Summer...

Is a good time to start some giveaways, don't you think?...Yes, I thought so too ;)

Every Friday we will pull a random name ~ just leave a comment sometime during the week and you're in the running!

This week?
How about some picnic goodness with some playfood all ready to go in it's own lunchbag?

Oh good, thought that might be a nice little way to start, glad you think so too ;)

Good luck and happy summering!




And just is...

Grubs

Part of me really wants to love these little guys...
I mean how cool are they anyway, really.

These were found in some rotting logs we had out back. My guess is that they are wood boring beetle grubs but, I can't be sure. We have decided not to look them up and just be surprised. You know, like a holiday or birthday even.

Meanwhile, although I love the curiosity my little ones have about these guys - our 6 year old even touches them...actually picks up these 2-3 inch buggers, I am finding it hard to hide my revulsion, Yes, its a strong word but, when I almost gag when watching these things, I would say that word fits just about perfectly. Still, I say, "How cool are they!", even with a smile.

Just today I thought my waiting might be at an end and we could send them all on their merry way. We sat watching them squirm around in their rotting wood loveliness and I saw one end darken (you can almost see wings or the like inside some of them) and I excitedly thought they were hatching...or whatever it is that grubs do when they change. But no. That would have been...an excretion. Eeewwww. Of course, I understand the need for nature's decomposers and my 8 year old and I talk about that. That is all good and well and oh so necessary but, maybe behind closed doors...or inside rotting logs.

So we wait and watch and wait some more. Eager to see what splendor will unfold (fingers crossed on a quick change). The kids' awesome wonder of nature grows...now, if only I could get my stomach to see it the same way...

Thrifted

Some lovely vintage...

These were rescued from an aged (1940's) children's picture book that was just too musty to read and whose binding was shot. The images were so lovely I decided to take the book home and reassign them. What I especially love about them (apart from those perfect tones of green, yellows and browns) is that these critters are all animals from our own backyard. Literally.
Frames were even thrifted also; it was a good day for revamping.

They have found a perfect home on the wood walls of the kid's bedroom...

Bag it

Yesterday I had the chance to make a quick birthday gift for a special lady - and promptly my girls wanted their own.

The 1 Hour Bag sounded perfect to me (always looking for that quick fix ;)
Of course, my relationship with patterns and tutes (regardless of how fabulously they are written) being what it is...the 1 Hour Bag turned into the 3 hour bagtastic mess ;)

All ended well though and my girls have some nifty new bags and I have a gift for the birthday girl...

This bag making got me to thinking of how my girls like to carry things - given the right bag, of course. These two would drag an elephant down to the beach if it was popped into a cute tote.

So today, we are making some beach totes - one for each and they will now join the happy club of tote luggers next time we head to the water.

Now, just give me a few hours...

Drumbeats

Dancing to our own...

With 5 kids one can imagine the variety of personalities, temperaments and general individualism that we are confronted with on a daily basis. Then add on accommodating all that humanity in 800 square feet and some challenges are bound to arise.

In reality though, I tend to think that even if we had 1800 square feet or (imagine!) 2800 square feet...we would still be accommodating. Maybe it would even be more challenging... Would they be less accustomed to each others little idiosyncrasies and possibly less tolerant of their differences if they could just go to their own rooms and not have to deal with each other? Conflict and its resolution is such a huge part of life...I like to think we are teaching our share here - daily ;)

Of course, when one does just need to be alone they can always take solace in the outdoors with a bike ride, running off steam in the yard or just sitting quietly and listening to the birds.

On the flip side, I like to think of how much they also learn from each other by watching, listening and interacting throughout the day. How our younger ones learn much about music from their oldest brother, how our girls learn about their natural environment from their littlest big brother, how both our boys learn so much about the process of learning by watching their younger sisters. Finally, how much we all learn about living and loving each other through the good days and more importantly even the not so good ones.

While we are all dancing along to our different drumbeats.

Story telling swap...

and the degradation of a photo shoot...

Just finished up a little story telling goodness in the form of Eric Carle's Very Hungry Caterpillar. Looks like I will need to make our gang a few of these pretty soon - they loved this one.





after the silk and story bits are pulled from the chair...

last bit left...


A little reality of what goes into taking some pics with curious little hands sneaking about. This was too funny seeing that little hand sslloowwllyy reaching up onto the chair to snag a bit of story.

Hmmm, maybe she's trying to tell me something? Storytime?

June was....

Wet.

Undeniably so. That one thing is for sure.

Yet, amid this ever present dampness and near constant overcast sky there were bits of sunshine of our own making...

Our little orangina who loves to smear her lovely sweet potatoes and squash into every eyelash and crevice of her sweet face:

Some exploration of our very local wild edibles:

Some sweet independence dancing as these two enjoyed getting dropped off down the street and literally danced on home:

And, of course, the salamanders were quite happy with all the dampness:

Here's to July! And admittedly, another wet day ;)