ok, more 'spring is here' style gloating today, which now that I think of it, will surely bite me in the ass. I packed up all the winter stuff and put it away today, which of course, means that we will get more snow. Right? You know what I mean. All I'm sayin' is I'm not taking off the snow tires yet.
Anyhow, for now, we are enjoying the weather. By being outside, and then going outside again, and then having lunch outside ("a PICNIC mom! What do you think of that good idea!") and then heading off to the park. Oh, and also, we're gardening. note: he asked me to take this picture today, of him 'driving' the garden cart. So that he could look at it on the camera later when we were inside. Such a child of the times.
And by "we" I mean "the Little Dude". He told me when he got up today that that was his plan, "I'm going to pop outside and do some gardening soon." he says to me. "pop outside" is his new favourite phrase. It is so, so funny to hear your own words coming out of your kids' mouth. I never get tired of it. You'll note that though these pictures were taken on the same day, he is wearing different clothes. This is due to the fact that he completely soaked himself during the early part of the afternoon, as he gleefully used the hose to wash his little wheel barrow, pretend lawnmower and anything else in close proximity. Including his father. ahem. But after the outfit change, GranGran and Grandpapa joined us for dinner, and then his ever kind and patient Gran went out with him after dinner to garden some more. She is so good to that kid.
Of course, gardening when you are three and a half is not quite as close to your conventional definition as you'd think. For L.D. it mainly involves doing a lot of digging and more importantly, finding worms. And grubs. And any kind of creepy crawly you can imagine.
Which then get deposited into a bucket or two...
...so they can be looked at and poked at and looked at some more. Before we eventually release them. I've stipulated the catch and release policy and I am unbending on it. I know they are only worms, but we don't leave them in buckets to die in the sunlight. After we've satisfied our curiosity, back into the dirt they go. I've explained that they have a job to do and must not be denied their purpose. And at the end of it all we have to get rid of the weeds that we've pulled. Or rather, that GranGran has pulled. He loves that little wheelbarrow. Best five bucks I ever spent at a garage sale.
Anyhow, I'm sure there will be more pleas for gardening time tomorrow. I must admit, I find it hard to be outside as much as he'd like to be in these early days of spring. Not that I don't enjoy being outside, but there is so much for me to do inside, food has to be made, sewing deadlines have to be met, and frankly, the very mobile, into-everything-baby is quite a chore to stay on top of when we are outside. Half the garden goes into his mouth every time I turn around (worms and all). Ah well, I'll have to figure something out. Maybe I'll have to set up a sewing table outside? Hm....
this is truly delightful and rings true for our kids as well, esp. the digging and the finding of critters and the DEEP joy they get in doing this. I *love* than Gran is there to work/enjoy/be patient -- what a huge blessing all the way around.
Posted by: Marcia Van Drunen | 03/25/2012 at 08:06 AM