Out Like A Lamb

It seems I go into blog-hibernation in the winter and barely post between January and April. I guess I'm just not as inspired to take pictures of the festivities such as the Super Bowl, the State of the Union (especially in the state it is in), Valentines Day, President's Day, or even St Patrick's Day - although I did capture one cute picture of Gordon, and he is wearing the green - it is just very subtle in his plaid shirt, Mr. Cool: I'm just not as inspired to take many pictures, but then, something happens...SPRING. Flashes of color appear - like this bright fellow who caught my eye through our storm door...not a great picture, but I never seem to have the camera handy when our shy bluebirds visit so I'll take this one. The door itself has turned pretty colorful I must say, and the color has been needed because this spring is pretty late in coming!With the slightly warmer days we attempt to get outside more, even braving a cool picnic...complete with hot cocoa and marshmallows to fight off the chilly breeze.I start sticking the brightest colored pansies I can find around the house to encourage the rest of the plants to start blossoming soon.

This quince is the first, and what a splash of color it made this year, the blooms even surviving our late snow falls and frosts.From the first colorful blooms I can't help but grab my camera and try to capture that feeling of freshness and rebirth.And then this happened and spring officially arrived - the first soccer practice...ever...and on an evening that shorts could be worn (although after the sun went down it was pretty cold on that field, thankfully I took his coat.)Listening to the coach...who has never coached kids this young and used a lot of terms and directions that went completely over their heads, but made it hilarious for his wife and I and the other parents to watch the chaos that ensued.Waiting to practice kicking a goal.He looks so serious, but he wasn't really, he was laughing and just having fun playing with the kids.Practicing as goalie.

The first game is about 10 days away, they've only had this one "practice" due to bad weather the next week, so it should be very interesting!

I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of March. March. I can't believe it will be April, I'm very glad spring is here, but still...it is April already? I've spent the first three months of this year getting this house ready to go on the market. It is finally time, I meet with a realtor this week, and I hate that. I don't want to leave Greensboro...I think I've said that a few thousand times now, but I guess it is really going to happen. I'm finally done with the home projects, I even did some electrical work with replacing switches and the front porch light - and I am pretty proud of myself. My hands look pretty rough, having been abused by the grout, caulk, paint, and cleaners I've been using, but now all I'll have to do is keep the house ready to show. That's ALL I'll have to do...did I mention I have a 4 year old and a husband leaves a trail like the path of a tornado wherever he goes? Well, if it takes a while to sell the house, maybe I'll get to appreciate the full spring and summer, and maybe even fall again in our little home that I love...not that I hope it doesn't sell...well...its complicated.

This weekend has been quite difficult. Gordon got sick, stomach virus - in the night Friday night. Let me tell you I've never seen anything like it. It took 4 loads of laundry to get BOTH of the twin beds and all the stuffed animals and pajamas and towels clean. Then we had a reprieve on Saturday as he was completely better. Then Sunday I got "it" all of a sudden around dinner time. In the middle of storm after storm passing over with tornadoes hitting the area south of here and passing very close, I was trying to keep one ear listening for "the freight train" and one eye on the radar on TV, but had my head in a bucket most of the night until the wee hours when both the storms, and my stomach, finally subsided. I'm still feeling sick and unable to eat, but a little bit better each day I think. I'm thankful that Gordon's turn with it was so shortlived though, and especially grateful that a friend took him for the day today to her house to play with her two boys - giving me a much needed and appreciated break. Thank God for friends like that! So now that I'm recovering I'm sterilizing everything in this house that I can think of - my parents and sister arrive this weekend to celebrate Easter. I'd hate to send them home with anything more than some jelly beans and reeses peanut butter eggs!

Friend Owl

Gordon loves the classic Disney movie, Bambi. As with all of his favorite movies he loves to perform scenes from the movie, both while watching it and randomly while doing things like, oh...grocery shopping. This is a bit long, but he just kept going so I kept recording. His favorite charactor to portray is Friend Owl, as he's trying to sleep while all the other birds of the forest are keeping him awake, then as he's explaining being "twitterpated" to Bambi, Thumper, and Flower.

Oh - and to hear the sound - go down to the bottom of the blog and turn off or pause the music, then you can watch & hear the video below.

Spring Where Are You?

It is March 1st.

It is cold.

