#1: Local Living

We moved to a small town two years ago so that we could access everything we need by foot or bike, and it's been great. We walk and bike to MANY more things than we used to, and so do the kids. Double whammy.

I even retrofitted our old Burley so that I can bike to in-town appointments with my equipment. It's a great grocery-getter, too.

We buy as many products and foods as possible from local growers, manufacurers and retailers. We have cut our carbon use dramatically, and we've gotten to know and rely upon so many neighbors and community members.

Don't get me wrong....we still make a weekly trip to the Target on the edge of town. Sometimes out of necessity and sometimes just plain weakness (and sometimes because mommy just needs to push a little red cart around to feel happy for an hour.) Once a week is a far cry from the 5-8 times a week we used to have to go to Big Box Retailers (10 miles round trip) in our former suburban life. It was the only option, and a car was the only way to get there.

We feel like we've come a long way, baby. I've gotten so spoiled that I have to admit I get a little annoyed if I have to leave Northfield for any reason.

Everything I need is right here, just a bike ride away.

It's Not Easy Being Green

In honor of spring and of earth week, I've greened up our blog a little bit. I know, I'm a week late, but so is spring, so I'm calling it even.

I don't know if I can keep staring at this green color, so it may be short-lived. But it's appropriate because we've been greening-up our lifestyle here at the Lucas household.

And because life has been uneventful lately (we're still recovering from Eric's tremendous birthday festivities), I'm going to spend the next few blog posts talking about some of the changes we've made.

And then I'll change the green color. I promise.

Down on the Farm

Our friend Mary owns a farm where she raises goats and makes goat cheese. We spent an afternoon with the new four-legged kids.

Aawww...

Apparently Ben takes this very seriously

Moving Up In the World

Here's a picture of Ben's new loft bed. He is very excited. He came home from school yesterday, went directly up to his room, and read a book in his new cave. That makes it well worth every swear word we had to explain to him while building it!

And Many More....

Let it never be said that we don't know how to have a good time. That we don't just let loose, throw our cares to the wind, and have fun.

We celebrated Eric's birthday this weekend with all sorts of festivities. First, we took him to Ikea to purchase a loft bed for Ben. He got to experience the mind-numbing sensory overload that one can only get at a crowded Ikea on a Saturday afternoon. We followed that up with four hours in the fires of hell assembling it with all of its 84 bazillion pieces.

Don't tell me I don't know how to show my man a good time on his special day.

As if that wasn't celebration enough, the next day we both injured ourselves. Just to PROVE we're a good time. Eric's toe had a bad run-in with a chair leg, and the back of Theo's head collided with my nose during our gentle morning "snuggle time." We contemplated taking our sorry selves to the hospital to check for broken bones, but we realized that we looked like a really bad domestic situation, and decided to spare ourselves the social services pamphlets they'd surely give us.

Being unable to move without the aid of a wheelchair, Eric was forced to sit on the couch all day and watch the Masters. Awww, poor E! So, because he is the love of my life, I did something really special for him. I bought him a can of Pringles. Cheese flavored. To eat. IN THE FAMILY ROOM. While he watched TV. I know, sometimes I just go too far with this birthday celebration thing.

(By the way, this move made instant golf fans out of the younger people we live with. Pringles...Couch...Hours of TV...Score!)

All in all, a weekend of fun and festivities like this can only make a person feel special and loved, right?

Okay, okay, we DID go out for dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant, and we DID have a little peanut butter cup pie celebration. But I'm sure they pale in comparison to the rest of it :).

Happy Birthday, E.

This One's for the Grandparents

Last night was "Beyond Words" night at school. It's a celebration of art and literature that is, even for the parents, really fun.


Here are a couple of things that'll make you proud of the blood line you've created:

Theo's wood block painting

Ben's memories of "The Good Old Days"

Making paper

Happy JanuApril

Okay, we get it. It's been a long winter. WE UNDERSTAND. We woke up to 6" of fresh, wet, heavy snow this morning. Two days ago, the kids were out in shorts and I was doing yard work. Today, winter. Happy JanuApril.

The boys are pretty sure this is the luckiest week of their lives. The snow caused a 2-hour early release day on Monday, and a 2-hour late start day on Tuesday. Right on the heels of spring break week. It's a kid jackpot.

In an effort to voice my opinion about this snowfall, I am refusing to shovel. I know, I know, calm down Kristin. Take it easy there, girl. Whoa.

I was feeling all good and strong about this stand until I remembered that our mailman doesn't deliver if there is even a mere 2" of snow on the front walkway. I would call him names here in my blog, except that he is adorable and has endeared himself to me with his "Hello, Mrs. Lucas, how are you today?" every time I run into him on the porch.

So I shoveled a little tiny pathway up the front walk and onto the porch, just for him. Why? Because I still have that child-like, starry-eyed hope that one of these days he'll bring a huge, surprise check instead of bills.

And because sometimes getting the mail is the biggest event in my day. The arrival of the mail is part of my well-oiled procrastination schedule. After calling friends and my mom, looking at every website I can think of, and having a heart-to-heart conversation with Sam, I start to get the sinking feeling that I actually have to do some work. Then I remember the mail! My old friend, my relied-upon, late-morning beacon of distraction. Its arrival buys me a good ten minutes of non-work time. Fifteen if there are good catalogs.

So you can see how important it is to overcome one's philosophical anti-snow stands when something this important is on the line.

But I WON'T shovel the driveway.