Quarantine Real-ish Time

The night before last, after having been sequestered in the house for several weeks, the children all had yearly checkups (I know. Aidan's eye specialist appointment-- cancelled. My mom's 3-month cancer scan-- cancelled. SUPER-IMPORTANT yearly weight and height measurement-- still in place).

Anyway, yesterday was Zeke's birthday, and in the bustle of people coming to look at puppies and party preparations, one of the girls* sighed and said, "You know, it was really nice to see people again last night." Confused, I said, "What? Who(m) did we see?!" before realizing that she was talking about the doctor and nurse with whom we were able to interact.

Human contact-- even through masks. It's a blessing!

*You would all be surprised to know that the girl was not Annika. :)

Your Puppy Fix for the First Half of April

Yay! Puppies! Yay!

 (After a mud bath and then a real bath.)

My apologies. I have a few non-puppy snapshots mixed in.

(Teaser picture of the world's best chocolate delivery. I am going to take a picture of every last kind!)

(Puppy delivery. I preferred the chocolate delivery, myself.)

(*Millie's)

Millie took pictures of new life springing a few days ago, and then this morning I stepped outside to say goodbye to the frozen forsythia that had just begun to blossom and to take pictures of too much snow for my liking. It's snowed three times in one week, and I'm ready for spring to rush in and take our breath away. It's normal spring fever, the increased yearning for green and growth after we've had a surfeit of softer browns and grays, but it's compounded by the unique lockdown we're all under, which makes one wait even more intently for what is soon bound to come.

Our world feels like a strange limbo land these days, but each era has an end. Sooner rather than later, Lord willing, we'll be on the other side and looking back, thankful for clarity we've been given and glad for the future.

I Know I Promised Pictures of Puppies...

...but our roly-poly Brownie is practically a puppy, so this string of snapshots counts.

Remember when Cadence was two years old, and she was wearing a cute outfit, and she was clean, and I actually did her hair, and then I took pictures to commemorate the occasion?  Yeah, that's the same idea here with a two year-old Skylark, only with different results due to their vastly different personalities.

We enjoyed a sparkling conversation.

And then she chased the chickens.

Right after I took this picture, she snagged one by its tail feathers and held on for dear life until I convinced her to release the poor creature.

I don't remember what she was talking about, but she kept getting excited and pulling this delightful pose out of her pocket, with slight variations.

I did not pose her, but I was glad when she sat for a minute. Note the muddied socks. Now that's more like real life.

Man, we love this girl. Even in black and white, she's splashed all over with color.

Cadence Turns Four!

Yesterday, in fact, was the big day, which practically makes this a real-time post. Bully for me!

Zeke got up early and readied the birthday couch, and then he prepared hot chocolate and yogurt for her early morning snack.

I don't know when it happened, but birthdays have definitely become formal dress occasions on Mt. Hunger. The fancier, the better!

Breakfast was sausage, milk from a neighbor, and this coffee cake (cinnamon sugar doubled...unhealthy!...and homemade whole yogurt in place of sour cream...healthy!). It is amazing coffee cake, though we probably should drop the "coffee" and just call it cake.

Since she's claimed all dessert-making in the house (lucky for me!), Millie made a lemon-blueberry cake the day before while I fiddled around making funny creatures out of marshmallow fondant. Then on her birthday while Cadence napped, I made frosting and finished it up. It was a leisurely process. I should always stretch birthday cakes over two days! The only casualty was one broken bunny ear, which I smushed back together in time.

Cadence's cakes have become progressively goofier, and this is the first year that she requested something that reflects more of her self. The first year was a pretty deer cake for a pretty, little baby. The next, a pretty flower cake for a pretty, little toddler. Last year, a funny bunny for a Funny Bunny, and this year?

She wanted a pang-pang cake with pang-pangs in ice and snow and an igloo...and a BUNNY SWIMMING, because that's what bunnies do best when they're vacationing in the South Pole.

I haven't given her any birthday presents yet, so suffer through 2 dozen pictures of this sweet girl with her cake.

Guess who's the funny bunny?

Skylark is very sly.

After pizza, salad, and presents...more pictures of the birthday girl with a cake!

It has been a big year for Cadence. She is maturing beyond constant weeping and starting to become bold enough to share what's in her marvelous mind, which is like watching a light shine through the crack of an opening door. I have especially enjoyed the contrast between her quiet nature and that of her wild little sister, and watching her stoop to hug Skylark in the morning is a gift.

We love you, Cadence Octavia! May the joy of the Lord be your strength. May you hold that truth deep in your heart always. We love you, darling!