Last Day of April Daybook

Outside my window: Our gorgeous spring--the one that blessed us so graciously on Bilbo's birthday at the park--fled.  "Old Man Winter" pulled us back into a week of cold and grey and drizzle...with wind. 

     My poor daffodils have not a bud, and these happy little tulips bravely attempted a bloom, only to be stalled out by the lack of sun and chill.  My yard receives almost no direct sunlight, due to lots of tree-shade and the placement of the house.  Every single bloom is a great victory to me.  I took a picture of these tulips on a particularly dreary day--it was my defiant act against the nasty weather: I believe that Spring will come!

 

True Confessions: Many have heard me joke that I am "solar powered".   Some might suggest I have "SAD" (seasonal affective disorder).  Entirely possible!  My spirit holds steady for a day or so, and then I start to fail.  When the skies are universally grey, matching the concrete, I truly struggle to be cheerful.  I think that might be why God sent me children!  

"Special days":

Have you ever heard of a "special day"?  My dad began this tradition with us.  I may have only gone on one or two in my life, but I remember them with great joy.  Well, for better or for worse, as we began to have more children I thought that in order to let each child have moments where they feel singled out and cherished, I would introduce "special days".  

For better or for worse again, because I'm really not the organized type, this tradition has sort of devolved into an on-request basis.  Occasionally, one child or another will have a special request.  This time it was Bilbo: he LOVES to go out for lunch, alone, with his mom or dad.  It actually became a little birthday tradition.  Except his birthday came and went and we didn't get a chance to make it happen.

I personally have a hard time dragging myself away from the family at midday.  I don't really eat lunch.  And I really don't prefer the mall!  But Bilbo LOVES Panera!  And somehow Rosie managed to get an invitation to join in.

 After sharing a sandwich, I took the two to the Lego store to gaze at some of the amazing sets.  (I got a nice idea for Rosie's birthday next month!;))  Then over to Barnes and Noble because Galadriel has finally taken off in reading and I wanted to find some new books to keep her on her reading kick.  I got some American Girl books from a series we don't have and some Magic Tree House.  Bilbo and Rosie added to their "Beanie Boo" collections.  I could write a whole post on Beanie Boos.  Bilbo only has one other.  Rosie? I think she told me her collection numbers in the teens (but most are of the mini or small sizes)--and they're ALL on her bed!  If anyone knows about me and my issues with stuffed animals...you will know that this is an exception in our home!  But, Rosie is so cute, and she loves them so much...I'm opting to just ignore the mounding clutter in an effort to see her collection as a sweet hobby for a 5-year-old.

On the way home Bilbo said, "Wow, Mom, you really spoiled us".  Yes.  Yes I did!:)