Birthday and Gram

The past week was a wonderful one because.....my mom came! It was so much fun having here for a few days and to say she's sorely missed would be an understatement. That little taste of what it's like to have grandparents nearby made me greedy for more, haha. It was a weird week too because Henri had testing all week so there was no homework (a happy thing!) which led to us packing our afternoons with fun stuff.
Speaking of Henri, she had a birthday! #6. I feel like this is definitely her last year of being a little kid. 7 seems like it's the age of responsibility and duty. 6, you can still get away with stuff. She got her wish of Chik fil A for dinner, and an apple pie from Gram. It was a fun day :)

Ok, these first 2 refuse to load in order. Yesterday we met up with the folks in Maine to trade off the fruits of an Ikea trip for maple syrup.

It was cold and rainy and windy and my kids acted like it was 85 and sunny.

Back in order! At playgroup. One of the moms sent me this. Hudson decided L was hungry, got out a bottle, checked it was the right level and properly mixed, and fed him. His mom had half an eye on him so it was fine, but Hudson is totally convinced he's a better parent than anyone else. It makes babysitting and nursery duty very easy.

Rainy day, home from school, Hudson still asleep in the car, so we sat up front and read.

All the trees have bloomed.

Spent a morning at the "creek" in our woods. 

He's pretty happy with this shirt.

They had a tea party at playgroup and made "teacups" from baby food jars. He's drunk out of his since (and added a drink umbrella to really jazz things up).

Totally borrowed this from here and made 16 of them for Henri's classmates to celebrate her birthday. Gone are the blissful days of sending in cupcakes or some such thing (food allergies) or balloons (latex allergies, choking hazard). But I had a ton of fun hunting down items to put in them, and other than mixing vast quantities of playdough up, it was an easy gift.

Friday we went to an Audubon to check out all the old watermill runs. 

Mushroom tree

After we picked up Henri we swung by Drumlin so Mom could meet the baby sheep, and Henri could play in the tack room. 

All set up for the big day!

6!!!!!! and a photobomber...

We went to diner for breakfast so Henri could have her Nutella stuffed french toast, then headed to Concord to tour the Old North Bridge and visitor center.

Home for some bead fun; we went out for dinner and ran in to friends who had a gift for Hen in the car. Random but exciting. 

Gram's amazing apple pie. Also, mint chocolate chip ice cream. 

 Back to Concord. 

According to our wall, she grew 2" this year.

Mom said no pictures of her, but this is a nice one :) After the visitor center Henri, Mom, and I toured Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House and learned all kinds of interesting stuff about her and her family. 

Sunday was church, and then we walked another Audubon trail where it poured. I've only hiked in decent weather ONCE with Steve, so clearly he's the problem.

Once home Henri built stadium seating to watch the guys play baseball. 

Tuesday Mom had to go home, so after I dropped her off at the bus I solaced myself with a trip to the thrift store (very successful in the clothing department, too!) and Hudson sweet talked me in to a skateboard. 

Wednesday we went to a track meet after school to support some of the teens in our church. It was freezing and the starter's gun was not to Hudson's liking, but they did pretty well and one of the girls came in first with a PR at the hurdles!

....then he found the pig costume and it stayed on pretty much 24/7 for the next few days

More Tea prep. Fun with chalk paint.

On Monday we went to Ikea with mom and I picked up these buckets to turn into planters. Hudson "helped" me pound holes in them. 

Piggie eating his lunch....

After a pricey trip to Home Depot, my herb garden!!!! We'll see if anything survives. It's been 3 days and so far everything is still green.

Piggie reading "St. George and the Dragon" and going grocery shopping.

Back where we started, at Maine. 

And digging. 

That's the highlights! Or at least, what was on the phone. We got to flex our creative muscles and paint scenery at Hen's school for the older grade's upcoming play, somehow we ate at Chik fil A three times in a week's span, and it's back to regular life tomorrow.