Ten on Tuesday.

1. So far, on this, the second day of the first full week of summer, I have to say I'm exhausted! I signed the kids up for a two-week swim class that starts at 9am, which is an earlier start than our school year. Each morning when we've gotten out the door and we're on our way, I count down the number of days left of this.

2. On the positive side, Fisher loves his class and Alla somehow lucked out with a private lesson, which is resulting in moving her through the level and onto the next because of all the one on one attention!

3. I've been catching up on Grey's Anatomy and saw on old friend on an episode last from February. Danielle and I graduated from Cal State Fullerton together - she a Musical Theatre major and me, Dance. What a fun discovery! And, sadly, I had seen her on two shows that I watch, 90210 and Private Practice, and not known it was her!

4. Fisher filled my bucket this evening with this: "You do a nice job on carrot-shucking and you do a well job on making dinner, Mommy." Wow, thanks, buddy.

5. For the record, both carrots and corn get shucked in this house.

6. We hit up the first day of the Farmer's Market today, and were pleasantly surprised to see lots of new vendors, including gluten-free bread (though maybe not diabetic-friendly, as there was no carb count), an ice cream truck and a food truck! The produce will follow; it's early here in Minnesota and so far there's only rhubarb, green onions, lettuce, and radishes.

7. I ran into a friend there who told me all about using rhubarb for crisp. I'm all about crisp.

8. Another new vendor was selling plants of all sorts, including raspberry bushes! I have since been dreaming about finding a sunny spot in the yard for it. Think I can clear out a patch of grass before next Tuesday so I can bring home one of my very own?

9. My lovely daughter and I finished planting our garden today! Now or never, I guess. Fingers crossed: marigolds, rudbeckia, cucumber, tomatoes, cosmos, peas, green beans, and some wildflowers! Hopeful might be an understatement.

10. While out there planting, we got probably 20 mosquito bites between us. Holy cow are they hungry. Going to be a great year for 'em.

Ten.

1. We're in the home stretch here, with Fisher having finished preschool last Thursday and Alla's last day of second grade tomorrow. I am kind of giddy at the realization that we have no place to go on Friday.

2. One of the many year-end activities this week was a 1-mile Fun Run at Alla's school. I was immensely proud of her for running that, without stopping.

3. Yesterday was another year-end activity - the 2nd grade zoo field trip. Along with every other grade from every other school in the state, it seemed. Miracle of miracles, though, I did not lose a single child.

4. The soccer season has begun as well, with Fisher and Alla each having had one practice. Alla should have had two, but we're apparently now living in the rainforest where it never stops raining, so one of hers got cancelled.

5. Fisher is so obsessed with Legos (have I said this before?) that he just goes right to them when we walk in the house, when he has a free minute, he is always on the floor with his bag of Legos building, telling stories, I love it!

6. I am currently reading Anne of Green Gables, which I sadly never read as a child. I have almost given up on borrowing library books, as it seems I am in a phase of life where I cannot get through a book in three weeks.

7. For all of you Okee Dokee fans, I have to recommend their buddy, Paul Spring, who is on repeat in our car. Fun!

8. Since summer is so rapidly approaching, I think that means it's time to make a summer schedule. I know, that sounds so, well, anti-summer, but I've found that we actually end up doing all the fun stuff (and less fun stuff) we want to do if we actually plan for it. Actually.

9. Brrr. Mid-50s isn't warm.

10. I got nothing for dinner. Eggs? What do you eat for dinner in the summer, like every single day?

My mom turns 60.

The weekend before last was my mom's 60th birthday, which we thought out and planned for at least a year, since it involved my brother and his family traveling out here to Minnesota for a long weekend, and also since her 60th was the day after my newphew's 2nd!

 

So first we celebrated the two-year-old with a piñata!

And lots of presents and cake pops (my sister in law is an expert cake pop maker!). Hard to resist a fire chief-in-training.

That evening we had a double celebration at the Twins game with a birthday suite, which was super amazing. I actually can't recommend it because there's just nothing like it, and no hundred degree game in cramped, hard seats can really compare to your own room inside and cushy seats outside from which to watch the game (even if they lose, it's still so sweet!).

It was really an enjoyable way for the kids to experience the game. My nephews are 2 and 3, and mine are 5 and 8; all of them liked being able to get up, walk around, eat lots of snacks, switch laps, etc.

The birthday girl and my stepdad enjoying the game from the suite!

The birthday girl and the birthday boy, my two year old nephew Declan! That's my beautiful sister in law back there with my brother. Her parents came out from California for the birthday weekend, too, so it was like a party with twelve of us for all these fun festivities.

 

The next day we had a lovely brunch together and then Bob grilled one  steaks in the pouring rain. We had a slide show for her, and gifts of course, including all of the letters all of her friends and family had sent to surprise her. I wish I could thank each and every one who took the time to send memories and pictures. She got a stack of pink envelopes with all these wonderful things inside!

There might be nothing more beautiful than a face lit up by candlelight, especially on such a special birthday surrounded by people who love you.

