Paperwork

 Did you know when you become a parent you're signing up for a whole lot of paperwork? It starts at the hospital, where they won't let you leave until you fill out all the forms that prove you had a baby. And then it continues at every doctor appointment. How a parent could ever forget her child's birthday, I don't know, since it has to be written on three separate forms every two months (or more, if you're lucky enough to get a baby prone to ear infections). And then they start school. That's when wise parents should invest in a pallet of ballpoint pens. 

Paper

 One day my dad brought home an enormous roll of cardstock paper. As a kid it seemed unending, and we used it for anything we could think of, from school projects to giant paper dolls to race tracks. So when Lizzy and I found a big roll of paper at an estate sale for $3, it seemed like an obvious purchase. So far the kids have used it to make fantastical maps, trace each other, create a rainbow runway for a fashion show, and write out stories. I love, love, love when I can share a little piece of my childhood with my kids. 

Making time

 The funny thing about me and blogging is that when I have a lot of ideas to write about here, it's because there is a lot going on, which means I have very little time to write. But when I have plenty of time to write, there is nothing to say, because not a lot is going on. Right now, for instance, I find myself in a quiet house with one napping child and one husband in a zoom meeting in the other room. The laundry is mostly folded and put away, and the cleanliness of the house is probably a 7 out of 10. (Why bother trying to improve on a 7? Three elementary children will bust down the front door in about 10 minutes spreading chaos and crumpled papers in their wake. Really, what would be the point?)

And yet, the only thing I have to say for myself today is that I played dinosaurs with Gus this morning, and it wasn't even particularly interesting at the time. So here's a cute picture of Henry, because that will make this post worth something.