Wednesday explorers

I left work early yesterday to go home and be with Clairzee.

But on my drive home, I took note of how absolutely beautiful the day was and how green the grass and gorgeous the pink on the trees. I came in the house and Clair's cheeks were cool for the first time in days. She was cheerful and energetic. She looked more like herself. I almost cried.

And then I decided right then and there that the boys needed to get out in this day more than Clair needed me to snuggle her. Lester was happy to stay home with her, so we threw some balls and bats in the car and drove around the block to Herring Run park and the fields across the street from the boys' school.

We kicked the ball a little, hit the tee ball a little, watched a bit of a girls' lacrosse practice and ran around in the grass and the sun and the flowers, without a care in the world.

Then we decided to go exploring along the trail between the stream and the park. This was awesome, folks. I don't know why we haven't done this before.

Love this photo. They look like such big boys.

Tree-climbers.

They loved the independence of being able to just walk wherever they wanted and stop and explore whatever they wanted.

I love how they're looking at one another in this picture.

Where's Cary?

I have to say that this was one of the best afternoons we've had together in their short years on this earth. And there was no planning, no jam-packed schedule, no agenda, no fee to get in, no crowds, no constant cries for snacks, no over-stimulation and no jackets required.

We did, however, experience a  major meltdown when it was time to go home for dinner. Cary would've stayed out in the woods all night long if he could.

Let's zoom in on that cranky face, shall we?

Hahahaha!

I know he was really heartbroken that we had to leave our adventures in the woods, but his temper tantrums crack me up.

Despite that small bump in the road, this was a glorious afternoon and I'm sorry Clair missed it, but as soon as she's 100-percent better, we'll include her on future jaunts.

Jam-packed weekend (and a resolution)

Lester's boss sponsors a baseball tournament every year between the city's public and private high schools. It's a lot of work for Lester and he has been gone a lot on the last few weekends because of it.

This weekend, the weather was really nice, so I decided not to let the chore of carting three kids around by myself cause us to stay stuck in the house.

So off we went on a series of adventures!

First, Cary and Dean and I went to the Spring park clean-up at Herring Run Park, which is near our house and one of the reasons I bought a home where I did.

Look how pretty the stream is. Actually, Herring Run Park is pretty fantastic.

At first, the boys were pretty excited about helping to keep our park clean, so that everyone can enjoy it.

But then, they discovered the joys of rocks.

Climbing rocks.

And throwing rocks into the stream.

And so Mommy ended up doing all the cleaning. Oh well.

The most exciting part of the day for them was when they got to actually walk into a Dumpster to put our bags of trash in it.  They were giddy about this.

"Mommy, we're IN the Dumpster!! The trash man is going to take us away!"

After that, we came home, had lunch, got Clair ready and headed out to cheer on Daddy at the baseball game. (Not that he was playing, but he was working really hard getting yelled at by coaches.)

The boys were enthralled by "real baseball players!!"

And excited to see Lester, who came over from working the event to sit with us for just a little while.

Watching the game (for 2 seconds at a time.)

Sidenote: I had to go move the car at one point and stumbled across a wedding on campus. It was pretty cool! This woman's dress was killer. The lace on the back? Wowza.

When it was time to go, I had to bribe C & D with ice cream, because they were having such a good time.

I took them to a place called Dominion Ice Cream, which was used in an episode of Veep (and apparently on the Food Network, too.) Their ice cream is really creamy and delicious. Can't you tell?

Ummm. I don't think there's anything left in those cups, you mannerless children who clearly have no parents to teach you how to act in public.

Later on that night, I went out to a work dinner with my friend and boss, Tom, and I almost couldn't pay attention to the events on stage because I kept staring at this woman's shoes. And her toned legs.

And I started thinking about how my 40th birthday is rolling up in like 2 seconds, and I have been eating like a weed-smoking teenager lately. Cookies, cake, brownies, pie, ice cream, chips ...This slap-yo-mama-good shrimp po' boy TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW!

Seriously, people, come to Baltimore. Go to Touloulou. Get a shrimp po' boy. Thank me later.

And so, I am going to do better. Starting right now.

(I know. I know. You've heard this before. So have I.)

Sunday, I spent the entire day swapping kids' clothes from fall/winter to spring/summer and packing their old things up to store away. It took so long, I was still putting winter coats (mine and Lester's included) into storage bags while watching the season premiere of Mad Men last night at 10 p.m.!

And now that I have done all that darn work, lugging bins up and down the basement stairs, folding and re-folding clothes (thanks, Clair) and trying to decide what can be worn again next year, what's going to my sister, what's going back to the store, what's going to friends and what's going to Goodwill, this weather better stay warm! Or Mother Nature and I are gonna fight.

Thanks to all those po' boys I have a few extra pounds on me. So I'm pretty sure I can take her.