It feels like May just began, and somehow it’s basically over. Time just seems to pass more quickly every year.

Spring weather is slowly creeping into summer weather here: we’ve officially had our first few 90 degree days. My tomato plants are enjoying it, even if I’m not. I’m sad to have my knits packed away until October.

However, I’m relishing the mild mornings: I’ve been waking around 5:00-5:30 am with Beatrice, who seems to be a morning person. So I often get up, open up the windows to let the breeze in, and start a pot of coffee. It’s given me some quiet time in the mornings, often with baby snuggles and a good book or knitting project. I’m grateful.

I’ve come to really appreciate our armchairs perched in front of the window. They’re the perfect place to sit and read and knit. They’ve become the focal point of the living room.

Michael and I have been sitting here and reading together. I read him his very first chapter book: My Father’s Dragon. He loved it and was very concerned about the baby dragon. We are now reading the second of the series, Elmer and the Dragon.

Earlier in the month, my parents went on a camping trip and on a whim, took Michael with them. We stayed behind to take care of the animals and gardens, and enjoyed the photos they sent whenever they had cell service.

To say he had fun would be a gross understatement. He went on many adventures with Grandma and Grandpa and loved making pancakes, playing in the dirt, and seeing the big trees.

Michael is growing in leaps and bounds. His new obsession is the Disney animated Robin Hood. He has added singing “Oo-de-lally!” to his song repertoire. He loves to sing: usually a mashup of Old MacDonald, Alleluia, and Row Row Row Your Boat. He loves to talk and has some adorable toddler-isms. My current favorites:

“Buckle me out!” — the opposite of “buckle me in”, said vehemently when he wants to get out of the car.

“I’m playing hide and seek with my eyes!” — his version of peekaboo.

“Go frontwards” — the logical opposite of backwards.

“Hold me up!” — instead of “pick me up”.

He is also a very protective and loving big brother. Whenever someone else is holding Bea he gets very concerned and wants to know where she is at all times — sometimes even telling that person to “give her back”.

Beatrice has discovered she can smile, and does so with gummy gusto. She also has found her head and clutches it quite often, which makes for some pretty funny pictures.

We took a trip to Southern California to visit Jake’s parents and celebrate his younger brother graduating from high school. We got to see many dear friends and family members.

Michael was especially excited to spend time with Oma and Opa: together, they watched Robin Hood probably 4 times, and read books and played silly games.

I was able to visit one of my favorite parishes for Vespers and Mass: St Michael’s in Whittier, CA. It was lovely to catch up with friends and pray in the place where I discovered the beauty that is Orthodoxy. This is where I was chrismated. This is where my soul is most at home.

There was something that was particularly meaningful to me: six years ago on Memorial Day, I attended a youth BBQ at St Michael’s and met this cute guy from Michigan. Now here we are on Memorial Day, at the same place where we met, after nearly five years of marriage and two children. To God be the glory.