Little one

Last summer he would often fall asleep late in the afternoon from exhaustion, keeping up with the big kids is hard work.  It is rare that he falls asleep before bedtime despite how active his day is, he has passed over that hump.  Tonight, was the exception.  Dadda's warm arms wrapped around him was enough for him to give into sleep.  Those glimpses of being little are fading, I will take them whenever I can. 

Just Cause

He cracks me up. He has taken to wearing safety glasses most of the time and he does this little dance that is more like a jig.  It's even cuter in snow shoes. 

Joining Us at the Table

Shai asked the other day to have some 'work' of his own.  The thought of sitting with us during our 'table time' doing what the big kids do is so appealing.  He practiced the letters of his name for about 30 minutes, in a book of his own.  I thought it was cute. 
It got me thinking how different my hopes, expectations and concerns with my first child differ so greatly in many ways then with my fourth.  I had a shelf filled with workbooks, a list of objectives and a bucket full of shoulds in regards to learning.  Time and trust in my kids as given me the confidence to follow his lead.  Perhaps his interest in writing will stay and he will want to keep at it, or not.  Perhaps he will want to learn to read in the next year, or not.  I know those things will come. I don't have that same list of objectives, they have switched to reading together more, bringing out the playdough more often, getting to play group every other week. 
This reflecting isn't so much about Shai, or any of my kids.  It is about me, the place I am in our journey as homeschoolers and as a parent.  I have fewer worries for him, because I have more confidence in me. I can just enjoy his dabbling in writing without making it about the end product.  It's a great place to be.

When you are four your best day includes going to play group, then out for a treat with your brothers and sister.  Dinner is around the campfire, giving him a chance to try out his new snowshoes.  Ice cream with candles and a party at the end of the week to top it off.  Being four is looking good.

The Big Question

What career do you want to have when you grow up?

It was a tough choice between being a mama and staying home with her kids (heart melts) or being a donkey rider.  Donkey rider won out....the outfit was better!  (you have nurtured a passion angee!)

Because....

He's my baby. My little one.

He has been asking all these grown up, thoughtful questions lately.

Mama, what is under the earth?

Mama, what is skin made of?

Why does the rainbow from the stone (crystal) have the same colours when it makes the rainbow?

How come the wind doesn't move the buildings Mama, and the trees move?

My baby. Growing.

Guess who has a new chore?

And couldn't be happier about it!

Breath

Parenting in its day to day form requires you to be in the moment. The tasks required of you are in the now, consuming your time. There is the food prep., hugs, story time, peace making, play dates, table time, housework, nursing, diapers, fixing scrapes and bumps, etc. Time passes rather quickly, day fills after day. There are events though that pull us out of the now, that help give us some perspective into how quickly are kids are growing. The first tooth, beginning solids, first steps, a haircut, learning to ride a bike, etc. These are all the ones we talk about mother to mother, even though they often feel as if they were sprung on us we still expect them, perhaps even anticipate them.
There are other markers that catch us off guard, that get us to step out of our day to day and see that our baby....isn't a baby. There was the time at the park where my one who felt most comfortable attached to my leg decided to join in a game. Gradually the physical distance grew between us and before both of us knew it he was over on the other side of the park. In surprise I looked up to find him looking back at me, looking to be contemplating whether to run back to me. After a minute he ran to catch up with the group and join in with the game again. A first for both of us. I caught my breath.
Or that time I was waiting for them to bring that shoe that is so tricky to tie up like I always did before we head out the door. Instead this time they did it on their on and were now waiting in the car for me!
There are lots of them, they are different for each kid and mum, but they always cause you to loose your breath for just a second. The other day Elias babysat a friend of the family's daughter. For the whole day. They decided to try it at our house, but the job was his with the comfort of knowing I was there if he needed it. Not surprisingly, he didn't. He watched her from 9-4, getting her snacks and cooking lunch. He managed to include some of his siblings in their play, balancing entertaining and problem solving as he went.
I wasn't surprised that he would do so well. He is a kind, responsible and loving person. But I had one of those moments of needing to catch my breath. He was playing outside with the person he was watching and his youngest brother. The two little ones were trying to negotiate who rode in the wagon and who pulled. After what looked like lots of discussion he ended up in the wagon with them pulling him. Two times around the driveway, ending with a big group hug. He navigated it like a pro. And kindness. And so grown up.
Just catching my breath.

Pancake Men

The days are getting longer. Tonight there was light till 6:40pm, such a treat. Combined with all the sun and warmth we have been having it gets us itching for spring. The longer days mean a few things at our house. One of them is the kids start getting up early again. My guys are morning people, this is a rhythm I have come to expect every year around this time. From my bed I can hear them get up, head outside for early morning adventures, making tea for some reading on the couch, playing with each other.

This year has brought a new part to the tradition. The kids cooking skills and confidence has grown. They have been making themselves breakfast for awhile now, but they have been adding waffles, pancakes, muffins, french toast to their independent early morning time. It is wonderful watching them take on such challenges-including a great clean up! If I time it right, I join them for a nice hot breakfast; such a treat. I just have to get them to add making coffee to their new routine.

At this Age

It doesn't get better than housework!

