Beautiful Springtime...

...Is just bursting in full glory here.
I took a drive to the Canadian boarder yesterday and the valley was full
of lilacs - every shade of purple and many abundant white blooms too.

Love.


Boys and mud and tractors and backpacks and hikes...

Love.

Girls and cartwheels and wagons and frogs and purring cats...

Love

No... no official garden for me this year.  However, we put up some swallow
boxes just in time to have swallows move in and start families where we
could watch them up close.
Also we have a newly-logged, sunshiny, perfect place (soon to be enclosed by fence)
to plant some fruit trees finally!
Again, love.

Here on the mountain violets and trillium bloom, the huckleberries are
showing promise of summer picking.  Robins build nests, burn piles are lit
and fill the air with scents of  wood-smoke which combine with the blooming
fragrances and make a smell like "cookies baking" (according to Bryce).

Double triple quadruple love :-)

Baby cheeks

a smidge of green lawn just big enough

three utility wagons

a motley crew of old bikes

some imagination

Big brothers with kind and gentle hearts plus long legs and man-muscles taking form...


So much love.

~Favorite~

I've had four fabulous hospital births with one amazing midwife
in California, followed by four home-births in four different homes
in three different States with four different sets of midwives.
(No one has been born in the car yet and we consider that
a good record to keep!)

Since we just arrived back home to North Idaho, this baby had
his first introduction to our attending midwife.
Until this week, I had forgotten my favorite part about midwife visits.

When I lay on the bed and eagerly wait to hear that tiny heart I know
is beating, the woman providing care for we two places hands on belly
and feels the position of the baby - favorite part: hearing her speak to
my own precious person as a precious person.
"Well hello there baby!"  and when there's a reply from inside bearing
resemblance to a jump or kick "Good job Kiddo!"  as well as other
soft words spoken directly to my person.

My person.

Recognized as such by another human 
and cherished as a living being.

That's my favorite part about midwife visits.

(My favorite part about being pregnant, is when I get to the end of this 
race and get to MEET my person!)   

A Birthday Documentation

Someone turned 3.

It was pretty wonderful. I mean, what could be better than a pink "wolly-pop"?

Our Aloria.

She is so fun. And funny. Precocious. Very verbal. Frilly. Talks with her hands a lot.
Loves to dress herself - as often as she can get away with :-)
Lover of books - especially if they are way over her head (imagine machine equipment catalogues I-kid-you-not).
She is a happy and chirpy little bird!  Was there ever life before she came along?

Cupcakes with "sparkles" (sprinkles) please.

And then, a package arrived from Gramsie...

... which included a dress with a lot of pink frills,
that twirls beautifully.

That's my girlie!

She wears it every day - with or without my consent :-D  Thanks Grams.

Happy Birthday, little Birthday girl-mine!!

For Someone Very Special...

Yes it's true.

Two months left until I meet one of my favorite people ever!

With the winter months indoors and desire to dream, this quilt grew
quickly and was relieved to be completely finished with plenty of time
to spare.

I loved every minute of cutting, piecing, and stitching.  Such gentle, methodical
work for the hands while the mind and heart swell with thoughts, ideas, plans...

And mulling over a couple lovely names until they become a possibility for this wee
ones own unique personality, makes the days slow (rather than rush by) as I
get more and more eager to know who he or she is.

It has been a quiet season here - both at home and in spirit (as well as in blog :-)),
but in a matter of days the quiet turns to din as we prepare for the Idaho trek
homeward and look forward to a full Summer of house projects, Spring cleaning,
welcoming a baby, and many romps in the forest and lake.  For me, I hope this
means sitting with a snuggled Tiny Bit and putting my feet up - if I'm lucky, an icy
drink will be within reach and someones interesting story to listen to.
I think it's likely :-)

That kind of fullness of day will be a pleasant exchange for the quiet ones now
coming to a close.

I welcome it all.

