I have begun trying to prep the 3 year old for summertime by telling him that he will need to go to the child watch at the gym so that I can exercise. He really does not want to go. We have never had a successful child watch episode yet in his life (I’m sure somewhere in my locked-up archives is a similar story about his brother), but the approaching summertime means no school which means that I won’t be working… which means I’m not used to being home All Day Long With Both Children…. which means I will need that (exercise) break. He asked me why he couldn’t just go to his babysitter’s house and I told him that I have to give her a lot of money and I don’t have that money if I don’t work. He ran off, ransacked his piggy bank, and came back with a handful of coins to pay his way at the babysitter’s house.

*sigh*

It’s hard to keep an active blog when

1) I can’t write about my job

2) If I can’t write about my job then I can’t write about my current melancholy

3) Nor can I write about another long-running job distraction

4) I don’t want to ruminate on the guilt I feel for working re: 3-year-old

5) I don’t want to kvetch about money

6) I can’t tell you who I’d like to be hit by a bus

7) And I’m often so bloody tired from my job that I just want to sleep

Also, I hate my camera and want a fancy one but can’t afford it so I rarely take any pictures

So.

I do actually like working. That’s something.

I have a brand-spanking-new diploma that tells me I’m a Master of Education.

Woot.

My not-quite-seven-year-old asked me the other night if he was becoming kind of like a teenager. He’s feeling the joy of having neighborhood friends to hang out with and the freedom I’m trying to give him, but I now see that boundaries must be set.

He’s also in the middle of the second Harry Potter novel, which tickles me greatly.

The three year old is really adept at being really, really three. It will get easier, but - oh my. He’s also very upset at his brother’s independence and neighborhood friends.

We had a lovely weekend. On Saturday the boys ran amuck and frolicked in the sunshine while the adults did various yard maintenance duties. On Sunday we watched giant papier-mache puppets stroll up and down Main Street while rain began to drizzle down. Today? Snow day.

Other than that - I’ve been working rather steadily, the boys have been growing, and I’m waiting to get gardening. Also - less than a month until I officially have my master’s degree!

{not what it looks like}

I get a little verklempt to see this.

I adapted these garlic and cinnamon-raisin versions from the recipe supplied in the NYT by 1) adding a bowlful of squishy roasted garlic to one dough and 2) adding cinnamon and raisins to the other dough, followed by a squirt of honey as I formed it into a ball. The original recipe, however, is delicious in itself.