Turning 11

My dear Sagan turns 11 years old today. He was our first baby we had at home. It was such a wild birth experience, so memorable, so comforting, just what was needed after the mess that was 9/11. He is a joy, a challenge, a free spirit if ever there was one. He has his own way of doing things, his own way of seeing the world. He can make me laugh till I cry and make me want to pull all my hair out all in the same day, sometimes in the same hour. Life is so much richer with him in it. Happy 11th Birthday my sunny boy!

Saturday's Garden

Well, the garden boxes are made, filled with dirt and planted with seeds. We even have sprouts, which I would love to post a picture of, but sadly the camera is on the fritz. The pumpkin has sprouted, and so has the butternut squash. We planted some Oregon Snap peas which have also popped up the last couple of days, and the lettuce is poking out as well. It is really exciting to go out and water everyday and see how quickly things have changed. Fiona loves to go out and help, usually that means she tries to dig up stuff, but that is ok. I planted some rosemary and thyme from seedlings, because I wanted something to be big. And the boys and I picked out moss roses which do so well here in the heat. And some petunias, I just love those pretty flowers, they look so delicate, but they can stand up to the heat pretty darn good. Now is the hard part... the waiting for things to really take off. While we play the waiting game we are going to set up a potato tower, we have many potatoes with eyes. I have yet to grow potatoes successfully, I really hope this works. At some point in the nearish future I see a chicken coop and three happy hens scratching around in that dreary back yard... bring life and eggs to it. But until then, well this will do.

{ This Moment }

Joining Amanda Soule from Soulemama for a weekly ritual. A single photograph from the week, a moment I wish to pause, savor and remember.

Blessed beyond measure

I have been mulling over my life as of late. And realizing just how amazingly blessed I am. I have a man who loves me unconditionally, happy children, free time, a craft that I love, a bright future, food in the cupboards, a roof over my head, and a full and happy heart.
Fiona said "wuv you" the other day, how amazing is that? How wonderful is it that I was here to hear it. Such a blessing.
Honestly, I feel over the moon. So much promise in each day, so much to look forward to. Too many blessings to count. What could be better then that?

how can i not post this?? she is just too cute. 

Yarn Along

wool diaper cover

head band

 Well, my yarn for the EZ Tomten jacket didn't get here before we left on our camping trip so I was forced to come up with something else to knit. To pass the time I made myself a green and light lavender head band. It was really fun and easy. Actually what I did was knit 1 inch of garter stitch  and the did two rounds of the pattern from Amanda Soule's hat pattern then another inch of garter stitch. Works great to keep the ears warm while in the chilly north.
Then I started and have almost finished a hot pink and red diaper cover for Fiona. I was planning on making them "longies" but I was noticing my yarn was running out, so I just made them into shorts. I used the pattern for the "Bulky Weight Longies". My only problem is I can't seem to close up the crotch. Very frustrating, but I will figure it out eventually.
Ok, so the yarn didn't get to me before we left, but all that yummy goodness was here when we got back. The blue (scroll down to the "bluebird" color swatch... that's it! Although honestly all those colors look amazing) is so much better then I could have imagined. I did a swatch today and then cast on the project. I want it to be a wee bit big so maybe she could wear it more than one winter, but not so big she won't be able to wear it at all this year. I want to do a cream colored i-cord around the edges of the jacket when it is done. And the buttons I bought for the jacket just won't do now, I want toggle buttons. I have been looking on-line for what other have done with their tomtens and I really love this idea and this one.
I am still reading breastfeeding books. I am really enjoying them. Even though I have nursed for 14 or so years, there is still so much to know.
Joining Ginny for the weekly Wednesday Yarn Along!

