Visiting the Encampment

 Last weekend the historical society in our area hosted a Historical Day at one of the beautiful parks in our area.  And we got to go!  It was such a fun day.  There was a hatchet throw, which the boys got to participate in.  Here's Cricket learning how it's done.

 

 Give me a try already!  He did great, and after a few tries actually got the hatchet to stick into the wood slab.  Can you see the small white rectangle on the target?  That's a playing card.  The goal in the competition is to hit the card, or better yet slice a chunk off it!

 Badger's turn.

 He nailed it after just a few tries.

 And of course the big boys had to try to.  Here's papa measuring out the paces to know where to stand.  (7 paces away from the target)  J actually hit the card, but that was after breaking off part of the woodslab's stand with a wayward hatchet.  The trick apparently is not to throw it hard, but to take advantage of the natural spin of the hatchet. 

 There was also a blacksmith demonstration.  The boys have been interested in smithing for awhile now, and were anxious to see it up close.  We had the chance to talk with the blacksmith for quite awhile and the boys even got to hold the metal as it was being cooled in the water.

 There was also a large tee pee.  With a fire inside, and all different kinds of animal furs and hides.  The boys loved going inside and talking with the man about it.

 And games.  Here's J and Badger practicing the three legged race.

 My dad and Cricket joined them.  Such fun!

 And of course a potato sack race. :)

Such an awesome morning. :)  Followed by a very nice afternoon, where J and I actually got to get away for a little while and just walk our small town by ourselves. (thanks mom and dad)  We have so much fun when it's just the two of us, not that we don't have fun with the whole clan, and it's so refreshing to be away.  We both greeted our week this week with a little more peace and gentleness of spirit than usual.  And it seems we need it.  Two boys are sick, J and I are both recovering from long colds, and we still have so much work to finish on the house and garden before winter arrives.  I will just trust that God will continue to take care of us, and go about my days, my moments, with a quiet trust in my heart.  And I'll remember these fun days that get put in there with all the rest.  Life is really beautiful.

The Plant Zoo

Today we journeyed to Olbrich Botanical Gardens for a little adventure.  The rain let up just for us, and we arrived there with the sunny sky above.  As we pulled into the parking lot, eldest boy read the sign, "Olbrich Botanical Gardens."  

Second boy said, "Botanical what? Aww, man, what is this place?" (yes, he's been here before many times, but it has never seemed more than a nice place to walk and he has never been atune enough to remember its name)

Eldest says, "It's a plant museum.  Don't worry it'll be fun.  We'll walk around and see all the plants, like a museum, only for plants."

At this point Owl (boy #3) pipes up, "No, it's like a zoo.  It's a plant zoo."  We all laugh and agree wholeheartedly and it's good to start our adventure with a smile. 

 So many watery places....so many little spots of beauty....

 It was the perfect day to walk in the garden with my love...

 The littlest man walked almost the whole way, and we walked for almost an hour.  Of course he has to "hold hands, mama!" and his little hat kept coming off every time he turned his head it seemed, to which he'd say "my hat is blowing away!"  which of course made me want to laugh.  But such tender little worries need to be handled with care, and I admit that even unaware old me is finally starting to get this, so you can imagine me dutifully rescuing his hat from the imaginary gust and putting it back on his head twenty times.

 This bromeliad flower was amazing.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  Notice the butterfly hiding out?

 My favorite spot.  I could spend a day here...with a book or a paint brush....

My little men.

Oh, and let me end by telling you that J took us all out for lunch at a place called "Daisy's cafe and cupcakery".  Yeah.  It was awesome.  I enjoyed the most amazing sandwich ever which involved breaded eggplant and edamame hummus followed by a mocha cupcake that was amazing.  I shared with little hen and he just kept saying, "hmmm, mama this is delicious!"  It really was.  The whole day.  Delicious.

In the Garden With My Loves...

