April come she will

Do me a favor and play this song while reading the blog. It makes the title make more sense at the very least.

At the beginning of the week we had rain and the daffodils all made a valiant effort and showing themselves. Megan made friends with every worm...living and dead...

It was warm enough throughout the week that the kids spent time outside away from the screens. We haven't put up the twisty slide yet but the swings and yellow tube held their attention admirably.

Kiernan has been playing a great many Mario games. (Mario Kart, Super Mario Brothers Wii, Mario Galaxy) and has decided that Princess peach should have a birthday party at our house. This was a fortuitous decision because I still had some pink cake mix left over.

The cake was to be pink camo patterned with white frosting and sprinkles.

He did a pretty good job at the camo pattern I must say.

I am not sure if you can tell but there are two shades of pink in there.

Any excuse for cake will do!

It even got warm enough that we have begun moving the plants outside some during the day. If all goes well the garden is really going to be great this year. Even the lemon/lime tree is showing tiny fruits.

On Friday we had a noble quest for propeller beanie hats. I promised the kids we would get some on my day with them and after calling around and driving a bit more than expected they were acquired. Here is Kiernan doing his 'I am a 5 year old boy' march across a too tall wall and insisting that he can't fall anymore because the propeller will help him fly.

deary deary my

Just behind him you might be able to make out our 3rd and final apple tree. Yes, the Bramley has arrived! It had no root ball and it looks, as my mother put, it like a brussel sprout stalk. I am really hoping that one lives.An English apple tree that grows and apple I have never tasted is an odd thing to wish for. It is some kind of book fulfillment. I often read about foods that sound so comforting and right that I try to recreate them for myself. I have done this far to often with Elizabeth Moon books and occasionally with Tolkien but with Neil Gaiman it turns out that is blog posts are as good as books for making me want to try new foods. He lamented the lack of Bramley cooking apples for making a dessertish thing in just the right way. It made me miss a baking apple I have never seen.

The sun came out and we put on shorts and the daffodils bloomed. It was summer feeling April. We did yard work. We had friends over. 

A special note of congratulations to Aunt Judy who has successfully defended her dissertation and is now Aunt Dr. Judy!

Also she made us amazing Malaysian peanut satay stuff this weekend. Win!

We worked on covering the fruit lot with mulch from the back yard pile. This was hard work and hot, but it was so fulfilling and relaxing and satisfying. I loved being outside all day (minus some good food indoors). I loved having the kids playing out in the yard. I loved David taking his shirt off. I loved taking lemonade breaks on the porch swing. Everything felt so right. 

The kids had their friend Conner over to play. I have a great picture of it but haven't gotten his moms permission to put it up yet.

Hopefully she says yes and you can see the chaos of a 2 and 3 and 5 year old at play.

We are about a third done with the fruit lot. There is plenty to go but I am looking forward to it and I found the blister band-aids and we have time.

I have started working on the kids play area again. That was good timing because my delicate flowers of pasty whiteness needed the shade this weekend. I hope to get the sand finished next month and to paint many things white under there.

This morning Megan got up at the crack of dawn as usual to sing us a song. I took her downstairs and she asked for a lemonade on the deck.

We are of an accord on prolonging the weekend I think.