Growing

Oh my baby is growing!  She is almost 11 months now, so close to a year.  I honestly can't believe she is almost a year old.  Eliot is almost 7, where does the time go?  

Last night Eliot was curled up in front of his little CD player listening to the Hobbit.  That turned out to be a great choice vs me reading it out loud.  I estimate one more sitting and it will be done.  While he was doing that I found my old baby doll I had been keeping.  She is a little beat up and was referred to as 'headless baby' for quite a while until I fixed her head.  But, with a little outfit on, she is holding up.  Willow absolutely loved her!  She was cautious at first and then crawled over, scooped her up and started rocking her and talking to her.  She loves little stuffed animals but she has never treated them quite so gingerly. It was really fun to watch the way she interacted.  The cuteness is killing me.  

Our basement seed starting experiment is going really well, too.  It is simply a fluorescent light over soil blocks.  I had a really high germination rate so I need to go in and trim down the extras but I'm very happy with the results so far.  They all seem healthy and strong, I only wish I had started them sooner!  I'm writing everything down so I will remember for next year.

Spring Walking

Some nature on our nightly walk.  We had our first thunderstorm of the spring season.  Once it passed we went for a puddle walk/ride.  Willow is really enjoying these walks and chatters and talks most of the way.  Eliot zooms on his bike and leads the way talking to all of the dog walkers we pass.  Our neighborhood is very quiet with very few kids but now we know most of our neighbors because of our little ambassador.  

Mourning doves singing to us.

I am not sure what these little white flowers are.  I thought they were blood root but now that I look at the leaves more closely I have too look them up.  We are always on the lookout for interesting plants and possible edibles.

Our ornamental crab apple tree is covered in blossoms this year!  I am so happy because last year it barely flowered at all.

Lastly our little rhubarb plant has grown a lot in 2 years.  We are planning to cut some this weekend and have our first taste.  Off to a nice weekend full of garden tending and planting, t-ball and mother's day!

(K1, Read 1, Garden 1) repeat

I found a copy of the full Lord of the Rings trilogy in one book.  I love when I can find things for 1$ that I am looking for! This will keep me busy for a while and probably put me in a new prescription because the font so tiny.  Eliot is fascinated by the cover so perhaps he will read along.  I started reading him the Hobbit but it was a tricky read aloud for me.  A book on tape might be a better option.

A little bit of rabbit crafting last week.  I've been trying to think up a way of keeping the hay in the cage so that I don't have to sweep quite so much.  So far this seems to have been an improvement.  Not perfect but better.  It has an elastic inside it so I can pull it down to let the bunny out etc. The buns are enjoying the fresh grass and dandelions that Eliot is giving them.  Time to get the girls outside!

The garden plan is coming along.  I've decided where everything is going in the 5 boxes we have planned for this year.  Kevin has been the most excellent dirt mover a gal could ask for.  I have some seeds started in the basement but I have a feeling we are a lot late on those.  But we still have another week left of frost possibility so I'm not panicking.  I think I'll get seeds in this weekend and make some kind of PVC trellis.

I am almost done with the baby sweater I have been working on.  I want to use up the rest of the yarn but I also don't want it to be too long.  Ah well, something with stripes in the future I guess!  I'm ready to be done with this project.  I am not sure what will be next.  Maybe a little vest for summer/fall?  I'm itching for some new yarn.  I also am feeling like I want to quilt something or stitch something by hand.  We'll see what happens...

Yarning along over here...

Feeling like Spring

We have been a busy family this past week.  Two new garden beds built and ready for dirt.  I finished my garden plan and started a few late seeds.

Eliot started his first season of t ball.  He is so excited and cute about it.  He is very competitive so we have been putting a lot of emphasis on teamwork and good sportsmanship.  He certainly is fast!

Once he told the coaches he is a lefty batter he really hit well.

It is so funny to watch all the kids get distracted in the outfield.  Eliot wants to wear his uniform all the time.
This morning he told me he was ready for little league.  He would prefer it if they kept score.

Drinking iced tea now!  Yay.  Soon it will be warm enough to start making sun tea.  I can't wait.

Willow is so happy outside.  She loves to explore everything.  I have to watch her like a hawk or she will put everything in her mouth.  She definitely understands the word no but chooses not to listen.

 My happy girl.  She has such fair skin!  I'm trying to figure out why she is so red under her eyes and on her cheeks.  I'm not sure if it is the sun, sunscreen, allergies or what.  Could be teething related for all I know.  At least it doesn't bother her.  Ah that face.

The Daily

I don't talk about my work much but it is keeping my busy lately.  I am in the middle of filming and editing a training video and I need to update our staff pictures.  It is fun to play with lighting.  The video is a new foray for me but the result is going well. He looks so serious in this picture but he is one of the nicest people I know!  I thought I'd give a sneak peak into my daily life.

I had my photo lights set up to do a photo for someone that is going to be teaching at a conference next week so I had my friend sit in to test the lights.  I think this is my favorite head shot I have ever done.  The light levels and scenarios are starting to become a lot more intuitive.  I'm longing for a new camera.  Hopefully in the nearish future.

