Our lane is near Narnia

I've been reading The Chronicles on Narnia to Portia at bedtime every night for months now. We're on the Silver Chair and almost done with the whole series. She's loving it, just as Bianca did when I read it to her so long ago.

Tonight, Portia asked to go on a walk down our lane after dinner. Actually, she wanted to ride her bike while I walked behind.

Portia on her bike, waiting for me

She wanted to go to Lantern Waste, the lamp post where Lucy gets in to Narnia in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. See, we have a side of the street where there's this lamp post right in front of a wooded area. Here's Quail Creek Lane's Lantern Waste.

Our version of Lantern Waste

There's a pathway that leads through the woods to the creek on the other side of the street (not the same creek that's in our backyard). Some still call it Bull River, but it doesn't have water in it during the summer. She likes to go look at the water and pretend we're in Narnia.

I read this article a couple weeks ago that said we as parents need to stop trying so hard to make our kids' lives magical. That they need to be responsible for doing that themselves, like we all did when we were kids. I love our private, quiet street that I feel comfortable letting my kids explore on their own. I'm glad my kids can go creek walking and I don't worry. I feel like we live in a place where my kids can make their own childhoods magical.

My lilac bush with crab apple blossoms behind

And speaking of magical, my huge lilac bushes are in bloom now and smell so amazing (I have a vase full of branches next to my bed that I can smell as I sit here writing this). I love the blossoms on the crab apple tree too. Goodness, I've gotten obsessed with my garden and flowers and planting lately. I never thought I'd say this. I actually enjoy weeding because it's a calm, therapeutic time for me to be alone with my flowers after I get home from work. I love working to make something beautiful.

Portia's Seven

It kind of gives me a heart attack that my baby is actually not a baby. She turned seven on April 23. It was the year for a real birthday party so we did a gymnastics party at the gym where she takes lessons. It was super low maintenance (which is a must for me anymore). We just had pizza and DQ ice cream cake. Bianca invited a friend as well, to help out.

The best part of the party is when Portia did a back handspring by herself for the very first time. Here she is getting close. She's been close for a while, but we had this really great guy who took some time with her to give her the confidence to try it by herself. I love how excited she got!

Easter 2014

So Bianca refuses to wear matching dresses with Portia anymore, but she was in a good mood this Easter so agreed to wear the same color. I'll take what I can get.

We had a pretty low key Easter this year, just like I like it. The girls woke up to Easter baskets with some candy, a chocolate bunny and a small gift. Portia got a Littlest Pet Shop and well, Bianca got to have her iPhone fixed after she cracked the screen. And a protective case.

The girls hunted Easter eggs. I love our yard this time of year because the creek is full of mountain run-off and the sound is just delicious. The grass is green and soft and my flowers are just poking their heads above the ground.

In the afternoon, we headed over to Uncle Bruce and Aunt Joanie's for dinner.

Bianca in front of the carriage house (it's the garage with Eric's theater room we were working on last year).

Portia finding some Easter eggs on the stone pathway