I have not blogged in over a month... more pictures of snow anyone?Thought not. Oh darn...well that's about all I have to share pictures of...my sister and her dog arrived mid February. It was the first snow he'd seen, and the first she'd driven in, ever. My sister continued on to Virginia where she started her new job and is trying to find a place to live. We are hosting Chip. I think he'll be ready to go back to Debbie, the poor thing gets quite worn out from romping around with Gordon all day. Gordon sometimes gets carried away in his excitement and hugs him a little hard, but Chip is very forgiving and never seems to mind the roughness.
The house is almost ready to go on the market. Just 10 days or so away I think. Painters come to finish the painting I finally gave up on tackling myself. I've almost finished the bathroom - resurfacing the walls and painting it again, and the trim, and the ceiling. It is the never ending project. I'm overwhelmed, and tired, and as much as I don't really want to move from this town, I'll be happy to get the move over and get on with life, wherever that takes us.

One More Christmas

This "second" Christmas was on New Years Day, in Virginia at my mother in laws. The weather was biting cold, single digits, but so beautiful, especially near sunset when we went sledding in the yard. I'd forgotten how much fun it is to go sledding! As the picture taker, I don't have any photos of me sliding down the hills (very small hills, but with a slick sled it was just fast enough!). Gordon and I did the most sledding, sometimes one at a time and sometimes together with him leaping on my back...it was good to laugh so hard & feel the cold snow and wind. We all had a great time. We even convinced Shannon to give it a try a few times!

The setting sun was beautifully golden pink in the clouds and on the snow, it was really magical.Gordon and Shannon were already in the front yard...it was a matter of following the tracks in the snow to catch up with them.

There's my little guy making tracks...

And there is my other guy...it sure is a big yard, especially when walking through snow half way up your calf and falling into your shoes.

I was quite a ways away when I noticed Dad had forgotten to zip his son's jacket up...it was only 9 degrees, so I guess he thought it wasn't necessary, but I'm overprotective that way.

Breathtaking color in the mountains. Just beautiful, in every season, but I'd never seen them in purple and gold before.

This is the same view...pulled back from zoom to get more of the clouds, you can just see the mountains in the distance between the trees.

And now I notice bare hands???? Ughhhh...what would they do without me??

The sky gets more beautiful each minute as the sun sets...

Going back to the back yard now.

Still can't take my eyes off the winter sunset. Gordon said the clouds looked like cotton candy - they do - just like the kind at the fair.

Those cheeks are getting red, we couldn't stay out too long at a time, but we went in, warmed up and came back out several times while we were visiting.

Oh if only you could hear him laughing here - Shannon tossed him on the sled like a sack of potatoes and gave him a push off, he landed down where the garden beds grow.

Dad is looking tired and ready to go in I think. And Gordon is stuck.

More cotton candy clouds, over the neighbors house.

Time to head in. Woops...yeah I think we wore him out. Or he wore us out.

Back inside to play with his version of the Polar Express...using my mother in laws antique cast iron trains.

Christmas 2009

Shannon made it home on Christmas Eve eve, and then Grandma & Grandpa arrived on Christmas Eve - in time for the traditional dreaded (well usually by me anyway) oyster stew...why did we have this tradition going back to when we lived in the frozen north of Wisconsin where there isn't an oyster to be found for thousands of miles?? This year the oyster stew wasn't half bad, and we had a honey ham to make sandwiches to go along with it, and all the cheese & crackers & other stuff to nibble - so we didn't go hungry. We even got everyone in our car to take a short drive around to look at the Christmas lights - I was determined to show everyone the "famous" Greensboro balls of Sunset Hills. We even got some last minute cut out cookies made and decorated to leave out for Santa, along with a glass of milk of course.

So this is the only picture from Christmas Eve...Gordon totally engrossed in The Polar Express with Grandma.Gordon slept in until I finally shook the jingle bells to wake him up, then it took him a few minutes to remember it was Christmas morning, but then he was ready to go!

Reminding Grandma that this was the book just like they read together at the bookstore that day a "long time ago" (In November when we visited & shopped in Asheville!)

While Gordon is opening another gift...notice the sweater vest on the left that Mom knit him - fits perfectly and looks great with that Gap plaid shirt!

The trouble with opening gifts on Christmas morning instead of Christmas eve...none of us are too bright eyed and bushy tailed...or even dressed!

Opening up the scooter Grandma & Grandpa bought him - I picked up elbow & knee pads & a helmet yesterday so we'll be trying the scooter outside later today!

Grandpa gave Gordon a head lamp flashlight...by far one of the favorite toys - and he had to run into his room & turn out the lights to check it out! He said "I have a head light just like a train!"

The weekend went by so fast, and it now feels like ages ago.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and is blessed with good health and many happy days filled with peace and love in 2010!