Gone Fishin'

Last Sunday, we headed over to one of our local nature preserves to celebrate Jacob's birthday with our friends.  We had had so much fun earlier in the year at our friends' fishing party, we wanted to do it again!  I wish we could say we caught something, but the lake was so busy with watercraft, the waves were keeping the fish away.  I think the kids had fun anyways.  We still have a bunch of bait left over so I foresee another fishing outing soon!  I made chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting.  It is always hard for me when I bake things that I can't eat.  I never know how they taste.  I realized after I had spread the frosting on half the cupcakes that I only put in 1 cup of powdered sugar as opposed to the 3 cups the recipe called for.  Peter told me it tasted "fine".  I am not sure what that meant.  I was really looking for "it tastes amazing", but I don't think I would have gotten that if I followed the recipe anyways.  No one complained and the kids happily devoured them so I take it that they were good.  And I am so grateful to all our friends for making the day so special for my Jakey Bug!

Moments from the week

A little bit of school, a little bit of baking, lots of bike riding and reading (in swimsuits no less), card games and star gazing.  The roses and gardenias are in full bloom, the first of the wildflowers have opened up, and we "harvested" the first of the snow peas.  I think it's safe to say, summer has unofficially arrived!

Celebrating

A new day, a little bit older.  It was a good day and now, my 8 year old is tucked cozily into bed as the thunder rumbles in the background.  I think I am still in shock that he is 8.  How can that be?!?!  Last night, Daddy took him out to get his new bike- a gift from Granny and Gramps.  After opening his gifts this morning, he headed outside to take it for a test spin.  Later, he even gave it a good wash, you know, to get the mud off and stuff ;-)  Mama made gifts this year were a new boy baby (name Noah), a felted recorder case (pattern by Waldorfmama), and a birthday crown.  And since this was his 8th birthday, it meant he also got a new pocket knife!  This weekend, we will have a small party with friends eating cake, playing games and fishing!  A nice way to honor this very special little (or not so little) boy of ours.

Jacob Tyler

Today we celebrate all that is Jacob!  Eight times around the sun, eight years of bringing oh so much joy to this family!  You have grown into such an amazing little boy.  So full of life and energy and zest and love.  You feel and live with such intensity and your laugh is contagious.  You have taught me more about myself than I could ever have imagined and continue to do so on a daily basis.  I am so proud of you and love you so much!

Happy Birthday my sweet fiery boy!

Glimpses

Our week was spent balancing our time between indoors and out.  Between creative play and craftiness, we also made time for home learning (last week of math!) and fun with friends.  I was happily gifted an antique coffee table (which I love!) and two heads of broccoli...not bad for a playdate!  And we had the pleasure of taking care of our friends animals while they are on vacation.  A bit of "in the life of"...gathering eggs, rounding up chickens and laughing at the whole process in between!  Now, we are gearing up for a busy weekend and I am finishing up the last of my mama made gifts for a special someone (hoping, hoping I don't have a late night in my future!).

Wishing everyone a peaceful and fun weekend!

A little celebrating

Yesterday my parents drove up for the day to participate in a small birthday celebration for Jacob and MaKenna.  MaKenna was pretty excited.  She is at the age where she "gets it" and is able to look forward to it.  I don't think she understands what a birthday is per se, but she knows it usually involves presents, cake and some good times.  I made a small (gluten free!) cake and they each picked out what they wanted on their side.  Pink sprinkles for Kenna, of course, and green/purple for Jacob.  After our little party, grandma and papa packed up Kenna and Parker to take back to GA with them for their special one-on-ones.  They will be busy doing all sorts of fun things and we will miss them while they are gone.  Soon, I will be the mom to an 8 year old and two weeks after that, my "baby" will be 3.  Where does the time go and why do they grow up so fast?!?

On this Mother's Day

There are times when I look at the kids and think "are they really mine?"  I wonder how long I will feel this way, when it will finally sink in that, yes, these little perfectly imperfect beings are mine forever and always.  Today, as I celebrated my 10th Mother's Day with my family, I stepped back and felt my heart swell with gratefulness.  As I am typing this now, I am failing miserably to find the words as to how happy I am to be a mother, but not just a mother, their mother.  They have made my life richer in ways I never thought possible. They have stretched me and caused me to grow right along with them.  They are forgiving and joyful and know what it really means to give unconditional love.  Because of them, I get to relive every moment, every milestone as if it were my first time.  I see the world in a slower, more meaningful pace.  I laugh more, I smile more, I wonder more.  These children truly are a gift, a blessing, a miracle.  One that I am so thankful for every single day.  I couldn't have asked for a better job in the world!

Today, we headed to the woods despite the threat of rain and I was able to snap some pictures with one of my gifts- a new DSLR camera (and new lenses!)  It was a gift from my husband who knows me and my love of photography oh so well.  In fact, for my first mother's day, he gifted me with a SLR (film) camera so it was quite perfect.  And now, I need to become great friends with my manual and tutorials on the web so I know just how to work it!  But back to the woods- it was a great time...we spotted some lizards and beetles and that black rat snake that Jacob is stroking (very gently!) with a stick.  Funny enough, both him and Parker had their heads turned when the snake decided he had had enough of the personal space invasion and slithered off right in front of them!  It startled both of them, which we all thought was amusing as they are  usually very comfortable with snakes.  A great memory for sure.  We made it to the rock house just as the sky opened up.  We spent the rest of the hike running/quickly walking back to the nature center only to have the rain slow to a light sprinkling as the nature center came into sight, naturally.  After a nice picnic lunch (under a pavillion!) and a drying off, we headed back home.  I suppose having beautiful sunny skies would have been nice, but there really is something about running through the woods in the rain that is equally perfect.  It was a good day.

Wishing all my mama friends and my own mama a very Happy Mother's Day!