I had a cute post written for yesterday.  It was titled "Sweet and Sour."  The sweet was about how, on a recent lunch date, Nate and I were asked if we were newlyweds.  And the sour...well, I was still working on that part.  And then I saw something that made the sweetness in my life so much sweeter.

I was running errands, in a blissful state after finding bubbles and a few little beach toys (68 cents!) for the boy.  As I walked to my car, I heard angry voices.  Two women, one of whom was in a wheel chair, were a few spaces away from me.  And there, in the broad daylight, in the middle of a very public parking lot, I witnessed what I can only describe as physical and emotional abuse.  When all was said and done, there were police and an ambulance, and I went back to my sweet little life, still feeling quite sour, angry and mostly sad.

I ironed.  I played with Henry.  I talked to Nate.  All the while, I had Peter, Paul and Mary (thank you, Daddy, for my musical education) singing in my head.

I can ease the suffering of this world

With my head, my heart and my hand

With my heart I can feel

The ebb and flow of life revealed

Pain and sorrow all will heal

With love and true compassion

"Of This World" by Peter, Paul and Mary

And this morning?  The song is still echoing in my head and I'm left wondering how I can help ease the suffering.

Bookworm

Henry has discovered the joy of eating banging reading books.  I'm sure that I have a ridiculous grin plastered on my face each and every time he grabs a book from his basket and maneuvers it so that he can flip through the pages.  These days, he'll sit on the floor or in his chair and look at his books for minutes on end.  That's hours in the land and time of babes!

Sometimes, he gets distracted, throws his books aside, and climbs into his basket.  That's what baskets are for, right?

Shaggy no more

Henry had his first haircut on Saturday morning.  Our hairstylist turned friend, Ed, met us bright and early, eager to get his scissors on Henry's locks.  Per usual, Henry enjoyed the attention and didn't make a peep the entire time.  The result?  A boy who looks like he's about to turn one!

before...                                   during...

after!

I think I'm next on the list.  My efforts to let my hair grow have resulted in an unsightly mullet; it's not quite the look I am going for when I go back to school next month.

There haven't been many pictures taken around here lately.  Between lots of playing, summer storms, and bits of travel, snapping photos of Henry and organizing my thoughts succinctly just hasn't happened.  Tant pis.  Instead, I offer you a string of random thoughts and happenings.  

I accompanied Nate to a meeting one day.  While he did his research thing, I basked in the sun.

Stonewall Resort 

Henry is developing a gourmand palate.  He has tried (and liked!) enchiladas, Thai food and French toast, along with a host of country homey treats at school.  He doesn't really like to be fed these days; he wants to do it himself.  He has started saying "yeah! yeah! yeah!!!" when he gets really excited.  He has been spending his days in the 1 year old room at school.  He likes circle time but not art (exhibit A).  He is in desperate need of a haircut (exhibit B).  He is growing up and I can scarcely stand it.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B
At any moment he looks like he's channeling the look of The Beatles or of Justin Bieber.  I hope it's not the latter... 

Another thing that I can scarcely stand is that we are in the peak of summer.  The long and lazy days will soon be winding down.  Admittedly, I'm a teeny bit excited for August.  I love being at home.  I love how clean the house is and that all of the ironing is done.  I love going to the grocery store on a random weekday morning.  But I miss the energy of being at school.  I especially miss the students.  Teachers aren't supposed to have favorites and I don't.  I have preferences, students who are especially sweet or shockingly acerbic, frequently inappropriate, and oh so entertaining in a way that only teenagers can be.  Their hilarity makes me simultaneously grin and groan.  And don't even get me started on new school supplies.  I have visions dancing in my head (thank you, Pinterest and Erin Condren).  But it's a summer Sunday and maybe I'm not quite ready to really start thinking about all of that...