lovey's valentines

She spent the afternoon making these valentines for her classmates.  I was nearby working in the kitchen and was able to listen in on her running commentary of every move she was making...

"Picking out this color.
Drawing the heart.
Cutting out the heart.
Walking over here.
Putting the glitter glue on.
Walking over here.
Laying it down to dry. "

She went on like this for over an hour.  I don't think she was saying it for me in particular, but rather just keeping her voice occupied as her hands and creative spirit were.

It was sweet to listen to. 

Sweet like the question she asked earlier today: "Mom, will you be my Valentine?"

My response: "Oh yes honey, thank you for asking."  And unspoken:  forever and ever, even when you grow older and wouldn't dream of asking.

this moment {on stage}

Joining SouleMama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of goodness!

homemade

Valentine's Day is looking quite homemade around here.  Just how I like it best.

Little hands have been busy decorating mailboxes for school parties, making Valentines for classmates, creating some heart-y decorations.

Sweet treats were counted and bagged.  (Pal even helped, but alas can't count, so he stuffed the bags to overflowing.  Which was fine since it kept his always busy hands occupied.)  A flurry of note-cards and stickers and Sharpie markers.  It seemingly isn't much - kids making Valentine cards - but feels so big to me.  Simply some folded note-cards with treat bags, small hands mastering the stapler.  Yet the creating, by hand, is so good.  A significance they don't realize now, but may one day.

Then there is heart doilies and red yarn and a young girl desperate to decorate for Valentine's Day.  Perfectly simple, and she is quite smitten.  So am I.

I hung kid-painted hearts on my front door.  (Then realized I better take down the pine wreath next to it.  Ahem.)  I figure before Friday I will whip up a card for Honey.  Homemade of course.  Luckily how he likes it best too.

at least there are these

I've been trying to blog since the middle of last week.  Pretty sure these pictures were started in a draft last Wednesday.

Silly me to think that with a picked up house, a sleeping toddler, a fresh cup of coffee and a small window of time this afternoon, I could actually write some words to go along with them.

You will notice there are no more words. 

this moment

Joining SouleMama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of goodness!

her notebook

In her notebook:

wind 
wind
wind
Mom
nature center
camera
bathroom
leaves
trees
snake
skin
button
open 
close
jump
stinky
ice 
snow

Those were the important words Lovey wrote during our recent afternoon together.  The words that made her repeatedly pause, take her notebook out of her coat pocket, take her pencil out of her other coat pocket, and write.

Thankfully I had a notebook of my own and could jot them down too...lest I forgot.

And I've been forgetful.

It seems I'd forgotten how good - how very very good - it is to spend time one-on-one with my littles. 

The activity can be embraced in a slow, deliberate, kid-led way without my ever having to turn my attention away.

I get to really look, really listen.

I get to soak up the uniqueness of that child, a sweet reminder of how very lucky I am to be Mama. 

When I do spend that time, I fluctuate between marveling at the amazing person my child is becoming and missing the child that they've outgrown.  Aware of the imperative specialness of slowing down in that moment.

Not wanting to forget.

this moment {just like the big kids}

Joining SouleMama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of goodness!

weekending

Somehow among the whirlwind of weekend activity, I found myself with kiddos following the urge to create.  Oh happy day!

I have found it pretty tricky when Squirmy is awake to attempt any sewing, so that makes this bit of time on Saturday feel extra special.

I've been resizing the comforter from my bed -- a wedding present from ages ago -- to fit Buddy's twin size bed.  A win-win because I still love the fabric, but enough worn spots made it unusable for our queen size bed.  But with the worn spots cut out enough remained for his bed.

And it was Buddy's idea to sew a matching pillow with the bits left over.

Lovey was content practicing with the pins and pin cushion.

Munchkin started a pillow...

Then Squirmy woke up.

And wanted to get in on the action himself.

Soon, my son.  Someday soon.


Joining the lovely Amanda for weekending.  Stop by and see her.

this moment

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of grace and goodness!

in my kitchen

:: Double batch of double chocolate chip cookies.  Packaged up for my sweet, talented niece who came to visit while on fall break from college.  (Yes, she is studying art.  And women's and gender studies.  She's cool like that.  Watch her in action here, amazing.)

:: A fresh stock of flour in the cupboard.  Eleven 5 pound bags in all.  I've settled into a pretty steady rhythm of baking bread once a week.  Eight loaves usually gets us through the week, with a couple to send out into the world with good wishes.

:: Art supplies have migrated from other spots in the house to the kitchen.  They've been here for days and seem to be multiplying.  Funny that our daily living in this space has determined where things belong, even more than were I unpacked and placed items.  Seems art supplies go in the kitchen.  So I'm thinking about ways to at least corral them a bit.

:: Enough chill is in the air that our chili season has begun.  After the long summer of not even thinking of the savory dish, it is when we cook our first batch of chili in the fall that I realize I've missed it so.

:: Some entrepreneurial spirit coming to life around the large kitchen table.  This craze has taken hold of the kiddos.  Creating is creating I say!

:: Some creating of my own.  My gladsome file is growing, and details are coming along so well.  The weekend is going to be simply amazing!  If you live in or near the Great Lakes Region you should be considering this gathering with other cool women.  Create a little, reflect a little, and connect a lot.

:: Been looking out the kitchen window trying to pick the perfect spot for my new Peace Pole.  Soon, it will be installed and we are holding a special gathering and ceremony.  Details soon on how you too can be involved!

:: Dancing.  There is always room for some music and dancing in our kitchen.

What about you?  I hope that you are having some warm, yummy, fragrant life in your kitchen too.