Summer So Far

Our first few weeks of Summer have been spent close to home.  We have been on several hikes and discovered that in addition to looking exactly like him that Willa has her brother's zeal for hiking.  While Charlotte and I are just along for the ride, those two scramble with all the power in their tiny bodies to get to the top.  It is so nice that beautiful views of Boise are so easily obtained, and that our favorite trail is only two blocks away from the ice cream shop of our dreams.

With school out I now do all of my chores with three little people.  The shopping trip above ended with my children befriending the lady who was bagging groceries next to us.  Introductions were made, pleasantries exchanged and somehow the four of them ended up singing, "Puff the Magic Dragon" altogether.  The cashier and I were laughing too hard to join in. 

Charlotte has picked up her knitting once again, this time with vigor.  Her first big project was a scarf for me which I will  be blocking later today and happily wearing all next winter.  Now she is making herself a cowl.  I am rewarding all of this effort by sewing a new knitting bag for her today.  Knitting is 51 percent about nice yarn and 49 percent about having an awesome knitting bag.

This Friday we are packing up and heading to Portland, OR for a little vacation and a celebration of Alan's 34th birthday.  I foresee fun times with friends and meals in breweries in our near future. And maybe some time in yarn shops, just maybe.

Hello Summer!

And just like that summer has arrived.  While I am always able to find reasons to love each and every season, I must admit that summer is my most favorite.  I wait patiently all school year  for my playmates to be freed and plan for our time together.  When I am running in the snow I look forward to the time when I will be able to run at 4:30am in shorts and not be cold. Driving to and from a twelve hour shift can be a gorgeous thing when light greets you at the door on the way to work and heading home.

Our little garden is growing.  My tomato plants are getting bigger every day.  My third attempt at basil is just now peeking out of the soil.  I finally got wiser and planted this crop under the cloak of nap time.  My little Willa finds the planting of basil so enchanting that she decided to prolong the process by digging it up for me, but I will prevail!  I love having this little patch of earth that depends on me.

My children have put me to work making things for them.  Charlotte ordered her fall sweater and a scarf.  Willa needs a pink back pack and a quilt.  Max would like a sweater with a hood that doesn’t itch.  After years of wanting to do so but not having the courage, I finally started making clothes for them too.  It has been sew much fun!  For the fall I am hoping to make a few items for each one.  The byproduct of all this sewing for the kiddos has been a few items of clothing made for me.  Wearing something I made myself makes me ridiculously happy.

There will also be lots of time at lessons, Charlotte began violin this spring and Max had his first karate class yesterday.  Soon swimming lessons will start too.  Watching my kids out in the world, learning to do the things that they have been dreaming of is nothing short of magical.  Most of our days though will be spent at home.  Soaking up this precious and fleeting free time, days upon days of greeting the sun and going where we want to go and doing what we want to do.