Journal: Easter

Out my window: Sunny, low fifties. Felt like Spring today.

Around the house: Trying to recover the house from the surprise Easter trip to Kansas. I managed to bring alllll of the things back inside the house when we got home Monday evening, but didn't get it all put away right away. Today it was super beautiful outside, so we worked on several projects out there- finished building up the front rock bed, picked up all the trash that got strewn about the yard during the winter, picked up the gazillion pinecones that our trees had dropped. We were very, very productive.

Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy, so we are going to try to work on the inside.

Clothing myself in: work clothes. Jeans, my old Merrill hiking shoes, red hoodie.

Toddler: Other than being exceptionally obstinate ever since he woke up this morning, he's been pretty great.  He was fairly good on our car trip down to Kansas, he's been sleeping good for him, he is funny and cute. He was singing "Let it Go" from Frozen in the car the other morning. He will let a person swing him on the swing for as long as they are willing. He's got the best grin.

The kiddos: Loved seeing our friends and family in Kansas. Everyone got to see their godparents except Liam, because they were sick :( They have been very helpful around the house and worked really hard when we were working outside today.  We also gave the boys all buzz cuts since it is about to be tick season here :P They look cute though.  School is wrapping up for the olders. Lots of change on the horizon for them.

In the kitchen: All boring things. So boring I can't even remember and I made the menu yesterday.  Chef salad, I remember that.  Always a hit.

Crafting: The shrug that I started last Spring is complete. Very cute.

Bringing me joy: The look on Mom's face when we surprised her for Easter. Having highballs with my sisters/ brothers-in-law. Lovely relaxed brunch with a forever friend while our kids played mostly nicely together. Big dreams. Sitting under the cherry tree with the sun on my face while I sip coffee. Overwhelming gratitude at the kindness and bigheartedness of my kids.

Journal: Ah, April. How you tease me.

Out my window: Dark. A couple (three?) inches of fluffy snow. (I measured after it got light outside- a little over four inches :P  Which is decidedly more than the trace to two they predicted.) It had been in the 50s and 60s and gorgeous for the last week, so I won't complain. All of the snow had melted. This'll melt soon, I hope. 

Clothing myself in: K-State sweat shirt, plaid jammie pants. Critter got me up at 4:15 this morning and I couldn't go back to sleep, so I decided to get up, turn on the coffee and blog. I am going to regret this decision at about 7:00 a.m.  As a side note, he is currently curled up sleeping on the couch :P

Around the house: It was rainy this weekend, so we worked on some Spring Cleaning inside.  Purged Liam's room, brought the queen sized bed from Isaac's room in the basement and Isaac and Liam are sharing the large upstairs bedroom now.  Purged Delle's room and rearranged her furniture. Purged Issy's room and moved her into Isaac's downstairs bedroom.  Made her old downstairs bedroom into a big kid's toy room with Legos. And my sewing stuff is going to go in there so my machine will be more easily accessible.

I also did a ton of laundry and switched the girl's winter clothes for summer clothes.  Blessedly, having lived in this climate for a while, I know to leave out several pairs of jeans and sweatshirts for days like this.  All in all, we had a very productive weekend.

Toddler: Tiring.  He was pretty good this weekend (whoa, he must've sensed me typing about him- he juuuust woke up.)  He's been fairly tricky about doing simple things, particularly getting dressed.  And he's a big dude, so him flopping around and being generally uncooperative while I am trying to dress him is a bit of a challenge.  But he's been sleeping fairly well lately, thank goodness. And he's been loving all the outside time. Looooving it.

Kiddos: The kid's school closed.  The kid's were all very disappointed/ sad. I am feeling pretty ungreat about our options next year :(  Please keep up prayers- I just want to feel peaceful about whatever decision we make.

In the kitchen: Easy stuff. Spaghetti, turkey and rice casserole.

Crafting: I gave my friend the blanket I sewed for her little boy this weekend.  It isn't much, but I love the fabric.

Worked a little bit on the shrug that I started last Spring.  Hoping to finish it this week.

Bringing me joy: Warm pine breezes, the smell of sun-dried blankets, the way Adelle would squeal in delight at every new hand-me-down outfit she would put on. Quick naptime errands with just Joe, the crackle of the a fire in the firepit on a with thunder in the distance, getting ready for Easter.

Thinking about: How good decluttering felt this weekend.  It is always good to be less attached to Stuff.  My personal Stuff struggle is papers. Kid's papers, old bills, old cards, filled up workbooks.  There are probably definitely bills I have carried from state to state for several years/ houses. But what if I want to know what my electric bill was in the first house we lived in in Idaho in 2007!!??  Oh, and stuffed animals.  We really have too many, but it's really hard for me to get rid of them because I remember most of the occasions they are attached to. So even if they never play with the stuffed bunny they got for Easter when they were two, I remember them getting it and have a hard time letting go of that.

Less stuff. It's a good thing.

Pictures to share:

Non-boot shoes!

Reading on Saturday morning.