Last week I was rushing to get the boys out of the door. I was saying things like, “just get your shoes on” and “just come here and I’ll do it myself”. In the middle of my dark cloud, Paxy made up a song and sang it in this super happy tone. “Emotional feelings are bad right now….emotional feelings are bad”! It was just what I needed to put me in a better place. Pax is nuts, but he’s also super aware and swift. He’s surprising.

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I’ve been very bad at keeping up with all of the pictures that we take. This thoughtful Pax with a penguin is from Christmas time, but I really like it. Paxy named this penguin Joey. Joey played with both of the boys through the glass for a very long time. He took such an interest and it was really lovely to watch. Totally different unlikely friends they made. Pax still talks about how he wants to visit with Joey again and that he misses that wonderful penguin. He cried when we had to leave here.

Uncle Dougy took this picture in Philadelphia at Christmastime too. I like it because the boys’ personalities really show in it. “Hey boys! Quick – be yourselves!”

Below is just a little bit of adorable brothers. They get like this when they watch something spooky on the TV.

This Uno graffiti is right down the street from Uncle Dougy’s house. And Ian having an Uno card is because I always carry a game of some sort in my endless backpack. It’s been Uno for a very long time, and I’m ready to change it, but I can’t find anything better. So Uno it remains.

Below is my beautiful daughter hanging out before going to a dance with her friends. I love the way she’s looking at Paxy and I love the colorless environment around her. I think it makes her look like a bird of paradise in a stark land.

Beautiful besties’ night out! Matilda, Cassidy, Molly and Savannah

Who remembers Fairy Godmother? Yup, she’s still with us in all of her fluffy glory. Below is a picture of Hugo spending some quality time with her. She’s wrapped in a towel because she’s drying off after having a bubble bath (her fluffy feet were getting a little poopy).

Speaking of famous chickens, I should mention that not only is Schloppy also still with us, but he has taken over as being head rooster of the entire flock! Congratulations Schloppy! You may be a lovely little Cochin Bantam, but your leadership qualities and your big heart have brought you to great places.

This heart print in flour below was made by Paxy’s tongue.

And next is Hugo and Hercules having a moment together in the morning.

Usually I’m writing or putting up pictures about everything that’s already happened. The best time of the day is early morning, making coffee when everyone’s asleep. And this morning is particularly special because it’s snowing. Last week it was spring – full on mud season. It was lovely. Then this biting cold blew in and the night went down to 17 degrees. Now, we seem to be back in winter. I mostly don’t like it because I’ve gotten a taste of springtime and my memory of how lovely that season feels is not a distant one anymore. But there’s a smaller part of me that can’t help but get excited about a snow storm.

I just now took that picture! It’s hard to tell, but there’s a lot of tiny snowflakes falling. It’s the kind of snowfall that will last for many hours, not like the flakes that are enormous and magical and fleeting. There are 3 big cats in a circle at my feet and Peaches curled up asleep in a box of firewood by the door (she looks as uncomfortable as that sentence makes her sound. There are many times that I wonder why she’s made the choices that she has about where to rest).

Hugo’s finally up. 9:00 in the morning – I can’t believe how much time I just had! That was lovely. Now I have to make some morning hot chocolates. Happy Saturday all!