a little more birthday

A few more photos of Ari's day. His requested strawberry cake with raspberries on top. He didn't really eat it, but he was excited about it anyway.

His birthday table.The birthday boy, thrilled by his gifts.So busy playing with all the new toys!
A pretend nap in his new tent and a real nap in his new tent.
(I'm not sure he ever napped at three, maybe he is starting some healthy new habits at four?)
And a birthday story before bed. A lovely birthday for my sweet boy. Happy Birthday baby.

my baby is four!

How can it be? Four! My sweet baby is growing up so fast, I can hardly believe how quickly these years have gone. I was holding this this tiny little munchkin in my arms such a short time ago, yet now he is this great big kid!

But he will always be my baby. And I love that there is still have some time left of snuggling and babying this boy a bit, before he begins to think he is too old for such things. I am enjoying every moment I have, because I know that if these 4 years passed this quickly, in no time he will be 8, 12, 16. Oh my. can't we just slow things down a little?

Happy Birthday my precious boy. I am so lucky to be your mama.

raining

It has been raining here. We've been outside playing in the puddles and then in to read the bird books,

practice our winks,

play kapla blocks,

and lots else too. There are no photos to show for the baking, knitting, dress-ups, visiting or adventuring, though there has been some of all that too. And we are watching the world green up and burst into bud with all the rain. We are hoping the morels are out there pushing their way through the dirt too. Maybe there will be some mushroom eating in our future!

Hope everyone is staying dry!

weekend

:: getting tricky!::

Lots of playing outside this weekend, though I have to admit to not having participated much- it was a school work cramming sort of weekend for me. Actually a nice change of pace for me after lots of busy-with-kids days.
This past week I also finished W's quilt and slipped into their house (with the house sitters consent of course!) to put it on her bed. We knew they were hoping to come home for a few days if her counts were high enough and they did make it, and apparently she is quite excited about her new blankie. Lots of love went into this- the squares are each so lovely and have a lot of meaning for W and her family.

I learned so much putting it together. I was amazed when I sewed it together and it was actually square- glory be! I was on a bit of quilting high and went straight to sewing a log cabin cushion for my mom's birthday- which I realize I didn't photograph before giving it to her. But it was so fun to make. I think I could really get hooked!

I was finishing the quilt on a Sunday, and realized that I didn't have enough backing fabric to finish it. With the stores closed and Perry off with the boys in the car I was in a bit of a panic since I really wanted to get it done for their trip home. I remembered seeing Mary Beth's quilt recently and the lovely patchwork strip she sewed into the back. I had scraps from everyone's pieces left from making the patchwork "W" in the centre- thankfully enough to make two such strips- and was able to finish it. I quite like how it looks like that and was able to get it done before the boys returned. Thanks Mary Beth!

ETA: I realized that it might not be clear that I did not make this quilt myself- each square was made by a different friend of W and her family. Fabric choices, basic design decisions etc was all made by the group. My square is on the bottom left corner- trees and a bird. I just had the job of sewing it all together! A picture from the boy's hike with Papa- they are really enjoying their weekend excursions together. I look forward to a time when we are able to do more family outings on the weekends, but right now this is working for us. A little time in a quiet house is quite a blessing these days!

I hope everyone had a beautiful weekend!

this baby

I spent the day with my littlest monkey today. Oh this baby, how he steals my heart! He is such a happy, sweet-natured little guy and he is such good company. And he is just growing so fast! He is talking so much these days, trying out so many new words. I especially like his plurals- a "sh" on the end of words like shoesh (shoes) and "llamash" (llamas.)

And I don't know if I've mentioned what a goofball this baby is, but he really really is. He is constantly cracking jokes and doing silly things to make us laugh. Funny walks and funny faces and general goofiness. He's perfected a sideways glance that makes me laugh instantly. Oh my sweet little goosey boy. :: giving me light bright pieces in the bighouse::
I am enjoying the chubby cheeks and cheeky grins and chubby hands so much, knowing how fast it all passes. Though I suspect the cheeky grins might be here to stay.

we are outside

Too busy playing outside in this amazing hot spring weather to blog or cook or clean the house. Must.Play.Outside. Because at this time of year, tomorrow could always bring snow.

But oh, how we are loving the sun while it is here!

the laundry line

Every year I rejoice at the sight of the clothes hanging on the line for the first time. Something about our family's clothes flapping out there in the spring wind makes me a little giddy. Spring really is here.

springing

I'm having such a hard time getting here lately, we are busy soaking up the lovely weather we've been having, playing and eating and working outside, and just feeling thankful for these beautiful days. I've been sewing up a storm too, trying to finish up a quilt that I've been working on with some friends for sweet little W, and I think I'm nearly there. Quilting is new to me, I'm learning a lot as I go. It will be good to get this love-filled creation off to them. They are in our hearts every day.

We also had a some time with my grandfather who was visiting this past week; feeling lucky that his health allowed him this trip and time together. My parents organized a small gathering at a local cafe for him with folks he knows from around here, and there was, of course, plenty of music and jamming. My boys were delighted that their Dedo the drummer let them sit in his lap as he played, and then, when he stood up to take a break, Ari stepped into the role.

The musician friends were very patient with the not-yet-four-year-old drummer, and he was so thrilled. I've had no luck uploading a video, but I'll try again. It is pretty cute.

I hope your held sunshine and smiles.

still here

I've been having a hard time getting to the blog these days, but, as always, there is lots that fills the days. Easter weekend was lovely. Lots of visits with family and friends, time for our little family to be together and a bunch of spring cleaning and organizing that I'd been wanting to get to for awhile. Why can't all weekends be 4 day weekends?

The weather has been fluctuating between warm and springy and beautiful and then wintry and blustery and cold. We've still been getting out everyday, but sometimes we don't last long in the icy wind. So we've been doing a lot of reading and crafting and building and inventing games inside.
We've woken up several mornings to heaps of snow, which, though lovely, just seems a bit much at this time of year. We are so ready for it to be spring. Luckily the snow has been the sort to melt halfway through the day and turn to slushy, muddy rivers on the driveway, which is so very entertaining. We've been building water ways and water falls and coming back muddy and wet.

And as long as there is mud, we will be counting this as spring.