Sap and Sitting

We have entered into what I feel is my least favorite season, early spring.  Or random soggy glove in the dirty snow season.  Either one.  The beautiful snow frosted trees are gone, as are the pure white drifts of sparkles.  Everything is melting and browning and muddy.  BUT the one silver lining of this season is tapping.  Today Nora and I started washing out all the sap buckets.  We are hoping to get them out tomorrow.  It was 45 here today so we already have missed some sap.



In other news this little one is sitting up now.  This picture is deceiving though.  She looks stable, and for a bit she is, until she isn't.  Shortly after I took these pictures she toppled over (thankfully it kind of happens in slow motion) and landed before I could catch her.  She wasn't happy with me.



I am enjoying these days so very much and trying so hard not to take them for granted.  Life is good right now.  There are many times in my life that I have wondered what if this is the best part of my life?  My dad told me when I was a kid that being a kid was the best part of life.  When I graduated high school I remember wondering if that was the best part of my life?  Certainly I wonder it now.   I guess best to assume it is and that way I can do a better job of staying present.

Just like sometimes it's best to start dinner with dessert, sometimes it is best to start school with recess.

A Teeny, Tiny Snowshoe Date

Nora and I found a half a dozen deer beds in the woods today.  I am still not tired of the snow.  How could I be with the way it makes everything look.  It is hard to get out there right now with Iyla but I try.  And every time I do it makes me so happy, even if I'm only able to be out for a few minutes.

Found 'Em

Winterfest 2018

{photo by Katie}






{photo by Katie}


{photo by Katie}

Valentine's Day

I know Valentine's Day is not a favorite holiday for many given it's "hallmark" nature, but I find myself loving it more each year.  Here's the thing for me- there needn't be any shopping, for heaven's sake no one should be stressed, and if the only thing you have to offer is an "I love you" so be it.  But I just like that it's a day that we tell the people we love that we love them.  And for those of us who love doilies and glue sticks, well there's that added bonus.

This year Jackson and Nora and I decided to decorate for our "party" while Ryan was at work and Grace was at school.  They hung cutout hearts up and we made some cupcakes.  At dinner we gave each other our valentine's.  After dinner we played cards together.  Simple and lovely.

Fort Building

Early Morning Light in February

Ski Day

It has been a few years since I have put skis on.  My mom generously offered to watch Iyla for the day (our longest time apart yet) so she didn't have to spend two hours in the car and I could ski.  This year, our first time out, Nora thought she might be ready to try some bigger hills.  After several runs down the bunny hill she decided she was content to stay there.  But Jackson did a few runs with me.  This was my first time skiing at Wild Mountain and wow is it beautiful.  Similar to Afton you can see the river in the distance.  But unlike Afton it feels more secluded with long runs surrounded in forest.  At any rate it was a beautiful day and I felt so lucky to be out on skis with them.

Five Months

Oh Iyla time is moving so fast with you.  Here we are and you are five months old already.  Let's see, what can I say about you at five months old.  Daddy found you have a ticklish spot on your tummy and he loves to make you laugh.  While you are still not eating solid food yet, you have suddenly gained an interest in what the rest of us are putting into our mouths.  Maybe next month we sill start some food.  You seem to like a bit of a schedule, more so then with your siblings.  And when 7 or 8 roles around you are ready for bed.  You can role over from your tummy to your back and have almost rolled over from back to tummy but not quite.  You can also sit up but after a few seconds you usually tumble over one way or the other.  I can tell you are close on that one though.





You are so content to be around your family.  Daddy plays a game where he holds you and zooms you up to people and you love it so much.  You also like to sit and watch your siblings.  They always seem to be up to something interesting.



You have grown so much over the last five months and it's hard to imagine how much you will continue to change over the next several months.  What a joy it is to be your mama and watch you become you.