a bag of one's own

One recent evening as I tucked my oldest son into bed I spent some extra moments snuggling him.  It was the eve of his birthday and I was feeling a bit of poignancy at his turning another year older.  As I snuggled him I dreamed about the ways I want to mother him and nurture his wonderful creativity, enthusiasm, maturity and humor.  I was also thinking about the tasks to do before I could go to bed, which included wrapping his presents.  It was then that I had the idea that the adventuring gear we got for him would be oh so much better if it all came in an adventurer's bag.

So some late-night Mama magic happened.

Based loosely on a Lotta Jansdotter's diaper bag pattern, I used scrap denim I had on hand to create the messenger style bag.  I sized the bag so that The Dangerous Book for Boys could fit in the main pocket, with room to spare.  With some creative stitching a sample fabric, that had two coordinating fabric swatches attached, became the outside pocket with two little bonus pockets -- perfect for the compass, magnifying glass, pocket knife and found treasures!

A button and ribbon to hold it closed and, voila, there was an adventurer's bag to encourage my growing son to pack up some supplies and seek out adventures in his expanding world!

this moment {cousins}

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!

so it seems

So it seems that all it takes is a bit of lemonade and my guys are right there with me garage-saling.

Lemonade, and a dollar each to spend on anything they want.  Unfortunately I didn't think to give a "no beanie babies" disclaimer as I handed out the dollars.  Hrmph.

Together we traipsed street after street of a neighborhood sale and found treasures galore.  They learned some important lessons about smart browsing,  about only buying what you really want or need, about negotiation and about what makes a reasonable offer for sand toys that you. must. have.

We burned through the handful of dollars in my pocket, with not a house to spare, because the find of the day came as we headed back to the car. 

This sweet kitchen canister.  I've been wanting containers for the counter to keep the flour and sugar and other baking ingredients closer at hand. 

And the bonus.  Since there was only one, it keeps the hunt going for something to hold the sugar!  Good thing I have my boys to help me look.


I'm linking up with baby by the sea for Thrifty Thursday.

red white blue

Ours was the happiest of Independence Days.

Begun with a snack of watermelon and then filled with play, BBQ, s'mores, sparklers, more play and oh such heat.

We watched fireworks well past bedtime and were amazed at the almost constant lightning that enhanced the actual fireworks display.

Another snack of watermelon before bed.  And prayers of gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy.

stake out

It is not every day that your kids plan a stake out.

Yes, a real, live, pitch-a-tent, pack-provisions, bring-an-adverturing-bag-full-of-necessary-supplies, set-your-alarm-early stakeout.

For what?

To be first to sign up for the summer reading program at the library.  Cool prizes after all are quite a motivator.

Yep, this Mama willingly got up at 6:00 am, coffee in hand, and watched the sun rise over our local library, all while the kids cased the place with binoculars, made maps, kept in constant contact with walkie-talkies, and ate the packed snacks.

Of course I did.  After all, it is not every day that your kids plan a stake out.

this moment {summertime studio}

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!

summertime

There is nothing quite like live music outdoors in the summer.

Especially when it includes lots of space for kids to run, and hula hoop, and throw frisbees and have an impromptu game of freeze tag with new-found friends.

A blanket picnic with extra homemade chocolate chip cookies.

A little girl so eager to dance she can barely eat.

A setting sun casting long, long shadows making little ones look oh so tall.

Fresh air, and trees, and simply slowing down.  Oh so needed.

The fireflies just beginning to come out as we head back home.

Nothing quite like it indeed.

and then there is this

A good friend, who also happens to be a reader of becoming claudine, came for dinner recently.

A short time after she left I received this text:

"Thanks for dinner!  I think this picture is worth a blog posting!"  

Attached was this iPhone picture she took of our backyard as she was leaving:

That pretty much tells the story of what has been going on when I don't have time to actually tell the story here.

this moment {new goggles}

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!

dad

This picture was taken a week ago.  My Dad holding Pal, the newest of his ten grandchildren.

I love his hands.  His hands that gently and strongly hold my sleeping baby have worked so hard and given so generously these forty years I have known him.  As I know they did before I was born and as they continue to do every day.

Thank you Dad for holding me so gently as a baby and for continuing to hold me in every way as I grow.  I love you, Happy Father's Day.

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!

thrifty thursday {linking up}

Joining Lady Cordelia for Thrifty Thursday.

Today I get to share a before and after thrifting find, making the thrifting twice as fun!

I picked up these sweet little chairs a few weeks ago, at the same time I found this fabric.  I hemmed and hawed before deciding to get them, mostly because they too came from a moldy basement.  But the style was oh so cute and they were $6 for the pair.  I figured if I only even used them outside that they would be worth getting.

So last weekend, in front of an audience, Honey transformed them into sweet little red chairs for our backyard.