The garden calls to me in the morning.  I hurry to finish the necessary tasks, the must be dones, so I can head outside.  Some of the special beauties growing there, they wait for no one.  If you don't get up early enough you don't get to see them raising their petals to the sky.

squash flowers at sunrise

 morning glories singing their praises...reaching for the sky...see that one tendril reaching up past the gate  a few feet?

 Some flowers do wait, patiently even.  This one grew in a very unlikely place and gave me quite an interesting perspective when I stooped down to his level.  Funny how a flower can make even an old rusty fence an object of beauty.

 the chicken coop peeking through the morning glories

 Today the first tomato was spied!  He's hiding behind a leaf, blushing red with sweet ripeness.

 This year we were adventurous and planted spaghetti squash.  This one is quite large and the boys check on it every day.  I'm not sure what they are expecting it to do or be but they think it is amazing that it grew from the small seed they put into the ground last May.

 Hen in the early morning sunshine. 

The best thing about the garden?  Even better than all the delicious things it gives us, is how it brings my boys together.  When I am weeding or watering a boy is certain to be nearby asking questions, looking for bugs and telling me the things on his heart.  They are becoming quite knowledgeable about growing things, but more importantly they are learning patience and trust and how to tell me their little hopes and worries.

Today we picked cucumber beetles off the squash vines.  Sounds like a "not so fun" job, but it was actually a good time!  A boy would spy one and I would come and scoop it up and drop it into a jar of soapy water.  It became a game of hunting and we soon had a jar full of them.  The boys were especially interested in why the cucumber beetles float and other beetles do not.  I think I sense a bug anatomy lesson in our very near future. (isn't homeschooling great?)

 Cricket with the jar of bugs.

We harvested more than bugs today. :)  Lettuce and green beans and cucumbers.  Basil and tomatoes.  Eggplants.  The peppers are almost ready and the new potatoes too.  

It must be a gift to grow things.  The way my soul feels about it.  Growing food.  Flowers.  Boys.  For me, it just doesn't get much better than that.

Happenings

Summer is upon us.  It's wonderful, really.  And still I wonder if I will ever be truly ready for summer when it comes.  Perhaps there will be a year, some time in the future, that I will be ready.  I'm not even sure really what ready means in this case, but I feel like we all anticipate summer's coming for so long and then it's here and I feel like I missed it's arrival.   I don't know.  Maybe it's supposed to be that way.  Like somehow the anticipation would be less if we knew when it's coming would be.

Anyway, while I was supposed to be paying attention to getting ready for summer, I have been.....

-Feeding my children, which apparently at this point is a full time job in and of itself.  Jeepers!

-Potty training Hen.  There is so much to say about this and yet nothing to say about this, you know?

-Taking care of the garden and my husband (who had a bad infection in his foot.  He's fine now, thank you.)

-Having a yard sale.

-Painting the upstairs hallway.  White.  I'm going for the whitewashed look.  I'm not sure why, but that's how it is for me.  I intuit paint colors and I can not explain it, nor do I think I should have to.  But I will tell you, I just am going with white because I want it to look like a blank canvas.  I'm going to hang blue flower pots all over the walls or something.  Wait and see.

-Exercising, thank you Jessica.  You rock.  I would not be getting up so very, very early without you!

-Picking berries.  Making jam.  Picking berries. Making juice.  Picking berries.  Freezing berries. Picking berries.....

-Having good conversations with My Little Men.  And reading Little Men. (Alcott)  For real, I love that book.  I wish that we had named our house Plumfield.  We were out driving in the country today, on our way to a hiking spot, and we saw a very large old fashioned house and Badger said, "That house looks just like how I imagine Plumfield to look!"

-And loving. As best I know how.  Fumbling through this world in prayer that I would be able to show those around me love.   Letting go of how I want it to be and accepting God's plan.  Trusting that His idea is better than mine and that He will show me His goodness again and again.  And all by His grace.

