This weekend

            On Thursday Unity's school had a culture night where families brought food and clothing from their heritage to share. I made my grandma's Irish Soda bread and it came out well. No leftovers.

Chris got to visit with friends who were in town from the East Coast, and to see a show. I went to a training for a new project I'm starting (more on that later) and to a small press book fair. 

The kids spent most of the weekend holed up in their room listening to the Frozen soundtrack on repeat, after we banned it from the living room. I think I will never get that song out of my head. They both said that listening to it was their favorite part of the weekend.

Sing-a-long

Golden Gardens

Golden Gardens is one of my favorite places ever. The beach, the water, the mountains. Really, what else could you possibly want?  Oh, maybe a gorgeous spring day and some friends who want to play pirate ship with you and share a sandy lunch? Ok, deal. 

We got the beat

What to do on a sunny afternoon after school is out, but to blast the Go-Go's and dance on the front porch. 

Out the window

I'm trying to be faithful to my scheduling writing time. But it's hard when out of every window all the signs of Spring are calling me. 

Signs of Spring

Spring in Seattle is constantly cycling between seasons. One day I grab a hoodie and the next day it's back to the winter coat. Often, I make the wrong decision and find myself shivering at the playground or hauling around my thickest heaviest coat over my arm. 

It's a great time to pull weeds though, since the ground is so soft. Some of my bulbs are blooming even though I haven't planted new ones in a couple years. I love that about them. Delayed release beauty. 

Brixton really wants to help in the garden but gets distracted so easily. He grabs a trowel and starts digging, but then wanders off to find "his garden" which doesn't exist right now and then brings me every worm and bug he finds. 

But still, it's a helper and a bit of sun and an afternoon clearing and making ready. 

For that, I can't complain. 

Fire Station

Unity's Girl Scout troop took a visit to the local fire station. We got a tour of the facilities and one of the trucks, and the girls got to climb up into the seat. They were most interested in the fact that, at this station at least, fire fighters don't slide down poles anymore. 

Chess

One of Unity's birthday presents was a beginners chess set. Each piece has the moves it can make printed across the bottom and Chris and the kids enjoyed setting up the game and talking through all the possible moves. Unity's school has a chess team but so far she hasn't joined it. Maybe next year. 

Visiting

We're just finishing a very lovely visit with Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Bill. We did lots of reading, many many art projects, and they helped me with Unity's birthday party- a slumber party. We had six kids over and four of them spent the night. The giggle to sleep ratio was about what you would expect but Unity had a blast- she's been asking to do this for years. 

We're already looking forward to the next visit. 

Seven

She was born in the season of cherry blossoms, that first pale sign of Spring. She surprises me constantly with her questions and her knowing. She is so attuned to the emotions of others, takes it all in so deeply. She's my book-lover, my silly dancer, my crafty fancy lady. 

Seven years now you've been shaking up my world and showing me so many things. But mostly the love. The crazy wild love. 

Happy Birthday, Unity Jane.