Hello, it's me.

Hi, Dear Reader.

Remember me?

It's your old faithful Bell....only I've not been very
faithful, eh? Sorry to leave you all alone like that
....since mine is the only blog
in the whole entire world and all....

What has happened in this past week?
Well, spring has sprung out all over.
We had the loveliest Easter weekend. Warm weather and sunshine. Family. Fun. Great food. Laughing children. Beauty all around. I have had the windows open more this year than I ever remember doing in the past (perhaps because Big E's air born allergies don't seem to be so bad this year). So nice to have the fresh air. And guess what I have? (Thanks to Lloyd Dobbler and Mr. Popsicle) I have forsythia bushes! I have wanted some for a long time and this winter LD and his botanical buddy found me some and transplanted them to our yard. They are just babies and I honestly didn't expect them to have any blooms at all in this their first year. But they have lovely little yellow flowers just like the big ones.
Don't you just love to see forsythia bushes?
And the red bud trees and the apple blossoms?
Beautiful.
Buttercups and tulips
and everything just swaying so peacefully in the breeze.
Just gorgeous.

Also, this past week, my lovely Lovely K entered double digits---that's right, I am now the parent of a ten year old. Can't believe that it's been a decade since that child came onto the scene. It's really hard to remember how things were before these children started showing up. How they have changed my life--enriched it, directed it, filled it to overflowing. She is just such an amazing girl. She always has been (and I hope she always will be) absolutely her own person. Sometimes I find myself wanting her to "follow the herd" and just do what everyone else is doing, but I love that she is independent and somewhat immune to peer pressure. She follows the beat of her own drum. Sometimes the beat gets a little wild, but she is just such a fun person. Add some maturity and wisdom to that drum beat and we'll have the most beautiful music.
What a joy she has been to me in these ten years.
A definite gift from God!

Lloyd Dobbler's parents were here for the Easter weekend and the birthday. We had a very enjoyable visit with them. Baby J kind of got out of sorts, but we have since re-sorted him.

After the grandparents went home and the birthday was over, it was kind of hard to settle back into normal school work and such. Perhaps it is a bit of spring fever that is making me want to toss aside the books and just let everyone go outside and soak in the sun. It's hard to keep the students on task when the teacher is having to reign herself in.

I have pictures. I could just go downstairs and get the camera and slap them up here for you....but I also have this nice comfy bed right behind me, whispering my name. It's just Baby J and me in the quiet house right now and he is fast asleep.....I could steal a little nap......and you can see the pictures later. It'll give you a reason to come back.....