Fair Days

We got to spend the day at The Ohio State Fair yesterday. For the record, I LOVE the fair! I love all the animals, people watching, junk food I eat once a year, the smiles & squeals that come from my children. This year was extra special because it's the first year Baby {J} has really been into it. He's finally old enough to know whats up. He's watched the older kids ride the rides, eat the food and visit the animals in the past, but this year he was able to take part. He was in love with the pigs and worked up the courage to pet a few horses-very tentatively. He rode his first ride and pony.

Ice cream, cotton candy, funnel cakes and lemonades were had by all. I think everyone went home with belly aches last night- the good kind though. The kind that comes from too much junk food, but you don't even care cause it was so good and so fun eating it. It was a good day!

summer of 1964

So, not exactly 1964, but this photo totally reminds me of something that could have been taken then. The striped & polka dot swimsuits, children hanging out at the beach house, sunny, bright yellow paint... I can almost hear, The Doors playing on the radio when I look at this. Yes, I have a pretty avid imagination I guess for someone born in the 80's. I can continue dreaming of the 60's, though. It will never stop!

All in all, it was a great day, minus the house and half Baby {J} cried he had to go to the bathroom, but refused to use our friends. {the very idea Mom!} Anyone else have a child that will ONLY use their bathroom at home? Don't even ask about the though of a "public" restroom. Sends shivers down his spine All my other children wanted to see the bathroom EVERYWHERE we went, sometimes 3x or more just to check it out. I thought that was aggravating at the time, but at least I wasn't driving home to make pit stops for them. Ahh well,this too shall pass in time. Someday {J} will be holding his own wee baby, and I'll chuckle to myself reminiscing about his toddlerhood and these stories. Happy news, he finally gave in and peed-- at someone else's house. OMG-the very idea. I was a happy Mama, and hopefully, just hopefully we are taking baby steps towards other bathrooms out yonder.

-for the full retro effect- 

 Happy Summer-ing.

summer

Summer is in full force here. The weather is beautiful, the kids have been out of school for a few weeks now.      It's taken a little adjusting this year, to the new schedules and having to continue with speech & school for {L}, but I think we are getting there. I keep trying to remind myself, when the kids are all in my ear, bored, hungry or arguing--that this is hard for them too. Let's face it change is hard no matter how small or insignificant seeming. I should know, I am the queen of anxiety, over unstructured, change.

While each day hasn't been filled with rainbows and unicorns {yet-fingers crossed for that day}, we are enjoying each others company and getting back to the relaxing, feeling of release that summer brings. I hope another week or so and the older children will get back in the hang of being home all the time {ohh, how I miss homeschooling, right about now. There would have been no shift} This summer I am trying to let go a bit and give these two quickly growing up, children, a little more freedom and independence. I am working on speech and letters with the younger two over the next few months, waiting to see if {L} will be ready to enter school when he should. {It's the unknown and waiting that gets me}

Lots & lots of reading has been happening in our home for everyone. We removed the tv from our living room a few months back, and I couldn't be happier about the process. The first week was rough for everyone. Lots of whining, grumpy, children and I thought I might go mad from the complaints. Right when I thought this would never work, what was I thinking making life harder for myself, a change fluttered through the house. The kids were finding toys long forgotten. Reading way more than before {and they were big readers to begin with}, spending more time exploring in the yard and just plain relaxing. Rach day, they were missing that old tv, less & less. I think the shift helped Little {L} the most of all. I am a happy mama with our choice. Our home is not totally tv free, and Friday movie night has now taken on a while new meaning for the kids.

So as summer filters into our lives day by day this month, we will be enjoying the sun, working on a few relationships in the house, and trying to make everyday count to it's fullest.

ladybug release

Over the weekend, we released 1,500 ladybugs into our gardens. Ladybugs eat aphids and save our veggies from the little invaders. When released at dusk, since they do not fly at night, they will remain on the plants, eating up the bad guys and laying eggs until morning. I looked around locally and could not find any sadly, so we resorted to ordering ours. I was a little worried about the shipping process, but they arrived happy & alive.

The kids LOVED it! Ok, I loved ot too! Even the littlest who is not a fan of any bugs so far! He was calling them to him, like you call a cat, Chuuu chuuuuu... here lalalaloo bug. It was awesome. Once the bag was open they were quick to try and make their escape. We needed them in three area's of the yard so we held the bag so it could be moved when needed. If you only had one area you could just lay the bag down and watch them crawl and fly out. The kids liked and were also creeped out at times, with the bugs crawling over their hands & wrists.