Figuring It Out

Wow, what a week it's been.  A storm blew through after all the heat we had and we spent the following day cutting wood.  We lost two huge tree limbs, and one of the trees might not make it as a result.  Yet, we felt spared.  We have so much to be thankful for and considering how scary the storm seemed we are glad no one was hurt.  The rest of the week was filled with more planting, weeding and watering, in the garden and in our hearts.  Life is such an adventure.  I never want my boys to stop learning, to stop trying, to stop loving.  So I won't stop either!

We headed up to my parent's place for a quick visit on Sunday and now are home for a new week.  Today is the first day of baseball.  J bought himself a new glove.  I love watching the boys play catch with their papa.  I love watching J play with our kids.

The strawberries are ripening.  We picked our first bowl this morning for breakfast.

Yesterday I balanced the checkbook.  I feel like I deserve a cookie for this.  Seriously.  But that would defeat the purpose of my recent working out.  The kids and I walked three miles yesterday.  I pushed the double stroller the whole way with the littlest two in it!  And today I walked again with a friend of mine, who has blessed me with a willingness to get out there with me in the wee hours of the morning.  I think I rolled out of bed at 4:40 this morning.  I told the boys we'd definitely need to rest before baseball tonight, and I'm hoping I make it until then.  (don't sit down, don't sit down....)

And, well, that's all really.  There are plans of course.  I'm hoping to do a baking day soon followed by a cooking day.  I'd like to get some things in the freezer for later use.  I plan on enjoying this summer in whatever way we can!

It's Hot!

Today was the second day of temperatures in the high 90's here.  For us that's hot.  Well, for anyone that's hot!  It's been a long two days, but only one more to go according to the forecast!  Today to beat the heat we went out for lunch and lingered over cold drinks.  We went to the library and actually hung out there. (yes, I am a "get in, get what you need, get out" kind of person with four kids at the library most days)  We had shut the house up early, early today to keep the "cooler" air in, but by 2:00 it was 85 in here.  We were droopy.

Then, J came home a bit early and walked in the door saying, "Come on, we're going out for pizza!"  Whoo hooo!  So we headed out again and found refuge in a glass of rootbeer and the cold local pub that has awesome homemade pizza.  Then off to the lake for a quick dip and home to baths and bedtime.

I just wandered in from watering the garden.  It is amazing how we survive these kinds of days just fine.  I know many people in the world are always hot and hungry and more.  But we are not so used to it, since it's only springtime here and the spring has been cool and wet.

Also, just wanted to say, that I'm sorry I haven't written more, but I just don't have it in me right now.  I don't do things half heartedly most of the time, and the blog just hasn't seemed worth my time right now.  I love to write.  I love that some of you check in with us through my writing and photos.  I love that it is a record of our days.  Words to remember for us.  Yet, it is an investment from this end, and I have to admit that there is only so much of me.  I think I may be in a season of feeling like I need to invest more in the moment.  More "right here" in this small sphere that's been given to me.  And honestly that is more than enough for me! :)

So we'll see.  We'll see what happens with the writing.  Know that I've been making rugs and crocheting flower barrettes like crazy.  I just haven't posted them on here for awhile.  Maybe someday, I'll give you a peek.

these past few days

I was going to take the easy way out and load up all the photos of the beauty from our days.  There are so many beautiful moments these days.  I thought when you saw them, not only would  you get to share in our thankfulness, but then you would also understand why I haven't been taking time to write it all out here on the blog.  But unfortunately blogger is not cooperating (again) and I can not upload photos. *sigh*

And I did want to share with you faithful few that check in with us here about our happenings.  So...

It's apple blossom time.  The petals are starting to fall now, in the heat and wind that has been these last two days the scent just fills the yard and beckons you to linger near it's branches.  It's my favorite time of the year.

