Spring On The Farm

A year ago, our city friends gave up their urban life to become farmers in the hills of Kentucky.  Yesterday, we had the chance to visit them and see the their animals, including the spring babies.

As always, little one brought her sincere enthusiasm to the entire experience.  She held the turkey chicks, collected eggs, fed the goats, watched the lambs be bottle fed, and cleaned the barn.

While middle kiddo kept a wise and respectful distance from the farm animals, big girl's favorites were the eight Schnauzer puppies.

Dinner was delicious: lasagna with farm raised pork sausage and creme brulee prepared by our friends and a salad with a home made dressing from us.

And then we were sent home with some more house-made pork sausage and all of the eggs Emilia had collected.

It was a lovely and educational visit.  We hope to be back.

Easter 2022

After two years of Easter with just the five of us, we had a fun weekend hosting extended family, including my mom who's here from Germany, for a brunch on Saturday followed by a special breakfast and egg hunt on Sunday.

Our traditional Easter eggs dyed with onion skins.

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German streusel cake made by Oma (aka my Mama).

Books, a mug and candy for each of our girls,
bacon and a button for our boy.

This girl loves backyard hunts...

... as well as examining her loot.

Happy Easter!

What The Doctors Didn't Mention

Ten years ago, they didn't tell us how his laughter would ring through the house, how his eyes would sparkle with mischief, and how quickly his feet would move in pursuit of an idea.  They didn't predict his love of the outdoors, his interest in how stuff works, and his incredible sense of smell.  No one mentioned that he would be funny, making jokes and understanding humor in daily life and even laughing at himself.  The doctors didn't chart his persistence and curiosity and didn't prognosticate a zest for adventure and fun of many kinds.  They didn't prepare us for his fierce loyalty to family and for the ways he would show his care for each of us.  Pages upon pages of medical reports didn't note his sweet affection and devoted love for those who are lucky enough to make their way into his heart.

Few words of hope were spoken into two new parents ten years ago.  And yet...

Happy birthday, son.  You are, as your little sister likes to say, so much.  You made us parents and no doubt some parts of us have gotten a little worse for the wear since you arrived in our lives.  But you've also made us better, wiser, kinder, stronger human beings who don't sweat the small stuff and who can live in the moment without losing sight of the big picture.  We love you.

I Am

On Sunday, Emilia's first season of dance at the Cincinnati Ballet came to an end with a performance in the Community Showcase.  While she gave her best on stage, the moment that touched my heart the most and showed me how much progress she has made occurred when we arrived at the center for a final pre-show rehearsal.  The reception staff was checking dancers' names off a list and called out to us when we walked in the door.  Before I could answer their question about Emilia's name, she had walked up and responded for herself, loud and clear, "I am Emilia Martini, ballerina."

Five little words signifying a new confidence, improved social skills, self-advocacy and purpose.  Five little words that mean so much.

Academic Progress

Yesterday, we had the annual IEP meeting for our youngest and we were proud to show off the results of her ending IEP.  Thanks to the hard work of Miss Honey (we miss you), current teachers Miss A and Miss E, and our daughter, nearly all objectives were met.  In addition to this high level of mastery on the IEP, our little girl has gained many other new skills and knowledge over the last 12 months that have not been formally tracked and measured.  Progress is evident.  Home school is working.

And now on to her new IEP with nine goals, totaling 26 objectives.  We can do it!

In-Home Therapy

We absolutely love the opportunities that daily in-home therapy provides for our middle kiddo.  Once a month, he hones his shopping skills and then attends a small group cooking class the next day, using what he purchased. He had so much fun at Target today choosing the ingredients for tomorrow's class.

St. Patrick's Day 2022

There's only one of us here who can claim to have some Irish ancestry, so this day isn't really a big deal for us.  But last year, just for fun, I planned a little leprechaun hunt for Emilia.  It turns out it was memorable because she asked to do it again in 2022.  So, for today, I threw together a quick leprechaun hunt - we didn't catch it, but we did find its treasure - and a few other fun activities for home school.

Treats for neighborhood friends

Also on this day in history amid my current efforts to clean out the freezer, I defrosted a tub of mystery contents.  It turned out to be mashed sweet potato when I had thought that it might be soup or stew.  So, there I was with about two cups of sweet potato.  I quickly adjusted dinner plans and turned this surprise ingredient (in baking competitions they call it the twist) into burgers by combining it with  ingredients from a few different recipes I'd reviewed online (garbanzo beans, fresh cilantro and green onion, cumin, chili powder, salt, breadcrumbs and eggs).  It turned out to be a healthy and satisfying meal.