Belated Easter Tidings

Hello, fam. Well, since I haven't posted on the blog in ages (FOR SHAME!), I thought this would be as good a time as any. (To be quite honest, I haven't even checked it in ages, but Ruthie recently signed me up for the email updates, which provided the jump start I obviously needed.) Anyway, after church on Sunday while Karen was finishing the preparation of a delicious Easter lunch, I was reading some of the latest blog entries to Homer, Karen and Mary. (The one about Jackson claiming that drunkenness leads to boulder-throwing and lengthy sleeping had them all in stitches. Of course, it just sounded like a regular Tuesday night to me.) After I had read a number of them and shown them the posted photos, Karen said, "So, I don't really understand the point of a blog. I mean, the only person I ever blogged to was Meme. And that wasn't so much blogging as just calling her to talk." Well, we all went into hysterics over that one (even Karen had a chuckle once she realized what she had said). And then I told them that her technologically-challenged statement had reminded me of something Meme did about a decade ago.

During my freshman year of college (and after several very expensive long-distance bills -- sorry, Homer!), I suggested to Meme that we communicate more by email. Having just recently been introduced to the world of electronic mail, Meme was more than happy to oblige. (And I felt fortunate to have such a hip grandparent.) A few days later, she called me and asked if I had received her email. When I told her I hadn't, she said, "Well, you should have it in the next day or two." I asked her what that meant, and she said that she had just sent it and that I should therefore be getting it soon. I just assumed she didn't realize how quickly emails could be sent and received, so I let it go. Two days later, I stopped by the campus mailroom to check my box, and there, printed off and tucked into a stamped and addressed envelope, was Meme's email. After several fits of laughter on my way back to the dorm, I called her to say that I had, in fact, finally received her email, to which she replied, "Oh, wonderful! But I have to say, I'm not too impressed with email. I really thought it would be easier."

BB and Aunt Sarah arrived for Easter lunch right after I told the story, so I repeated it to them. Sarah suggested I post it on the blog as an Easter tribute to Meme since she loved the holiday so much. So, I hope you all had a glorious Easter, and here's to Meme, who gets to have Easter every day now!

I miss and love you all, and I can't wait for you to see my latest avant-garde boulder art project in the backyard.
Sus

Just walked in on a conversation wherein Jackson was explaining to Harry, "If you get drunk you'll throw boulders at people and then sleep for a really long time."

This here's for you, Ol' Bill

The boys are currently playing cowboys. Jackson has chosen the name "Bill" and he's "digging in the salt mines". They've decided Mary Clement is the mother/cook (gender binaries, anyone?), and they have her making "Wild Beans" and "Salt Mine Grits".

Tough Life

She doesn't have a baby doll, so she makes do with what she's got.

IronMan,

Or a fridge magnet (see how she's brushing her hair):

Jackson and Harry have a digital clock in their room and aren't allowed to get up until it reads 7. This morning as they waited for that magical number they set up a "play date" for later in the day.

So. . .um. . . just wondering. . .

a) Where did you get the term "play date"????

and

b) Isn't your entire life a "play date" with your brother?

Another from Harry, tonight. We tell him to get dressed for bed, so he goes in his room, strips down, then comes back to stand in the doorway of the bathroom completely in the buff, reporting to Jackson and me, "I don't like people to see me naked, so I'm going to shut the door of my room while I get dressed. I'm going to go tell Daddy." He then heads into the kitchen to tell Matthew and Mary Clement, windows on both sides of him wide open.

Harry, tracing lines and curves on a page (learning to hold his pencil properly and write), is muttering under his breath to himself, "Maybe they want me to do this so I can be young and healthy."

A recipe for you

[Matthew writing] The boys helped Ruthie make muffins the other afternoon, and after, Jackson asked to do his own baking. So Ruthie set them up with bowls, flour, sugar, and water, and they went to town all over the kitchen table. They actually baked and ate their creations and have been telling everyone that they now know how to cook. Jackson had me transcribe his recipe that night (see below, I suggested the name). Ruthie let them have another "baking day" yesterday--a very sweet thing since it absolutely destroys the kitchen.

Harry is very creative. The first time he added bananas in his, and then yesterday he came up with a special drink containing water, sugar, flour, kiwi, and strawberries. He walks around sipping it like it's the elixir of life--and offering us drinks. It's like sipping high viscosity sugar water with chunks of fruit lodged throughout. Actually, that is what it is. Jackson is more detailed, making sure to crimp edges and artfully arranging fruit on the top. Here's one of his creations. I had a variation of panopache, baked with strawberries in the middle, for breakfast this morning.

Jackson's Panopache:

1/4 c. flour

2 Tbs. sugar

Mix up.

Add 1/8 cup water. Stir and Bake.

Enjoy!

Strawberry Fields Forever