We've been working almost non-stop in the vegetable garden.  We have so much more cultivated and planted this year than we ever have before.  I'm so thankful for the opportunity to grow things for our table!  The boys have been so so helpful.  Not just helping randomly for a few minutes but really helping.  Hauling things to the compost, digging up grubs, weeding, sewing seed, watering.  I'm so proud of them and so thankful for their help!  My hands are so sore from "double digging" and pulling out all the quack grass roots from under the soil.  It is so worth the work but I've been having to ice my right hand throughout the day it is so swollen and sore from overuse!

We also planted blackberry and raspberry bushes this spring.  I'm so excited to see if we get a harvest this year.  There are flowers already so I'm hoping and praying the birds won't get them before we do!

J and I, when not working in the garden, have been going through the Dave Ramsey financial peace university course.  It's been really good.  We have been always pretty good with our money, thanks to J, but this course is really fantastic.  We are learning to communicate more about how we spend what we spend and are much more conscious about where the money goes.  Good stuff.

And well, I'm not sure what else to tell you.  I've been reading alot.  I just reread the Laura Ingalls books this week. (during the boys' quiet time)  It is funny how a book can grow a person up.  If you don't know what I mean then just forget I said that.  But if you do, then I'll tell you that I admit I feel more grown up with every reading of those books.

And in general life is really really good.  I just feel like I am not sure I need to always be telling the world what I think. :) So I've been over here just taking it all in.  Listening more, talking less?  Stopping and thinking more.  Stopping and listening more.  Stopping and holding him more.  Watching more.  It's not natural to me.  But life is not an emergency.  I'm slowing down and taking it one step at a time for now.

The sun set as I wrote this.  Purple clouds settling in to night sky now.

Maybe I'll be able to share photos with you tomorrow if I find the time.
love and goodnight,
reba

Outdoor Times

Another week has been lived out!  We spent many days outdoors, the weather finally cooperating.  Although you can see that Owl has is winter coat on still (above).  It was an evening of play and it was only in the forties, damp and cold.  The littles had much fun blowing bubbles together and the older two had fun with playing Badminton.  (I admit I had to look up the spelling for that)  We have had so much fun playing with the new Badminton rackets and even put up the net one day. (thanks Grandma J)

 We've spent many evenings outside trying to get a little more work done in the garden and watching over our hens.  Last week J spent much time and muscle on moving the chicken fence so the birds could have fresh pasture.  There is a lot of rock under the soil and it was hard work getting all the posts in.  Then the very next day, a Cooper's hawk attacked the hens.  It happened just as we were coming outside to play!  Badger was the first one out and yelled to scare it away but it didn't seem to care.  Thankfully, I had let Millie out to run for a bit so when she arrived on the scene the hawk flew up to a nearby tree.  The bird was wounded, missing lots of feathers and had a gash on her neck.  Poor thing.  We were quite shook up by it and kept watch all that day.  The hawk came back several times to try again, but the frightened hens wouldn't come out of their coop.  Smart birds.

 The hawk tried again a few days later, but I think it has learned that it can't actually carry a bird off as tasty as the idea might seem.  The second bird was injured too, but they are both mending nicely.  The up side to this whole thing is that the hawk has nested on the edge of the woods.  The nest is plainly visible to us from our yard and it's been really cool being able to watch him.

 The picture doesn't do the bird justice.  The nest is quite large.  And yes, we think there is a nested pair as we've seen two at a time.  There is also a sharp shinned hawk in the area too.  Same color pattern, smaller size.  We've gotten quite good at identifying them now and the boys can even identify several of its calls.  Isn't learning at home cool?

 Here he is just leaving the nest!

The warm weather has settled in (crossing my fingers) and we had a watermelon this weekend to celebrate!  The garden has seedlings popping up everywhere!  And there are 30 chicks brooding in the chick house!  God is good.  And spring is here!

