Well, I am not sure exactly what we have been up to since my last post but it must have been keeping us very busy. I know we went to the symphony twice and to the ballet and we got bikes! and went on rides- well, the kids did. As it turns out, I have forgotten how to ride a bike and may need a bit of practice to keep up. And I am not entirely sure how I am going to ride with the trail-a-bike that I got so that Eva could ride with me. But it looks fun.

And today we went out and Samuel rode his bike and put up signs advertising his new dog walking business. He is hoping to walk dogs around the neighborhood. He is also carrying cards around to give to people who might be interested in having him walk their dogs for them.

We have also been out in the garden quite a bit. I let the broccoli plants that I planted 1 1/2 years ago! bloom finally and they are all the rage with the bees out in the garden and just glorious in their yellow blooms. The kale is wanting to join in but I would like to hold it off a bit longer as I am hoping to get a juicer for Mother's Day and would love to try out some kale inspired juice. We shall see whose plan prevails.

The garden is a sort of surprise garden. The seeds that we planted earlier were scattered by various forces- cats? birds? squirrels? rain? Eva? All of the above? and so they are coming up in many different places all together, turnips with forget-me-nots with onions with purple carrots with mesclun mix. Eva also planted quite a few radishes in the ground. Remember how many turnips the kids planted in the middle of the yard last year? This year we will feast on radishes. And beets. And I am not entirely sure how many sunflowers she planted. I am finding it to be great fun to be surprised by it all. She has so much fun in the planting. We also planted many many potatoes over the last couple of days and the strawberries are blooming all over. They are really doing well for themselves. The blueberries and the apples are blooming too. The bees are wild out there, buzzing all around still kind of sleepy and drunk on nectar all at the same time. Oh and I have seen the first of the lady bugs which got me looking for...you guessed it- aphids! None yet! But, where there are lady bugs there much surely be aphids.

I forgot. We tried out a piccolo lesson and Samuel was not entirely happy with the experience and it was quite far for us to drive so he is thinking about it for the time being. It may be that it is just kind of early for this kind of music lesson.