This weekend was the first spent as a family in over a month. Andrew and I passed the baton back and forth, back and forth for the whole month of May and though we have enjoyed all the traveling (well, I have enjoyed all the traveling), we needed time to reconnect. Friday was spent frantically gardening and mulching, racing the clock before the skies opened up for a weekend full of rain. It happens that way sometimes — the weather is beautiful for so long and then, as soon as you have a truckload of mulch delivered half onto your yard, half onto the street, it decides to rain for three days straight.
But working alongside Andrew for the full morning and much of the afternoon was so good. We match each other’s pace and somehow compliment the other’s work habits (Andrew with the speed and heavy work, me with the detail work and finishing). I found myself spreading straw under full strawberry plants with cool rain pouring down onto me after too much hot sun and I kept working as my boys looked bewildered at me through the open back door. Oliver in particular seemed amused and after shooting me a Cheshire grin, joined me in the rain by running around the back yard squealing. Milo joined him soon after, and then we all got too cold and came indoors. A lot of work completely stalled, as the rain hardly let up for the next few days, but once it warms up and dries out a bit, we’ll be back out there to finish up.
Saturday was very bittersweet. We got together one last time as a family with our dear friends Kim, Dave, Hugo, and Ezra before they head out of the country. The good-bye has always been inevitable, but the past two years passed much too quickly and my heart has been heavy at the thought of losing them. Of course, good friendships survive the test of distance and time, but we have been spoiled by this amazing family and the ease we feel whenever we’re around them. Ah, well, another good excuse to travel abroad (I keep telling myself)!
I will miss this guy so very very much! I met Ezra when he was an hour old, wrapped up tightly in his strong mama’s arms in bed on a lovely October day. His brother, too, is a sweet and smart and sensitive little guy, and I know Oliver in particular will miss their pretend games and snuggles. 
The above shot is just how I think of both of them, Kim witty and funny and generous and thoughtful, Dave just as witty but more soft-spoken, tender and patient with our boys, both smart and just delightful to be around. Kim and Dave, we love you and will miss you so much!
The rest of the weekend was very low key and reflective. We spent time together indoors, as it was dreary and cold on Sunday. A short trip to the science center yielded silly family photos, we grocery shopped together and talked about more upcoming travel and summer plans. And of course, the standard loads and loads of laundry (it’s amazing how much more we do in the spring and summer with all the mud and outdoor play… and popsicles). 
Milo has been completely obsessive about reading. He reads and reads and reads — nose in a book first thing in the morning, reading through breakfast, taking a break to play with his brothers only to go back to the book after ten minutes. He curled up in the shopping cart and did not so much as look up during the whole grocery trip, car ride back, even carrying a bag of groceries with one hand while holding the book open with the other, reading, reading, reading. He is reading now as I type this. His preferred series right now is Goosebumps (really geared more towards kids twice his age), which I went back and forth about and even discussed the appropriateness of with our favorite children’s librarian (who assured me that as long as we were also reading good literature along with it, it certainly wouldn’t harm anyone). And well, as long as they don’t give him nightmares, it’s okay I think! What’s your take on it? 
And Emil, of course, pushing any and all boundaries at all times as any three-year-old will: What happens if I put the tricycle in the kiddie pool? What is it like to wear Mama’s high heels? How many popsicles can I get away with eating in one day? How many costume changes can one kid accomplish in one day? Can I wear a cape backwards and inside out? Two capes at once? How many times will my brother let me knock down his magna-tile structure before pummeling me? All good questions, really.
Happy June 1st. I hope it’s a good day for you!