Beach Moments

We had a really warm day yesterday at about 60 degrees so we hit the beach for a late afternoon romp.  Eliot played and ran and dodged the water while Willow slept for about an hour and a half.  Blissful after so much cold weather.  

When Willow woke up she immediately wanted to go down and check everything out.  She LOVED it!  She loved burying her hands in the sand and finding treasures.  She was not at all pleased when I had to pick her up to leave.  I was a little paranoid about small rocks so I found a nice spot where I could monitor what was being picked up.

They just love each other so much!

Eliot told me he was weary when we left.  Next time we will bring a picnic I think.  I need to get my summer bags packed for spur of the moment adventures!

Sweater, Sea and Seeds

A new sweater for Willow from the leftovers I had hanging around.  I am living in fear that I am going to run out of the green but I think I might just squeak by.  I have had to take it apart 2 or 3 times and, really, I probably should again!  I definitely screwed something up on the last leaf row but I think I might just grin and bear it.  She is moving so fast now hopefully no one will notice!

I love these wooden needles, too.  So nice to work with.  I scrapped the curly plastic metal ones.  I couldn't 

handle it anymore.

We made the ocean bottle that Ginny mentioned one of her last posts.  It was so fun and easy!  Eliot had to make a 'bottle of blood', too.  The zombies are taking over apparently.

The practicing on the chanter is going well, too.  I'm trying to sneak in practice whenever I can.  It is starting to sound a little better! I'm working on the first lines of Amazing Grace.  Slow progress.

As for reading - it has mostly been seed packets.  I am in the throws of the garden and seed starting plan.  I hope to make some progress this week.  Hopefully I can get to Home Depot with the two kids in tow and someone will take pity and help me cut pvc the pipe I need. I try not to take advantage of the mom card but ya' know sometimes it comes in handy.

And the baby is really taking off with her exploring.  She is reaching over head to grab stuff and is experimenting with letting go now and then.  She is becoming much more expressive and meaningful with her language, too.  I can't wait to hear her talk!

Yarning along over here...

Spring, Walks and Happy Babies

A little bit of post lag after the craziness of last week.  I didn't really feel like taking pictures or writing.  I'm glad we were able to keep the news away from Eliot.  

But in a happier note we are finally enjoying the beginnings of spring around here.  It wasn't particularly warm this weekend but it was sunny and therefore perfect for being out side.  

Eliot, Willow and I have been going on nightly walk/rides around the trails near our house.  I am so thankful for the light!  I usually carry Willow around in the baby carriers but for these walks I am trying to get her used to the stroller.  She still doesn't like the car seat so it can be a stretch some nights.  If she can watch Eliot she is fine, of course. 

The foraging season has begun in our yard.  Eliot loves to do this!  He is really good at plant identification.  He has started making 'Eliot side salads' with dandelion greens.  In the backpack he has two ID books that we use when we go out hunting for things. The garden is in a pretty sorry state right now but that will be remedied soon.  I want to take the perennial garden that he is digging in down to the bottom of that slope to spread things out and add some annuals for cut flowers.  We are putting another box at the end of the row of 3 to extend the veggies, too.  I am starting some seeds this week if all goes as planned!

Baby in a basket is good fun these days.  Ignore the warnings on the side of the box (I use it for work - postal service approved)...

Big news for Eliot this weekend!  He learned to tie his own shoes!  I am so proud of him.

Here is Willow enjoying eating some dirt and leaves.  So much for me getting anything done outside!  You can see the new top teeth peeking out in the photo, too.  Poor kid is still in pain!  Now that those two have come out her eye teeth are pushing.   No sleep for weary mamas.  She doesn't seem any worse for the wear though.

More photos from our nightly walks..

Family Catch Up

It has been another long week battling a stomach bug with all of the lovely symptoms that come with it.  Willow is just turning the corner after nearly 5 days!  Whew.  Poor Eliot told me he was ready to give up.  He honestly thought he was going to die.  It was so sad.  It was certainly the sickest he has ever been.

Glad to have that behind us.  Willow is having fun and getting really speedy on all fours.  She has, thankfully, decided not to be afraid of the bunnies anymore but to chase them instead.  She is fast but they are much more spry.  They let her get just close enough to barely touch them then they hop out of range.  If they get sick of it they go back to their cages or hide behind the furniture.  I think they like the attention.  They are very social creatures.  The look of determination on her face cracks me up.

Smokey bunny checking her out.

Eliot was trying very hard to stand still so a bird would land in his hand.  He wants this to happen so bad!  I think if he worked at it diligently the chickadees might do it.  The birds are pretty active and brave around our house.

This sort of sums up how Eliot has been seeing the world lately.  Everything has been a battle with major testing of boundaries.  He will start arguments that have no good outcome good or bad.  For example the argument about why Willows eyes are blue and his have turned green and how that makes him jealous.  It is hard to bridge these moments but I'm trying to give him as much individual attention and outlets for his anger as I can as I think that is the root of it.  It definitely increases when he has had too much screen time too.  No one said it would be easy.  With warmer weather more exercise will help too I think.

My craft area is in total disarray, too.  There will be a 'great purge' coming soon.  It may involve give aways if I find anything worth giving away.  I need to get it down to one (or two) bins.  Totally sick of the excess stuff!

These are the happy moments. Lots of reading and drum playing.