Sunburn

 We probably all got our first sunburns of the year this weekend. We have these pockets of summer in April that tease us and leave us; yesterday, the high was 82! Today, rain and 60. More sober weather for work, I suppose.

The changeable weather can be invigorating. Conflict produces rainbows. 

On Saturday, we did a round of mini-golf with my local twitter friends! All in the picture are people I've met through twitter. Jon calls them my imaginary friends.

I'll let you decide how real or imaginary they are. 

Sunday included one of three major annual street festivals I have learned to look forward to: The International Street Fair! We had less time than in previous years, but the kids I soaked in as much as we could. Jon is working vigorously on his Master's thesis these days and needs all the time he can get!

We lingered a while in the Saudi Arabian display because the guys there were so friendly, and the tent was so cool and pleasant!

A Saudi guy just goes, "Here, you can hold a sword!" 

Do you love this look? 

 The costume was a leeetle bit big for Adele. She still wore it like a queen, if you ask me.

They wrote his name in Arabic for him!

We lingered during some Indian dancing. All three of us were enchanted.

Blacksburg should look like this every day.

There were, of course, loads of people wearing national dress as a sort of costume as they worked their booths or performed in some way. But a LOT of folks in saris, in hijab, in turbans, and in other colorful ethnic dress were just there to participate and wander. On such days you see how many international students and residents there really are in this town, and I wish for a Blacksburg where folks felt like they could wear their national dress and be out and about and seen every day. Sign me up for any collective effort to make it so. Blacksburg was even more beautiful than ever on Sunday. An Indian professor who's been at Virginia Tech for years told me that she used to wear Indian style dresses and blouses, but after September 11, 2001, there were so many incidents of people harassing anyone who looked foreign (though let's be honest, it was people of color, who looked foreign) that she no longer felt safe or comfortable wearing Indian clothes and began to dress more western.

It's a pity if xenophobia denies us beauty, color, variety. Though, of course, it's a greater pity if it makes people afraid to be themselves in their own towns.

The kids share a bubble tea.

They are so crazy about each other. Their spats are fierce, but short-lived. They're quickly back to mischief and giggling. It's like music.

In the car today (on the way to kindergarten orientation, no less!), Miles began talking to Adele, only to realize she wasn't there; we'd already dropped her at daycare. He was so disappointed.

I mean, he got over it; we were going to kindergarten, after all! He's so excited to go to elementary school.

After the fair, the three of us frolicked on the hillside, until Miles said wistfully, "I wish I was good at climbing trees."

Well, what am I supposed to do but find him a tree to climb?

He had one boost from me and he was up. My heart was in my throat, but his delight in his adventure was infectious.

On April 27, this is what Alive looked like.

Bedtime

 There have been just a few changes at bedtime.

First, Miles now reads 1-2 stories to his sister each night.

If the stories are simple or at least familiar, we rarely have to help him. He particularly likes to read her Mo Willems books. The Pigeon is her favorite; Elephant and Piggy are his. They can both recite Leonardo the Terrible Monster. 

Jon was really tickled by Miles' leg crossing. 

 Also, since as you readers know, Adele is now in a toddler bed (Jon just took one of the crib rails off, really), she is free to get out of that bed and crawl into ours.

However, she is also able to invite others into her bed. For example,

A loving ear carass.

For the past 3 nights they've stayed in one bed for most of the night. Why would I want to mess with this, exactly?

On the First Day of Easter

 I wish I could convey the loveliness of the Easter Vigil service (6:00) we always attend. I wish it were polite and seemly to take and share pictures of the smouldering ashes in the grate, the single candle in an otherwise blackened church during the exultant, the many flickers of the many candles as the Christ light is shared, and the brilliance of the flower-covered alter when the lights go on. But it seems no more possible to capture this than it would be to capture the smell of the smoke and incense and faint daffodils. I just hope, that's all, that you all have enough beauty in your lives to make this description superfluous. My heart is still ringing.

I'm afraid you'll have to make do with some photos of what followed.

Easter Brunch at church is always a treat!

 This year we decided to stay for (most of) the next service as well, to experience the different liturgy and music.

Two brunches? The kids hardly objected. 

 There were a few hours at home on Easter Sunday during which we recovered. Miles watched The Prince of Egypt for the first time. You can imagine the array of Questions he generated.
I tried not to be too tired to answer them!

In the afternoon, when Adele woke, we went over to Smithfield Plantation for their Easter frolics. This was the first time I'd been to this historic site.

A real Maypole!

 The afternoon was sunshiny and delicious and completely required us to take all the pictures we could manage. I hope you don't mind.

 The Maypole Dance is more complicated than I'd realized. According to our instructor, girls walk one way, boys another, and every time you encounter someone you're supposed to alternate walking on their outside and inside to create the lovely weaving pattern.

 We did our best. I completely used Adele as an excuse to participate.

 We got rather jumbled up, with some kids trying hard to observe the Rules, and some kids just wandering vaguely.

 It still looked pretty!

He was so happy. 

We found Adele to be very sensitive to sugar when tired. 

One jelly bean and she was running down a hill. 

 We did not stage this. Just saying.

This tree made me think of Mom. She so loved trees. Actually, the whole day made me think of Mom. 

Doesn't he look dignified? 

 We could have happily spent several more hours there.

A perfect family Easter. 

Jon made yet another gourmet meal. He's such a genius. This is similar to Beef Wellington and it. was. delicious. 

Every year I think this might be the year the Resurrection Garden doesn't sprout before Easter. I wonder if it's had enough sunlight, water, etc. I worry. Every year the first blades poke up around Maundy Thursday and it's like a small miracle. I don't have to earn it with my gardening skills. It's just an irrepressible grace.

Happy Easter, readers. I pray your hope is renewed, or at least, that your hope-for-hope is renewed. You still have time. The season of Easter lasts for 50 days!