so little... so far

In such a short time, this little guy has come so far. Two years ago he was unable to fully stick his tongue out. He was unable to speak 3/4 of all sounds and he was FRUSTRATED. It was so difficult to watch him act out aggressively due to that frustration. My heart would weep.

I can't help but smile at every single picture he sticks his tongue out in. He worked for this, he struggled & persevered just to be able to do that. The weeks and years has passed quickly since we started speech therapy. In that time my shy, little boy, longing to be heard and understood, has blossomed into such a talkative, deep thinking little man. Each day opening up more and more. I will forever be thankful for the women who have helped us along this path, and continue to help us week after week. These wonderful people, who sit with my child, and sing and play, while helping him, never judging or pushing too hard, have changed life for us.

So a little smile may cross my face, every time this child of mine sticks his tongue out at me. Four years old or forty four, with silliness or anger, it's all worth it kid! I can't wait to watch you grow some more tomorrow.

Smile

Hip Hip Hooray, it's Wednesday! I'm looking forward to a relaxing end of the week here. It seems this time every year the hustle & bustle starts to get to me. I want to be out in the sunshine, playing with my kids, with no daily to-do list. Ummm... well, that never "actually" happens. I do have four kids and a husband after all. I would need a nanny, cook and housekeeper, gardener to make that a reality, and then I'd be far too bored. 

I do look forward to the simpler days ahead. The calmness and free rhythm that Summer brings. Having done both traditional public school and homeschool with the kids, I'm really starting to miss the homeschooling. I love, love, love their current school. Mostly I miss all the time together that homeschooling afforded us. Both methods have their good and bad qualities. No, there isn't a move back towards homeschool happening here, again. I'm looking forward to the freedom of summer. Long afternoons lying in the grass watching the clouds with the children, parks full of happy toddlers and their new puppies, tending the garden and watching the flowers grow and blossom. Sleeping in... please, just a couple times kids? 

I'm feeling a little ho-hum and lackadaisical theses days. Just drifting through, not much inspiration to sew, or create or clean. Just looking ahead with a countdown flashing brightly in my eyes. Only a few more weeks. I feel like I am the one in school again, watching the clock tick away slower & slower at the last hour of the day.  Freedom awaits us. Smile brightly. 

Welcome May

 May is here! I'm so excited. May means, my baby will be turning two, school ends, and Farmer's Market season has begun. Yes! I'm not gonna lie, we go kinda crazy about the markets in my house. It's my goal to get as much as possible from local farmers and artisans- cause they are awesome! We eat so much cleaner when we can swing over to the weekend or mid-week market stop and pick up breakfast, lunch and dinner for a few days. No boxes, no processing- just yummy stuff made with warm sunshine. Last weekend was the first of the outdoor markets.

I was so silly excited, that we actually went to two. I HAD to go to the last winter indoor market to stock up with Honeyrun Farms, soap & raw honey. They have officially ruined bland, grocery store honey for me. As in, I don't think I can live without their Fall honey, now. Yummm! We add their bee pollen to smoothies, and honey to anything we can. I've used their baby soap on Baby{J}, almost his whole life and can't say enough good things about it. It works perfectly to keep his curls moisturized, but not weighted down too, without nasty chemicals touching his new skin.

Next, we were off to the very first outdoor market of season where we picked up some fresh eggs, organic potato's, radishes, delicious tomato's, a few plants for the upcoming planting weeks {I'm trying to pace myself}, worm casting for compost tea from One20Farms, and Ohio Maple Syrup.  I even got to use my new market basket {love}.

I love that my children are learning where their food comes from, while helping sustain the local economy and eating HEALTHY. It's a triple score. That said, every summer there are weeks that I wake up and don't feel like dragging along four kids through the busy market, but we do. There are weeks that I have to recite the benefits like a mantra in my head, just to keep from going insane as the children all dart in opposing directions at one. Overall those moments are fleeting and I am helping my kids gain knowledge, and life skills... totally worth it! even with the few short lived moments where I want to cry. 

So happy you are here May. 

Big Man on Campus

I have never seen a more excited boy! Little {L} started preschool last week. We've been on the waiting list for the school located in his therapy center. When we received the call that they had an sudden opening, we jumped on it. He's made so much progress with his speech therapy so far, and this is just seeming to add just the right "extra" to his self esteem. I'm watching him bloom right before my eyes it seems. It's.... amazing!

