Grandsons from Japan

Life in a house of 6 people (two, ages 3 & 6) was hectic. Sharif and family came Monday, February 1st and stayed until February 22nd.

I would say that Liam (age 6 as of January) got the full American experience: nine days of kindergarten (between snow days, teacher work days, and MLK Day he had 3 days of school a week), a school Valentine’s party, a classmate’s birthday party at a Family Fun Center,
snow, sledding and making a snowman (with tangerine eyes).

Chris’ ( three, March 25) experience was more circumscribed, but he did visit the library story hours, make cookies, paint and do rubber stamping. Chris got more than he bargained for when he slipped in the bath and broke his front tooth.  This meant a trip to ER at night and a trip to the dentist the next day.  The tooth and root were removed, but that didn't stop Chris from nibbling cookies the next day.

Both boys were very self-directed and played well on their own.

The Sunday before the Monday they left we drove to St. Louis.  In spite of the damp, overcast weather, we  went to the Arch.  The Arch, the mighty Mississippi and Eads Bridge were lovely in the mist.  

A grand time was had by all.  Youssef and I drove back to a very quiet house.  Sharif and family spent the night at Comfort Inn and flew back to Japan Monday morning.

Flowers, God Bless Them

Gerbes grocery had two slightly shop worn bunches of lillies. I bought both ($4 each). I gave the white bunch to my sister, and brought the pink tinted ones home. I admire the lilly bouquet with a mixture of satisfaction and guilt. Satisfaction because they are lovely, and guilt because I kept the best ones for 'us.' Of course Mary Sue is completely happy, but she doesn't know....

And pansies. Love them. I told Alice that I'd nursed a pansies in a planter all winter in the garage, only to have them nipped down by the deer the first night they were left outside. Deer don't generally eat pansies (rabbits do), but I guess they are not picky this early in the season with so little to choose from. After viewing Alice's pansies on her Texas patio, I bought two pansy 'baskets' with their charming little faces. The colors are unusual, but I need to buy some yellow ones to pick up the yellow highlights in the....what color is that? We're due for a cold snap/snow over the weekend so the two pansy baskets are going to have to set in the garage.

Blood, sweat and tears...that's what it takes to begin a blog.