Of Birds and Wheat

Hen, little Hen.  My just turned two little bundle of wonder and words and love.  Little Hen bosses around our dog.  Our big, shaggy Labradoodle whose tail often knocks things off the coffee table.  The same dog that sometimes makes Badger, our eight year old, tumble over backwards, when they are playing outside in the yard.  She is a really exuberant dog.  (which we like. alot.  she's great!)  But back to the point here.  Hen bosses her around.  All the time.  "No Millie", "Down Millie", he'll say.  Or when she comes too close to me for Hen's liking he'll come over to her and push her out of the way.  She totally obeys him.  Which is too funny.  Once my friend and I were on the phone and she heard Hen bossing around Millie and she said something like, "It's so good that Badger can tell Millie what to do like that."  And I sheepishly admitted to her, "No that's actually my two year old talking in that loud bossy voice!"

 

Today we were out tilling the soil a bit in the garden and we let four of the laying hens into the fenced in area to eat grubs and dandelions.  Hen loves the chickens and all the boys have hand fed them since they were little chicks.  Today one of the chickens was getting really friendly with me as I turned the dirt over.  She knew there were bugs in it for her you see.  Hen was right there with me when the friendly bird went right up to him and pecked his finger.  He just stood there totally freaked out.  His poor thumb bled, the cuticle badly bruised.  I gently reminded him to not let the birds get his fingers, how the bird probably thought it looked like a worm, and how he was going to be okay that his thumb would heal.  Then a little bit later, the same "friendly" bird came up to Hen again.  This time Hen followed my advice and crossed his arms in front of him to keep his fingers safe, and the bird pecked his arm. (hard)  Hen was so afraid and the bird continued pecking him on his blue jeans and feet until I pushed it out of the way with my shovel.  For goodness sake!  The boy is terrified now!  The boy can boss around the giant dog but freezes in terror over a chicken.  I couldn't help but think that if he could've just found his voice, his big, boss the dog around voice then the bird would've run for the hills!

And you know me, I am a teacher by nature and can't help but see myself in this.  I do this same "losing my voice" thing all the time.  I spend so much energy on things that seem big but are actually not battles...and then when a real battle comes along I just stand there in fear!

Which brings me to the next thing.  I have been feeling like we need to fix our diet for awhile now.  But it has seemed like such a small thing.  And lately it has come up over and over again in conversation and I feel convicted about it.  So....

We are starting a gluten free diet very soon.  Sunday probably.  Monday for sure.  Why?  Oh, I've got reasons.  I might tell you about them sometime.  But for now....I'm going to focus on remembering how important this small thing can actually be and how it is so worth a trial time to see if it helps us.  We are going to aim for 6 weeks without gluten.  I'm not sure yet how strict I will be.  I don't want the kids to really rebel about it so I'm going to let them eat pizza at the pizza party we have on Wednesday.  I'm going to try to stay balanced about it, but still really striving for completely gluten free because I think that is actually the easiest way to do it!


Have any gluten free recipes for me?  I'd love to add to my few.  Leave me a comment!

Snapshot

We've had good days these past few.  Family from afar to play with, to eat with, to just be with.  So good that the boys are beaming still, even after they are gone.  Such a blessing to spend time with them.  And also, for little old me, at some point afterward I just feel like I need a good long nap. :)  Anytime I spend a chunk of time with people really, I find I need to have some time to recharge.  Ideally alone time is what I want.  Time to sit on the bed and watch the sky through the maples bare branches just now showing buds.  Time to read and soak up what my soul needs.  Time to meander through the yard and see what is peeking up through the dirt just now.  (although there is still some snow out there from this late storm)

And it is not what the boys need.  After being with people they want me. :)  To tell their stories to.  To snuggle them in.  To read with and sit with and laugh with.  I love it that they want me.  But you see how the timing is just not what my own little self would want at that particular moment.

And honestly, my own little self, can be not so little about it.  I can be downright grumpy if I dwell on me and myself, you know?  I've been more aware of how just shifting my focus to them and their little faces and hands and selves makes me much less grumpy when alone time is what I crave.

