wip (it good) wednesday!

I've been a busy little bee...knitting & cooking...cleaning & celebrating. I love fall! I feel so industrious getting ready for winter! So, I picked up a project that had fallen to the bottom of my knitting basket. Last winter I made my first sock...I never made the second (darn you second foot!) As the weather got warm I had no need for merino wool socks...but lately, well I've been needing my slippers...and soon enough, I 'll be grateful for two socks.

The Encylopedia of Me

For your reading fun...and my writing pleasure...



B



B is for Benjamin, my son who just turned 2



B is for babies & births I've had 2.



B is for ballet...I love it...in highschool I took 6 ballet classes a week and spent my summers at the Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program. Now? I just dance in the kitchen.

That's all I can think of for now...stay tuned for C...

Benjamin's Birthday:: The Celebration

We had a delightful time at Benji's party as well...

~ Mia plays outside while the Birthday Boy napped!~

~A new horse & knight set delights the boy.~

~ Nice sweater Ben! ~

~ Benji blows out his candles.~

~Benjamin loved his cake, and even humored his Mama by wearing his crown that I made him last year! He only wore it during cake time, but at least I got a picture!~

he is growing up into such a funny, smart & loving little guy. Happy Birthday Benji! We love you so!

Benjamin's Birthday:: The Set Up

We celebrated Benjamin's 2nd birthday yesterday with friends & family. We had good food, laughs and a great time watching Benji revel in hig room, Mia "decorated" the living room. It was completely unprompted...and so sweet. She filled the cans with Ben's "favorite things" grapes & a rock. Put the silkie down and put his "favorite" animals on each corner. Ahhh, cute sibling love!

Meanwhile, I baked a cake, a great low-sugar honey-cinnamon cake from The Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book, set little mason jars of flowers around the house. I really like setting up for a festival. Benjamin's birthday ring has been out all month to honor him.
Mini pumpkins and a new tablecloth adorned the dining room.
Since the day was so crisp & sunny I put some flowers outside too! Why not take advantage of beautiful fall days?
I even discovered my yellow rose bush is blooming again...just in time for Benji's birthday!
Benji snoozed peacefully until after some guests had arrived. He was so cute the rest of the evening...stay tuned for those pictures to be posted soon!

Gratitude Friday

This week I am feeling grateful for...

:: my mother...thanks for all your help this week!

:: my children

:: the impending return of my Tom

:: my sister's friendship


what are you grateful for?

The encyclopedia of me...

I was reading old posts from a blog I love, Little Home Blessings, and once upon a time, the author did a little series called "the encyclopedia of me." I thoughd although most of my readers (hi Tom & Mom) know me, perhaps there are few out there who do not, or maybe want to get to know me better. At any rate, it is a fun exercise in self-relection. So here it goes....we'll start at the beginning.


A


A is for August...the month I was married. August 7th to be exact!


A is for Apple picking...one of my favorite New England Fall activities.

and

A is for Art History, my major in college.

Stay tuned next week for B...

Apple picking!

One of favorite things to do in early Fall is pick apples! Today we headed out into the sunshine to pick at a nearby favorite farm. oooh was the picking good! The macs were baseball size on the tree...yum!

~Mia was excited for the tractor ride to the orchard. I'm glad she's getting a bit more use out of the sweater too!~

~Benji likes his apples 2 at a time!~

~Look at those apples!~

~I just can't resist a photo like this!~

Return to dance!

Mia started her saturday morning ballet & tap class again today! She was so excited...it is a fun stressfree environment; she loves it. Here she showing off her new outfit, and contrary to all my strict ballet upbringing I bought her a skirt....it brings her great joy.

Gratitude Friday

This week I am grateful for...

:: my health and the health of my family (despite the nasty cold going around!) Health is our greatest wealth!

:: the promise of apple picking

:: my Tasha Tudor cookbook

:: the return of Monday Soup Nights

:: settling into a nice rhythm & routine for our days.

wip (it good) wednesday!

