"Happy Mother's Day, Mommy"

Mr. Big Four Year Old is now on a bike.  With pedals.  Granted, there are training wheels, but in the last two days he has learned to fly down the road.  This is one nice advantage to living where we do.  A lovely, paved, quiet road to bike on with little threat from cars.  More from golfers, but I care much less about making them wait to play through than I used to.  After all, it is golf.  It's not like there's any big rush.

Interestingly enough, the child who is big enough

 to ride a pedal bike also ate a stick of chapstick this week while hiding in a corner.  In his (weak) defense, it was grape flavored.  But regardless, I have a kid who eats Chapstick.  Probably two, if the other was given the chance.  And she may.  Today alone I have forgotten to strap Ani into her chair, which she then fell out of, and then I plopped her on the back of a wagon at a plant nursery, which she almost fell off the back of.  And Gav hit the back of his head when he fell on the floor as I was de-piggybacking him from my back.  I keep telling Ryan that not only am I trying to teach my children to be more self reliant, but that in this house they need to toughen up as a means of survival.  A little head injury is nothing to cry about.  I'll sing you a little Johnny Cash, but then stop whining.  Ani is starting to learn the lesson, as you can see from our early water immersion/cold tolerance classes.

Ryan has also been working on playing catch with both kids.  With Gavin, you have to very carefully aim the ball directly into his glove, because he will not move it in order to catch it.  If it bounces off the edge of his mitt, he will respond by saying "Oh, not a very good throw".  Laser precision is required for a superlative.  Ani likes throwing the ball (she has a good arm) and Gracie adds a bit of excitement with a "monkey in the middle" twist, so you never know when the ball is going to be absconded to a hole or a bush.  As you can see, Ani prefers a XXXL glove.  It doubles as a recliner when the game gets dull.

Gavin and Annah have been working hard at school all week to wish me a happy Mother's day (and happy Mother's day to all the mommies reading this). They both had cards to give me, complete with little lacrimal-stimulating poems about how they are growing up and cherish every moment.  Gavin also has informed me that I am getting some pots, and do I want to see them?  Here, they're for you for tomorrow I am told.  Last night as I was putting Gavie down to sleep, right before he closed his eyes he said "Happy Mothers Day, Mommy".  Oh my heart, my heart.