A New Look

For my one who likes to stand out the least in a crowd, a modified Mohawk is always an interesting choice. It's a nice change, seeing those beautiful eyes with his long lashes and full lips without swiping his hair back. I am thankful to have grown up in a house were shaving one side of my head, dying it purple or red never caused anyone to even skip a beat. It's hair, it grows! It is fun watching the kids as they get older take more ownership of their style. I am thankful that brand names, current fashion or keeping up with the Jone's has yet to have entered their lives. For now they follow their heart and their own comfort. Sometimes its a Mohawk hairdo, or a cape, a crown or three shirts, right now it is all good.

11 Years old

As with most years there has been growing. Most notably this year as he is about to surpass me in height, while wearing a men's size 10. He follows his creative passions at the workbench working with wood. Skateboarding and biking thrill him, time on the ice or in the lake are some of his outdoor preferences. He takes such care of his animals and watches out for his younger siblings because he loves them so dearly. The ATV he has learnt to drive by himself, his own email account opens him to a new world of communication and cuddle time is still treasured.
To celebrate he planned a menu including salad, chicken wings, and potato skins. Time with friends in the morning and a movie out of town for the evening. My first babe, 11years old. Happiest of Birthdays.

A few of my favorite things

while not really a fan of parties, to have a few of his favorite things was the perfect way to spend his third birthday

:: his 'guys' and a few friends to play

:: play dough, a table full of cars, the kitchen set up

:: phone calls all to himself

:: ice cream (the cake not so much)

:: the discovery of an old family favorite costume paired with super fast shoes

:: having everyone agree he could turn ten instead of three (my fingers where crossed because three is hard enough to swallow)

happy birthday sweet boy!

Handcrafting Pride

I recently shared about a giveaway my season's exchange partner/friend was having to celebrate opening their etsy shop. Although we didn't win the chainsaw they had crafted, Elias was so taken by what a great toy it would be combined with his love for wood working he had all the reason he needed to head to the garage to work. Elias was so resourceful. We don't have a lot of fancy tools for woodworking, or a big selection of wood. In fact most of the wood is scrap meant for kindling. That doesn't stop him.
He spent the evening and next morning busy working. We weren't privy to see the progress as he went along. Without any drawing, measuring or referring to the picture he built himself a chainsaw. The pride that accompanied it was even more impressive. It turned out just the way he had hoped, with a turning starter button, a handle, a rounded blade.
I love how he throws himself into a project, not intimidated by the size of it. He doesn't let limitations of the tools available frustrate or stop him. He problem solves along the way with his vision guiding him. Its inspiring to watch him work.

Snow, Songs and the Need to Sing!

It snowed all weekend long, the forecast is snow everyday this week. I must admit I am ready and excited for it. Now if I think about it being around for 5 months my excitement dwindles, but in the here and now, I say Let it Snow!

This snow was perfectly timed. It was great to have it here for our friends visit, and it seemed to heighten the festive spirit with the Christmas concert Aria was apart of. She has been part of a choir this fall. A small group of 8 or so girls ranging from 7-13 years old. Singing is something that really is apart of here. I heard her tell Grammy that she "can't stop singing, she needs to sing".

It was a fundraiser by 2-3 of the local choirs raising money for speech therapy. Her choir sang a beautiful collection of songs. She was part of a special trio performing All I want for Christmas, which was especially appropriate as she lost her second top tooth the other day! The choir is something she really enjoys. Her smile was amazing through out the whole performance. She described the experience as wonderful and scary all at once. That smile hid it well. We left singing in the snow.

Pumpkin Pie

It was one of Ben's goals to grow pumpkins specifically for pie. He has made pumpkin pie lots of times, always with canned pumpkin. We have grown lots of pumpkins but they have always been for jack o lanterns. This year was his year. He grew the pumpkins, cooked the pumpkins and made some super delicious pie!!!

Sweet Dreams

That stage of not needing a regular nap, but also not able to make it through a very busy day without a bit of a rest.

A Sunny Day and a New Hat

makes for one happy boy!

Two is Pretty Sweet

That beautiful age of following you were you go, being a little shadow, finding such excitement in helping you with chores, picking his own clothes, falling asleep in big brother's arms. He finishes the sentence in the books that he loves best, he flops on the floor in desperation if an answer is no, he sings and chats all day long. He likes to tell you how big he is, that one day you can sit in the back of his car. He has plans this guy, big plans.

A Special Birthday Boy

My tree climbing, nature loving, creature caring, lego master, who has such a strong sense of right and wrong, understands the strength of his body, tender hearted, cuddly, self motivated to explore so many different passions, costume loving, deep belly laughing, silly humour, embraces the magical world, a gentle soul who has a beautiful spiritual understanding I admire, that is just a window into my Ben. Today, it is his 9th birthday, but he wants us to celebrate 8 again, because who wants to grow older, certainly not him. Happy 8th birthday - what a gift you are!

Ben made his own cake, a layer of skittles in between two layers of white cake, iced with chocolate butter frosting. A third cake had a very elaborate lego creation for a cake topper, an Indian Jones scene. He was thrilled with a viking shield made by dadda, a viking cape and pillow from mama, fishing magazine from Shai, Elias made him a wood axe, Aria got fudge ingredients for him to use and made a finger game. He was thrilled with it all.