Remembering.

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." -Ronald Reagan

We spent our weekend with a little, annoying cold. Between sniffles and soup we enjoyed our freedom. Freedom to eat watermelon as messily as we like...

Freedom to splash as big as we want.

Freedom to enjoy the sunshine, the shade, the life we live.

Freedom to be as cute as we want.

Freedom to watch our children grow in the safety of our own homes.

Wishing everyone could know this freedom. Especially thinking of those in North Korea, Syria,
Pakistan, Lybia, and the many other countries suffering from political unrest. I don't understand it, but lately I feel so spoiled. Spoiled by mountains of laundry, and 3 needy children, my morning coffee, my big back yard. My small, simple, life. Spoiled, loved, and enjoying the peace and freedom that so many lost everything for. Thank you Grandpa Rivers. Thank you all who serve or served. May you never be forgotten.

PS- This post is a day late, as blogger has not been working for me.

Nature-Inspired Attire

Last week was yet another busy week. Life is seldom not busy with a house of 3 little ones. That being said, I did accomplish my first real sewing project since Kieran was born. Kieran was lacking in the pants and sweatshirt area of his wardrobe. I was able to take a lone trip into Joann's and fell in love with the above green home-decor denim... so I made pants.

They are the "Quick Change Trousers" From Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginings book (which is worth every penny!!!). I made them in size *gasp* 18-24 months! I made them a little shorter, but I think for the next couple pairs I will use Meg's alterations to accomodate the extra cloth diaper fluff. That being said, they are freakin cute and fit like a dream. I also did not fully line them because I wanted something light enough for summer yet they are wide enough to accomodate some leggings underneath for cooler weather (if my sweetie pie stays little that long *sigh*). I just lined the bottom about 8 inches for a cute cuff. I also omitted the little bottom patch.

I also scored 2 sweatshirts at Target for $2 each. I love when their clearance makes it to 75% off!!! Sadly they had lame things like "Pro Athlete" on the side. Enter cute applique of a mouse on a turtle... because that is far more manly than "Pro Athlete". Don't you agree? (I am picturing Nick rolling his eyes about now). And my other appliqued item of the week:

I had cut out the "Hank the Stump Pattern" from Lollychops out of corduroy about a year ago, and started sewing it to a 3-6 month onesie. I never finished so I ripped it off, and during our weekly craft groups I finally finished a little stumpy onesie for my little nature child. :)

And look who carved their initials on the tree? hehe. I am framing this once Kieran outgrows it.... I LOVE IT. Anyway, I have more pants to make this week... among other projects brewing in my brain. But today is a bonafied clean-the-house-and-make-another-batch-of-jam day!

This week...

... we did a lot of gardening (and excersaucing). Peas, lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, kale, Swiss chard, sage and thyme were all planted. We are harvesting lettuce and herbs from years past already... and it is raining for the next 6 days so I am hoping this will be a good year!

...we enjoyed our sweet kitten... and thought we might have to re-home him after he confused Isabel's bed with a litter box. It was bad. "Nature's Miracle" and diligently keeping him out of the girls' room has been working well. It is just adorable how Anastasia takes naps with him... they are the best of friends.

...we played some chess with the cat...

and wore a very appropriate new shirt.
we climbed trees.

We enjoyed a beautiful day at the arboretum with good friends (and some mud, sticks, water and tadpoles as well!) We tasted sweet strawberries for the first time...

and the third time. And turned them into yummy jam. 28 jars of jam. We did a few jars of Rosemary-Strawberry Jam as well which turned out heavenly... especially on a slice of homemade bread.
We took a lot of pictures of a very cute baby who is now eating a lot of sweet potatoes and rolling over and scooching around. It surely won't be long before he is mobile so I spend a lot of time cuddling and squishing. Too soon he will want less of that. Oh this bitter-sweet motherhood.

Whew, it has been a busy week. The warmer weather brings so much change and beauty. Popsicles and ice cream. Snap peas and strawberries. Iced tea and lemonade. Grilling and salads. Flowers and green grass. Oh, sweet spring stay forever so I can savor you and my little ones a little longer this year!

"D" is for...

Another day... another tray! This is our dinosaur land. I also added some Cadbury mini eggs to add a level of "taste" to the tray. I would also like to add our leftover Gingerbread playdough to make volcanoes and things...

I raided my mom's garden for the ferns and other plants, and we found the moss on a walk. There are beans and blue water. I did it all in a cheap, plastic plant tray and the dinosaurs were found in some Easter eggs. So basically everything was free for me! :) That makes me very happy indeed.

The girls have been very into dinosaurs lately. It is funny how they play though, all the dinosaurs are nice, and there are even princess dinosaurs and they marry prince dinosaurs. And the t-rexes play very nicely with the brachiosaurus.

This week is proving to be a busy one for us, but I hope to make some paper plate diplodocus' and in a perfect world, some dino-egg soaps would be in the mix too! :)

Celebrating

It isn't quite my birthday yet... but we celebrated with my parents this weekend! :) It was nice day with a few of my favorite foods: shrimp, scalloped potatoes and a turtle cheesecake:

My dad made the cake for me, and my mom decorated it with Violas! It was beautiful and yummy and I still have some in my fridge to enjoy when the kids are in bed! :) And just because, here is another adorable Kieran picture. Cutest baby ever, right? He was really fussy after a short nap at my parents, but enjoyed watching Milo and Otis with his sisters:

LOL. I was once a parent with standards including not letting my babies watch tv. Yeah. right. Anyway, "Milo and Otis" got us a game of Scrabble which I successfully lost. but I love Scrabble. And I love my new cast iron dutch oven! Thanks Mom and Dad! Now on to starting My Bread in it...

"E" is for......

Easter!

We are slowly learning our letters and last week we did activities, songs and read books about "E". We learned about etiquette and electricity. We made eggs to eat, and glued egg shells to a letter "E" made of cardboard (and this did not work so well). We went on an Egg hunt with eggs full of pictures that begin with "E"s and then glued them in little books. Unfortunately my camera battery charger was still MIA, but thankfully it was found by my wonderful husband a day before I was going to order a new one! I am so naked without my lil' camera.

I also made this Easter sensory box with little chocolate eggs hidden in it... like a little, mini Easter Egg hunt. I was able to shoot pictures before it was destroyed after I charged my battery. I included paper Easter grass, egg shakers, little bunnies and chicks, lemon balm and dandelions and even some lettuce leaves from the garden! I covered the bottom in shredded carrots. What fun!

"E" is also for Extraordinarily Cute Baby. Oh. My. Word. He is my cuddle pie (but don't tell him, because it makes him mad when I call him that). Anyway. I was able to get in my garden today, and plant a few things and now we are on to learning the letter "D". Happy Monday!