ahhhh the beach...

The other day was the perfect beach day: blue skies, low humidity, gentle breeze! I decided to scrap swim lessons and head to lakewood for the day. Swim lessons are over this week, and frankly Mia has not been enjoying them like last year. She spends most of the time deciding she has to use the bathroom or bargaining with her teacher to get out of certain activities. The funny thing is she loves the water. At our beach she swims all day, granted she doesn't yet put her face in, but without pressure from a "teacher," she'll gladly swim for hours. So Tom and I have decided to just let her be herself, take her to the beach as often as possible and let her learn on her terms. Unschooling is the buzzword, I think, that fits for this approach! As a former WSI (that's Water Safety Instructor) I know she'll get there, but what's the rush?

Ok, back to the beach story...I packed a days worth of snacks, drinks, clothes, diapers and even jammies with no intentions of heading home until kids were tired and in their pajamas! We started in the morning with some sandplay...

Then Grammie brought down this fun float...it has a baby seat and then an open ring for a grownup (I spent a lot of time in it floating around with Ben = heaven!) or a big sister!
When Poppie ventured down, I got a little Mama relaxing time while he entertained the children. He is the best water playmate! Always was...and still is with his grandchildren.
Tom joined us after work, and so did Auntie & Luke. About dinner time, Benji took a snooze in the shade! I have to admit what we did for dinner. After a picnic lunch and healthy snacks all day, we ordered a pizza! Yup, they delivered it to the beach! After a quick run up to the house for a bottle of wine (ok, bottles), we had pizza and wine for a sunset beach dinner! Easy & fun!
The sunset was gorgeous...Mia went home with Grammie & Mimi for a sleepover, and Benji, Tom & I headed back to our house.
And of course, after a late afternoon snooze, Ben stayed up until after I had fallen asleep! Ha!

Wordless Wednesday

S U M M E R :: snapshots

We've been enjoying our sumer! There has been plenty of rainy days and sunny days sprinkled in to head to the beach! Here are some of our memories so far from summer 2009:

~Ben follows Sadie at the beach~

~we love the lake!~

~Artsfest bbq with Myles~

~rainy day impromptu Mia crafts!~

~new ways to "use" the sandbox and water bucket!~

We here in our home hope all of you are enjoying your summer as well! It seems to go so fast (too fast!)

Bonnet in action!

Today after swim lessons, Mia and I had a "ladies lunch" with Katie, Maya, Kara and Owen (We left Benji with Grammie!) It was the perfect opportunity to give Maya her bonnet...and well, it is completely adorable on her! Ok...the baby is pretty gosh-darned cute herself...add the bonnet and watch out! Squeal-worthy!!! I couldn't help snap a pic (or 2!) and share them as soon as possible! (and if you think Maya's cute in the pic...you should give her a smoosh in real life! Gorgeous baby--great Mama!)

wip (it good) wednesday!

I kind of am enjoying my crafty summer! I am still working on the sweater for Mia. I intend to have the 2 sweaters (one for Benj) done by the fall equinox...I am a slow knitter so that is why I started early! I am making progress on Mia's! It seems so big...but better big than too small! I love love love the knitting pure & simple patterns. I've made multiple of their rollneck pullovers for babies and kids. I just think they are easy to read and classic designs. Plus I love top-down patterns! No tedious piecing together! I have decided to not do hoods on these cardigans for the kids...easier to layer that way! I also can't wait to pick out the buttons!

Also, I was thrilled to get my Kingpod pattern in the mail! I am making this bonnet for Baby Maya C, but Mia has requested one too! Lately Amy Karol's bonnet pattern has been everywhere! It is super easy and so sweet, I just need to find the perfect ribbon...and then snap some shots of Maya in it! I had the strawberry print in my stash, which makes me think that perhaps I have a strawberry obsession...since I made the strawberry dress for Mia this summer too!

Water!

My children are very lucky to spend a great deal of the summer on the lake. They spend hours swimming, digging and filling buckets. The other morning, Mia was at her swim lessons with her grandparents, and Benjamin was home with me after a night of a teething induced fever. We played outside and with the addition of a tub filled with water, placed on the other end of the deck, Benji got his fill of purposeful water play. In the wonderful book, Heaven on Earth author Sharifa Oppenehiemer describes water and sand play: "water is essential for sand play....place the pool in a spot far away from the sandbox to encourage plenty of running and physical activity. We want to give our children the opportunity to move in a purposeful way, using their whole body in meaningful physical tasks."

