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So, nature day has returned now that nice weather has returned. This was Sunday (w/ Art's friend Archer) at the  Eloise Butler  Wildflower  Garden . Or rather, near it, as the actual garden was closed. We walked in all sorts of fun trails nearby.

Arthur's class at Barton and three others piled into a couple buses for a field trip at a big fancy suburban park. I came to help, sort of, and mostly to just observe the controlled chaos. As I wrote on Facebook , I somehow forgot how loud and chaotic an elementary school bus can be. Teachers really are amazing, able to stay calm and deal only with stuff that truly needs dealing with. In some ways, chaos = learning experience. At the park they had a 'talent show'. Art pogo-ed...and pogo-ed and pogo-ed until they brought out the figurative hook. His good friend Archer did some AWESOME KUNG FU! When I'm able I plan on going on these things to be with and love on my Art as long as he lets me. I'm anticipating we'll be filed into the "I don't want to be seen with my parents' column any day. But not yet! Art and his friend Mohamed. A class portrait. Art's teacher co-teaches with the next door class, this is both ALL TOGETHER NOW! I did this because I...

A camera we thought was lost isn't. It reappeared and I just found these photos from it, including a happy Lewis:

"but there's one bad thing Papa, you killed Billy because your sword is sticking into her."

He got his own knife to cut the cheese into pieces and fit them nicely onto his cracker. I rather like it!

Helped the boys create little mother's day cards recently. Each kid thought of things that come to mind when they think of Mama. Arthur, 7: "Slepe, brd wochr, yume food, a good store talr, fast, pride (pretty...), good socr playr. Lewis, 5, paused and thought for a bit. Then he asked me to write "Mama, if you buy a watermelon, I will eat it." Every time I think of that I laugh out loud. His little brain trying to think of something nice about his ma but his overwhelming love of watermelon interfered.

Hello, Blog Readers.  Here is a short report from me, the Mo 1.  I am very happy to see things growing and turning green.  So are the kids and Ben.  We had a nature day on Sunday that was AWESOME.  I saw at least five birds I've never been able to see before, including a White Crowned Sparrow, a Red Bellied Woodpecker and an American Redstart.  And that was all just this Sunday!  There have been American Coots on Lake Harriet, a Purple Finch singing by Art's school and we've had both Yellow Warblers AND Yellow Rumped Warblers in the back yard!  2.  Lewis asked me what Yellow Rumped Warbler meant.  I told him that 'rump' was another name for butt and warbler is a kind of bird that sings.  He answered, "So that means it's a bird that sings with it's butt!?"  We got a hearty laugh.  I explained it meant the rump was supposed to be yellow, and that he is the only one who sings with his butt because he farts a lot.  (More laughing.) 3.  I've...

At Fort Snelling State Park :

Look how expressive Lewis' arms are. His whole upper body just exudes dissapointment and sadness. He was upset about something thing happened at the park, I forget what, but I remember being so impressed at how his body reflected his mood.

I've been in Chicago for the past few days shooting NHL hockey . I miss the family but have had a lovely little vacation of sorts. Home tomorrow!