I could not be happier for him, and at the same time a little sad. Neither of the older two children attended preschool, they have late birthday's so didn't start kindergarten until almost six years old. Then, we homeschooled for 2 years. {L} seems so little in comparison, but I already know it'd the right thing for him. Funny how we can birth, and raise children in the same way, but their own "person" needs always shine bright. I love that individualism!!

A few weeks into school and he LOVE it. Like jump out of bed and ask if it's a school day loves it. His little brother is desperately missing him asking over & over, "Where's L!!?" At school baby, remember? He promptly follows the response with asking 400 times, "why?". It's been nice to get in a little extra solo time with my baby though. He's growing faster than a weed, and soon I will be asking, "but why?" when he's off at school.

Snow!

We have snow here, finally!! May be the first time this winter he's worn a coat, and not whined about it. I swear this one never gets cold outside. He'd wear a t-shirt, shorts & snow boots to drop off the kids at school each day if I let him-- EVERY day and I wouldn't ever hear a peep about him being cold. When I say put on a jacket, it's winter & cold, he always chuckles then says, " ohhhhh Mom, you know I NEVER get cold. Remember?". I sure love this one's zest for life!

Days Passing

Some days, are hard. Like, really, really hard. With a gang of children in the house, things get loud, laundry piles up, toys pile up, and arguments, ehh... erupt {sometimes often}. There is always a dish to wash {usually 20+} or clothes to fold. There is never a moment where we  think: there, now everything is done. There is always something to do. Sometimes I let that "something" take on too much power and it starts to overwhelm me. I get cranky, I cry, I pout, I go on marathon hat knitting sessions to block it out. I think today isn't goings so well, maybe I should go back to bed & try again tomorrow. While the idea is nice, the reality is, that's never an option. It's life- that's what it all comes down too. It isn't always pretty.

It's in those kinda days,  I really have to think about the good times! The times when no one is thinking about homework, speech therapy, laundry, the muddy dog that's waiting to be bathed. The moments where you catch a genuine smile dance across a childs face, hear them giggling together in play, teaching each other, or find a book they have been writing and illustrating that makes you smile. These are the moments that really matter! There are far more good times than bad. There is far more happiness than bickering. There is alotta love in our family. Sometimes I just need to remind myself. A quick reminder that tomorrow will come. Nothing lasts forever, good or bad. Take a deep breathe & smile!

A day of homeschooling

Our day of learning included some singing, dancing, playing with ducks, playing with friends, honking swans and a cute baby [haha]. Mr. {D} has started his second year of homeschooling. We are currently studying habitats, specifically forest animals. A trip to the zoo was in order to see a few of these animals first hand. Did you know a timber wolf [averaging 175 pounds] is more than twice the size of the smaller Mexican Wolves?

I love the freedom to learn "how" we want with homeschooling. I just finished a whole lesson plan for a year with a focus of photography for {D}. He would never have been able to take photography lessons in first grade in a traditional school. It allows him to flourish, be creative and incorporate letters, text, reading, science, art & design all at the same time. Lots of fun projects in the works-so perfect for him. So be prepared to see a few of his pics throughout the next year.

The only little hitch with homeschooling this year, is having Miss {M} enrolled in a traditional elementary school. We lose 1.5 hours a day to travel. In the car, outta the car, to pick up and drop off with 4 kids takes quite a bit of time [and a few meltdown from our resident toddler]. -sigh- Just the lunch making and shoe finding in the morning is exhausting. I'm tired and it's day 3...4? Of well, I guess it will work itself into a rhythm over time. I'm just excited to still share my day with my oldest son. A piece of my heart leaves every morning with my daughter, as she bounces into her school. I don't think it gets easier, you just get used to it.

September

Welcome September! I'm so excited for cooler nights & mornings, the promise of fall with all it's wonderful colors and weather [ohh how I love you fall!]. Lots of laughter from the children. Hoping we find a rhythm for our new [somewhat chaotic] school schedules. Another month getting to know the new baby. Health & Happiness.

What are you looking forward to this months?

One more time

Swimming, one more time, before the summer is over. Live in the moment,and enjoy life!