oh spring.

you bring us warmth. you bring us cold again.

you show us our glaringly white winter legs.

soccer? not so much.

saturday was henry's first day of soccer. he was so excited about it. until the practice started. they started with stretching, he didn't want to. i told him i'd do it with him. nope. okay, no big deal. then they started playing games (with parental involvement). nope. nothing. no interest what. so. ever.

and he was the only one. it was so sad to watch. i didn't want to push him but i wanted him to just try. it was a difficult situation to be in for us especially because we didn't expect that reaction from him. matt and i took turns going on the field with him and trying to initiate play. it worked a couple of times. but then he got upset and started crying. maybe it was too much. it was a little chaotic and he wanted to play just not the way they were. he wanted to go to the big goals and kick the ball when they were lined up to kick in the little ones. that kind of thing. and we kept getting these pitiful looks from other parents. i didn't mind. i wasn't going to force him out there. i was just sad that he wasn't having a good time.

hopefully this week will be better. his friend emery is playing too, but she was signed up for the session before us. so we're going to go to the early session instead. maybe if he's got a buddy playing he'll follow her lead.

long overdue.

way back in february there was this thing called valentine's day. maybe you've heard of it.
i'm not too into it, but it is fun for the littles. i got around to making them each something (though bea's didn't quite turn out - i'll share that later).

i walked into my lys knit night some time ago and was immediately drawn to this book. i wanted to make just about everything in it! when i brought it home it was a big hit too and the requests came flying in. first on the list was this guy



he's made by knitting up a few rectangles in garter stitch. super simple. i used ella rae classic except for the feet and bowtie which are leftover berrocco. the stitching up part was a little awkward for me but i did the best i could. he's a bit wonky, but so are we, so he fits in just fine.

i'd never knit a toy before and i really do want to tackle that book. so many cute things (ravelry link) to make!

my goal is to at least have a toy in the works always. right now its felted super bouncy balls. (that's really hard to type with a straight face).


i'm also chugging away on bea's shrug. it is slow going. i made a mistake somewhere and hopefully ripped back to the right place. now if i can figure what row i'm on it should be a breeze from here on out. hopefully it will still fit here when i'm finished.


and for those of you reading this. thank you. it means a lot to me that you are taking time out of your day to stop by here. i've been here sporadically and i'm hoping that will change, but i just haven't had much to say. so, thanks for sticking around : )

let the sun shine.

saying goodbye to winter today.

the weather was beyond enjoyable. all the woolens dried in one day! windows and doors were open. a certain young boy was running around shirtless, which then led to a little sister doing the same. strawberries were eaten out on the back porch. snail shells were hunted. dishes were ignored. more fruit was eaten outside. the swings were flying high. welcome home from work beers were enjoyed on the lawn. a curmudgeonly dog soaked up some rays. and a large salad was enjoyed for dinner.

now off to tend to those dishes.

glad to see you spring. see you tomorrow.

a list.

a few things i know today.

~ the age 3.5 is testing me. especially when it is awake at 10 pm.

~ i needed a nap today. but i was a glad i didn't fall asleep.

~ i need to be more present in this place. for myself.

~ i have some of the funniest children on earth. they prove it everyday.

~ a sink full of dishes is okay. at least right now.

~ i'm in the mood for some changes.

~ i want to wake up early tomorrow. but in the morning i won't want to.

sunday morning

the original.

the boy who was inspired

letter love.

his curiosity about letters (and writing and reading) is such a joy to me. i really am enjoying the journey and progression. from recognizing his first letter (H, and that was it for a long time - it's still his favorite letter) to learning more of them every day. to asking what signs say (and i how know what they say) and wanting me to read him anything and everything. and now when drawing asking me what people's names look like. i write the letters while saying what they are then lay the piece of paper near him so he can look if he likes. then i'm done. hands off.
at first the letters he would write were all over the page, and sometimes they still are, but now he's trying to put them in order. at least in his way.

through this, i am also learning about his way of learning. he doesn't like to be asked questions. he won't answer them. he likes to be the one doing the asking. he doesn't take well to being directed much either. (i have no idea where that comes from). instead, i have found that if i show him materials, how to use them, and back off, he is much quicker to pick them up. he definitely wants to go at his own pace and in his own style. so far it's working.

and it's honestly rocking my world right now. this curiosity and his desire to know and not being afraid to ask. it's the coolest.


***just in case you can't tell, he wrote jessica. the 'ica' is flowing around the bottom of the page and back up. did i mention this is the coolest!?***

10.

the lovely, and expectant sarah of bee house hives tagged me to make a list of 10.

10 things that make me happy to be specific.

so, these are 10 things that are making me happy right now.

1.

my littles love to be read to. bea loves word books, henry has been into nature/science.

2.

bea is almost done teething. at least i don't think any more teeth will fit in her mouth.

3.

my kitchen table, so much so that i have started a set on flickr for it.

4.

the flowers on my kitchen table.

5.

80's music . . . seriously.

6.

some long awaited books are in the mail and on their way here.

7.

quiet nights with matt.

8.

wild curiosities of a three year old boy.

for example, wondering if he is going to have hair on his chest when he grows up.

9.

that bea can not be still (or quiet) when she hears music. i love love love having a tiny dancer!

10.

spring is on its way.

if you have not played along yet, please do and leave a link in the comments if you do. i'd love to know what's making you happy these days!