Thanks to all of you who helped me brainstorm after last week's wip wednesday's post. We are incorporating a nice walk and some playground time into our afternoon routines. It seems to be a nice segway into the late afternoon & evening activities. Thank you!

****************************************************************

I finished Benji's sweater and I had a whole skein of wool left! I casted on and knit a few rows for a matching LTK pilot cap! I can't wait to show pictures of the kiddos!

Multicultural Day 2009

Yesterday was my town's 8th annual celebration of the diverse cultures we have in our little city! As one of 3 towns in NH that accept refugees, we are so fortunate to have populations from various African countries, Russia, Nepal, Bhutan, as well as many many others. We celebrated them, as well as various other cultures, yesterday with food, art, music and dance!

We ate around the world...I sampled a full plate of food from Rwanda (served to me by one of my students!), as well as eggrolls from Cambodia and the Phillipines (again served to me by one of my students!), and delicacies from Nepal, Egypt, Italy, Russia and Thailand. I feel so peaceful to see my students feel proud of their cultures and explain to me (a chance to teach the teacher!) about their food, dance and dress. My mother is an ESOL (english speakers of other languages) teacher, so we see plenty of children we know and have the opportunity to meet their families. I love sharing this day with my own children. It is so fortunate for them to be exposed at such a young age to the many diverse cultures in their own backyards. I took a lot of pictures...here are some highlights...

~a nepali-bhutanese man (their cultural identity is very complicated explained my student Tulashi) dancing in tradtional dress. ~

~Ben wanted a better view...best seat in the, um, park! ~

~Traditional Indian dancing.~

~ Mia showed off her moves too! ~

~Babywearing at its best!~

~A group from Burundi demonstrated traditional dance.~

It was a great day, despite the rain! I am already looking forward to next year!

Gratitude Friday

I decided to follow Waldorf Mama's lead and do a "gratitude friday" post...

Today I am grateful for...

:: Mia's preschool and the chance for midday hugs!

:: Being gainfully employed during these hard economic times.

:: My husband's challenging and rewarding career.

:: The crisp fall air.

:: My ever loving family.

wip wednesday...a true "work in progress"

So this week's "work-in-progress" is not a craft project. It is about finding our "after-school" rhythm. I used last week to feel out how we were feeling physically and emotionally upon return to our home from a long "school" day. We get home around 3 pm, which gives us about 2 hours before I have to start to prepare dinner. In that time, I need to change my clothes, serve a snack, usually do a chore or 2, and be present with my children. We need to do this while we all unwind from our day. Benji is usually quite demanding at this time...he wants me to hold him and nurse him a lot. I am trying desperately to avoid filling this time with pbs television. Help! Anyone have a nice afternoon/early evening schedule that works for them? I've tried art...but they are tired too, and did a lot of art at school. I tried puzzles and lacing cards yesterday, which was fine for Mia...but Benji was not interested. I guess I need a little direction...

My Children...

Quick snapshots midplay...

~Benjamin, almost 2~

~Mia, 4 1/2, as a "girl gnome," wearing her brother's old Halloween costume hat!~

**edited because blogger erased Ben's picture! Blogger: stop messing with my posts!!!**

wip (it good) wednesday!

I finished (except the blocking & buttons) Mia's equinox sweater and am making progress on Benjamin's sweater. The pattern is so easy to follow and the vermont "O-Wool" is delightful to knit with. I will make coordinating pilot caps with the extra yarn! I can't wait to see (and photograph) my pumpkins in their woolen goodness!

**Edited because of weird blogger combining of sentences and words. Very weird!**

First Day of School!

Mia & I headed back to school today! Mia was so excited to see her teachers again and make new friends. It was a great first day!

Benji had his first day of "school" last week...he is adjusting well.

We are all getting on board with new routines and earlier bedtimes! The crisp "fallish" air has been helping with the transition! I love autumn and new school years!