Happenings

Jackson made this bowl the other day for school.  He had been wanting to make one like the one he made when he was little.  I just love it.



Grace made these beautiful carrot bars to share at Easter tomorrow.  Good thing our family has already have been told we are bringing them or I might have eaten them all.



I think Iyla might thing the world is always white.  Spring?????



The Easter Eve moon I enjoyed on my way home from some last minute Easter errands.

These Two

Her Favorite Toy

Bakken Museum

{Playing a mind "game" where the most relaxed person's ball moves the farthest}


{Connecting the electricity in the "town" to light it up}

We spent the day at the Bakken Museum with our homeschool group today.  The highlights were definitely the mind game as well as some sort of machine where you zapped yourself?  Jackson had really wanted to go here after hearing about that one.  We will do a few more things to wrap up our study of electricity.  I think he needs to build something?  We'll see what we come up with...

Our Retreat

Oh my goodness how to put this retreat into words? When Katie and Kirsten came to pick me up and we were sitting in the car getting situated I informed them that if we do nothing but sit in the driveway together for two days and hang out I would be so happy. I had been skipping around my house all morning and had already moved into retreat mode.  I was just so excited.



But we did leave the driveway and after a three part harmony of "Brothy, Brothy, Broth, Broth" Iyla fell right to sleep and proceeded to stay that way for an hour and a half.  And while the car long car ride to catch up truly was a treat, arriving at our little cabin was even sweeter. I think my breathing slowed down instantly for the nice 3 day pause that our retreat would certainly bring.

And it so did. Reading, talking (aka our "sessions"), the amazing food, painting in the studio (especially on Sunday morning when Iyla napped for TWO hours in my sling), writing, napping. My cup was so full when I arrived back home on Sunday.









And Iyla was the absolute best retreat buddy I ever could have asked for. My expectations were pretty low going with a six month old. I knew it would feel wonderful just to be there with Katie and Kirsten and if I never got to read or write or paint it would still be totally worth it. But I got to do ALL of those things! Everything just kept working out, right down to the car ride home.



 Speaking of Iyla, from my pictures it appears that she went on a retreat by herself.  I'm not sure how we didn't get any pictures of the three of us, I guess because taking pictures wasn't really on our minds.

Cannot wait to go back.

More Spring Break

A few moments from our spring break.  On Tuesday a few of our homeschooling friends decided to go swimming.  I always love visiting our hotel, especially this time of year when everything is so gloomy out.  It feels so warm and sunny in there.  On Wednesday we went out for ice cream.  As you can see Iyla was pretty certain she was missing out.  On Thursday Frankie showed up.  This is suppose to mean spring is here but... I'm not so sure yet.

Sap Boiling

Spring Break

We started out our spring break with lunch at the Dock Cafe.  I love taking them out to lunch.  They are always so sweet and appreciative.  Even Iyla was pleasant today.  As the big kids finished eating they all wanted to take turns walking her around the restaurant so I could finish eating (like Ryan does at home).  They are so proud to be her big brother and sisters.  Just like I am to be there mom.

Ski Day

We decided to let Grace play hooky (though not really hooky because we told her school where she was going) and come skiing with us for the last homeschool ski day.  It was such a beautiful day for skiing.  Sunny and not too cold.  Nora said she wanted to give the bigger hills a try again so I went skiing too.  Grace worked with her for a little bit when we first got there.  She slowly stated to feel more comfortable.  Then her and I started going down the "big" hill and after a few runs she didn't want to stop.  She really started enjoying herself and that's how I know we met our goal.  She was so bummed when we got in the car and she realized this would be our last ski of the year.  Next year she'll be ready to go though!  Not pictured, Jackson spending the day skiing on the jump hill.

Bits

This time of year is not my favorite.  I'm sure I've mentioned that.  Maybe even in my last post?  I hate it actually.  So dreary and muddy and brown and blah.  Anyway, I'm working hard to bring some bits of joy into my days right now.  I am in the middle of making Iyla this wool bonnet and it might be my favorite thing I've ever knit.  Yes this is one thing I am loving right now.  A few other bits...



Fresh flowers from the co-op.  Color!  And comfort food.  I think I've made lasagna 3 times in the past week and a half.



Jackson has decided he wants to study electricity which has been interesting.  This is a magnet he made.  We have field trip planned to the electricity museum in a couple weeks too.



In the evening when I'm making dinner Iyla and I have gotten into a nice little nap routine where she naps in the sling.  It makes the making dinner (a task I don't always enjoy) a little more snuggly.

That Hair

Weekend Highlights

~ Getting the trees tapped
~ Watching Princess Bride with Jackson and Grace
~ Going out to the Lake Elmo coffee shop for lunch- all 6 of us
~ Then to the library (I love our tiny little town)
~ Ben and Jerry's ice cream
~ Ryan making dinner
~ Time to sew
~ Time to knit (I started the Astrid Bonnet for Iyla and I'm so in love it with it)
~ Ryan giving the kids rides in the boom truck
~ My nap on Saturday (1.5 hours!)
~ Making lasagna (for the 2nd time in a week because I found a new recipe and everyone likes it)
~ Getting a bonus snow day on Monday
~ Reading Charlotte's Web with Nora (in 3 days)
~ Nora and I deciding to watch Babe instead of Charlotte's Web after finishing the book because...we weren't sure if we could handle the movie right after the book.