And today I chose them.  And it felt so good.  The boy asked me to cut him an apple just when I was thinking of myself, and at first I sighed and felt the old selfishness rise up within me.  His reaction caught me off guard.  He noticed right away what I was struggling with and said, "It's okay mom, you don't have to cut it up.  I'll just eat it whole."

And I had this snapshot flash in my mind's eye.  Of my grandma peeling apples by the kitchen sink, big oak ivy hanging in the window that overlooked the barn.  All the peel in one big circle and how she fed me slices graciously even though she was filling a pie.  And her fingers peeling, peeling and cheeks all wrinkled like great maps of rivers and all the love that was given to me in those slices of apples.

I flash back to his little face.  I grab the moment quick to make sure the connection stays close.  "You know what? I'd love to peel you an apple!"  And I get one, all green and yellow and I sit down plate in my lap.  And for a moment I am struck by how beautiful the green apple is in my lap, black skirt setting it apart.   I see my own hands peel and I wonder if he'll remember the shape of my fingers and the peeling just for him.  He sits next to me and offers me a slice.  We grin at each other.

After he leaves the room, all filled up, another picture flashes in my mind.  It's not photo-like, more of a sketch of me.  Me sitting peeling the apple and how the beauty isn't of the green apple and the black skirt and purple socks, light shining through the window, but of me dying to self and being filled up with God's love.  And it's like God says to me...this is what makes you beautiful.  This is what I see.  This is what I will remember.

I am humbled by this, and have more opportunities all afternoon to practice it.  The lesson is life long and runs deep.  And I want to learn it more.  And, well, that's all really.

Singing

Wow, it's all going so fast!  This week has been full, full, full!  The boys have their homeschool co-op musical tomorrow!  We've had lots of rehearsals and when we're not singing and dancing with our friends, we are outside enjoying the springtime weather!

The days have been so good lately.  We raked the entire yard (huge yard) and the boys used their big metal dumptrucks to take the leaves to the compost.  Fun!  We have had quiet times out on the big blanket in the sunshine, which is just so relaxing and fun to do together.  I love the conversations that happen when we are outside doing nothing.  "Oh mom, look at that bug.  Oh mom, did you hear that bird?...."

We are trying to be disciplined with our early morning routines of chores, math, history while we fold laundry....that kind of thing.  I feel like the boys are starting to see how nice it is to actually have a tidy house and as a result are more interested in helping out with picking up and doing dishes, etc.

And most importantly in our news, Cricket is turning 7.  Tomorrow.  On musical day.  He is super excited and also a little bummed to have to "share" the day. (oh well, sharing is good)  He has planned a cake for me to make and it's going to be fun!  I'll tell you the flavor, spice cake with cream cheese frosting, but you'll have to tune back in soon to see what the cake will look like.  It IS Star Wars related but I don't think you'll guess it!

That's all for now.  Just wanted to check in.  Especially for my mom, who has been traveling and probably is yearning for an update of the boys.  Sorry no pics for now, mom.....soon though.  Soon.

Finding Words

The week has happened, and I have not written.  It was a week of mulling it over I suppose.  A week of practicing being present in the moment.  A week of writing down what I'm thankful for so that my perspective stays as it should, focused on the Giver of good things.

It has also been incredibly busy.  Or...maybe....it feels busier when I am needing time with my J, and life and work are happening and the connecting is done in such small moments that it feels all too quick.  The look and smile we share over breakfast when Hen says something funny.  The brushing past each other while one does the dishes and the other grabs a cup of coffee.  The settling in on the couch way too late hoping we will spend time together but both of us falling asleep almost as soon as we sit down.  The quick smile and kiss in the morning before we both stumble out of bed to put the little one on the potty and to let the dog out.  It all goes so fast.