Birthday Boy

How can it be already?!!
One year and my earliest walker he is.
Kind of fitting for an 8th child, don't you think?

From the moment he was born and it was clear he wouldn't even
fit into the sweet little newborn jams I had lovingly bought and dreamed of
my baby wearing...
I secretly knew I was going to miss that New Baby stage with this 10-pound-plus
son of mine already determined to make his mark on the world of men.

This morning the boy awoke to a room full of "punch balloons" and some special gifts.
He was most enthralled with the cell phone that his sis Carolina thoughtfully gave him.
I'm don't believe it left his hand except for lunch and naps.
Miles was holding it when Daddy left for work and was holding it when he returned
home in the evening!

Miles had berries and yogurt on pancakes for birthday breakfast
and then a lot of playing with balloons and Mega Blocks and of course - that cell phone :-)

In the evening Uncle Charlie was here and able to celebrate with us.
Miles was pretty stoic about the whole thing.  Getting older is serious business, don'tcha know?

Hangin' with the men is definitely where it's at though!

And then there was cake....

Yep.
Cake is pretty much the crowning glory of awesomeness.

Well Happy Birthday little man!
Although I'm excited to watch you make your own mark on the world of men,
I'm praying you know that the greatest you can ever be
is a servant and friend of the King Jesus.

If no one ever sees you, or knows you, or appreciates you, it doesn't matter.
This world in not a kingdom that lasts and people will never value the things
that matter most to Him.  You are precious to Him and He loves you.
Love Him.

Daddy and I love you dear one~

~Love Mama

Brothers

These people who share our blood,

they are the dearest gifts on earth.

Seeking a heart of purpose to cultivate the friendships available underneath our own roof...

right under our noses :-)

Every altercation has the same root: selfishness.


To treat the other as we would want to be treated, that is the uniting theme.

Ever the same in any relationship we value.

Thoughtful kindness.

Respect of feelings. Respect of space. Respect of ideas.

It is a fine line to walk,  knowing when to joke and poke fun - in good fun - for the fun of all...

and knowing when to stop before crossing the line of "no longer fun" for all.

Self control. Preferring the other over yourself.

Because we know that we'll be in that other persons shoes at some time

and what a privilege to have the assurance that that guy - your brother - has your back.

True friendship.

Firsts...

First  quilts completed!

Beautiful bright colors for learning the sewing machine, and hand quilted tops - lots of firsts here!
I think they turned out fabulous.
The girls let me hang them on some of the bare walls in this house
and I just adore the pop of sunshine they add to my winter :-)

Nicely done ladies.

And this... this is another first.
First teeth for Carolina to lose.  She is beaming, can you see it?

Miles too, is getting in on "firsts", but I don't have any good pictures of him.
In the last week he's gotten the hang of walking, just in time for his 1 year birthday
in a few days!

First time stunts and life experiences are on constant rotation around here.
I'm so glad because (besides potty training), I could happily relive my own excitement
of my children's "first-times" for the rest of my life :-)

Big Miles and the Dropping Game

This is Big Miles.

He sits at the big table now.

In his new chair.

He likes to eat Peanut Butter and Jam sandwiches now-a-days.

And pancakes when his sister makes them.

It looks like Miles has been eating berries in his yogurt today.


One of his favorite things to do lately is draw with the big kids.

He shows me his pencil, wanting me to see just what a big guy he is to be drawing!

He knows he is pretty smart.


Here's a new game Miles likes to try.

In this game, you drop something and wait to see who will pick it up for you first.

Big brothers and sisters are best for this game.  They love to oblige.

"Mama, it's down there."  Says Miles.

Miles forgets that mama doesn't play this game.

She never wins.

Someone clued mama in about 12 years ago,

that Baby would always drop more times than Mama could pick up.


Poor Miles.

Oh well.

Miles loves mama anyway.

Next time he'll drop something for Zack or Susie to pick up!