Crunchy Peas

 Yikes!  It is hot here, 106 degrees to be exact. We have been doing our errands very early in the mornings, spending the afternoons in the pool, slathering sunscreen, guzzling water, consuming mass quantities of frozen treats, gardening in the evenings- and then you know, lather rinse repeat. Throw in a garage sale, VBS, a birthday party, 2 family dinners, 7 straight days being on call, 1 false labor, and 3 kids who continue to repeat the phrase, "I'm bored"- and you can see why there has been absolutely nothing creative coming out of this place.  Crafting has come to a standstill! 

Thank you for all your lovely comments as of late.  I don't always reply to them, but just know that they turn the corners of my mouth up! I always look forward to reading them!  Please check back...I would miss you if you didn't.  Stay chilly!

7 baby bumps

I just thought I would introduce you to the group of lovely people who have committed to spending the next 12 Monday nights with me. 

Aren't they something?  These are the 7 couples who are attending my summer session of natural childbirth classes.  Such a fun group they are.  This week we had a very real and enlightening (I did the enlightening) talk about bodily functions in second stage labor (or the lack of controling them).  Lots of laughing! We also talk about really official stuff like nutrition, anatomy/physiology, coping with contractions, and typical behavior patterns for the laboring mama at each phase of labor.  You know, like cussing in transition.  I am sure that I never swore- wink wink...but as a doula I have seen it all! It is so helpful for the husband to know what to expect from his wife.  I think it helps him to know how he can help her if he understands how far along she is in labor.  If she is swearing...you are in the home stretch.

I am always just so impressed by the husbands.  Each one of them contributes to the pregnancy and labor experience in his own way. It is very interesting to watch them progress with their wives. Eventually they arrive at the startling concept that there is indeed a baby growing inside their wife...and that it is indeed coming out at some point.  For some men, this doesn't happen until they first see the head emerge at the moment of birth!  Others get it much earlier.  I had once couple who underwent an in-vitro fertilization and they actually watched the conception happening on a screen in real time.  For that husband, it was very real from the get go. In any event, I am thankful that they are willing participants coming week after week to listen to me blather on about amniotic fluid and the perineum. 

(probably this is where I should give my husband props for doing the same for me. 3 times. You are the greatest labor support person any girl could ask for honey.  I am not sure that I could've done it without you- except for maybe that one birth (Hannah's) that you insisted on drinking that smelly coffee 2 inches from my face while I was working through transition in the tub.  I probably could have done without that.  Otherwise, you were a Godsend :) 

Looks like August and September are going to be busy!! Can't wait to meet all those little babes.

The Definition of Sweet:

Opening up your first set of golf clubs (she is 5 now you know).

Falling asleep in Grandma's arms.

And, turning this

into this:

(straberry freezer jam- 2 cups of berries and 4-that's right, 4!! cups of sugar per batch!! very, very sweet!)

before and after

Well, she came back.  Her help is so valuable. She really has a gift.  Using only what I already had she made over my kitchen and dining room this time.  Have a look at some of the before and after photos.

Before Kitchen:

After Kitchen:

Before Dining room:

After Dining Room:

 While it is not perfect, and definitely not my dream kitchen/dining room- it does look a lot better and all just by rearranging and pulling out old decorations.  Thanks Tante.

present

Taking a little time each day just to be present with the kids.  No worrying about the next moment or thinking about the last. I am just being with them- available to them.

Getting outside helps me.  Away from all the distractions indoors I feel like I can really listen to them.  I can really answer them.  I can really be wholehearted with them.

Being a real "thinker" this takes a conscious choice on my part. It is also not of my nature to do one thing at a time.  I don't really enjoy just sitting around for very long (okay maybe every now and then).  I have to tell myself, "okay don't go anywhere, stay on track, we are right here now."  Oh my that sounds quacky.  I suppose with practice it will get easier for me, but for now- I struggle a bit.

Our little nature walks have been wonderful opportunities for this time together.  We have been going down by the river to explore.  I try to not rush them along, but instead let them dawdle and wander. I don't bring a book, or a knitting project and only answer my cell phone if I am on call.

At first, my intention was that these devoted moments would benefit the children.  That this time would be me giving and them taking.  It turns out that this could not be further from the truth.

 

I have come to appreciate the way they see the world around them,  the way the notice the tiniest intricacies in creation. (Look closely above and you'll see the ant trail that Hannah discovered.) Their thoughts are valuable and analytical.  They make new discoveries and deep connections minute by minute.

They are little people with big hearts and very real emotions.  They are my children and I their mother.  I have cared for them.  I have prayed for them.  I have loved them...but now it seems I am really getting to know them.   I am sure that this relationship building can be attributed to the fact that they are getting better at articulating themselves, and that we are less hurried with school being out.  But mostly I think that it has everything to do with me just making a simple (or not so simple) choice to be present. It feels nice.

(so sick of technical issues with typepad. am I the only one losing posts? it is so slow now, and the photo spacing is horrible- no wrapping! UGH!)

helping out

My kids are playing at a friends house this afternoon (an unplanned surprise) and Laurel is in bed so I am just popping in for 2 seconds. 

