Rounds and finery and feasting

The past three nights Hudson has wedged himself into the chair and joined Helena and me for our evening rock. We have sung "Row, row, row your boat" and Hudson is determined to sing it round-style so I have him start and Helena usually chimes in with him, but inevitably when I start in, they lose their words and join mine. It's cute. Harper does not like to feel crowded so she retires to her room and probably wishes she didn't mind being crowded quite so much. Tonight Sasha even joined us. She does not mind being crowded ever. Based on the feral howl she emits when we leave her home alone (the one a neighbor overheard a few weeks ago which caused him to come over, and with great concern, ask after her. I assured him that though one might think from the sound of it that she was caught in a bear trap, her anguish is purely emotional) I think she might have a nice singing voice if she ever decides to join in.

On the subject of rounds, Helena has learned to catch a ball. She enjoys this activity heartily and would do it for many many hours at a time if she had a willing partner. Since there is only one partner who is willing to toss the ball very lightly directly into her outstretched arms, and then not mind at all if it takes her a minute or two to finally get around to tossing it back, and since that partner is generally needing to unload the dishwasher or get dinner started, she gets about 10 minutes a day, if she is lucky.

We went to the magical indoor playscape this morning, and Harper at one point had 5 other kids following her around and she said, in a very authoritative voice, "NOW, we will Have School." and they all sat very politely in a little circle around her and turned their faces upward. I was VERY curious as to what might come out next--would she teach them the Greek alphabet? Would she explain the meaning of 'soporific' as it is used in the opening lines of "The Flopsy Bunnies"? She paused, rather dramatically, and said, "WELL, then, it is TIME for recess!" I realize this is not a direct indictment against our rather laid-back approach to schooling at this point, but it felt a little like that. I am finally reading Susan Wise Bauer's book on the classical education at home. It's inspiring, but rather daunting. TIME for recess, indeed.

'Tis the season for kids to refuse to pose for photographs while dressed in cute clothes:


I wore my wedding dress to church. I think it's the third time I've worn it on Easter since we got married. I like the symbolism.

And as for the feasting, we three moms of our Wednesday play group had a lovely evening out, sponsored by Mrs. B's father-in-law as a going away gift. We dined at a restaurant called Feast and shared delicious food, delightfully uninterrupted conversation, and later, an enormous piece of chocolate cake. Sweet times.