Zeigenfuses at the Zoo

The older 3 Zig kids went to NYC w/John & Jolene for the day a couple of weeks ago, and Aunt Diana had Austin and Wyatt, so we met at the zoo for time with friends. As you can see, that includes a good poke in the eye. Amelia is only a few weeks older than Austin, but I think she's trying to make the most of it. I made sure to include the picture of Wyatt with the goat because I realized that I have very few pictures of animals at the zoo (mostly kids) and wanted to authenticate the post.

Easter--finally!

Jon and Courtney hosted brunch the Saturday before Easter, and in spite of icky weather we enjoyed the bounty of one anther's company, good cooking, and an indoor egg hunt. The kids wore matching Easter outfits that Mom had gotten for them (well, Evelyn was inspired by Anna's dress-up collection to change. She spent the rest of the day in this getup, boots and all.) Courtney's mom, brother, and a friend were there, too, with the local Bissets, including Joan and Steve. The picture of Courtney and me is my favorite one of us ever. We were trying hard to get a good one and we kept failing (being our own worst critics), so Jon told us to make faces. Perfect.

Spreading the Love

It was gorgeous on Thursday, so the girls and I picnicked in a local park. Some Hispanic men were on lunch break from spreading mulch in the playground, and Evelyn was inspired to share her pretzels with them. Amelia followed, and the two of them pranced back and forth with handfuls of pretzels for the grinning workers. Finally, we had to go find a playground (this one was off limits due to the mulch-spreading), and Evelyn insisted on giving all the men hugs. The language barrier was not a problem, as a little girl with arms up-stretched is pretty universally understood. I know we need to make sure we have those "stranger danger" talks, but I have to say it was a wonderful few minutes of warmth to smile and laugh together with those workers as they took turns holding my girls with their faces wide with smiles.

Henry--an early birthday thought!

When my cousin, Patrick and his wife Alyson & family visited last summer, their son Henry REALLY wanted to see our trash pickup, and the truck never came on his watch. Well, yesterday while Evelyn and I were doing yard work, I heard the truck & ran inside for the camera. While I'm not sure Henry--who turns 6 next month--is still fascinated with waste management, this video wins either way. If he still likes it, he'll enjoy this personalized clip. If he's over it, he might appreciate the advice our local trash collector gave him. It's hard to understand because I kept laughing and commenting over the poor man, so I'll write it out: "It's a long day, Henry. Stay in school, Henry, so you don't end up doing this."

Springtime in VA Beach, Part III

Alan and I agree that one of our favorite places in the world as individuals and as a family is the beach. (I love Isak Dineson's quote, "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." Sigh.) It's amazing how little it takes to make us supremely happy at the beach. We wandered for hours collecting bits of things, playing on a dune, watching dolphins jump out of the surf--basically lowering our blood pressure and stress levels. Evelyn runs and runs (she actually fell in--hence her 2 outfits, as it wasn't quite 60 degrees out) and Amelia digs and digs. I've come to let go of my natural urge to keep the sand out of everything, and have embraced the pure bliss we can have just being at the beach together.

Thank you, Mom and Dad Blackman, for those delightful days together!

Springtime in VA Beach, Part II

Evelyn's fascination with flowers inspired a visit to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens, and it was great! The children's section alone is worth it, and we loved discovering Camellias (they resemble roses and rhyme with Amelia, so both girls were smitten) and getting awesome glimpses of the resident family of Bald Eagles, with three fledglings in the nest. A tram takes you through the acres, allowing you to get on and off in various places--we could have meandered for days. We felt like it was a little preview of the kinds of days we'll be spending together on the West Coast in June!

Moral Dilemma

Yesterday the girls and I were at the grocery check-out (feeling delighted I'd stayed under $30!) when the cashier said to the bagger, "Don't forget her scallions." I thought, "Hmmm...I didn't buy scallions." I looked over to see asparagus going into the bag. While tempted to think, "Asparagus for the price of scallions--score!", I've had recent conversations with my in-laws and with Diana about stores gypping themselves & going back to right the wrongs.

So I said, "Actually, those aren't scallions. They're asparagus." She groaned that it was already rung up & sent me to customer service, where I received my $.79 refund for the imaginary scallions and was told I'd have to get back in a regular check-out line to buy the asparagus. Customer service has no scale. Back we went.

Exiting, the gray day had turned windy & rainy, and it was a tearful walk home. It's so much more fun to hold umbrellas when it's NOT windy & rainy, and Mommy can't carry umbrellas AND $32.17 worth of groceries (which, from any store other than my awesome, local grocery, would be a lot fewer bags.) Regardless, I had no regrets about righting the wrong, although it did sadden me that the cashier did not know scallions from asparagus.

Springtime in VA Beach, Part 1

Last week we spent some nice days with Alan's parents. The first night, my mother-in-law and I took Evelyn to a cheap salon for a hair cut. She was so enthralled that when we got back, Amelia declared her desire for a hair cut, too. So we went first thing the next morning. Amelia, though silent as a stone, was well-behaved & compliant. And we think they both look super cute for having $9 haircuts!

It's a good thing on Good Friday...

...that our church has a First Aid kit on hand. During last night's service, Amelia stuffed a piece of tissue up her nose, requiring tweezers for removal.

The service was only a little less eventful than last year's. I got up to sing with a small acapella group and Evelyn impulsively ran on the platform to give me a hug and a kiss. The elder at the podium simply said, "We REALLY love one another around here."
Alan snapped this picture on his phone as we arrived last night. I just LOVE it.

Thrifty & Nifty

Inspired by "Farmer Night" at Awana this week, we visited a thrift store, where I also scored this pink San Francisco t-shirt ($1.25) just in time for our June trip. Amelia enjoyed Farmer Night (Evelyn, while loving dress-ups, doesn't appreciate the costume theme being thrust upon her. Cramps her style.) Amelia even had my cherished "Farm in a Jar" as a prop. Several Christmases ago, Aunt Betty filled my great-grandmother's vintage canning jars with dirt from the family farm in ND and rocks my grandfather had collected on his walks. She created cool labels and gave them to us all as gifts. I don't have a picture of her with it, but take my word that it was a great little accompaniment to my adorable little farmer girl.

Another First

Forgot to remove a red lipstick from a pocket before washing a load of clothes. Feel free to send condolances. Let's hope that meets today's quota of grave errors, as I'm preparing to cook, and don't have time to do THAT twice.

Is it SPRING yet?!?

We stood on the porch today in a downpour, trying to forcefully wish away the chill. As I snapped the picture of the two of them, Evelyn said with a huge sigh, "THESE are the TIMES of our LIVES!" Start racking them up, girls. Life is full of those times!