we went to the park, looking for friends to play hide and seek….we found a lot of crunchy leaves so went back for the rake. i’m excited for fall now!
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.
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?
before the curtain’s drawn;
drawing the curtain;
construction on our street;
inspired play. long enough for me to post about it;
A number of people have commented or asked me about the bigger age gap that will be between my children and while both were unplanned, happy accidents (well after some mild shock this time round) i really can’t fathom it having happened any sooner. Little A and i have had a good long and connected time together. It seems that space is naturally occurring in time for another to come along. Aside from some rather lethargic afternoons on my part and some impatient crabby hormonal moods along with some just plain “off” days, i’d say we’re doing mostly well at fulfilling each one’s needs and keeping rhythms going. i really wouldn’t have had the energy for this a year or more ago. i am relieved as the little monkey gets into some good play and projects. Now if i can just focus my nesting/cleaning around my own messes and leave his alone we’ll be dandy.
i love this miniature pop up made from post it notes and scotch tape;
this one both bugs me (because it’s over his bed and i keep catching it with the blankets) and cracks me up. it says, “ask Arlo and he will let you out of the trap”;
this 1 child percussion band set up is pretty funny too. He put on his ear muffs and played along to the rhythm of my vacuuming.
there’s some kind of a show being set upstairs at the moment. i can hear a lot of things being moved here and there. i’m just going to dart past and enjoy myself a nice long bath.
We spent all of Saturday outside. Morning at the park - Little A was fresh & awake, climbing, running, jumping, hanging, spinning… if only my energy could match his. Afternoon at the beach - i knit some and laid back soaking up some warming sunshine while he dug and raked. it really feels like Spring.
There have been so many playful days lately. i love seeing the imagination and games unfold. So often the little one comes to me saying “i don’t know what to do” and if i just give him time to be in those moments of unknowing or boredom he ends up coming up with these brilliantly creative ideas and he’s off playing for hours. i love it. it makes me feel even more sure about our lifestyle and decisions to limit or eliminate television from our days ( i admit that during my 3 o’clock crash time i have given into the tv about once a week). i’m inspired by Kim John Payne. i was lucky to attend his lecture a couple weeks ago on Simplicity Parenting. i thought the lecture would save me having to read his book but now i want to devour it more than ever.
At the beach and in proper attire (especially those mitts!) he could play for hours. Grandma P collected stones (even found a crystal) and i knit (i’m so addicted);
The teepee is getting some great use these past weeks. i hear him chatting away in there with his stuffed friends and there’s almost always some mess to tidy away at the end of the day.
The request for play dates is near daily and you have no idea how this thrills me. Seriously, i waited years for this time to come. He does well one on one or in small groups. We had such a fantastic afternoon with these guys the other day. i couldn’t help giggling along. i was so curious to watch them play together;
School can be challenging. There are rhythms that flow and then there are not. Little A told me, ” School could be really good if there were only 5 kids”. i get it. 14 kids during some of the transitions can be loud, overwhelming and sometimes disturbing. Outside is quite a different experience. There is a new water pump at the Waldorf school this year which gets used by most of the kids every single day. Between that and the “cupcake shop” (sand box) it’s becoming increasingly difficult to end the day with his school buds.
We’re establishing a fine balance of active outdoor element play with the more quiet and thoughtful indoor play. While Willie was meant to be a special puppet brought to life by me only, the little one is smitten and so very curious to have a turn and so i let him sometimes. Grandma P is an attentive audience;
i’m trying to love this little guy up in our last few months before newbie arrives. i’m also happy to see him grow a little more independent leaving me with my own time and space. Things are pretty great right now.