I just wanted to share our new successful morning routine with you.  Now that we are out of school it seemed that our mornings were getting a little sloppy (literally- picture cereal bowls and pajamas on the bathroom floor, toothpaste all over the counters, etc.)  I know that we are "on vacation" but things were getting carried away.  So, I decided to make up a little routine that the girls could follow to help things run smoothly.

I know the clip-art is cheesy and all kinds of wrong (I am married to a graphic designer, clip art is pretty much against our religion :) but for the non-readers, it is really helpful. Each girl has her own sheet (they are all the same) posted in her room. There isn't any breakfast until all the steps have been completed.  The girls have been doing such a great job following this...and with joy!

Then, they come to the kitchen and if breakfast is ready we sit and eat together, sharing what we read about in our bibles during our quiet time.  If breakfast is not ready then the girls go to their chore jars.

Read about this fabulous system here.  I had coffee with Kristen a few weeks ago and when she told me about this "chore jar" idea I was really excited to implement it at home.  Laziness was really beginning to take root around here- I needed the girls to be more helpful.  On the front of the jars I put pictures that would remind them what a blessing they were to me (after only 3 weeks our jars are showing some wear- they have been well loved.)  On Sundays I leave their jars empty and instead put a $1 bill inside.  This little system has worked so well for us and I am so thankful for wonderful ideas shared among friends!

Here's to cleaner windows, dusted tables, a well-fed kitty, and more time to play together!

Father's Day Festivities

I have lost this post 5 times now!  I am going with smaller pics this time to see if it works!

Father's Day Breakfast: white flour, corn syrup and some fat laden meat- eat up!

Some family golfing.  We always go to this little po-dunk course- the girls are not quite ready for collared shirts and proper footwear.

This is Emma whispering FOUR! when her ball snuck over to the next fairway.  Lot of blushing and giggling followed.

This putt went in and it was almost as fun to watch this one!  More to watch today. (I am not normally a huge Tiger fan- but when someone is giving him a run for his money it can exciting.  Normally, I prefer to watch Phil choke!)

Laurel went buzzing around and stealing/picking up everyone's ball- so I sequestered her in the shade and did some contorting for the camera.

Then, for dinner we had this:

Tex-Mex Turkey Burgers and Squash Salad (I think that is what they were called.) Everyday Food Jul/Aug 2008.

So, the weather finally warmed up and not a moment too soon.  This week is going to be so great.  Someone turns 5 on Saturday, and we are having visitors.  Other than that, I have a few organizational projects to complete and the usual day-to-day stuff...but then, let there be lots of playing, swimming, bike riding, book reading, sewing? and nap taking!! 

Hero, Father, Friend

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away. 
~ Dinah Craik

 Your love has always been a reflection of the The Heavenly Father's love for me- Thank you.

Happy Father's Day Dad, I love you.

Vitamin D

Well, it may have been a chilly windy day for June- but we just couldn't spend our entire day inside. Again. So we headed to the park with bikes and strollers in tow.  I told Emma that she could be the scout.  It was her job to pick out the perfect picnic/rest place. Obviously,the secret beach would've have been the prime spot for some real summer lounging.  However, this is how we found the secret beach.

 

Totally under water!  Back in April and May we had some unseasonably warm temperatures that quickly (too quickly) melted the mountain snow.  Ever since, the river has been brimming.  We opted instead for a  sunny little patch of grass encircled by several shady trees.

Where we tried running,

spinning,

playing hide and seek,

snuggling,

and some yoga (emma's modified version of downward dog) to keep warm.

So silly to be wearing fleece this time of year! I am sure that it will be uncomfortably warm soon enough. 

Even if it was breezy- I was feeling just right on the inside. Keeping up with this crew is enough to keep anyone warm.   I just cannot say how much I enjoy sharing the best part of their day with them (vs. getting what is left of them after a long day at school). 

Preparations are underway for Father's Day.  Be back soon to share!

Yesterday was one of those days (because not every day is one of those days) when I was blissfully happy to be a mom who gets to stay home with her sweet little children.  We enjoyed each other's company immensely.  It is amazing how much relationship building takes place when we are not going a bunch of different directions.  Summer vacation suits us I tell you!  We may never go back to school (more on that later).

True, we are on summer break, but this is a fact that we must constantly remind ourselves of.  The weather sucks. (she said so eloquently)  Wind, rain, and temperatures that hardly break 60 degrees.  Is this really June?  The only consolation is that I have yet to don my bathing suit-  a comfort for those subjected to that sight as well. 

So, we found ourselves inside most the last two days.  The girls had so much fun making these cookies.

While not even the slightest bit healthy, it was a great little project that even Laurel could be involved in.  Afternoon craft/cooking activity and snack in one!

This was my afternnon project:

I have been wanting to make place mats for some time now.  I finally found the right inspiration here.  The main square is made from some fabric that I scored at the thrift store.  It is pretty heavy- almost decorator weight.  The same fabric lines the back.  All the little patchy squares are just odds and ends from my scrap pile.

Hannah decided that they were helpful to her when setting the table.  She liked the upper red square as a reminder to where the cups should go.

The real effect of this weather lies in a desolate place that I like to call "my garden".

Some sort of creature is taking liberties with my broccoli and my green beans.

What is it and what do I do about it?  So frustrating!

I hope you enjoy your day.  We are off to the farmer's market.  Maybe a bike ride and a picnic?