Art Gallery

Sometimes I feel as though my fridge is just a giant paper holder.  It's covered with reading charts, potty charts, mosaics, paintings and drawings.  It's useless to try and display photographs because they only get lost in the mess of artwork.  In an attempt at some spring cleaning, the front of the fridge is going to get decluttered.  

I can't just throw it all in the recycle though.  While some are just scribbles or sticker collages, others are sweet pictures that were thoughtfully made by my little artists.  So, in the first Murry Munchkin online gallery, I present "Drawings of Family" by Maggie and Gregory.

"Daddy" by Gregory

"Mama" by Maggie

"Mommy" by Gregory

"Me and Bubba" by Maggie

Mother's (Mothers') Day

I am so blessed to be called "Mommy" by three wonderful little munchkins.  They truly are my world.  Maggie had been excited about Mother's Day for quite a while.  I think the excitement came from wanting to make some sort of delicious treat for her Mommy (that she of course would get to share!).  She asked me last week if I would make "a cake with flowers on it that says 'Happy Mother's Day' ".  I told her that was Daddy's job.  She managed to convince her Daddy that they should make Mommy a special treat for Mother's Day.
If you ask Greg, the story goes like this.  On Saturday evening, Daddy took the kids and made a wonderfully delicious cake while Mommy soaked in the tub.  He's sounding pretty awesome huh?  Well, really he took the two older kids while I took a bath with Joseph, which was cut short because I needed to come supervise in the kitchen.  I didn't mind.  

With a little direction, they were able to make a delicious homemade raspberry ice cream cake with a chocolate crust.  It even said "Happy Mothers' Day" on it and had flowers.  But that of course started a debate.  Where does the apostrophe go?  I insisted it go before the s. (Because this is the way it is always written) The Hubs insisted on after the s.  It didn't matter that Anna Jarvis wanted it to be singular, Greg wasn't budging.  He said if it went before the s, then he couldn't call his mom.  We agreed to disagree (although I totally agree with him.  It should go after the s.  Shhhhh)
 
My day was wonderful.  My children gave me tons of hugs and kisses.  My sweet Darlin' picked out matching outfits for her and I to wear to church. (and matching hair pretties too).  And the cake was delicious!  

Zoo time

We celebrated Greg's birthday and took advantage of Easter break by heading to the zoo in Baltimore.  It's days like these that I don't miss Minnesota at all.  The weather was beautiful.  Upper 70s and a slight breeze.  Not even a threat of rain, let alone snow.  We were joined by friends for a wonderful day.

Gregory's favorite was the polar bear.  And I do have to say that it was quite neat to see one so close up.
  

Maggie wasn't sure which animal she liked best.  But she sure loved the zoo map.  She insisted on carrying it around and checking it after every animal.  This basically consisted of her handing the map to me and asking where we were.  I'd show her, tell her what was next and we'd be on our way. 

The kids also got the chance to feed a giraffe.  They went right up to him and handed him his leaves.  I was very surprised they didn't freak out.  (Perhaps making them pick up earth worms while gardening and making them smoosh their own bugs is starting to give them thicker skin.)

Joseph just slept or nursed the whole time.  Perhaps next time he'll be more interested in the animals. 





Maggie (extremely exasperated): "Mom, I don't know why you keep folding the map before giving it back to me.  I just have to unfold it every time." 

Remember your mercies, O Lord, and with your eternal protection sanctify your servants, for whom Christ your Son, by the shedding of his Blood, established the Paschal Mystery.

White boy dancing

Music is a saving grace right now.  The big kids love to dance and Joseph loves to watch them (and even tries to join in).  It allows my back and arms a short reprieve from carrying around heavy, clingy Joe too.  Gregory has been blessed with dance moves that match his skin. 

Things I learned this weekend.

• There are no tornado sirens near our house (at least none that we can hear)
• I must stink at gardening.  My kids' little flower garden was the only one on the block that washed away during the torrential rains. 
• Joseph loves Gorgonzola cheese
• When only one of the gospel readers reads dramatically, it makes the whole thing sound silly.
• Yellow Crocs look silly with church clothes.
• Dandelions make little hands very very messy.  

Maggie (as we were walking out of Mass) "Dad, can Gregory and I sword fight with our palm branches now?"

And now for a little dancing by Joseph.

Fugitive on the loose=New Crocs!

As I was driving to pick up Maggie from preschool, I happened past this sight.  I wasn't expecting police tape, squad cars, a police helicoptor and news crews.  I found out that there was a fugitive loose but they were not giving out any other information.  Awesome!  I didn't exactly want to go home so I took the kids to the outlet mall to get some sandals.  They needed some and it was going to be in the 80s today so it seemed like the perfect opportunity. The kids each picked out a pair of Crocs with a starfish on them. 

I called Greg from the mall to see if he could give me an update on the situation.  He was already on his way home.  (Evidently they did not turn the heat off in his office and they insist he wear a collared shirt to work.  Sorry, but you're in the real world now Honey.)  We went home and even though my mother advised against it, we played outside all afternoon.  In our new Crocs!  We didn't even get taken hostage by the fugitive.

Fugitive update: The fugitive has since been apprehended.

Maggie: "Good thing we didn't wear our tennis shoes out today because it's freakin' hot outside"