One of the surprises that came with putting the kids in school was how much of a fuss they made about Mother's Day. It used to be a really low-key event around here, but the teachers have the kids make cards and gifts and then they decide to do breakfast in bed and the next thing you know the dishwasher is swishing away in the kitchen and I hardly put any of the dishes in it.
So it was a good day: crisp bacon and scrambled eggs and a sectioned grapefruit and steaming coffee on a tray at 7:30 (this makes me feel especially loved because my husband, who was the one getting the bacon crisp and the grapefruit sectioned, does not do 7:00 on Sunday mornings, like, ever), and 9:00 Mass with the whole gang, and a picnic in one of my favorite spots, and that newish pirate movie with the kids in the afternoon, and really fantastic steaks from our quarter-cow on the grill in the evening.
One of my favorite parts of the day, unexpectedly, was the 30-minute drive to the picnic spot. Stella didn't want to get in the van, but Alex offered to sing her a princess song. I assumed he was planning to wing it (perhaps "twinkle twinkle little princess, put her in pants and see how she flinches" -- Stella's label for all skirts and dresses is "princess"), but he had a plan: Princess Pat. "Mom," said one of the boys, "you do different motions." I explained that I did the Girl Scout motions, also known as the correct motions, but he wasn't buying it.
We also played B is for Botticelli (which I described here, ages and ages ago). It's fun to listen to the big boys asking stumper questions. The two littlest kids are mostly left out, but everybody else can play along. Unexpectedly, I got a huge kick out of losing early. If you've never played Botticelli, you might not know that it can last for hours -- that's part of what makes it fun for car trips. It was a surprise when Elwood guessed my identity five minutes into the game: I was Johannes Brahms. He went next, and it was an even bigger surprise when I guessed his identity on my first question: Gandalf. I guess in 19 years of marriage we have developed pretty similar ideas about interesting-but-not-too-obscure people the kids will probably know.
While I was trying to find the post in which I described B is for Botticelli, I happened on a very different post that still makes me laugh. Enjoy? Maybe?
I am teaching a three-week summer class that starts first thing tomorrow, and when I sat down to write this post I thought I was going to tell you all about how nervous I am. For the first time, I am teaching something I really love instead of something I'm qualified to teach but not on fire about. (I think I may take part of my archives down temporarily, so my students don't find my blog while they're googling for their group projects!) I have strong opinions and pet ideas and so I have more of an emotional investment in the class. Say a prayer, please, for a fruitful and low-stress three weeks.
And then! Summer! And no job until August! Perhaps I will make it a goal to blog every day...
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