The singing of birds...

Today it is 45 degrees and I can hear birds singing. I have missed birds. Behind the fitness facility at Lands' End there is now a big patch of bare ground. Today I saw about 7 robins hopping around there getting some grub. This nice weather (above freezing) is supposed to last through next week, which is nice since it will be spring break. You know, it's nice for spring break to be springy. Not that we have any fabulous plans. But if we're just going to be kicking around it would be nice to have some decent weather. So what is everyone else doing for spring break? What exciting plans do YOU have? If you say you're coming to Wisconsin to visit me you'll make my month! Which reminds me, as it stands it looks like my cousin Karen is going to win the contest. She'll be coming April 11th. Anyone going to try to edge her out? I LOVE having company and I am thrilled that Karen is getting a chance to take a break from her hectic life and come have fun with me. It really made my month-(don't worry, there are 9 more months to be made this year- and if we have to we can break it down to making my weeks!) Anyway- my original point, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, the snow is melting- it's a glorious day!

Daylight savings...

Saving my sanity, that is. Granted, getting up has been a bit difficult, but it is sooooo wonderful to have the daylight longer in the evening. My kids were able to stay out playing last night until almost 7:00, and it wasn't dark yet when they came in. Lincoln can work until 7pm and it doesn't feel like it's the middle of the night when he gets home. I've noticed that winter is very quietly melting away. It's very subtle, there are no rushing streams of melting snow. It's been just a little bit above freezing, so the snow just seeps down into the earth and I look out and realize that I can see a little more of my flower bed. Won't the slow seeping help ward off drought this summer too? So no bursting blossoms or vibrant green grass, it'll be a while before that happens, but I'm enjoying the gradual emergence of bare ground. We also have a storm door on our house. I've never had a storm door but have always wanted one. It's so nice to be able to open the main door and let the warm sunshine flood our home. My kids enjoy it too. This is after school snack time.


When the kids come in from playing and they are chilled through, they, of course, like to have a cup of hot cocoa. Devon was so cute with his cocoa the other day that I snapped a few photos of him.




And Jenn-Lee, I've been fighting the urge to buy fresh flowers for a month and a half now, but after your post I've decided to go ahead and splurge tomorrow when I go to the store! Thanks! Fresh flowers are so springy and cheerful. (Plus this is an indulgence that would be beneficial to my body and state of mind, rather than the Cadbury Mini Eggs that call to me from around every corner in the store this time of year.)

That's a goooood cupcake! (Thanks Jenn-Lee for the video help!)

Jesse walking! (And his new hoodie I made him)

Outdoor Fun

For all of my whining about this long winter, I've got to say, we'll take it over the hot southern summers. My children truly have northern blood running in their veins. They have played outside more this winter than they did all year long in Charlotte. Seriously. They go outside every day after school. In fact, we've had neighbors tell us how grateful they are that our kids get THEIR kids to go outside and be active too. Kennedy occasionally goes door to door with the neighbor boy offering to remove snow or ice from people's driveway for $3 for each of them. (No takers yet.) They dig forts and clubhouses in the snowbanks, and they slide on the ice. This can be dangerous, however. Saturday Julia came in crying because the neighbor kid jumped on her while she was sliding and she banged her head on the ice. She had a big ol' purple golf ball on her forehead. I tried to take a picture of it but she wouldn't let me. (She's so vain!) Ice, ironically, did the trick and the swelling went down, but she still has a bit of a bruise. The little ones don't get out as often because I have to dress them and I'm lazy, but Devon, at least has been getting out more and more too. When we were in NC, they rarely went outside in the summer for any length of time, unless we were at the pool, and they had no snow to make winter outdoor time exciting so they didn't go out much then either. Anyway, I'm just happy to see them being active and getting fresh air. My memories of my own childhood are filled with stuff we did outside-playing in the haymow, walking the brook, playing in the tree house, catching crayfish, playing freeze-tag-under-the-legs, riding horses, sledding, skating, digging snowdrift tunnels, playing fox and geese, jumping in leaf piles, floating boats down swollen spring streams and ditches, playing in the meadow in the huge puddles in our swimsuits during a summer rain, riding on the hay wagon, inner tubing or swimming at the river, stacking up the inner tubes on the lawn under the maple tree and jumping on them, picking carrots and tomatoes from the garden and eating them on the go, climbing the apple tree, picking daisy's, playing at The Fallen Log, wandering in the woods, playing on the big rocks in the pasture, going to the barn with Dad to do the chores, always always always outside. I long for my children to have that. They are finally getting outside, but we just don't have the acreage here to let them really strike out on their own and discover the land like we did as kids. I would love to settle down on a piece of land with a brook running through it. I'd like a small barn where we could keep a couple horses. I'd like a big garden so I could preserve lots of my own food. But for now, we're enjoying being outside, taking advantage of the parks nearby, prepping for a decent garden this year, and making the most of what we DO have. And speaking of gardens and such, it's supposed to be 41 degrees tomorrow-and sunny! 5 days this week will be above freezing! Spring really IS coming! Hurray!

Spring is just around the corner? Really?

Look here and scroll down to our weather for the next few days.
Need I say more?

It's Kennedy. Really.

So it's really not me commenting on my own blog all the time. It's Kennedy but I'm still the signed in user. I'm not just trying to look popular by increasing my number of comments. To one. 'Cause that would just make me look pathetic. Not popular.

