Auntie Boo's Garden

We call my little sister Auntie Boo.  Come to think of it, all of us call her Boo. Anyhooters, she's totally into the gardening scene and schooled me in all her ways during her visit a few weeks ago. She's going to be so proud that not only have I not killed the lovely garden, in fact, it is growing beautifully. The ability to quickly run into the backyard for fresh dinner is totally radical.

Auntie Boo, this one's for you.

Americana

It feels weird to post such a straight forward picture of us all posed and smiling and oozing Americana. I cringe a little, but then I realize that, in fact, what you see is what you get, and what you're getting is pretty damn cute so...there you have it. We're Americana. Uhhum, I just vomited in my mouth a smidge.

Plus, it turns out I have really great hair in New Orleans.

I want to pause for a second and talk about the oil spill and how, for a few short days, I spent some time with people who are most affected by it. Thing is, you would have never known it.  It reminded me very much of the time I spent in South Africa. Although the circumstances are entirely different, the people exuded a similar sense of community, a similar sense of strength in their togetherness.  No one was depressed, at least outwardly, and no one seemed to be interested in self-pity.  Instead, I saw people eating delicious traditional food saying, "We better eat it up while we still can."All of this fortitude in the face of negligent billion dollar companies who couldn't give a shit about them.

I don't mean to lesson the significance of their experience, and I don't think they did either. It's unfair of me to think I have any idea what they might be going through. That said, I was deeply impressed by their resilience and ability to rise and rise again. It's a culture of celebration, one which seemed to understand the importance of community.

Traveling with our brood is an enormous pain in the ass, but I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything.  Watching Eva experience the world for the first time is a total kick.  Soon, Miles will get to experience the same stuff, but for now his universe consists of to two large orbs located on my chest.

Another guestimate

A similar kind of question to the one I asked my family.

How many Hatzenbuehlers does it take to zip up a graduation gown?

Answer: One graduate to zip, two parents to direct, an auntie to wrangle the three year old, the three year old to be wrangled, a daddy to entertain the baby, and a dare devil baby.

Oh, and we mustn't forget...one in-law to take the picture.

Week of The Mama, Taking Homemaker Very Seriously

You guys, I totally planted a garden. Ok, I may not have planted a garden as much as I bossed my family around until they planted a garden. We bought this house knowing 90% of the work needed to happen on the outside (see the pile of asphalt in the left corner?) Last summer, Ferris and his buds put in the grass and the fence.  This spring has been all about the garden and filling in the perimeter with all sorts of pretty things.  Basically, My Mother the Prude (who grew up on a farm) bosses me about what and where to plant, and then I boss the minions. Everybody wins.

And, yes, Eva is totally rocking the tights and rain boots.

Week of The Mama, Eva's Birthday

Amy of A Commonplace Life is working on a project by posting about mothers every day in May.  Wanting to participate in some way but also knowing I'd be setting myself up for failure if I committed to post every day, I've decided to bite off only as much as I can chew. So, this week, I'll be posting every day about mothers, mothering, moms, etc.

Eva was born less than a week before Mother's Day making it almost impossible for me to separate the two. The Sunday after she was born, Ferris framed the first picture I took of them which I still keep on my desk.  I was undone, that morning, as I am each Mother's Day. 

This year was Eva's first 'big girl' birthday party and the first with Miles there, as well.  We felt complete. I felt complete. The spring was springing, everyone was feeling happy and hopeful, the day was long and lovely. It was a moment that defines who I am...as an individual and a mother. Celebrating Eva's birthday and Mother's Day, together, makes me feel very proud of that.