J and L in heaven...
Originally uploaded by emaho.Last week a backhoe parked in front of our house for a little while and J and L couldn't keep their eyes off it apparently! ( I wasn't there at the time, sorry that I missed this funny sweet moment!)
They had their lunch as a picnic by the front door so as to keep an eye on the goings on.
A kiss for queen mum...
Originally uploaded by emaho.L made a crown and allowed me to share it!
L and his "special mama"...
Originally uploaded by emaho.Posting a few photos Jamie took to my blog so my mum and family can see them too!
Lately...
Originally uploaded by annamaren.Busy week....
We had such fun having friends over on Tuesday night. We had the first fire in the firepit of the season, and it was a beautiful evening. We had yummy food, the children played on into the dusk and roasted marshmellows. I sat in our new porch swing (thanks Justyn for wanting a huge hammock so much you had to give away your giant swing!), with our friends and neighbours and chatted and ate and watched kids play.
After baths and playtime we read to sleepy children and then Susan and I stayed up to drink tea and watch Anne of Green Gables. (thanks Rob for surprising me with that DVD!)
Such a beautiful afternoon and evening, hopefully the start of many pleasant evenings over the summer.
Wednesday was spent with a houseful of kiddos all day as a dear friend was dealing with the funeral of her mother in law. WellSpring worked out childcare for each other to be able to go to the funeral home and lend support to Lisa and her family. Somehow everything just flowed, all the kiddos were so wonderful with each other all day long, and it was a long day. (F and K had gotten up early to read and giggle! Sleepovers will make you do that I guess.)
And somehow, although my house had been full of kiddos all day, with some mama help (and maybe some magic) it was all cleaned up swiftly at the end of the day, and we were able to make it for a mama night out. (Ok, it was sitting limply in the comfy chairs in Borders drinking Honey Cinnamon lattes, but still, we went out!)
In the background of all this are things going on in the larger world around me that make me pause to reflect. The violence in Virginia, in Iraq.... so sad. My parents are moving this weekend, this is a huge thing in their life. I think this will be my Dad's last parish. I wish I could be there as he is installed in a new congregation!
Everything weaves together and we learn from all of it I guess. It just moves so fast sometimes!
The Ashre mama's rocking another lullabye for our CD!
Originally uploaded by annamaren.Music Monday!
I love the sight in the photo- the sight of my mama friends hanging in my dining nook. It's the sound of Music Mondays that I can't capture. The soundtrack of this photo is us in between songs..... laughing at something our kids are doing outside, or some wrong word or note in the music. The baby noises and the kiddo noises in the background, someone making a suggestion for where to mark a breath or change how long to hold a note. Or sing the whole thing lower!
What I love is that this CD of lullabyes will mark a passage of time in all our lives. The noises of babies rustling paper and toddlers humming along will accompany many of these songs. And we're beginning to really be happy that those noises are there, rather than try to re-record the track. It's sweet!
I don't know that these Music Monday afternoons have any home schooling significance other than it's all significant. We hold no special events for the children during this singing time for us. It's just simple free play time- socializing. They are working hard at being together in large group settings, and having fun playing together in non-structured ways.
I love that our music is their background for it all.
Backyard goofyness!
Originally uploaded by annamaren.We had a fun day of sunshine today! When you've had sleet and snow and cold and rain lately, days like today are precious!
I had Ashre over to sing this afternoon. The kids played outside, and a wonderful time was had by all.
The weather was so beautiful today Rob put the first honey super on the feral hive this evening. I will be so impressed when they start packing the honey in there! Mmmmmmm. Can't wait!