The Latest

Jesse is walking! I wouldn't say he's a fulltime walker just yet, but he will be in a couple days. He's progressed very quickly from first steps a few days ago to walking 50% of the time now. He has kind of a sideways walk, so cute. If I could get video to work for me on here anymore I'd include one. So my baby is weaned and walking. Weaning was very bittersweet for me, knowing I would never nurse another baby. (No comments from the peanut gallery about never say never or wasn't RENIE your last one too? or any other smart-alec-y remark).
In other news, I thought it would be fun to post some photos of projects I've been working on.
A hat with a big flower for Renie

A sock monkey blanket and hat for my new niece or nephew. I don't think my brother reads my blog, but if he does, Surprise! It'll be in the mail soon!

I painted our light wood non-descript generic barstools in fun colors that match our decor. (That one isn't pink, it's terra cotta and the other one is yellow, not cream). I also screwed the tops on so they don't spin anymore- it was noisy and the kids would spin them all the way in one direction until they came off.

I painted the stairway and we hung a Sacred Grove print there. That was a challenge. We stacked books on the stairs and then stood a ladder with one leg on the stairs and one on the stack of books on the step below. Then Lincoln held the ladder while I inserted anchors and hung the artwork. It weighs a ton (it's a good thing I've been working out) but we both felt better about Lincoln being the ladder holder than the ladder climber. I also recently installed a banister guard to keep our children from plunging to their deaths down the stairs. It's clear plastic, look closely. We had baby gates there before so it looked cluttered and busy.

I hung curtain rods and curtains in the living room and dining room. They aren't the Pottery Barn dupioni silk ones I've had my eye on, but they add some color and a finishing touch to the spaces. (Look closely again and you'll see Jesse walking into the picture)


And finally, just some pictures of our exciting trip to Lowes I mentioned in a previous post.

Contest Announced!

I am announcing a contest. If you are my friend or family you are eligible for the contest. All you have to do is be the first person to come visit our family this year at Chez Tatro. The winner will receive free accommodations at Chez Tatro for an agreed upon length of stay. While staying at Chez Tatro you will enjoy complimentary meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, at Cafe Tatro. The majority of these meals will be home-cooked, prepared as you watch and visit with the chef. You will also receive free guided tours to area sights and attractions like Governor Dodge State Park, Historic Dubuque Iowa, Madison Zoo, *Yellowstone Lake State Park, historic Mineral Point (home of many art galleries and showrooms), Pecks Petting Farm, Tower Hill State Park, and hiking along the Wisconsin and/or Mississippi River. Your tour will include a drive by Frank Lloyd Wright's home, and to see the Wisconsin capitol building, if you desire. There are many other area attractions you may add to the package, but admission prices do apply. (Cave of the Mounds, Little Norway, Baraboo Circus Museum and Shows, The Children's Museum of Madison, American Players Theatre, The House on the Rock, The Wisconsin Dells). In the evenings you may participate in your choice of group activities like playing board games, watching movies, visiting until the wee hours of the morning, or playing HORSE in the driveway. You will have unlimited access to the Lands' End stae-of-the-art fitness facility including the pool, hot tub, gym, and indoor track. Daytime shopping excursions are available at the Lands' End Company store (sample products ar 75% off!) and our 40% off at the Lands' End retail store in downtown Dodgeville will be made available to you. You are welcome to bring your family with you to Chez Tatro to claim this fabulous prize.. (some pet restrictions apply). We look forward to seeing who the winner of this grand prize will be!

*Not to be confused with Yellowstone NATIONAL Park

Dubuque, IA, fabulous destination...no really!

Yesterday we decided for our Saturday fun we would drive to Dubuque, IA, or as Devon used to call it, Puke City. Dubuque is about the same distance from Dodgeville as Madison. I took the kids to Dubuque in the fall (that's when Devon thought it was called Puke City) and we drove around a bit looking for the shopping locations that were supposed to be there but we never found them. Instead we had ice cream at Mickey D's and came home. We saw some of the city and realized what an old historic place it is. So yesterday we decided it was time for Lincoln to see Dubuque and for us to go to Lowes- we haven't been in a Lowes since we left Charlotte and poor Mommy is suffering severe withdrawal symptoms. So here's what you need to know about Dubuque.
It's a very very small port city on the banks of the Mississippi River. It's the kind of old industrial city that makes me think of Pennsylvania cities like Pittsburgh. There is a very lovely new section on the river where you'll find the Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, a casino, and The Grand Resort and Waterpark. From here you can hike a waterfront trail on the banks of the Great River or board a riverboat cruise. This is very nice and it's great to see progress in an old city. As you go into the city itself it's really a mixed bag of gorgeous old restored Victorian buildings, newer buildings, and dilapidated Victorian buildings begging to be restored to their former glory. When Lincoln and I go back without the kids I'll get photos of some of the places in the city. So the city lies between the river and the sharply rising hills and cliffs climbing from the river valley. The last row of buildings on that level is a stretch of mid-1800s rowhouses. This old section has stretches of brick streets, big old trees, and the rowhouses are backed right up to the cliffs of the dells behind. This section is the one most in need of restoration. The wealthy of the city live up in the hills above the city, gazing out at the Mighty Mississipi. It's hard to even find your way up to the homes atop the hill but once there, your efforts are rewarded with unbelievable views and spectacular Victorian homes. In places, the homes are almost terraced, the next house up rising from the same level where the lower house's chimney ends. The streets are tiny, wide enough for one car, winding along the hillside. I got a few pictures as we drove by some homes, but none of the views and really the pictures I got don't do them justice at all, but I'm including them any way. Lincoln and I look forward to returning in the spring or summer for a weekend get-away (read, no kids), and really getting to know the city and get great photos.





Here are some for sale.





The white one has additional pictures if you want to take a look.