Oh, the Toddlerness of You!

It's been that kind of few months in which there has been much to blog about and no time to blog. The girls turned 6 and 10 at the beginning of January, but more on that later. The big news around here is the very first birthday of Sir Babypants.


The birthday ring and lemon cake:



For five seconds, he even wore his birthday crown:



Sweet potato soup is good birthday food:



And this one, I couldn't resist. Those eyes, swoon:



He is fearless, single-minded, happy and funny. Oh, is this boy funny. And he knows it. We just started a parent-child Waldorf class together, taught by a dear friend, our amazing kindergarten room teacher at LCG. He is having a fabulously good time there with all the other small people. At home, all he wants is to keep up with his siblings (who are luckily willing to slow down to a reasonable pace for him).

Still alive. Still, apparently, a horribly slack blogger. Sorry about that.

Too tired to update properly just now, but things are just lovely. From the sweet (fast) crawling baby who can stand on his own and teeter as he winds up his bravery to take those first few steps, to the kindergartener who is soaking up everything she sees and hears like a sponge, to the long-haired boy with a MUCH shorter hair cut, to the pink-and-black-haired girl who is becoming a young woman much faster than I ever dreamed. All lovely. And tonight, all very sleepy.

It's amazing what a little bit of a change in environment can do for my mental state. I did some rearranging in the kitchen today and removed a huge, clunking shelf unit in favor of a little table my parents picked up for us at a garage sale earlier in the summer. The difference is astounding. I cleared away all the clutter, and the window is no longer blocked, and my kitchen is now sunny and light and so dearly deserving of a fresh coat of paint (and some patch for the walls, and a new floor...).

Last weekend I was so blessed to spend time with a group of wonderful, amazing, talented, fascinating women that I've known for many years. There was wine, and baby cuddling, and so much conversation that at times I didn't know where to settle in for a chat. The hellmonkeys and I loved every minute of it. I am truly, truly lucky to have the friends I do.

In other news, I'm planning the upcoming school year, missing Eldest, who is away at camp for 2 weeks, and trying to fill as many donation bags of clothes as possible. The kids have outgrown so many things and they're all just piling up around us. I'm on a clutter clearing binge lately.

Oh yes, and there was cherry picking a couple of weeks ago.



The results were my first fresh cherry pie, which was delicious.

Our life in pictures

Because I've been too busy to document it any other way lately.

First outdoor fire of the year:



Sleeping baby:



That pretty much sums us up at the moment. If we're not doing, then chances are we're not conscious.

Little things I am grateful for:

* Two recommendations for the same doctor when I put out a notice that we're searching for a new ped. That fills me with confidence about making the call on Monday.

* A baby who stayed up late enough that I know he's going to let me sleep in a bit in the morning. (But not too long, because the small one has ballet.)

* Being able to see the end of this (home)school year and look forward to our summer activities as well as the year to come.

* Getting the oldest a spot in a limited (and very inexpensive) swim lesson program that takes place before she goes to Girl Scout camp. (Her swimming skills, or lack thereof, were an issue for her last year.)

* That Middle Boy got up there on stage and recited all of his lines for our class play. Even if he was pacing in circles the whole time, he DID it.

* That Eldest was willing and able to jump in at the very last second and play a part on stage when another student realized he'd be more comfortable helping out backstage.

* The camporee I coordinated (with massive help from other volunteers) last weekend being a huge success. And all those volunteers who did extraordinary jobs feeding and entertaining 130 people.

* My upcoming Daisy troop for next year. I'm so excited about working with the little girls.

I am an incredibly blessed and lucky mama.

Gah. I close my eyes to blink and don't blog for nearly a month. The boyfriend is on the road again until Saturday, and I'm staying up so late tonight that I know I'll regret it in the morning. But we got to watch The Office together tonight in peace before he left, and the girls have bunk beds again (and a NEARLY clean room), and the thought of repainting my living room is filling me with an incredible amount of inner peace. So, anyway, what have you missed?

There was an invasion of beavers at the science museum:



Maple sugaring:



An Easter egg hunt at grandma's:



And big, BIG smiles:



You may notice that Middle Boy is only pictured once. The boy RUNS from the camera, or does his best impression of Cousin It (and with that hair, he's an ace at it). But every once in a while, I'll catch a shot of that gorgeous smile.

Also not pictured: Spring Equinox festivals, new silks for the nature table, visits from grandparents from near and far, the first trip to Abbott's and the beach, playdates galore, museum trip with the Girl Scouts, TONS of snuggling with the baby.

One class play down, two more to go. One of which I have to finish writing, but not tonight. Tonight I'm going to climb into bed with my littlest man, snuggle up around him, and try to get some sleep before the next nursing session.

Quickly for my own reference:

Week of 3/29

Eldest - Finishing up housing/Native American block. Copied "What do we plant?" verse and drew different types of Native American shelters. Will hear story of Sacagawea and finish paragraph for The Rough-Faced Girl before block is finished. Also, will visit science museum.

Middle Boy- Copied and illustrated spring verse. Still working on word families reader. Will hear one more Irish fairy tale.

Also need to do this week - Form drawing and painting.