Our Garden

Little hands

For the last couple of nights I have been showing Drew how to knit. He has picked it up so well.

He has decided to make a scarf for his cow, and then he hopes to make a scarf for himself.

It is good to see him struggle with his fingers and figure it out. Speaking of fingers… Haddie is figuring out her fingers too

She loves the challenge of picking up tiny tiny bits of food. It is amazing to watch them both discover their hands in a new way.

Some thoughts for 2010

I am really looking forward to what this year will hold for our family. I know there will be changes, possibly a move, and of course more great times together. I am not really one to make resolutions per say but I thought I could write down a few ideas on where I would like to focus my energy in the coming year.
First, I am going to start doing some of the enki kindy stories with Phoebe– the younger ones– and some fingerplays– she loves those. I think I have a good established rhythm with Drew and that it is time to add in stories for Phoebe. I am planning on starting up again on Monday. And as always I’ll just give it a go and then readjust if need be
Second, I want to learn to knit a sweater. I hope to be able to go out to innish knits in the next few weeks to choose some yarn. Oh– and I would really like to knit some legwarmers for Phoebe. She has been asking and asking.
Third, I am hoping to find more creative ways to get protein in our meals– especially for Phoebe. She is getting very picky in what she will eat. It is a constant challenge for me to find nutritious things she enjoys.
Fourth, I need to change my reactions to Drew. He is in a new stage and I need to welcome it. Many of the Enki lists talk about a trickster energy that comes forth in or around the seventh year — I think Drew is hitting it early. He has been hiding behind walls and jumping out to startle me (oh boy!) He has been telling half- truths for shock value. And, a few days ago he was strangly excited to put the vacuum away — and today I found out why. He had turned it on — so when I plugged it in today it zoomed across the floor all by itself — you should of heard the laughing from his room! (and many more things like this– the list goes on and on) And well– while I have not been resisting it– I can not say I have really wrapped my arms around this stage and welcomed it. Now it is time to! And I need to start plotting some good tricks of my own! I can imagine things are going to get pretty funny around here
Well that is a good start to my thoughts in 2010. And of course I will vow to follow my sweet husband to the ends of the earth — even if it means southern California. I am always up for an adventure.

New Years Eve

We had a rough start today. Andy was supposed to have a big treekeeper delivery today so he was up at the warehouse. Drew had a sledding and swimming party with his swim team from 11-3. Both he and Phoebe were very excited about going to it. I knew it was going to be difficult– getting everyone ready for cold weather play– packing a lunch— and then getting everyone ready to swim– and then getting them home. You should have seen the load of STUFF I had to pack into the car. Sleds, winter gear, lunch, towels, goggles (swim and ski mind you) and I just knew Haddie was going to have her weekly huge poo blowout while we were there — so diapers and a change of clothes for her was necessary. It was absurd. And even though I dressed Haddie in about ten layers the wind was still too cold for babies so she was very upset — and since I could not see the kids from the car I did not feel too comfortable leaving them there to sled while I tried to warm up Haddie (plus the families we were hoping to see were not there) so Drew and Phoebe were pretty bummed to have to leave the sledding hill early.
Once it was time to swim it was better– Hadley was happy to be inside and warm and both Drew and Phoebe had a lot of fun in the pool.

Then when it was time to go I somehow wrangled everything into the back of my car (including all three kids) and we came home. Phew. And all the while Andy was waiting for this big shipment that never came! Seems something happened to the truck and hopefully it will now come on Saturday.
I was planning on cooking a real dinner but instead I was happy to be able to open a few cans of soup and say ‘voilà!’.
But we did do chocolate fondue. Our new, new years eve tradition. It was yummy.

Plate licking yummy

Haddie really wanted to dip her pretzle in too

Next year baby. Now I am sitting by the fire with my sleeping babe. I really should go unload the car but I am not going to. I think I will save it for next year.

Welcome the light

We rolled our candles, put them in our candle holders from last year, and waited for the night to arrive.

The package man brought us a bright red box from Finland. Finnish slippers to keep our toes cozy…

And Finnish chocolate and coffee to enjoy by the fire. Many thanks to the Turtiainen family for the wonderful gifts. Speaking of fire, Drew has begun tending our fires. Our little boy is really growing up into such a helpful young man.

And as dusk fell we enjoyed lighting all the candles in our home (no lights allowed for the darkest day) I do think the winter solstice is my new favorite holiday. There is such beauty and peace in candlelight

We took our candles outside for a walk in the snow. It was just magical

‘White, white the stillness of starlight on the snow.
Green, green the flowering life that waits again to grow
Red, red the tender heart that guides the way we go.
Under the starlight and over the snow’

(it was especially precious to hear Drew and Phoebe recite this poem as we all walked together)