evening

A very busy week and a full weekend ahead. Trying to find moments to catch my breath and be present with the beauty that surrounds me. Evening walks to get the litttlest one to sleep has been an unexpected time of quiet and peace.

sun

In between rain showers it briefly got warm enough to inspire Ari to pull out the sprinkler. Gleeful shrieks of two happy children and sun glistening on the wet grass. Sweet taste of summer to come.

animal tunes

If you are ever so lucky as to be serenaded by a lion and a polar bear before breakfast, you know it is going to be a very good day.

beach love

It stopped raining and we had the beach to ourselves. I can't think of what is better than knitting in the sunshine while my children play happily nearby.

outside, inside

Its been raining out. We've been getting out to jump in puddles and rescue worms (both boys are ever so careful and sweet with this project, these are Dorian's chubby little hands,) and enjoy the lush green that all this rain is bringing.

But there is lots of indoor time too. Much elaborate play is happening indoors.

There has been a lot of dancing too, though I don't seem to have any pictures of that. Too busy, well, dancing.

Hope you are all keeping dry!

garden brothers

We've been getting so much done in the garden. The boys are content to play out there for so long while we plant and weed. Or mostly content. Only mild interventions needed.

Happy Wednesday!

happy garden

Picture from my mom's community garden project. I love those smiling carrots.

more weekend

We went to a party this weekend at one of the most beautiful spots I know. The kids had lots of fun. There was lovely adult conversation. Everyone looked beautiful in that light.

We stayed up late and we all slept in the next morning. Ah. I love summer.

music baby

As soon as his brother leaves the house, he goes straight for the coveted guitars. This baby loves music.

mmmangoes

at the beach

We've been sick over here, with a nasty flu that has been working its way through usall . Today was day two of the post-sick-grumps (do you know those? ) and I knew I had to get the boys out of the house straight away. We headed to our favorite lake and though it was still cool and a bit wet out, our spirits lifted considerably. I even got to read a little while the boys played happily in the sand.
I have been feeling quiet lately, not wanting to say much in this space, or anywhere really. So I think I will do another round of the small wonders project- focusing in on what is beautiful and blessed in my days, trying to capture some of the moments with the camera, posting here with few words. I have a new lens to play with (a 50mm 1:1.8. Thanks for the camera discussions that led to this purchase Annie!) which is so much fun and a big learning curve for me right now, so there will be lots of pictures as I figure out this new gadget.

Hope you'll all come along for the ride!

you be the hippo

Inside making forts. The boys are playing so well together these past few weeks. I have been taking videos and showing Perry in the evening as proof of the sweetness. And the imagination of a 3-and-a-half year old is just the best thing. Here Ari was working in his garden- picking the rhubarb and hoeing the soil- with his friend the hippo. Taking breaks to read books to his baby. And Dori was so thrilled to be included, he didn't mind having to be the hippo at all.

music man

This boy loves his music. This ukulele is what Santa brought him this year and he plays it everyday, making up spontaneous lyrics and singing his heart out. I love it ever so much.

getting out

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.

Today was a lovely walk, the snow melting from the trees, the sun slanting through, the squirrels out to entertain us with their tree jumping and cheekiness. Dori fell asleep again in the Ergo and I laid him down in the bed and went back out to build a snowman with Ari, checking in periodically to make sure he wasn't overheating in his snowsuit. Ari is in love with snowmen right now. The Snowman movie I mentioned is a big reason- it really is a magic one if you are looking for a sweet, short gentle film for young ones. Though it is a bit sad at the end when the snowman melts. Ari nowturns it off just before this scene and to keep his image of the friendly snowman alive in his mind.

Which is what he was thinking when he built this one. "I'm going to build a jolly snowman, Mama. At night it will come alive and we can fly together!" But he was happy to veer away from the movie plot with this sculpture- this is a snowmama, who is carrying two babies on her back. She does looks pretty jolly. I wonder what sort of adventures she will take my little dreamer on tonight?

waterlogged

This morning I woke to the words "Mama! The water is spraying all over!"

A pipe we didn't even know we had burst in our back room. Luckily we only keep recycling and such back there. Perry spent the day in our "crawl space" - in quotation marks because crawling is impossible. He has to slide around on his back with insulation and pipes dangling down in his face, the passage is so narrow. The poor fellow is miserable and it still isn't fixed. So we are without water and wondering if we can find a really skinny plumber who is willing to shimmy around under our wet house.



And yet, the day had its sweet spots as it always does. I made this terrific soup for supper with plenty more for tomorrow. I let Ari watch a movie and was able to sit and watch The Snowman with him for a bit, snuggled up together. Dori heard me say the word "gentle" and toddled over to pat my face softly.



Even when the pipes burst I know my life is blessed.

time together

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 "In the Town all Year Round" and it is such a good one. It is a wordless book that follows dozens of characters through the seasons. There is so much to see on each page, but the images and themes are gentle and sweet- a kindergarten is built, a baby is born, children prepare for a lantern festival. It works really well as a quiet time book- Ari will spend ages pouring over the pages on his own. And it makes for a lovely mama-kid-time book too.

reading together

Reading with my boys. I love the moments of snuggling up and sharing together in a book, the feeling of those little bodies relaxed in my lap, totally engaged in the story or pictures. Lately Ari has been "reading" to himself a lot, flipping through the pages, often while singing made up songs to himself. I think the sound of a contented child singing to himself might be one of the sweetest sounds in the world. And speaking of sweetness, a baby that snuggles all the pictures of babies in the books you are reading? That is right up there on the sweetness metre.

The way he follows you around with a book until you sit down with him (even before you get out of your PJ's,) and then backs up to plunk himself on your lap is also pretty great. I love these little bibliophiles of mine.

it makes you feel good

when you clean your room and make the bed,
when you clear the mean thoughts from your head,
when you follow through on what you said,
it makes you feel good.
when you do the dishes in the sink,
when you give me something sweet to think,
when you dip into your heart and drink,
it makes you feel good.
-Renee and Jeremy

I discovered Renee and Jeremy's first album when I was pregnant with Dori and their sweet lullabies have become standbys in our home. I can't listen to them without getting teary (in a good way.) Their new album arrived today and it is so lovely. We danced and smiled and I hugged my kids extra tight. And got a bit teary of course. Thank you Renee and Jeremy for creating the most life-affirming, joy-filled, real kids music I've heard.

dragon sweeper

We have a resident knight. He keeps our home dragon free. And chases away the dust bunnies too.