The Accidental Boilermaker

 Spring is here! We have watched a lot of basketball this weekend but today we all went on a 4 mile bike ride. Evelyn recently got a new bike and we convinced Jameson to move up to Evelyn’s old bike. At first he wanted to, but then he changed his mind because it’s a girls bike. Which it is but no one will notice. (We usually try to purchase gender neutral things but this bike we bought used from a friend long before Evelyn was ever ready for it.) Plus it has gears so he can go faster which is both a good and bad thing.  

 Last year I made a big deal about St. Patrick’s day because everything had just shut down and things were crazy so I shouldn’t have been surprised when Evelyn started planning her leprechaun trap. But I was a little like really we have to do this again?  This year the leprechaun was less sneaky and more treat-y.  Evelyn was pretty excited when she saw her box in the morning.  The trap had been triggered but there was a leprechaun sized hole in the bottom.  The leprechaun left lucky charms, green beads, gold coins, and fun St Patty’s day socks.  Even more exciting than leprechauns, today was Hans’ first birthday. Evelyn and Jameson made cupcakes so we could celebrate with Hans over zoom.

Evelyn had her Achievement in Music piano assessment today. She prepared two songs and was also tested on scales, sight reading, and aural theory. Nate said she loved every minute. Her piano teacher will give Evelyn her score at her next lesson.  Nate and I were a little worried Evelyn was overdressed.  But then we thought Covid has taken away a lot of our dress-up occasions, why not let her wear her Christmas dress. Nate later said it seemed most everyone was in their Sunday best.  Jameson went to a park district basketball clinic while Evelyn was playing piano. Nate took both of them last Saturday so I was excited to watch Jameson this time. He did a great job listening and being patient. His first partner was a little distracted/uninterested in participating so Jameson just waited and the coach came back and switched up his partner with another boy. They did a great job passing the ball back and forth. 

 It was read across America week! Monday was color day for Evelyn; first graders had to wear red. For Jameson it was Cat in the Hat day, wear stripes and a hat. Evelyn is wearing the hat but it isn’t the hat that Jameson wore.  Tuesday was Fox in Sox, wear silly socks, for Evelyn. For Jameson it was Oh the Places You’ll Go, dress up like what you want to be when you grow up. Jameson wants to be a runner.  Wacky Wednesday for everyone. Thursday was Oh the Places You’ll Go for Evelyn, wear a college t-shirt. Fox in Sox day for Jameson. Nate’s donut socks were very popular.  Finally Friday - Cat in the Hat day for Evelyn.  For Jameson it was dress up as your favorite book character. Meet Tacky the Penguin. We already has the bow tie and Jameson didn’t mind that it wasn’t the same color.

 Today was Nate’s birthday. The kids and I planned to wake up when Nate was in the shower so we could bring down his presents and then they decided to hide and surprise him when he walked downstairs. We kept that lights off and Evelyn hid on the steps to the basement, Jameson hid under the table, and I was on the couch.  They got him good, really scared him.  Evelyn got a cookbook for her birthday and she wanted to try the carrot cake cupcake recipe.  They turned out good; not the prettiest cupcakes, but that’s ok. Evelyn and Jameson had fun frosting the carrot on top.  Evelyn gave Nate a new travel coffee mug and Jameson picked out a police slot car. I got Nate a new kind of whiskey to try. We also gave him some good local bacon and some jerky.