The Festival of Science in Pictures

lovely pine trees

our home for 3 nights

fiona playing with ice

the kids played on this for HOURS every day

breakfast with friends

lots of scootering everyday

fiona and her snack

filtering water 

more filtering water

learning about clouds

a CLOUD

an actual dinosaur fossil in it's "jacket"

campfire and marshmallow roast

fiona looking cute

sagan "banana" biking

more banana biking

cae and a friend banana biking

sagan pushing rowan on a banana bike

on the swings playing games

checking out the moon at lowell observatory

meeting the meteorite man!

talking with Ian, the best lowell museum guy!

the ride home

so lovely

just a glimpse of the filth of my children

at a rest stop look out

relaxing at the rest stop

cae and fiona rosy

the beautiful clouds

checking out the valley

What a great time we had at the Festival of Science in Flagstaff this last weekend. We camped at a KOA campground that had a great little playground. I think, honestly, the kids like that as much or more then the science things we saw and did. Every morning right after breakfast they were all off at the playground playing with their friends and other children at the campground. We met all sorts of interesting people, two families from "Down Under" even.
The days were lovely and cool and busy, busy. The night were cold as all get out. I did not pack enough bedding, all three nights Fiona nursed constantly and Rowan slept in a ball with his knees in my back. Sagan woke up every night confused and cold. I think only Caelan slept well at least some of the nights. I must get to an Army Surplus store and buy a couple 100% wool blankets so we can be warmish next year.
Saturday we went to an outdoor science in the park event, which was lots of fun. We learned so much and met some really great people. One woman sat with Rowan for a good 15 minutes and talked to him all about trees and tree rings. He loved it.
Sunday we all went up to Lowell Observatory to hear Geoff Notkin (one of the "Meteorite Men") talk about meteor hunting. Sagan was so excited, back when we had a TV that was one of the shows he loved to watch. I bought one of his books, the one on meteor hunting, for Sagan and Geoff signed it. Then we looked through one of the HUGE telescopes at a star cluster, and went to the Lowell Observatory museum where we met Ian, the best darn volunteer I have ever met. He talked with the boys for half an hour, answering all their questions, explaining all the equipment in the museum, we learned so much. It was an amazing night.
Monday after we packed up our camp the kids played for a couple more hours and then just as it started to rain we hot the road for home. I have to say, I was so happy it was HOT in Phoenix, I was a bit tired of upper 30's at night in a tent.
I think what made this trip so much fun was having so many of our friends right there in the camp ground. The kids were so busy all day long. Up at 6:30 AM and out like lights at 9 PM every day. It was so great to have friends over every morning for breakfast, eating lunch in the next campsite, running up to the playground 100 times a day, a children's paradise. So looking forward to next year.

Change is in the air

ABC's

yummy good pizza

pool time

flowers

checkers, chess and art

sun through the trees

getting ready for the trip

Yes, finally there is a change in the air. Just a little, but for an Arizonan it is there. That subtle shift that means that the blazing heat of summer is at an end. Now instead of 110's we will be in the low 100's. The mornings will be in the 70's instead of the 80's. Hanging the wash up will actually be tolerable again, actually enjoyable. You can plan and start a garden again.
I feel more motivated to do things, like studies with the kids, or games of checkers and chess, or being outside again... in the wading pool, in the garden, in the sunshine. The boys actually go outside with out me sending them out, and they play for hours.
The littles and I are going up north for a long weekend to hang in the actual cold (70's during the day and 30's at night... eeeep!) so we pulled out all of our Maine goodness; wool hats, mad bomber hats, sweaters, down filled coats. I think we will be warm enough, I hope we will.
I must admit I just love a seasonal change, when thing are moving, even if ever so slowly, towards a new season, a new time of year.
Welcome Autumn!

Yarn Along

boobie hat

doll blanket and readings

Well, this week I haven't been too terribly productive. I am waiting for my yarn to come from KnitPicks, it is taking FOREVER! (Well, it feels that way, anyway.) I am planning on making Fiona the Tomten jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman. Mike got me one of her books for my birthday, and it has the pattern in it... ok not really a pattern just some weird random directions. Honestly I am a bit scared to start knitting it. I have no idea how much to cast on or when to do certain things. I guess I will have to knit a swatch (I have avoided doing that up to this point) and then just sort of wing it. Hopefully my yarn will get here before I leave town with the littles for the weekend, so I will have something to do when they are all engaged with something other than me.
I did knit a booby hat for my sister in law, so when my nephew is born he will have a cute hat. LOL And I started knitting a doll blanket with some left over yarn I had, just something to sort of pass the time.
I am reading Ina May's breastfeeding book and I got my copy of Taproot in the mail (finally!) and I am just eating both of those up. Which is nice because I haven't found too much stuff that has sparked my interest lately.
Joining Ginny in the weekly Yarn Along. :)