yesterday

It's been one of those weeks.  I feel so tired and full of things in my head.

First, my birthday was last Wednesday.  I knew it was going to be a full day and Jonathan asked me if I wanted him to take a day off.  Yes, yes, please take the day off.   It was the first day of co-op and the first knitting class I was teaching.  Twelve kids waiting for me to teach them how to knit.  The enormity of it made me nervous.  Amelia told me over and over that I knew enough to teach these kids the basics of knitting but I thought about someone asking me some tough question about yarn and my knees started shaking.

It all went very well thankfully.  And the the kids got to see friends and I got to see friends.

When I got home from soccer practice that evening, they had made me lentil soup for dinner and cheesecake.  As birthdays go, it was perfect.

Then they pulled out this!

Life is good.  I never thought I would have one of these and I love it.  I've balled up all of my yarn in the stash and it looks so pretty and I feel inspired.

The next day I went to lunch with my mom and aunt and right when we were paying, Eli hit his lip on the back of a chair and split his lip up.  You know the first thing that came to my mind was, I just really didn't want to do this today.  I really wanted to rewind time just a few minutes and start fresh.

We spent the next 3 hours at the hospital waiting for the doctor to see us.  Eli asked a lot of questions while we were waiting of course.  He wanted to know what all the monitors were for and what the signs said.  "That one says no cell phones or food in the room".  Thank goodness I brought my knitting.  I asked Eli, "Can I do a row or two while we wait?"

"Sure, mom, there's not a 'no knitting' sign in here."  I love little kid humor.

After much foot rubbing and convincing Eli that if he didn't jump around while the doctor was stitching him up, it would be over much (much) quicker.  I even resorted to bribing with Legos.  Finally it was over and I was really exhausted.

But, that was so yesterday.  Moving on.

I'm going to clean up the flower bed in the front yard today.  I'm planning on putting in a bunch of herbs.

Then, I'm going to take a nap.

quiet

I admit it.  That last post was a lame attempt at posting something while the in the midst of a super busy, tiring week.  It all started out last weekend when Jonathan took Solomon to San Francisco for a memorial in honor is his father who passed away last June.   Jonathan came home sick.  And you know how that goes, if someone brings home something good, everyone wants some.

I did pretty well this week holding it all together.

There was a business trip in the middle of the week and then another on Friday.  By the time Sunday rolled around,  I was exhausted doing the nighttime routine all alone for 4 nights.  Later on Sunday when Jonathan came home, I took Amelia to study with a friend and decided what I really needed was quiet time....alone thank you very much.  I went for a hike in the hills and was able to actually think.  You know, really think without trying to think and answer questions at the same time?  I walked deliberately up and down the trail taking in each breath with intention.  I smiled at each passerby and let the dogs smell my hand while keeping my steady pace. My face was red and my legs felt worked by the end. Sometimes the only way I'm really able to work things out is to walk up hills and get quiet in my head.  It's so helpful.

another hike this week on the Carson River

another hike earlier this week

Earlier that day I took Eli grocery shopping with me.  He talks a lot.  I listen and sometimes throw some conversation his way.  But, this time his conversation was just what I needed.

"I talk to God mom,"  Eli says.

"How do you do that?" I ask

"I listen,"  Eli informs me.

"Do you have to quiet your mind?,"  I ask

"Yes and I have to think.  God just said goodbye,"  Eli tells me.

"Wow, that's so cool Eli,"  I say

"Yeah, he's a good friend," Eli says with a smile.

It makes me smile widely too knowing he talks to God.  And I'm glad to be on the receiving end of these conversations, being able to ask the questions for once.

On my mommy alone hike,  I quieted my mind and really tried to listen.

personalities

These personalities of mine.  I find great joy in watching my children unfold into their own uniqueness.  My boys could not be more different.  Eli has brown eyes and blondish hair. He tells me when he grows up he wants to live in the city and drive a monster truck with flames painted on it.  He is extremely confident and he gets very hurt if his sister gets mad at him.

Solomon is my sweet boy, always opening doors for us.  He has deep blue eyes, freckles and thick, strawberry blond hair that I can't stop from rubbing my hands through.  He's shy but warms up and can be very silly.  He loves giving out kisses and will be the first to hug someone or give them a sweet look or smile.

I like to take my kids either one at a time or two at a time, doing something special or sometimes just ordinary things like shopping on the weekends.  I always get more out of my time with them if we're on a "date."  This particular day Amelia was at a friend's house working on a project so I took the boys for a walk.

Solomon likes me to take pictures of him while climbing on rocks.  None of my other kids do this.  Here, he put this dried plant on his head and posed several times very serious like.  He's so funny.

Eli asks questions.  My two other kids asked lots of questions when they were five but I  don't remember them being so persistent.  His favorite phrase is, "Right mom?"  The boy is an expert at asking questions.  Of course I try to answer them all but sometimes I glaze over.

