April showers....

I think the term April showers should be defined as "being showered with lots of things to do, which causes you to feel a little overwhelmed and mostly exhausted -- but at least you feel very accomplished." That is how April has been for me.

What things are you asking? Well, mostly grading. This whole snow day thing really messed up with my groove of grading. I am pretty sure when the kids sleep (nap times and bedtimes) I grade -- which means I am grading 2-3 hours a day. While I am grading Jimmy studies for his SHRM test. His class is over but he is still outlining material and taking online quizzes.

This stuff doesn't leave too much time for extracurricular activities, so Jimmy and I end up staying up late just so we can unwind. Which in the end is not always the smartest idea because then we wake up early with our kids (who don't sleep much past 6 am). We have started leaving some snacks in their room so when they wake up they are not screaming at the top of their lungs "breakfast!!!"

But let's talk about what's most important -- we are playing OUTSIDE! Yes, I said outside and I mean it. I am in a much better emotional state because I can take the children outside. I have found I am not terribly capable of keeping the kids entertained inside, especially since they started getting bored of their toys. But outside brings so many more possibilities and it seems to tire them out quite a bit more. We have been to numerous parks, and walked the trails around our house much more than once. It is wonderful!

Besides the outside and grading thing, I have been stressing a bit about preschool for Lucy. Again, due to this endless winter, I have realized that Lucy probably needs to be attending a place that has a few more possibilities of entertainment and growth. Also, I am sure she will appreciate being around kids her own age that won't destroy her creations when she turns her back.

So I have looked at a few places in Millis and in Medway. We will see where it leads. Turns out you need to sign up for the public school preschool way back in November of last year. I was barely used to Lucy doing her 1 day preschool and did not have that sort of mind set then. But the ones we are exploring seem nice, and I am sure will make her happy.

Sam is a boy and Sam is stubborn. I feel like I say those things to myself all day long. I love the kid, but man oh man I do not enjoy taking him out of the bathroom every five minutes or watching him balance of very unstable boxes. He is also very loyal -- and then very resistant. So if he likes you, he LOVES you. Otherwise he tolerates you...kind of... It is a little bit difficult to explain, but if you have ever seen him around Grandpa Coop (his most favorite person in the world -- even over me!) you will know what I mean. I really think he takes grumpy old man to a whole new level. This stubbornness will serve him well someday, but for heaven's sake, it is difficult for me. Thank goodness he is the most adorable grumpy old man out there! Here is an example of his old man self -- I saw many older gentlemen walking like this in Spain. It brings me back!

Easter was very early this month. So we colored on some eggs, several of which I kids broke while coloring. We watched General Conference at home on Saturday. Then enjoyed a meal with our Spanish group friends, and then watched the 2nd half in the primary room.

Earlier on Saturday right across from our house we did a small egg hunt at the park. The town provided the chocolate eggs and we provided the kids. Lucy was a pro and filled her bucket quite efficiently. Sam picked up a few and put them in some other kids baskets. I am not sure he got the point--or did he?!

Lucy posed with the Easter bunny, which prompted the rec director to take an official picture for their brochure. I think Lucy experience with Disney characters served her well. She looked adorable!

The next day we went to Grandma and Grandpa Coop's for the morning and watched conference. Then we went to our friends' for dinner. Lucy is a motherly friend of their little girl. It is fun to watch them interact. It was a lovely, busy weekend.

The following weekend we went up to visit my parents to start a major project. We are helping them clean and organize the house. We made barely a dent -- but we have the whole year to really finish this project! The kids played with one of my cousins and we went right to work. I found old trophies, old notebooks, and my American doll Kirsten. Lucy likes that she can call the doll my name.

When the kids returned to my parent's house we had to figure out a way for Sam to nap. Because he is so set in his sleeping ways, he will not really fall asleep outside of his room, unless he is being held or in the car. So we plopped down on the couch and watched a fairy movie while Jimmy held him. He conked out without much of a problem.

After being at my parent's we went down to Billerica and then Bedford where we celebrated little baby Peter's baby blessing. Lucy and Sam love their cousins. So we spent part of the afternoon playing at their house. Another busy yet lovely weekend.

And since then we have been doing more of this...hanging around

 

Hiking the trails...

Dancing only as Lucy can dance (I signed her up for a Dance and Tumble class fyi...)

Acting all silly at the bridge (here is my hair by the way -- I am still quite happy with the short length)

In other news, we are beginning to prepare for a garden. This is round 2 of the garden. Last year we tried out all the beds with little if no preparation. We got some potted tomatoes to work and a few scrawny carrots. This year we have put in a little raised bed and already dug out and cultivated the plots much better. Yesterday we cleaned things up a bit more and got a bunch of composted manure. Our seedlings are sprouting inside so that is a plus. My biggest concern is the large ground hog and bunnies that roam our property. We will see!

So life is moving, life is busy and I am sure it will get even more busy in the coming months. In two weeks Jimmy and I are running the Cape Cod Ragnar. It should be fun, but exhausting. And recently I was called at the Young Women's camp director for our branch. Never a dull moment my friends!