adventures in home-making

A playlist for Carla, Jeremy, and the fur babies.

This playlist is for my sister and her man to celebrate their engagement. I am so happy that Jeremy will officially be a member of our crazy family, for better or worse, and that Carla has found a man who truly, deeply understands her and loves her as she is. If I could drink anything toast-able, I would toast to the beginning of their adventure called engagement and marriage which begins today. It is a wild and beautiful ride- not for the faint of heart or for those who like the easy paths in life. So the playlist starts with one of my (and Patrick's) favorite tunes by Bruce Springsteen. Cause if you're in it for love, honey, you have to be tougher than the rest,

Tougher Than the Rest - Bruce Springsteen

Feel It All Around - Washed Out

Este Amor - Federico Aubele

Love - Air

Shake It Off - El Perro del Mar 

Last Year - The Akron Family

(I'll Love You) Forever And Ever - Bonnie Prince Billy

Don't Let Me Go - Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter

Alabama High-Test - Old Crowe Medicine Show

I Got Stung - Elvis Presley

Today Is The Day - Apollo Sunshine

Our dogwoods sparkle.

 

Birds of prey this Sunday at Arboretum.

Living near the University of Alabama Arboretum is awesome! This past weekend, we purchased our tomato plants, a few cool herbs, and various peppers from the plant sale. Yesterday, I drove over there with a huge storage bin ready to pay for some compost. When Kenny rode up on his tractor, Max and Micah stood in awe. He helped us load some dark, gorgeous compost into the trunk and then, when I handed him my money, he refused to accept it. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Max, like Kenny, is also a gentleman with long hair.....

Anyway, we'll be somewhere in the Georgia mountains this weekend, but there is fun to be had at the Arboretum this Sunday. The Montgomery Zoo will be bringing their array of raptor birds. Trained professionals will bring you up close and personal to several native birds of prey. This will be a family-friendly event sure to delight kids young and old, meek and bold. There is no admission charge but they are requesting donations to help with expenses.

BIRDS OF PREY

Sunday, April 18th at 2:00 PM

UA Arboretum Pavilion

Max competes for his yellow belt.

This past Saturday, I finally stitched Max's badges to his uniform and we took a family outing to watch Max compete for his yellow belt in taekwondo. It was so much fun! He absolutely loved it- from reading his manual to performing his required moves. Our Max, it turns out, is a taekwondo-loving kind of guy. My children never fail to surprise me.

In the photos below, Max is the spunky young man with the long hair (long story about that later...).

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

At the carwash.

Today was a carwashing kind of day. We are such un-carwashers that it is truly a special family event when we decide to vacuum and wash the car. Max helped distract Micah during the vacuuming, but there wasn't much he could do once the actual wash began. 

The wash itself, chosen from the lovely menu below, was the Princess Wash, per Maxer's request.

For those who didn't know that car washes can pledge allegiance to the flag, this car wash has special powers (as evidenced by the large sign which one could mistake for the name of the establishment). Down here in the South, this could pass for clever marketing- lots of folks seem to get excited when flags are waved and eagles are painted onto things- but I also wouldn't be surprised if it was a heartfelt expression on the part of the owners.

 

 

For those who get their kicks from less patriotic paraphenalia, there is this to entice you to the Five Points Carwash:

 

 

Max loved watching and naming the various stages of the car wash, while Miss Micah shuddered at every blast of water. Suffice it to say that our car wash proved to be a colorful experience...

  

 

Max practices Taekwondo.

Max's passion for Taekwondo certainly took us by surprise... as did Micah's passion for watching him at practice. You can see him practicing last week in the photos below:

 
 

Micah celebrates her 2nd birthday.

Micah turned 2 at the beach. Amid tears and tantrums, we celebrated what Max dubbed "the tyrant twos" with a tadpole cake and gifts mailed from Bunicu and Pam in Ohio. We thought about trying to find gifts for Micah, but there is nothing she needs and (as far as we can tell) nothing she really wants apart from her brother's undivided attention.

 

 

  
 

The past week in monosyllables.

Dogwoods trying to bloom

The flu

A beautiful maternity dress from Clare 

Lovely visit from Grandma Vicki and Bill

Citronella plants

The baby turned head-down

Spring fever to the marrow

Learning of new pregnancies and babies expected by dear friends

Naming a junebug

"Modern Times", a film by Charlie Chaplin

Insomnia and vivid beach dreams

Sunshine so much sunshine

Packing for the beach

Making fresh icebox strawberry pies (with Greek yogurt rather than Cool Whip or whipped cream)

Dandelions and dog parks

Planting flowers and herbs with the children, lessons for all

An extra 30 lbs on my body to make the summer seem closer

My favorite two dumplings in a tree minus me (we used to be 3 in a tree)