what to do when the rain just will not stop all week long:

:: work on puzzles

 

::make a new batch of playdough and set up a restaurant cooking elaborate cakes and cookies

:: make soup

::get out in it when you can

 

 

 

:: roll up the rug and turn the living room into a town,

:: make some crafts- coffee filter flowers for the windows

 

:: work on some projects in the newly organized sewing nook with little helpers nearby, 

  

:: and when mama runs out of ideas, pop some corn, make some hot chocolate and pull out a good movie. We watched Babies together. That was yesterday. Today we are going to hit the library and coffeeshop to beat the cabin fever and we'll be making some wishes for some sunshine to come!

hope you are keeping dry where you are, friends!

Around here:

::dandelions

::baby knits- thumbless owl mitts (my first colourwork attempt- so fun!)

:: and more baby knits- 

an elephant milo - my second colourwork attempt-  and my first time with this pattern and I am in love. This vest is so tiny and super soft I have to pet it every time I walk past. 

:sewing- 

stacks of baby wipes and catching up on some old projects I found when cleaning out the sewing nook. Also sorting and organizing and getting rid of bags and bags of stuff and feeling so much happier to work in this little space.

 

 

::the circus has come to town-
the boys went to the real circus with their grandparents this past week and we've been treated to many shows on the farm since.
1. dandelion microphone for the ringmaster  2. strong man
3. dandelion dance
4 + 5. many fancy and entertaining acrobatics.

:: trying to keep up with the hummingbird's thirst.

::rhubarb. I wish we liked to eat it as much as we like to see it grow.

::Lots of art on the go. This is Dorian's picture of flying squirrels. 

::green- everything is growing so quickly with all the rain we've been having.

This last week and a half we've been blessed with a visit from Perry's parents, and it was such a lovely time. The boys are over-the-moon to spend time with them, and they are so lovely to have around and do so much while they are here. I felt so lucky to have some time to sort baby things and clean and nest and homeschool plan and just generally prepare for the next stage ahead. We were sad to bid them farewell this morning, but feeling so much more ready to be be welcoming a new little one into our family. Oh! A baby! We are so excited.

and me, I need so much sleep these days, I often don't make it past the kids. Goodnight!

Weeding:: 

Dandelions and impossible garden expectations. Composting the guilt and feeding the greens to the chickens. So far nothing has been planted in their places-  perhaps we'll get a few seeds in to remind us of all that is growing and flourishing in our lives right now. Let most of the space remain fallow, knowing that some time to rest will help it all grow better in the future.

Noticing::

The piles of projects and unfinished bits. Accepting it wont all get done. Not this year, but really, not ever. Feeling gratitude for such a full life.

Laughing::

At Perry and I both going on separate grocery shopping trips today- he with the farm truck, me with the boys and the car- both of us crossing the same items off our lists. We'll be good to eat from our bulging fridge for awhile now.

Loving:: 

my sweet boys and this hideout they discovered at the top of the old goat barn, already furnished by the last batch of children that roamed this farm. Their excitement as they climb up and down the ladder, adding their own special touches.

Watching::

Our chickens. They provide us with endless entertainment. I love the constant rotating list of names the boys have for them: Rocket, Red-a, Necklace, Itchy, Bravey-Brave. 

Welcoming::

The new leaves on the trees, the greening up of the world after all the rain, the bees our friend has brought to our property for the season.

  

Tasting:: 

Fresh farmers market greens, the first radish from my mom's greenhouse, fiddle heads.

Soaking up::

Love from my boys on Mother's Day, cards and pancakes in bed and then a lovely celebration at a friend's house later in the day. 

Happy Monday, friends.

Oh, what glorious weather we are having! It feels like summer, though the trees are just starting to bud, and the grass is just starting to grow. Such a treat to get a little early heat wave! We've been outside, around home or at the lake, enjoying every minute of it.

We celebrated our biggest boy's 7th birthday- Seven! It is hard to believe seven years have passed since he came into our lives. We had some family time together, and then our super social boy needed a party too, of course. 14 little friends running around in the sunshine- good fun!

 This was my solution to goody bags- Air really wanted a treasure hunt, but I wasn't organized enough to make or order anything special and couldn't bring myself to buy  dollar store toys, so I made these little craft bags and added a couple small, healthy (ish) treats and some bubbles and called it treasure. The kids seemed pleased.

Ari was spoiled up good this birthday, and he received this electric drum kit from my parents, which he is over-the-moon about. He plays constantly, and he is really learning so much from being able to play along with songs and pick up the sticks whenever he feels the urge. And the fact that it is quieter than the tin-can set he's been playing nearly everyday since he was two is an added bonus for this noise-sensitive mama!

And me, I am getting to that stage in later pregnancy where I am really feeling myself slowing down. I have a big list of things I want to get done before baby gets here, and I am slowly (very slowly) making my way through it, but really, sitting in the hammock and knitting is really all I want to be doing these days. I have a big pile of unfinished baby knit projects to work my way through. When we were trying for a baby, I started many, many little baby projects (there are several more around the house that didn't make their way into this picture,)  but during that time I often could not bring myself to finish them, so now I am working my way through the pile of toe-less teeny socks and half knit soakers and sweaters and hats and it is mighty satisfying to see the pile of baby knits grow. 

This weekend the rains are supposed to come, and the usual chilly spring weather with them. There may be less hammock knitting and more knitting by the wood stove again this weekend- we'll see.
Happy Friday, friends!

Building fairy houses in the woods. The wind was blowing and this was very urgent and important work-to make shelter for the little people and make sure the birch bark furniture the boys had built on an earlier day didn't blow away. This is one of the first places to melt out on the property and a favorite spring place to visit. So wonderful to be out in the woods again!

Needle felting: above are Dori's penguins- the left is with some help from mama, the right is totally on his own. I love them both!

Ari's redwing blackbird. He made this on his own, including the nest and the wet felted egg. He threaded a string on its back so it can fly.

First spring cookout. Still a bit chilly but lovely none-the-less. It is such a treat when spring allows us to spend more time outside than in- riding bikes, walks by the river, digging in the garden, playing with friends. We are all so glad that spring is here!