Easter Moments

Easter is so much more fun with children. It is so pleasurable to watch them delight in the small surprises. Running around all wide eyed and giggly. Of course there were also plenty of the too much sugar, where did my child go type moments too. But overall, a very memorable day.

Eggs with Grammie

Oh how I remember this very same scene from when I was a little girl. My sister and I, maybe out for the weekend at my Grandma's, setting up cups of colored water, egg holders, and stickers. (As with most things my sister and I did, I think the "setting up" and preparing was often just as fun as the actual dying.) And then delighting as plain white eggs turned into bright works of art.

How fun it is as a parent to watch as Grace begins to make her own Easter memories.

Eastermade

This Easter I had uncharacteristically planned (and planned with enough time) to make some gifts- a needle felted ball for Jackson and bluebird for Grace. But then I had a last minute idea(in a more unplanned me sort of way), I wanted to make Grace a library bag. Every time we go to the library I'm always thinking how a bag just for her books would be so handy. I had just enough time the night before we were suppose to leave for my parents to make it. I have had that fabric for awhile and have just been waiting for the perfect something to make with it. And being the bag lady Grace is, I was pretty confident, I would be putting it to good use.

These homemade goodies along with a few treats and some adorable books I found at one of my favorite stores and I pretty much had two filled Easter baskets. And I have say... I think I might have had as much fun putting them together as they did finding them.

Hot Sun

I go my wish today. We bundled up and went outside this afternoon and slowly but surely layer after layer started coming off. We were actually hot. It was wonderful.

Music

The three of us started this wonderful music class last week and already it has got these two hooked. I took the same class with Grace when she was Jackson's age and being we are still singing the songs from it three years later, I decided it was definately something I wanted to do again with Jackson. The class itself is fun, but even more fun is learning the songs together, singing them throughout the day, and of course, "playing class" is the best.

Travel Tuesdays

Back in my younger, more footloose and fancy free days, I was an avid traveler. There is something so invigorating, so stimulating, so freeing, about stepping on to new ground. A small piece of the earth, that you have never seen before, smelled before, tasted before. New colors, new sounds, new people. It is impossible in such instances, to not be fully awake, fully present, drinking everything in... a gift to the senses. Big trips, small trips, road trips, plane trips, camping, fancy hotels... I experienced it all. I remember when I set out on my biggest trip ever- an around the world ticket with stops in 7 countries- I told myself that "Someday, I will have a family with little kids, and picking up and traveling will not be so easy. It is for then, as much as now, that I travel." And imagine that... now is here. So with my antsyness for spring, I thought maybe now would be a good time to start Travel Tuesdays, where I can relive some of those happy memories I made on my travel adventures.
So first stop....

Hawaii (May, 2004)
Heaven. That's what I think of when I think of Hawaii. Just sitting on the beach, listening to the waves, with the sun on my face. And just in case I did decide to open my eyes, the most beautiful flowers were just waiting to entice me with their colors and scents. There are so many wonderful memories from this trip... seeing the volcano, hiking in the canyons of Kauai, swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling with rainbow colored fish, wine, Hawaiian music, fresh seafood... ahhhhh.

Grace has seen the pictures and already is talking about "someday when mommy and daddy take me to Hawaii". Yes Grace, someday.

Her "Blue Period"

Grace made these beautiful watercolors today. Several colors to choose from...but for some reason, today was a blue day. Love them.

Proof

I've been told that everyone in Minnesota has some sort of amnesia when it comes to the weather. And that every year around this time people start to talk as though this winter in particular, was an especially long one. According to these unbiased observers really it's the same every year, we just forget. We must forget, otherwise we most likely would not stick around for another one. But we do... and that's where I'm at right now. Thinking about how long this winter has been, wondering when it's going to end, and longing for heat... hot, hot sun on my face. Today a little proof that it can't be too far away...

