5.30.2018

Happenings

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{My favorite}

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These two are both getting their bottom teeth in.  Did I post a picture of Nora loosing her first tooth?  It think I did but I will go back and check.  Anyway, shortly after she lost her two bottom teeth Iyla got her's in.  We keep asking Nora if any of her other teeth are loose to find out which tooth Iyla will get next.

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It is the end of the school year and it's hard to keep our focus.  We were in the garden the other day and Jackson and Nora and I had a great conversation about how we could get re-inspired with homeschooling.  That led to us foraging for wild edibles for the afternoon.

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We tried wild violets, nettle tea, dandelion fritters and fiddleheads.  I was the only one who liked the tea but they loved everything else.

It felt good for all of us to work together at something that had us so engaged.  I wish I could come up with more things like this.  That is my goal before next year...

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Grace has been enjoying giving Iyla a bath on the porch.  Of course Iyla loves it as well.  Her and anything water are always hit.

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I am trying so hard to keep up with this blog (and my life) but it seems we are in the thick of things here.  Even if I am able to post a few times a month I will be happy.  We'll see.

5.13.2018

Mother's Day

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I loved my Mother's Day so, so much.  When I was reading the cards they gave me this morning I said, "This is the BEST Mother's Day I've ever had!" and Jackson said, "Don't you say that every year?"  I might.  But this one really was.  A few highlights from the weekend...

~ We took my mom out to dinner on Thursday to Lake Elmo Inn and Katie came too!  It was so fun to celebrate with them both!

~ Friday I took a long bath

~Friday and Saturday Ryan and I watched comedians and SNL (Amy Schumer) and I laughed until I cried.

~ Saturday morning Ryan solo parented for a few hours so I could paint!

~ Saturday afternoon I got my hair colored and the later Sam, Scott and Aleta came over to grill.

~ Today.  Oh today.  I woke up and was promptly sent back to bed where I was delivered a two course breakfast.  This was followed by homemade cards and flowers.  (Later I found a sheet of paper with a list of all the Mother's Day things they were going to do for breakfast and then their names by each thing- toast: Nora, scrambled eggs: Jackson, etc, so sweet).

~ I gardened.

~ Ryan worked on the bookshelves he's building us.  They are beautiful and finished!  They just need a coat of paint.

~ Dinner on the porch.

Mostly what was so great though was how kind they all were to each other and me.  I could tell they were trying hard not to fight with each other and that is just the sweetest gesture.  My cup is full.

5.04.2018

Magnolias and Random Thoughts

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The magnolia tree is finally in bloom.  Looking back over my blog this is the latest date I have record of it blooming.  I think the earliest is March 20th.  It feels so good to have everything come back to life again.  And all the flowering and green.  As much as I hate early spring, I love late spring.

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Jackson went up north with Ryan to sucker spear and Grace of course is at school.  So this morning when Nora woke up she said, "I have our whole day planned!"  And she did.

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We managed to do everything on her list too.  Read books in bed, do some art, garden, and finally- have lunch and then ice cream bars on the deck.  We even managed to sneak in a trip to the thrift store for some new spring clothes.  It was a special day.

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And now we're headed off to pick up Grace and go out to dinner.  We will then head to my parent's house where the girls will have a day with their friends tomorrow and I will have a day to myself.  I need it too.  Life seems to be going so fast these days.

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Especially with Iyla.  She is at the stage where it is really starting to get hard to do anything else.  The house isn't as clean (not that it was ever that clean) and dinner preparation is almost impossible.

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She is almost crawling and I want her to do it so bad (even though I don't want her to).  It is just so exciting for her.  Everything is so exciting for her.  I love watching her watch the world.  It is such a good reminder for me.  It's all so amazing if we really stop to take it all in.

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