One last special one of my mom and my daughter. Awwww. We love you, Mom!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. Just a week ago we were at 98 degrees and today we're in the 50s. My hands are freezing typing this - in the house!

2. Because of our delayed spring we have been delayed in getting our garden up and growing. We have peas and radishes in there now, but I'm afraid the crazy rain of the last week has made for pure mud out there. If we don't get some sunshine soon, I don't see how we'll be growing anything. That garden needs to dry out. We may be a completely containered garden this year.

3. All that rain has made for nearly fluorescent colors everywhere, which would be amazing, if it would ever stop raining long enough to go outside and appreciate it. Pink trees! Neon grass! Purple lilacs!

4. Fisher has 4 days of school left, and Alla has 10. Sure wish it felt like summer around here!

5. Had an amazing weekend celebrating my mom and nephew's birthdays! So much awesomeness deserves its own post, but here are the two birthday loves.

6. In case you thought maybe Los Angeles or New York or San Francisco had the highest gas prices in the nation, nope, Minnesota is #2, behind only Hawaii.

7. After checking Fisher last night for the second time at 2:15, I couldn't go back to sleep for a good two hours, so I got up, had some cheese and crackers, read a gardening book, made a list of plants to grow, and started this ToT post!

8. This was taken last week at a ceremony honoring second graders for reading lots of minutes each month. I think that might be on their medals, "You read lots of minutes! Way to go!" Anyway, she wanted a special picture with her teacher, Mrs. Carlson, who has been so wonderful to have this year.

 

9. So far, no robins. Boo. But I did mistake a toad for a rock yesterday and that freaked me out, because you don't expect a rock to move. The kids are looking forward to the grass drying out enough for a first mow this weekend, not only because it's like a jungle out there, but because there most certainly are more toads hiding.

10. Today over at the photography blog, I'm sharing a personal photo project that every single one of you can start today!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. We are looking forward to a very fun, busy weekend celebrating my mom's 60th birthday this weekend!

2. As part of that weekend my brother and his family are coming out, and we are so excited for that, too! The cousins will get lots of quality time together.

3. The whole clan will be hitting up the Twins game on Saturday night.

4. It is going to hit 90 degrees today, people, I can feel it. The popsicles are freezing in the, well, freezer.

5. Warmer weather means Big Ginger time. Sometimes it's just too hot for a glass of wine.

6. Yesterday Minnesota became the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriage. I am very proud to live here.

7. As soon as the weather warms a bit, I get really antsy about planting stuff. Currently we have peas in the garden, and radishes that have already sprouted. I've never done radishes before, and I don't love them but I like them. I was drawn to their 22-days-to-harvest claims.

8. Good thing we got our bike/run in this morning because the sun is out now and it's HOT!

9. I have to go dig the shorts out now, and put my wool sweaters away.

10. Does anyone think I should do the same for my husband, leaving him only 7 pairs of pants and 7 shirts in our closet so you could actually walk in there? Is that a raised hand. Me, too.

Mother's Day 2013.

What is it about Mother's Day that makes us feel more appreciated, more appreciative, more joyful, more thankful, more loving, more at peace with what it all just is?

Here's hoping this year I'll learn to bottle up all that happiness for the days that aren't so happy, so I can sprinkle just enough on the doldrums to pull us through.

So very lucky to hold my children and snuggle my mom for a few photos. It's so important.

Ten on Tuesday.

1. It is spring here. It might rain tomorrow or the next and dip into the 50s (or 30s - overnight), but it is officially spring. No more snow, no more ice, no more footies, no more fires. We're onto bonfires, dining al fresco, the transition of spring boxes, the stowing of snow boots, and the craziness of the month of May. And we're welcoming it.

 

2. On the other hand, and there's always another hand, I'm not my best in spring, and by that I mean I'm a snotty sniffling mess. But, I'm not scratching my eyes out, as in years past, so there's that.

 

3. Alla got her face glitter-fied last weekend. I just love this picture of her! 

 

4. Biked to and from Alla's school today, needless to say there is one little boy who is wiped out and was asleep as soon as we turned the light off. Eight-plus miles of bike riding, and all of the other activities a little boy does in a day (soccer, tennis, some sort of red rover game), really does a kid in.

5. Oh, and allergies or no, we don't just sit around inside sniffling (we sniffle outside). We also drove down to the Mississippi today, which was worth it not only for the gorgeous sky and breeze, but for this: "The Mississippi IS cool, right?" Oh, yeah, buddy, it totally is.

6. What did we ever do before iPhones? However would I have gotten those two shots!

7. Started a very intriguing read, Zero Waste Home, not because I thought we'd completely eliminate our household waste, but because I am completely astounded at this woman's ability to do just that. When I told Ron that the author suggested plucking your leg hairs (each one) as a waste-free alternative to shaving, that was the last straw for him. He declared her completely loopy.

8. Any moms of Lego lovers want to weigh in on this storage bag before I purchase?

9. Our Cinco de Mayo fiesta was just about perfect, thanks to Rick Bayless' flawless margarita and guacamole recipes. Perfecto!

10. If you're local, I've got a special post just for you today over on the photography blog.