This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

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A girl in the water

Sometimes all you need to be happy is a good pair of boots (on the wrong feet even) and a nice bit of water. Especially if you happen to be this smallest girl of mine.  Always on the lookout for the next big adventure and the next space to explore, it's no wonder we call her our little wild flower.  Nothing makes for more fun than some time spent running about outdoors. 

It's even more fun if you manage to bring a good bit of the water home with you after. 

Gardening Gift Set

It's birthday season around here and I've been working away on some really fun gifts.  The only downside is that I can't really share them until I know the birthday person has seen them.  I don't want to ruin the surprise, that's my favorite part. Thankfully this little garden set has already been delivered and loved.  I'm so glad because it was so fun to put together. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All that crocheted produce really made the perfect addition to this set.  My girls wanted to keep it for themselves, though they have everything but the aprons already.  I guess I need to make them each a gardening apron as well. 

Motherhood

What an absolutely lovely weekend we had. My family definitely went above and beyond in spoiling me all weekend long. From a special day out with my hubby, lovely surprises, terrific food (that I didn't even have to cook), lots of extra sleep, and plenty of time to do my favorite things with my favorite people. What more could a mama ask for?

I feel so incredibly blessed to get to call myself a mama to my two wonderful little girls.  I guess I always imagined I'd be a mama when I grew up, though I doubt I had any idea what that really meant.  And if I'm being completely honest I'm not sure I can say I know exactly what it means now.  Even as many years into it as I am now I find my views, ideas, and attitudes about parenting are still changing pretty regularly.  I suppose that is to be expected with all the new information and ideas out there and of course with each new phase our children take us into along with them. 

Motherhood is so much more than I ever imagined it would be, more of everything really--except maybe sleep, there certainly isn't more of that happening around here.  More love, laughter, tears, worrying, excitement, and certainly more learning.  I read a quote this weekend that said behind every great kid is a mother who is worried she's screwing it up.  I quite literally laughed out loud as I read it because it rang so true.  Going into this parenting gig with all the ideas of what it was going to be like but not really knowing is enough to make anyone a nervous wreck.  So we learn.  We learn by reading, by following our hearts, and most importantly by listening to our children.

 I realize now how much I truly didn't know when I began this journey nearly 6 years ago.  I didn't know how much our lives would really change, or how quickly our priorities would shift.  That who I was before I became mama would cease to exist and really that it wouldn't matter one bit at all.  That I would become a new version of myself, a better version even.  I had no idea that person could even exist but now as that person it feels more like 'me' than I ever have in the past.  I certainly didn't know that we'd become a homeschooling family let alone unschoolers, and the term Waldorf meant nothing to me back then.  But now it's so very much who we are.  It fits us in this life right now and so we are.

I can't imagine my life without being mama and I am looking forward to the next steps in this journey along with my girls.

This Moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

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Lake Adventures

 

 

A lot of our photos take place right in this area--during warm weather anyway.  It's a nice little secluded spot quite near our house and a favorite exploring zone for our girls. 

We've spent many hours wandering around this area that was actually once a little town.  It's strange to think about that as we are searching about, that what is now a lake once housed quite the community.  We're reminded of this fact as we find bits of broken pottery hidden amongst the shells and as we stumble across the cement steps of what was once a schoolhouse.  I wonder about the families that lived here, though many still live just down the road a few miles where they relocated years ago.  How strange it must be for them to know that right where they created so many memories with their loved ones is now oftentimes under water. 

It certainly has provided many great memories and adventures for our family.  Imaginary worlds have been created, dragons have been tamed, treasures found, and on this particular outing an impromptu fishing adventure was had. 

We spotted large carp out in the shallows and a harmless comment was made that we should try to see if we can catch them and that was all it took to start us out on this adventure. We were prepared for muddy terrain and wore our rain boots out this day so it seemed like the perfect idea. Off we all splashed into the cold water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much to everyone's surprise (most especially daddy's, I think), it was mama who managed to grab the big fish. Much shrieking followed suit by all the littles and we promptly let the big catch go again.

 

 

 

 

Another beautiful day and (hopefully) another great memory for them to tuck away.

Strider Riding

We did something a little different with Kait this year.  She has always refused to ride any type of tricycle or bike.  She would simply walk it along with her feet or just choose to walk.  We finally decided to try a balance bike instead and bought her a Strider.  Of course the day it arrived was raining but thankfully Daddy made some space for us in the fire department so she could try it out. 

But before she could hop on she really thought the bike needed a good inspection and maybe a bit of work. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 She spent a good half hour going back and forth working on her new bike. Finally she decided she had it in good working order and was ready to give it a try.  I think she was pretty pleased with herself.  Though I do suspect she might have liked working on it just as much as she did riding.