Summer is coming..

We are finally in shorts and tees again. It feels great. It has been a strange year weather-wise. There have been powerful storms moving across the plains and the midwest. We have nights where from complete calm, the rain suddenly pounds on the windows and brilliant cracks of lightening illuminate the sky. Sometimes, they are followed by a little voice saying "can I sleep with you?"

Kade just officially turned 4. He is exceedingly proud of that fact and is sure to mention it to everyone and anyone who will listen (back to that whole talking to strangers thing). He is planning for his party next week which he is equally excited about. We hit several different shops, perusing the party plates, decorations and hats. Left to him, there would be no budget and a very loose interpretation of the pirate theme (one with Superman, Spiderman, SpeedRacer and whatever else catches his eye mixed in).

Our garden is still growing. The peas are clinging tight to their trellises - a good thing too as the wind is tumultuous today. They are about 3 feet tall and are covered with sweetly fragrant tender white blossoms.

The last of the radishes were picked today. They are packing more of a bite now as the days turn warmer so it is good they are done.

In their place goes my first attempt at sweet corn, an extra-sweet bicolored variety. I have just one 11 foot row of sweet corn, if it goes well, maybe I will plant more next year. As done by my ancestors, pole variety green beans will grow between the corn, using the sturdy stalks as their trellis.

The tomatoes and peppers are still pretty small, around 18 inches or so but I did notice the first tight, yellow buds beginning to open on the tomatoes. The raspberries have finally come to life and everyday their serrated, deeply veined leaves spread wider. The potatoes are also doing well, their foliage thick and deep green. I am awaiting the emergence of my newest seeds - cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe and winter squash. Soon that half of the garden will be full of vines, reaching tendrils out in all directions, searching for sun and a bit of loose soil.

Avram has really picked up on his walking in the last week. He plods along with ever steadying steps. When Avram was first born, his tiny toes slender and long against his wide feet, it was hilariously obvious that there was a very large gap between his 1rst and 2nd toes. Fresh from the cramped space of his previous habitat, he would stretch every inch of himself - including that big space between his toes. It was the subject of many jokes (many of which referred to his future ability to tolerate flip-flops.) As he grew older, his toes chubbed up like the rest of him, quite narrowing that space. However, now that he is walking - it is back. In fact, it seems to be quite helpful. As he plants that fat little foot on the floor, those toes just spread right back out again providing a sturdy little base for his wobbly body.

It is amazing how much fun it is to watch them develop, even when you have seen it before in another child.