We celebrated my birthday this weekend, though it is not actually until tomorrow. 32! Ari asked if I was 61, and then told people on the phone that I was thirty-one-one-two. There was lots of loveliness this weekend. A lovely sunny solo walk (well, with a sleeping baby on my back, but it was peaceful and lovely,) birthday pancakes for breakfast, supper made by my boys, and this amazing rich date cake for dessert. Ari and Perry dyed some wool for me, a crazy bright colour combo that will be fun to find a project for. I'll post pics of my treasures sometime soon.
We all went out to a family folk dance at a local community hall on Saturday which was such good fun. Most of the musicians are kids, much to Ari's delight and there is amazing mix of teens and little kids and old folks. Ari and I danced a square dance together and he did so well, following along even when it meant dancing away from me for a bit, and then when our lines met up and we were together he was so
happy to see me and giddy and jumping up and down doing his own little dance moves to the fiddle music. So fun.
I also went out on my own to a show last night- Perry put the kids to bed on his own, which is a bit of an adventure, but it was quite a treat to go out and watch some good music.
And now I am off to go pull out my binder with all my important organizing-myself-and-my family papers because we have fallen off the rhythm wagon pretty badly and are paying for it in bedtime resistance and general crankiness. I guess it is good to slip a bit to be reminded how much it matters that I keep us moving through the days in a rhythmic way. A birthday is as good a time as any to get back into the groove.
And here is a green smoothie picture just because it makes me smile, and though this isn't from today, the scene is quite similar on most days, though sometimes the face is purple or pink, but regardless it is always enjoyed to this delicious degree!
Another lovely friday with my little one. He was really keen to get outside and brought me his boots to make it perfectly clear. The first time I put these boots on him he howled and kicked them off, so he's just been wearing slippers and socks and staying in the Ergo for our walks. But the other day I put the boots on him, this time making a big show of it, telling him how nice and fancy those big kid boots were and he went with it. And once he realized that it meant he could walk around in the snow just like a big kid, there was no turning back. 
He happily toddles about, walking through the deepest snow and up the steepest banks, asking cheerily for help when he falls. Today he headed straight for the chicken and llama pens, where he would happily spend his days. We watched the animals for a long time. He practiced his rooster crows and said "hi llama!" ("ni nama!") over and over. Once he'd had enough (or I had anyway!) I put him in the backpack and headed out on a walk through the woods. He craned his head back to watch the treetops and fell asleep like that, face up towards the sky. 
Oh how I love this baby.
:: family watching the marbles from their "up high bridge"::
:: the "big scene"::
We were needing some time together today, the past few days have been a bit tough, with lots of conflicts and butting of heads. After such string of lovely days- weeks even- it was kind of a shocker, reminding me of how it was during the twos and also reminding me of how good things have been of late.
I love you my baby otter.
This is Ari's first drawing of our family, drawn on family art night last week. Left to right is Dori (with the hair just growing in!) Papa, Me and Ari, in case you couldn't tell. I love it a awful lot even if I am the shortest- shorter even than Dorian. Don't tell me what that means. I don't want to know.
This was the first representation of people, but monsters have been around for awhile now. And when Ari was asked what he wanted to make his brother for his solstice gift he said "a soft monster." So soft monster it was. Two in fact.
I had him draw out some designs on paper first, and then gave him a fabric pen and some white cotton and he drew out his monsters. The one on the left there has lips, tongue spiky hair and lots of sharp claws on his hands and feet. The one on the right has lots of legs and eyebrows and an eyebrow over its nose as well. He chose the backing fabric, red of course- solid and polka dots. A fun quick project that he was really proud of. And they are coming in handy as doll pillows too. The dolls haven't complained yet about having to sleep on all those claws and things.
It isn't a Sammy-doll but this little dolly is just fine. It is snugly and soft and a much more appropriate size for a toddler. I am happy with how it turned out and tucking it in each night beside my baby feels just as good as if it were the more elaborate doll I had hope to make. It is mama made and full of love and that is what matters. He'll get that dress up doll someday (and maybe some PJ's too...) but for now he loves his little "BeeBee."
It is melty warm here- I can hear the rain on the roof as I write this. We have been getting outside every day (though this weekend was an exception, with water issues to solve and we payed the price with squirrely kidlets!) and it is so key to keeping us happy and healthy- a fact I have to remind myself as I coax and cajole my children into long underwear and sweaters and snowsuits and mittens.
I've had some one-on-one time with both of my kids in the past couple days. It is so precious to be able really focus on each of them for a short while. Dori and I played with the silks and dress ups. We read and sang songs and danced and read books and more books while his brother was off skiing and playing with his grandparents.
And yesterday Dori went down early for his nap and stayed asleep longer than usual so Ari and I had some extra time for snuggles and more book reading together. We spent a lot of time looking at his "quiet time book." I've been wanting to share this terrific book here since we got it awhile ago. It is called "
