The Boy Turns 6

    Okay, so Declan actually turned 6 on May 17th but today was his long anticipated birthday party. I fall on the side of "less is more" when it comes to birthday parties. The less work and stress the better.  Some of the parties he has gone to are like 3 ring circuses with the entire class invited. Cake, presents, and playing in the backyard are good enough for us and they are still little enough not to care that there aren't pony rides and a moon bounce. 

The party wasn't scheduled until 1pm. Declan made sure the day started early when he woke me up at 5am asking to put the goodie bags together. Needless to say, he didn't get his way and I sent him back to bed. He invited 5 of his Kindergarten buddies and were they wound up! 3 days of rain finally ended and they were able to go outside and play.  It's so funny to hear all their little conversations. 
Tim asked to make the cake this year but his very well intentioned plans didn't work out and we ran out at the last minute to get one at the store. 
Declan didn't seem to care-he just wanted cake. . He wouldn't tell me his wish but he seemed very happy with it. 
Declan begged for the long balloons and I realized why when they began to beat the heck out of each other with them. Now that the party is over, he is officially 6 years old. He hasn't lost any teeth yet so he eagerly looking forward to that happening. Now we just have Grace's party to plan now. She is already making plans that change on a daily basis. 

Someone Appreciates Me

Proof that someone at work sees what I do! Our Daybreak anchor, Kate Barker, wrote about me in her new station blog.  Of course I told her to do it when she complained she couldn't come up with a topic but I didn't tell her what to write. You actually have to scroll down to the 5/19 entry-Bad Blogger- to see it.  

http://www.wgme.com/News/Daybreak/blog/index.shtml

I'll remember this on the days when no one is listening to me. 

Spring Showers-May Flowers

 
  I am way behind on my spring weeding and clean up but the flowers are coming up regardless. This weekend I was able to bring in my first lilac bouquet of the season. It comes and goes so quickly I try to bring as much in as I can. 
This is one of my two white lilac trees. This one goes past the roof-time for some serious pruning once the flowers pass. The neighbor is having trouble getting in and out of his car. 
A trip to our other lilac tree and you will find Owen sleeping in the nest he made himself. He spends the whole day out there and then comes in to eat and sleep some more.  You will also find all the little tree shoots I have to pull up because I didn't rake up all the twirly seeds last fall. 
The nice Canadian lady who owned this house before us apparently liked to garden because all I have to do every year is weed and everything blooms on its own. Luckily, I like most of the things she planted. I only have to plant new things if I feel like it.  These are African Poppy's that will soon turn into huge bright orange flowers but they only last about a week. 

This is a bush at the end of my driveway and I have no idea what it is called.  Again, you can also see more little trees I have to kill. 
Hosta is cheap and easy and I've filled in a few bare spots with them. This monster one will grow to the size of a small Volkswagen. 
       The irises are also starting to come in. These also pass much too quickly. 
Here's another plant I have no idea of its name. It's a tall purple plant that appears once the daffodils below it die off. 
2 years ago I planted a bunch of white tulips in the backyard. Last year, none of them came up and this year, only this one made an appearance. No idea why but I was happy to see it. 
After all that, my favorite flowers are these little purple weeds that grow in the lawn. Declan picked them for me today. 

A Vacation Planner

    One more day of work and then I am off for a week! A whole week of not having to set my alarm or listen to 6 police scanners squawking at once or answer viewer phone calls which,  I have to say, have gotten very creepy since the Governor did the right thing yesterday.  I  already went on vacation mode in my mind a few days back and I have been planning what I am going to do. 
I, as always, have a huge pile of books to tackle plus that knitting project you see perched on top of them.  I can barely remember this but there was a point in my life when I would read about a book a day. This was way before children and Facebook. I'm planning on spending some time getting back into bed once the kids are on the bus and reading and watching morning TV. 
I have to tackle Grace's list of "Some stuff you need to know to be super COOL".  I also have to tackle the weeds in my garden. 

I also have sewing projects to get to. Do you remember the smocked sundresses of the 70's and 80's? In my fabric store wanderings,  I discovered they sell the fabric with the elastic top already in place and all you have to do is sew it closed, hem it and slap on 2 straps. This dress is for Grace though-I am far past the sundress stage. My mother will be horrified at the black dress for a little girl. I will say that this is not my favorite fabric but all the others were truly atrocious. Pepto pink with John Deere tractors on it? Who is the target audience for that? It seems like an idiot proof project so I think I can handle it. 

My other sewing project is to make some headbands like the pink and brown one above. I wear it all the time now and would like some in other colors.  I didn't actually make that one(Etsy!) but it seems fairly easy so I bought some inexpensive fabric squares and some elastic and we'll see how that goes. 
And then there is Declan's T-ball practice and games to go to. Work doesn't actually interfere with getting to those but it will be nice not to have to get home and rush through dinner to get out the door in time.  He had his first practice this week and he already hit a kid in the mouth with the ball and gave him a bloody lip so we'll see what he can do next time.  

 I also am going to go to the Mall all by myself. I hate the Mall most of the time but I can handle it during the day while the packs of roaming teens are still in school and its just moms and old ladies. I don't have anything in mind to buy but I need to be able to walk through a store and look without anyone with me complaining that their legs hurt or they need to go to the bathroom.  Now I just have to get through my last 8 hours of work without any chaos and I am home free.