the garden was a neglected project. still, some carrots grew and the tomato plants have grown more green and healthy than other years - not sure why they’re only ripening now.

so it was buttered carrots for teatime today. woohoo.  oh and the tea was homegrown chamomile - enough for only 1 pot so it was pretty special.

i had so much fun with these 2 little ones the other day.  i’ve photographed this gal i think 4 times now and it’s amazing to see her grow over the years - shy and cheeky much like little A. her little brother just kept filling my pockets with treasures.

randomness around home. i think my kids are awesome;

kids on the roof - totem city;

cartwheeled out;

this morning little A said to me after hearing little M’s explosion, “i bet the little munchkin is proud of himself”. yes i hear myself in that statement;

i have knitting time! another pair of picky pants in 4 colorways to use up the leftovers. love them;

random hits but more frequent misses at this point.  still learning the cues;

6 going on 12;

to Munroe love Arlo (sharpie on fabric);

knitting nancy (the tool not him);

“it’s my room. i can do what i want.” We’re reading Charlotte’s Web at bed times so i assumed he was weaving a web but no, it’s for a circus tight rope show.

i just hope he can untie them as well as they’re knotted;

water painting - a happy sun and a happy little balloon - this is looking a little like Bob Ross;

M’s new favorite spot. i can’t believe he digs the maya wrap of all slings. so far so good but he’s only 14lbs and sure to grow heavier on my 1 shoulder;

we’re spending more time at home than i think i’m comfortable with during summer but they are both so happy at home until about 2/3pm when we finally get out to do something.

M sleeps through most of the night and into the morning;

morning nap;

afternoon nap;

both my boys are good sleepers for now;

i’m sure it will all change but it’s all good for now.

passed fleetingly. i am sooooooooo enjoying this little love.

and i think little A is enjoying him just as much.

(circus tricks - somersaults);

Spanish Banks @ low tide to watch the skim boarders, dig more holes and dip our toes;

Littlest bean is a mellow fellow but he startles easily. i felt his little body tense at the sound of each wave rolling at our feet. Sometimes Little A’s quick enthusiasm sends Little M’s arms up over his head before his lower lip turns upside down trembling. It’s so very dear and we’re quick to reassure that all is well with the world.

Little A was really proud of his baby brother for grabbing hold of the umbrella - he requested i take this photo.

Post beach take out. There was no getting around it. Sweetbean M was excited seeing his big brother so excited;

Himalayan High.  i’m really trying to minimize our waste but i’m exhausted trying to explain it in a creative way to my 6 year old.  He says “yes, but can we still get one?” and so we did and it was good. on my list of things to acquire and carry on us are our own cups and some stainless steel straws.

I think tomorrow will have to be a day without sand. The beach is a love hate experience for me.

It took us till near 4 to leave home today… part of the delay was M’s long nap and part of it was A’s meltdown and part of it was my own state of lethargy in this heat, but we finally left the inferno that is our home and went seaside for a while. The water was not at all cold as i expected and though we only dipped our toes it was the sort of refreshing one needs on a day like today.

Leaving the beach and getting into a hot car hardly makes one excited to return to a hot home. Little A had the idea to go for Modern Burger. He mostly went for the shake. Vanilla of course.

“Please can you stop taking photos?”

He really enjoyed that shake.

i borrowed this PowerShot for videos and got caught up pointing and shooting. it’s such a different way to take pictures - often surprising, but then giant bubbles are also surprising. fun afternoon with Auntie;

hopscotch 75. what are you all getting up to in your hood?

It’s been an emotional few days with much drama and next to no eating or drinking to the wobbly point of no energy for play - he refused, claiming it hurt too much. aiii. instead he wanted to be in bed cuddling where he fell asleep, exhausted. Finally, day 3, and after much imploring, he let papa take the tooth out which was really just sitting there in his mouth. Whew. We were all relieved and much happier but he was still not interested in eating or drinking much. He said he wanted more than just money from the tooth fairy. This is our tooth gnome from Ketti.

Recently my mom came across an old note that my sister wrote which read, “mom, the fairy is not coming. Could you please take these 5 teeth and leave some money (or not leave money). ” I had such a good laugh about this but it also made me think that soon my little one’s  teeth might be falling out one after the other and so I’ve been making a rainbow of tooth fairy bags to have on hand. They’re perfect to hold both tooth and treasure as well as a small scroll note. For those of you with little ones yet to lose their milk teeth, i love this little poem. Please share other sweet poems if you’ve got any.

Well done my sweet! It was a really hard tooth to lose.

We’re on to the next milestone already as we’re supporting some chills and fever. He always comes out of it just a little bit stronger and wiser.

i finally made jam!

i think i procrastinated so long because the amounts of sugar are shocking and while i enjoy a fair amount of jam i just couldn’t bring myself to sweeten it so.  i tried agave syrup in place of sugar a few weeks ago with the strawberry jam but it didn’t pass little A’s “sweet test”. i like it though. After peeking at several recipes and consulting with my mama i came up with a modified version;

3.5c raspberries

1/2 c organic grape juice

3/4c evaporated cane sugar

2 tsp calcium water

2tsp pamona’s pectin

Mash berries, add grape juice and calcium water. Bring to a tumbling boil and boil 2 mins. Add sugar and pectin, stir vigorously and boil another minute. Remove from heat and blend with beaters for 4 mins. (to avoid hot splatters i covered the bowl with parchment and poked the beaters through). The grape juice was to sweeten as well as to make the jam less seedy. My mama uses a full cup of apple juice with 4c berries.  Pour hot jam into hot jars ( i heated them on a tray in the oven), seal with hot, dry lids and wait for the pop. all done.  i’m out of bread to sample but it’s tasty on wasa crackers.