The girls have been horrible at night lately. It’s getting better, but there was a stint last week where they were up every couple hours. Normally we’d just feel bad and let them cry until they fell asleep, but they’re both recovering from an ear aches and it’s still hard to distinguish between real pain and a continual and UNJUSTIFIED desire to nurse. When we can confirm they’re both back in top form there is no doubt in my mind that we will let them SCREAM LIKE BABY BANSHEES and not do a thing about it except a periodic pat on the back. PERIODIC PAT ON THE BACK! Anyway, yesterday they woke up a little after five and it was clear they felt they were awake for the day. I hauled them out of their cribs and sat with them on the living room couch in a sleepy haze as they snuggled. I was not feeling the love for them, these two sniffling blobs of misery keeping me awake. And then, like a miracle, my mother emerged from her dungeon bedroom in the basement and took the twin sleep preventers. What a gift. I went back to bed and she sat there until we all woke at a reasonable hour. Thanks so much, Ma!

A while back I was heading home and was shocked the sky darkened by birds. Thousands and thousands of crows. I raced home and got the kids and we went back to watch. And I took some video (which ran today with a little story).

I came home and had to stay out of the kitchen. “Don’t come in here, Papa!” I was told many times. My birthday was nearly two weeks ago so it was a real surprise they came out of the kitchen with a cake (pineapple upside-down cake!). Art was so incredibly proud. Apparently he did the bulk of the work on the thing (under my mom’s direction).

Since snow has been more or less entirely absent this winter, I thought it worth sharing some fun photos Jessica took from a massive storm last year on December 11th. The kind of snow that makes the world silent and entirely transformed.

Kids play with the homeade light table.

Jessica teaches preschool twice a week at MacRae Park not far from our house. I’m proud and impressed that she does this on many levels. She started it not long after her mother died and nearly cancelled the preschool entirely (with support from me). But she didn’t, she tried to do it through her grief and emotional ups and downs. She started the preschool and from all accounts from her, it was a disaster. For two main reasons. She had to hold the preschool in a gym, meaning she had to completely set up and dismantle everything (she wasn’t allowed to hold class in the beautiful empty classroom nearby). So the space wasn’t quiet or conducive to peaceful exploration. And the other reason is she had some behavior challenges that took most of her energy during class. A bummer for everyone. She was often overwhelmed and in tears about the situation.

She nearly quit. But again, didn’t. Instead, she reached out for support from a special education specialist and did her best. Then the second session started with less kids and on top of that Jessica was able to hold preschool in the beautiful classroom, complete with sink, fridge, nearby kitchen, great big windows, etc. She’s spend hours scouring the web and the library for advice and ideas and inspiration for her preschool and the result is a wonderful little space for children to connect and feel safe to learn and explore. She comes home now happy and excited and spends time planning and practicing songs or new activities with me and the boys. She’s inspired and inspiring. I’m so proud of her!

Here’s a blog she started:
http://musicandmakebelieve.blogspot.com/