Eli found this rock and ran after me screaming, "I found gold, I found gold!!!!!!"  "Right mom?"  I had to break it to him that it was a very pretty rock but not gold.  "Is is a diamond?"  No, it's not a diamond, I tell him.  It's a rock......daddy will know what it is (ha, poor dad).  "Then is it pure gold?"  This conversation continued all the way home.  Then, he dropped it somewhere in the car.

sunny winter

It's been a while, I know.  There's been so much to say and not much at all really.  When I'm asked what I've been up to, most days it's just nothing really but the every day stuff, you know?  Our computer died back a few weeks ago though and we replaced it with a used job.  That's the main reason I've taken a break. But, it's taken us this much time to put all our programs back on the computer.  And still more time again to sit down and want to upload pictures and write something down.  So, here I am again.  At least for today.

I'm pretty sure I love taking pictures of the kids doing art.  Some in their pajamas and some not.  We homeschool after all.  It's quiet in the house.  The only sounds I can hear are the washing machine and dryer clanking and swishing down the hall and the kids intently working with paint.  The chairs creak and the paint brushes flow from paint to paper to water and back again quietly.....peacefully.  Our kitchen table is the hub for so much of our activities.  It's really the heart of our home.  But our home is pretty small.  Just the way I like it.  If I had a million bucks, I would still have a little place, all cozy and intimate.

The glob paint we're using today smells delicious:  berries, pomegranate and lemon verbena.  The colors are pretty awesome too.

Happy sunny, I think it's winter day to you!

i am grateful

We hopped in the car and headed up the mountain.  This was the conversation.....

Solomon:  Mom, I think I'm coughing up blood.

Me:  Seriously?!  Have you been picking your nose?

Solomon:  Umm...

Me: (Amelia and I glancing at each other in amusement)  Well, I'm glad you aren't dying!

Eli: Mom?

Me:  Yes, sweet love.

Eli:  My lips are cemented shut.

Me:  Well, I think they're better now?

Me, Amelia, Solomon and Eli:  (laughter) 

I am grateful for teetering rocks.

I am grateful for this monolithic hunk of earth and tender new growth.

I am grateful for wildflowers.

taken by Solomon

I am grateful for ginormous tree mushrooms.

I am grateful for laughter and my kids are definitely grateful for crepes with Nutella.

I am grateful for stinky, dirty little boy feet.

I am grateful for my daughter who tells me that I'm beautiful.

I am grateful for so many things.  Too many to count.

just me and my little guy

This week, it's just me and my little guy.  My two oldest are at camp, those lucky devils.

Each morning when we wake up, the garden is watered, breakfast is eaten, some chores are done and then we decide what we're going to do that day...just the two of us.   He's loved every minute of being an only child for a week.

 

Last night the ice cream truck came down our street and we raced out front to get a snow cone.  This particular one with a gumball surprise in the bottom.

Oh yeah, this snow cone was very special.

He was smitten but I'm sure he'd share if you asked?!

"There's candy flavor, banana, grass, water....no, it's blueberry flavor!"

gosh i love

Fridays.  I really love Fridays.  Even though I don't have a "regular" job, I look forward to spending a few days with my husband.

Gosh, I love sleeping children.

Cuz, I know that as soon as this little one wakes up, the chaos starts.  But, you know I love it anyway.

I love hiking with my kids, getting them tired out and watching them discover nature.  Today, as Eli was racing through the sagebrush he sang, "Nature is good, nature is good!"

Nature is good.  Yes, I do agree.  Puffy white summer clouds and their reflection in the water.  Large pelicans circling overhead.  Our dog in a frenzy, chasing frogs through the cattails.  A single deer creeping past us quietly and the long stare between us before it bounds away.

I also like the first harvests out of our garden.  A single tomato then bowls and bowls of sweet peas that are doing excellent this summer.

And for sure I love summer salads.  This one I found in order to burn up all the snap peas.  It's really good.

Happy Weekend to you!

from the mouths of babes

"I'm going to paint because I'm an artist" ~ Eli

I'm always surprised and so proud of what comes out of my kids' mouths. They're not afraid to say it exactly as they see it. When they come into this world they're so pure and full of potential. I feel like my job as a mom is to nurture them and allow them to become anything they want to be whether it's an artist or chef or writer. Whatever they have a passion for, I'll support them in that pursuit.

My kids make me want to be a better person. Have you ever stared into the eyes of one of your kids and thought, "this kid is going to be way cooler than I could ever be!"? My kids make me believe in myself. They make me want to be creative in my own life. They push me to try new ways of looking at myself. For that, I am truly blessed.

I'm starting a new tag called "from the mouths of babes" so that I can document the hilarious, truthful, wise beyond their years, beautiful and crazy things that they say. I'm inviting you to share in the comments (or links to a post) bits of wisdom from your child.