Austin, March 2009

The following things are piled on the table in our foyer (organizing project? what organizing project???):

Paint swatches. We’ve finished the downstairs; now we’re working our way slowly through the upstairs. Swatches include all the paints we’ve used so far plus the final candidates for the guest room, the hallway, and the playroom. Before we actually paint, though, so much time will have passed that we will have completely rethunk all our choices and will have to start over with new chips.

Henry’s class picture. The kids all had to wear their dress uniforms for the class photo, but since it’s the end of the year, the boys’ shirts are all too small and their pants are all too short. And it was a warm day, so everyone is wearing a short sleeved shirt with a tie. They look like they’ve been transported back to the early 1970s. Classic.

Two paintings Charlie made at school. I’ll be honest with you: I throw out 90% of what my kids bring home from school. In the morning, when I’m packing their lunches in their school bags, I pull out all the papers they’ve brought home, flip through them to see what’s what, and then toss them on the table. Wade goes through them while he eats his cereal and talks to the kids about what’s going on in class. After breakfast, I clear the table and toss the papers; anything that’s a keeper (which is virtually nothing, really) goes upstairs to be framed or stored.

Two Schleich knights. We have a whole army of these; they’re not poseable, they don’t shoot things, they don’t make any noise, but the kids love them. These two are from the same regiment, although one has a sword and one has a crossbow.

Flyer for swim lessons. Henry says he doesn’t need swim lessons this summer; I disagree, but I don’t know why I’m keeping the flyer, since it’s for a woman who comes to your house and teaches your kids to swim in your pool and we don’t have a pool. I’m trying to talk up diving lessons, though — I think that would be fun.

Circle pin that belonged to my great aunt. I found it in her night stand when we were cleaning out her room. It’s little and delicate and will be perfect on my beaded cardigan. Very 1950s housewife-ish.

Star Wars junior novella. In an effort to get Henry to read something other than Batman comics, Wade bought him this novel. Henry read most of it in the car on the way home from the bookstore, and then finished the entire book that day. And then went back to reading Batman comics.

Easter cards from my parents. My mom sent the boys new khaki shorts and polo shirts, which they are pretty ambivalent about, and cool t-shirts with sports stuff on them, which they love. Henry read both their cards out loud, in a funny voice, and made Charlie laugh and laugh and laugh.

Thanks to Maggie for the inspiration.