But still, my soul feels more at peace these days.  I feel contented.  Life is so good.  God is so good.  I recently read a quote, and I'm sorry that I can't remember it word for word...but it was something like...true joy is found only when the soul truly believes that God is good....and I wonder if that isn't true.

Tomorrow, we shall have a weekend! (hopefully!) and then perhaps I'll fill you in with pictures from our week and tell you of our latest adventures.  Signing off for now, with love......
--reba
                                            

A Long Weekend

A thunderstorm is just about to roll through here....so I only have a few minutes to write....my thoughts too are still a bit jumbled from the long weekend.  J had to work late, like past bedtime, on Thursday and Friday and all day Saturday and part of the day today.  And he's back to work for a full week again tomorrow.  He's gotta be exhausted, poor guy, but of course he's upstairs doing bedtime now, because he knows that a mama on double duty for four days needs a break, and also because I'm sure he misses those little rascals that are our four boys.

I have learned so much about myself this past week.  It is not fun stuff actually so I'll spare you.  But let me say that one good thing that I did learn was that I *can* be with my kids all day and night by myself and still love being in their company. (I always knew this, but yet I didn't you know?) It takes a little bit of mental preparation for me....and a good deal of self control to step fully into the hard moments that come instead of stepping away, which just makes it so much worse for everyone.  If I see things clearly, and really look at this whole motherhood business as an opportunity to serve, then surprise, surprise!  It works!  And I find a sense of peace and contentment like I've never known before.   Anyway, I'm tired so perhaps this isn't making any sense....

We did have a great night last night.  The boys and I worked out in the garden all day yesterday.  Raking dead leaves and hauling loads to the compost.  Turning over rocks to investigate bugs.  Taking care of the hens.  And cutting wood in preparation for our campfire last night.  We roasted hot dogs and made smores. We played baseball and rode bikes.  We told stories and shared hopes for a summertime filled with more wonderful times together.  And this morning there were egg sandwiches and watching building shows in our jammies and a good time of talking and praying together.

So many blessings.  So much to be thankful for.  And here the thunder comes.  So, goodnight!

This Spring Day

Breakfast with berries and cream is always a good way to start out the day.  J made the coffee, I made the waffles.  The boy cleaned the berries and we were all set.  I love breakfasts together.  It is rare for us to be able to eat together on the days that J works, without it feeling rushed.  I have been making a better effort to get up early and just get breakfast started earlier, and it is making our mornings much nicer. (note to self, getting up early is not just for "me time", I can get up early to help others too)

We made an effort to finish some things we've been working on and get them out of the way early in the day.  So we tackled math and history and cleaning.  Go team!  The littlest two were kept busy with this novel idea....  

 A Balloon!

 They had so much fun!

 They played for about an hour while I cleaned the kitchen and did laundry.  I think I'm finally caught up from being sick over the past month.  Honestly.  I get behind like that and it takes forever to get caught up again!

After lunch, we headed outside to play.  The sunshine was so warm, the sky so blue.  The grass was dry enough to sit on while I weeded the asparagus bed.  I cut fire wood. (for real) They had some jedi training going on.

There was some bird watching...or maybe he was being a spy....

 Then we headed inside for quiet times and I have to say the new couch was incredibly helpful with this today.  No one grumbled a bit and they all rushed to get a good spot on the couch!  After we rested, it was time to get to work on dinner!  Hen helped with the rolling out of the dough.

 Have you ever seen such a cute kitchen helper?

 We made chicken artichoke calzones, one of J's favorites.

 And while we were at it, we made a pizza for later, and this spinach garlic cheese bread.

 After dinner, I was able to go for a long walk with Millie.  It must be spring!  It was still light out when I got home and my soul just felt lighter knowing that longer days are here.  I don't always realize how much the darkness of winter affects me while it's happening.  The sunshine of spring, the light of the longer days....it's like it thaws me from the inside out.  It's such a fantastic feeling of renewal.

Crocus blooming, and hollyhock's green growth.