The Ides of March have come and gone

An astute reader may infer from the title of this post that, as a high school English teacher, I've recently been teaching Shakepeare's tragedy Julius Caesar. The ides of April will be upon us soon enough.  The "ides" is simply the 15th, or middle, of the month. But,the ides sounds so much more ominous, thanks to that great line from the drama.

We've partied it up for Leo's 2nd birthday and included both of his sets of grandparents and two of his great-grandmothers. We ate some over boiled hot dogs, which came out with the texture of those Vienna sausages that can be purchased at the store. Marian made a rich lemon cake with yellow coconut frosting in the shape of a teddy bear. Spicy gum drops for paws and other features completed the bear. Leo is pretty well attached to one teddy bear and has insisted on sleeping with it for nearly a year, I suppose. I don't see any slackening in that desire any time soon.

Jack's birthday is coming up and I hope to see the same invitation list on that day. They are both such good boys, of course. We like to sit on the couch sometimes when I get home to talk. I've found that if you speak to them as if they were capable of understanding, not in any kind of "baby" talk, they will try their best to do the same. I've found if I'll shut up, they'll talk to me

It's difficult to find time to play with Jack and Leo the way they want me to. I've always got three other things that need doing. I'll often force myself to take a step back and realize that's my son or both my sons wanting me to spend time with them. Keeping this perspective forefront in my mind, it's easy to invest my most precious commodity into building a good relationship with my sons. That, I hope, is the result of spending all the time with them: a healthy relationship. I want them to trust me. I try to express to them often that they can come talk to Mare and I about anything.

It is difficult to answer Jack's questions, at times. He wants to know why. But sometimes his questions are hard to answer because I don't quite know what it is he truly wants to know. His questions, if they were asked from an adult, would not make any sense. For instance, "How does the spaghetti need to boil longer?"

"The spaghetti needs to boil longer to soften the noodles." I'll say.

"How?"

I've still many tasks to complete on the "to-do" list before the new baby arrives but, I've made some progress and can see some of those crossed out items, and that makes me feel better. The warmer, more dry weather, has helped.

Mare has been digging up our yard in the back yard to plant raspberry bushes. Each shovelful, she must sift the gravel out of  the soil then replace it back in its hole. It's a lot of work for her, for fear of messing up digging, she won't allow me to help.

I believe I've 40 some days until summer vacation where the play will be produced, a trip to South Dakota will happen, and then the to-do list task elimination will begin in earnest.

That is unless my sons ask me to play with them.

Love to all.
cb