rockies!

What a catch!

What a throw!

Batting - the best part!

Never too busy to stick out his tongue.

I thought I might take this opportunity to show you some pictures of Finny playing teeball. His interest is waning quickly. We were completely surprised that he asked to play in the first place, so this comes as no real surprise.

I'm so grateful that we are a family who realizes the value in "quitting." I know most people feel that parents should make their children "stick to it" no matter what in an effort to learn about commitment. When I think back on my life and realizes how many things I should have quit, yet, didn't, it reinforces my decision to let him quit if he wants to.

It's easy to look at quitting in a negative way, but what if we were to turn it around and understand that teaching your child to stay in touch with his wants and needs might just be a wonderful life lesson? What if someone taught you that quitting has value? That you CAN want to do one thing and then simply change your mind. Or that it's perfectly OK to experiment in life and you don't have to finish everything you start. Sometimes quitting is the wrong choice. But learning that, in an organic way, is much more powerful that someone making you continue to do something you don't want to do anymore. There may be a time in life when Finn quits something and then regrets it. He then has another wonderful opportunity to learn for himself how that feels, how it affects others, how others may treat him for it and whether he would make the same decision again. Real life learning from his own decision; that's invaluable in my opinion. Teaching children to think for themselves and helping them maneuver through the aftermath...that's unschooling.

Y'all come see the Rockies. Finn may be playing and he may not, but you can still get a hot dog!

Love,

Michele, Jack and Finnigan the Curious

And now we are FIVE!

Birthday, oh, glorious Birthday!

This year Finny had his birthday at Kiddie Acres. It is just the sweetest, cutest place you've ever seen. When I was a child we had a place in Beaumont called, Kamp's Junction, and I have such incredibly vivid memories of that place. I can still remember exactly how the hamburgers tasted; buttery. I distinctly remember getting on the train and riding through the "wild woods." It was so magical. Kiddie Acres is that kind of place. This has been my favorite birthday party so far. Childhood can be so fleeting; this party held sacred all the magic and pure joy that is being FIVE!

Monk, Bowie and the birthday boy after their train ride.


I made little party capes for all the children. You can see Bridie and Zoe's capes and that's Ursula and Freya across the table.

Sometimes I make Finn's birthday cakes and he likes that a lot, but he really loved going to the grocery store and picking out his cake this year. Another huge memory of my own birthdays was us going to Rao's Bakery and picking out my birthday cake. I can see the tile floor and the big glass cases with all those awesome cakes and cookies in them. I remember the smell, the cash register, the pecan sandies that my brother loved. Those memories are really so fresh in my mind; just like yesterday. They had this book that you could look through and pick out what you wanted. Oh, wait! I think they actually had sample cakes. I'll have to ask my mama. Anway, it was just a wonderful place and the most cherished of rituals. (It's still there, by the way. New owners, but still in the same spot.) I got a lump in my throat thinking about Rao's when Finn and I were picking out his cake. I know homemade is special, but so is a special trip to the store to leaf through the cake book, picking out your flavors and colors and then, oh, my, the picking up! That huge white box so full of promise. Inching the top up so you can get a "real" look. We makes so many cakes here at home that it was super fun to have a store-made one for his special day.

Joy, dear ones, it's all about whatever brings the most joy!

I made this banner for his very first birthday. It makes an appearance every year and is such a wonderful part of Finn's birthday rituals. Lots of people in the neighborhood waved and shouted out, "Happy Birthday Finn!" So cool!

And last, but not least, a gorgeous birthday photograph from my dear friend, Autumn. She is the most amazing photograhper and we are so lucky to get birthday pictures from her each year. I am framing each of her photos and making a birthday chronicle in Finn's room. I'll show you when I get them up.

And now we are five. Bittersweet and real.

Love,

Michele, Jack and Finnigan the 5-year-old