Nature Table

Here is our spring tree and nature table that Grace and I have been working so hard on over the last few weeks, finally finished. The table will be a permanent spot in our home that we can change seasonally or as we like. This was the first time I have ever decorated eggs like this and it was so much fun. Grace was so precise and intentional as she carefully decoupaged each piece of tissue paper on the eggs. The birds I cut out of coffee filters and then we painted them with watercolors. All of the other little things on the table are pieces that one or both of us felt represented spring in some way. I am excited to have created this special place in our home. I can tell Grace is going to have a lot of fun with it too. Today before we went on our walk she was gathering all sorts of things that will be "perfect" for our table. Love that.

Time for a New Stroller...

It was a beautiful day today. So nice to see the sun again! I managed to stuff both my kids in a one person stroller for a walk. They got a big kick out of it... but I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to pull that off.

Snow Picnic

Snow on April 1st should really be an April Fool's joke... but today it was not. So I decided to take the kids to this event that I've always wanted to go check out. Needless to say when we got there I immediately realized it was not at all what I had envisioned. To be respectful, I won't even go into what it was or the details, just that it was not a good fit for me or my kids. On the way home, I reflected on how I had a feeling it might be different then what I was picturing but chose to ignore it due to my curiosity and longing to do something new and different with the kids. As we were driving Grace and I made new plans to go to the co-op for some fresh, fun foods, and go home and have a picnic in the living room. Ahhhhh, now that's more like it. Maybe next time I want to do something new and different I'll think a little closer to home.

A bad day, a good book

Today was "one of those days". It just was. All of us got up too early, and for some reason, I thought today would be a good day to try and pay bills. As much as it is my natural tendency to want to focus on what was good about today (because we did manage to have a lot of good moments considering) I'm going to challenge myself by attempting to do the opposite. (It is strange though, because at the end of the day, the bad moments are harder to remember) So here are some of the days highlights that made me want to pull out my hair...

1. Grace trying to hurt Jackson. Attempting to stay calm when this happens is the biggest challenge of my life. There is some instictual protectiveness that awakens inside of me that is by no means rational. It takes everything in my power to handle this situation like an adult.

2. Having two crying children

3. Having two children who both want to be held

4. Putting both of them down early for their naps thinking they need the sleep and would sleep extra long and having one not nap at all and the other one get up early.

5. Wanting to call it a day at 2:15

That's all I can remember at this moment, but I guess that's a pretty good list. My light for today though... this beautiful book that I just got at the Goodwill the other day for $3 (apparently the heavens knew I would be needing it). It is so wonderful for times like this. She is just an amazing writter and a breath of fresh air on these dreary days. Very, very inspiring.

Well okay, and a few other rays of light (I can't help it, there were a few good moments I don't want to forget), playing "story hour" in the playroom and singing that silly crocadile song over and over and over. Grace "tricking me" at dinner that she was eating a candle (really a carrot) and laughing about how her tummy was going to start on fire. Or perhaps the best part of the day was having everyone in bed and asleep by 7:00.

And tomorrow a fresh start.

Dinner And A Park

This afternoon we all went to the park together and then last minute decided to go out to eat for dinner (oh dear, I really do have a problem). This was our first "park" experience since we moved... and the first "swing" of the year. Grace and Ryan played while Jackson hung out in the sling as I watched. For dinner we decided to drive into downtown Stillwater and find a new place to eat. A lot of places were closed already so we ended up at the Freight House which we have been to before, but a very fun place anyway. It was built in the late 1800's and was a train depot for freight trains. Very inspiring the way they renovated it.
Anyway, it was a fun night and a great end to our weekend.

Renovations

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We were able to do some work on the barn this weekend. We have to build two new big barn doors and Ryan was able to get one almost finished. Baby steps. I am starting to accept how slow things move and just enjoy that they are moving. Besides, if they moved any faster that would mean no time to play, and that is, first and foremost, why we moved here. That last picture is Grace's renovation work. Love it.

Chef Jackson

Jackson has become quite the little cook these days. Well I guess most of his "cooking" involves throwing food on the floor. But he does also enjoy making innovative dishes such as watermelon, tomato, egg soup. And those cheeks... yes I definitely see chef in his future...