Happy Faces + Word Girl

At our weekly taco date, these two guys couldn't stop moving long enough for me to get a clear picture. But they had so much fun. And I love that I captured some of Truman's most classic faces (pay close attention to his bangs, he may have taken a little snip out of the front with his safety scissors)!

Truman was watching a TV edited version of Courage Under Fire on the screen behind my head. After a few minutes-- between bites he said thoughtfully, "I wish Word Girl would show up, then the movie could be over. And all the bad guys would be gone." I love how he thinks! If only all bad in the world could be vanquished by a cheery little lady in a red suit with a cape, a monkey sidekick and a great vocabulary. I'd be up for a life like that!

weekending:: dirt + robots

What a lovely weekend. It was simple and sweet. The skies were grey but the grass is vibrant, eager and promising. It was misting a bit as Isabel and I walked home from a birthday party on Saturday. I took deep, gulping breaths of spring wind. We both agreed we loved the smell of dirt.

Tonight, Isabel and I walked home from our beloveds John-John and Bon-Bon's house-- we were  dancing robots, we skipped, we tried to walk as a three legged race, then we spent the last block humming an empty conversation. I hummed a tune, then she hummed one back. It was more elaborate with every mumbling question and answer. Buzzing lips-- a wild tonic in the rain. We laughed and laughed.

When she was getting her jammies on tonight, she said, "Yeah, but Dad, I have NO IDEA what we even said to each other. But it was nice." It shows you sometimes, you just have to be present and dance like a robot down the middle of town.

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We spent our Sketchbook Saturday Morning time around the kitchen table. We took out the paints and brushes plus, we made robots out of butter boxes and hot glue. I started a little embroidery, read a bit of a book and I drank a latte while we watched it rain.

Today, a pot luck at church and a trip to the swimming pool. After we put the kids to bed, I folded laundry while we watched The Bletchley Circle. The drama, suspense and costumes. So good!

Even though, we had lots of little things going on this weekend, I felt like we got to spend a lot of time together, together.

What were you up to this weekend?




Joining amanda for weekending. 

Quotable Sunday: small house, larger garden

Small house, large garden, friends, books-- quite a beautiful list, don't you agree?

I might add a worn quilt, a soulmate, two little people and a big black dog.... but that's just me.

Have a beautiful weekend, beloveds.

In a tradition started by Kyrie of Are So Happy and carried on with Kerry of Young Ones and Linnea of PeppermintAlley... you can add to the flickr group here. 

Growing: May

Isabel:
*Lost a tooth this week! The tooth fairy brought four quarters which she shared with Truman.
*Reads Chicken Soup with Rice, it's her favorite right now.
*Her friend, Lamby goes everywhere.
*Follows Mama around asking to sew something.
*Makes puppet shows with whoever is here to play.

Truman:
*Ate spinach and mushrooms last weekend in his fritta and loved them.
*Reads There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Fly Guy. And laughed so hard as each animal was swallowed.
*Makes Lucy kiss him good night.
*Follows Mama around asking for something to make. He loves activities and experiments.
*He was so sad it snowed again last week and that they had indoor recess. He would love to be outside and playing catch all the time.

Adventurous Soul: Nature Frames My World

I recently saw this video transmitting it's way across the web (via). Each landscape and season has it's own wild, raw beauty. And it's all out there beckoning to be taken in. I am so grateful that camping season and the national parks have been calling us out of our wintery hibernation.

 I know I feel the most alive among the trees, mountains and fresh air. This summer we'll be spending the better part of two weeks sleeping in a tent and visiting as many national parks as we can fit. More details to come but my heart is so looking forward to it!





Revelation, a Visual Poem. from sebastien montaz-rosset on Vimeo.

Is it Spring?

This is what Spring has looked like for us. On the left was only eight days ago. On the right, this Sunday. Such a crazy change! There is snow in the forecast again for this week. I am keeping a stiff upper lip. Desperately trying to 'be joyful always.'

What does it look like where you are today?

On Crafting a Home

If you were at our house last evening you would have seen: bed mattresses moving out, playroom dumped from the last play-date, laundry put away in drawers, vacuuming quick before a game of Candyland, flurry of homework, smoothies making, kitchen cleaning, door bell ringing, kids singing, bikes still out front and then oops it rained. There were books to read, plants to water, fish to feed, dog to walk... chatting, hugging, good-night kissing.

All the activity balloons into a disappearing mushroom cloud, over as quick as it started. We tuck little angry bird + lamby jammied warm and soft bodies into bed.

And I am grateful, for these days of wonder. And these quotidian moments. Where crafting home means nothing more than creating a space for the wonderment to begin and end each day.

It's in the small moments of our lived days where the wondrous possibility abounds.

What do your evenings look like?


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A few links:

Steve is writing poems, everyday. You should read them.

This poem by Naomi Shihab Nye

This fascinating street photographer 

CALL THE MIDWIFE

Summer vacation, planned