Benj just loves water play...in the sink or outside he can spend a long time filling and dumping a cup or bucket of water!

Hooray for water play...happy monday friends!

Delightful afternoon...

The other day, after 3 hours in the morning at the beach, after stories, naps and quiet time, we decided to spend the remainder of our afternoon in our little yard. Mia packed her dolls and a blanket. I grabbed my knitting and a truck for Benji and we took to the yard.

It wasn't long before Ben abandoned his truck and joined in Mia's doll play. They were playing so sweetly, I couldn't resist taking a few pictures.

Mia changes their clothes...

Benji gives baby "Ingie" some kisses.

Together they put the babies to bed...

and took them for walks...

It was a darling afternoon...I even got a little knitting done!

wip (it good) wednesday!

I finished the patchwork section for Mia's quilt! I need to head to the fabric store to pick out some coordinating fabric for the border and back. It is so nice to be off in the summer! I have been using Benji's nap as sewing time and since we can eat out on the deck, I can use my dining room (much to Tom's happiness!) as a little sewing workshop (until the next rainy day!). I've been knitting some too! I also purchased a darling pattern for a bonnet ...I couldn't resist...I might make one for Mia, but I am thinking of some other babies too!

S T R A W B E R R I E S

What a late growing season we're having here in NH! We didn't get around to strawberry picking until yesterday! Today was the last day of the season at our local farm, but yesterday there were still plenty of berries to be had! Let me say, my children are no migrant workers! Oh sure, they picked plenty--but they are most of their harvest, with only a few making it into the basket! They also preferred generally frolicking in the patch...I didn't mind doing most of the labor...it was cool and beautiful out!

I harvested my stash, and promptly cut some for eating and shortcake, and hulled the rest for freezing. My friend Marcia taught me last year that you can use a straw to easily hull a strawberry! It works brilliantly!
All the berry picking encouraged me to finish a little sundress for Mia during naptime! Oh that dress! I thought perhaps it was destined not to be made since I bought the pattern about 3 months ago with other fabric in mind that I messed up cutting (grrrrr!), but was happy to substitute the strawberry print from my stash with only to sew the arms shut at one point (double grrrrr)! Ahhhh....seamstress I am not! In the end, it worked out very cute, I appliqued a little strawberry on it and well I have one very happy little client (she doesn't care about my sewing snafoos!)!
Next up is raspberries...and raspberry jam!

wip (it good) wednesday!

I had no outstanding photo that called out to me for a "wordless wednesday" post, so I thought I'd do a "WIP wednesday" (work in progress) post instead!

1.) A "simple" patchwork quilt for Mia's quiltless bed...leftover fabric from her Mimi-made curtains...I'm still working on the quilt top...I think it will look lovely.

I am not that great of a sewer (truth be told)...I am self taught on the machine, and a bit impatient...I am trying (trying!) to sew slower....and thus achieve straighter seams...(ahem!)
2.) A "Knitting Pure & Simple" pattern. Top down cardigan for Mia in vermont organic wool! I love this yarn! I stop to smell it often (am I the only one who loves the smell of 100% wool?) Mia picked the chocolate, and I will make a matching one (because I am that Mother!) in oatmeal for Benji! I love these patterns...easy-peasy enough for late night knitting...with a glass of sauvignon blanc on the table and the Daily Show on TV! (true story--last night!)

So that's that friends...I hope to have a finished project to brag :-) about soon enough!

Story Land!

We had some great family time the past 4 days! Tom was off & Mia spread her wings and had 2 sleepovers! One with Meme and one with Grammie & Poppie! We also had a fabulous Fourth of July party & Family sleepover with Lee & Auntie KJ! Hooray! Yesterday we ended our family fun with a trip to Story Land! What a difference a year makes! Last year (see last year's post) Benji rode in the Ergo the whole time--he couldn't walk! This year he really got into the action & loved the rides! I love Story Land...it is a perfect way to spend a sunny day! Thanks to Grammie, Poppie, Mimi & Auntie for joining us! Thanks to TG too, for the delish indian after! Yum!!!

Humpty-dumpty!

Mia poses in Mary's (the one with the little lamb : ) ) schoolhouse!

The whole family went up in the hot air balloon ferris wheel!

Balls!

The ubiquitous Story Land frame shot...ahhh yes!