When the last ladybug has flown the coop, the kids moved on to building a grand, obstacle course. Complete with yard toys, random "not" kid things like the shovel, and some newspaper I had used earlier in the day to block spray paint. They savored every minute of being outside after their normal bedtimes. Running, giggling and enjoying the early eve. Littlest guy decided he was bored with older kids and set out to be naughty. See that mischievous little grin up there. I may be in trouble with this one. haha!

Summer has arrived for us!

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. 

Summer

A few special moments captured this summer. Enjoy your day!

Summer Solstice

The summer solstice has arrived-yay! We are so ready for summer here.

Summer means bike riding, vegetable picking, water fights, flowers blooming, sunshine and best of all free time! Time to for the kids to do what they like best...whatever it may be that day.

Happy Solstice!

Family Portrait

Just your average family photo--if your the Adams Family! Haha! The funniest thing is this is the only photo we have of our entire family together since we've added Baby {J}.

Gotta love summer, grandma's and face paint together!

Summer

With the end of the summer drawing near, I find myself a little sad this year. It's totally abnormal for me! Usually, I cannot wait for the fresh, crispness of Fall to arrive. [my favorite season of all!] I'd trade scarves & snuggly hats for bathing suits anytime [especially after my post-baby body!] The cool breezes, falling leaves, pumpkins and harvest=wonderful!

This year things are different. Things will never be the same again. Why, you ask??
{D} is starting school! The end of summer has suddenly taken on new meaning. Suddenly it's sounding so very "official". It's not really going to change too much, as we have decided to homeschool, at least for the next few years, but the sentiment is there. The kids are growing up, and things are changing. Normal people welcome change, I run away kicking & screaming. On one hand, I'm super excited, on the other I want my babies to stay....well babies.

We have our curriculum together, notebooks and pencils have been purchased. Mama has a surprise set of book bags in the works for both {D} & {M}. All I need is the strength to let my babies grow up.

Any homeschooling pro's have tips for me?

How long does it take?

How long does it take for a curious toddler to figure out how to open the latch on the brand new gate you made just to keep him on the porch?
About 45 seconds!!

We retreated inside early, many times this summer due to little mister {L}. He spends all his time trying to jump off the porch and make a run straight for the street. The older kids have been whining about not getting to be on the porch as much this summer. To be perfectly honest, many times I just didn't have the energy for the non-stop chaos man.

For the past several years I had thrown around the idea of my husband building a gate for the porch. It seemed to be the thing that always turned into next week, and then next summer.... After spending some of his own time chasing our littlest angel, he finally decided it was time.

Yesterday morning, I was so excited to sit out in the fresh morning air and calmly drink my coffee without my son hurling himself from the top of the stairs at every chance. Ahh, the birds were chirping, the weather tepid....and then he realized the door had a latch. Game over!! Haha, luckily a handy, baby latch saved the day and keeps him in.

The irony of the whole thing was enough to send me eerily laughing my head off. {D} actually asked me if I was ok....or if something was wrong. Maybe he thought I had finally gone mad.

Hmmmm...let me just fix this!

Who me? I would never!

Mmmmmm....

Yummy-fresh vegetables! The taste of Summer!

Summer Weather!

The roses are blooming, the plants are growing in the garden, seeds are sprouting, kids running-plenty of simple fun to be found in the yard.

It's so fun to watch {L} experience everything for the first time. The other day while planting, he was really interested in the dirt and mud. I gave him a clump so he could feel the texture and weight. He took a GIANT bite! With a mouthful of mud, he ran off. After chasing him and having to extract the dirt [yes, you'd think he would spit it out-no] he has a dirt smile for the next hour.

It's silly memories like that I cherish. Taking the time to stop and think what is really important is so useful. Sometimes when life seems difficult this will help us realize things are not bad after all!

We value the time we have together more than any objects, or a bigger house. We don't need more stuff, just each other. I think Summer is a great time for this. Children can play with grass, bugs, dirt-lol. It's the time and experience that makes it fun, not stuff!

Have a lovely weekend everyone! We will be visiting the Columbus Arts Fest. So many great artists showcased there and a HUGE section for kids to create and interact. They have a tent for the kids to purchase art donated by the artists. It's so awesome. Only kids are allowed inside and the most expensive pieces are $5. This starts the love of art early! My kids are always THRILLED to bring home their very own original art. [Mama too].

One of my favorite events in the city....and in a few weeks, Comfest! YAY!!

New skirts

Colorful, new skirts for Spring/Summer 2009. I am working on a bunch of fun prints for the Eco-Chic show, coming up in May. I've expanded my sizing to include smaller sizes. So if you have a wee one, and have been waiting for them to grow into my sizes, the wait is over...or less, depending on how wee your baby actually is. I have 18m-7 years currently.

If you have a little boy, don't fret. I'm working on some shorts and pants. Look for some handprinted styles, on organic cottons.

I love these blue prints from: SOIRE'E by Lila Tueller