Summer 3

Today began well with a little violin practice (I am borrowing Lecia's rule about earning computer time with practice time, and it's the best thing ever) (also, here is that new haircut I spoke of yesterday. Super cute, no?)

Then we had a visit to the doc for The Youngest's 2 month check-up.
She's healthy as can be. Not a big fan of the vaccinations, but better a little irritation now than measles later, I always say.

It was a gloomy day, weather-wise, so we did some inside stuff. We watched  The Thief of Bagdad which is a silent film starring Douglas Fairbanks. And then we played a little scrabble before dinner.
After dinner it was off to soccer for the kids,

and a concert for me.

Meg started a new Wednesday event this morning called Just One Day, and this is my entry therein. 

I'm starting to get into the groove of this daily posting thing, so I may see you all tomorrow.

Yarn Along

I was able to make some progress with my knitting this week.
I finished the yoke of my Ariana Shell, and have started on the body.
This is a lovely pattern, though I am making a few changes as I go.
I thought the original shell was a little busy with lots of eyelets taking away from the beauty of the lacework yoke, so I did a different increase and I think I'll like it much better.

I'm still reading How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm, and I'm enjoying it.
This latest chapter has been about food, and how to encourage your children to love food, and make eating together a priority.
Tonight I was eating a late dinner after rehearsal and The Younger came down from his bedtime story and asked to share my kohlrabi slices dipped in olive oil and fresh pepper.
It felt great to know that, despite a major tantrum earlier in the day regarding cilantro (which I don't like either, frankly) he was excited to join me in a little crunchy delicious veggie for a bedtime snack.
Head on over to Ginny's for more books and yarny goodness.

Summer Day 2

We had lots of new today.
The Elder got a haircut.
The Younger got a bike.
Both of them found many new ways to fight with each other.
They fought over who got to water the garden.
They fought over not wanting to share anything.
They fought over who got to give The Youngest her nuk.
For myself, I arrived at a new level of irritation, and lost it a little with my darlings.

On a day like this, with so much new-ness both good and bad, all I have to do is visit my perennials blooming in the garden to gain a little perspective.
They'll come up and bloom regardless of whether someone likes their meal, or can stand to be in the same room with a sibling, or allows the cumulative effect of many tantrums and systematic sleep deprivation push them over the edge.

Day One of Summer

A beautiful day at Minnehaha Park (one where we didn't manage to walk the thirty feet and see the falls, interestingly enough) and one sleepy baby.
This was our first official day of summer.

Not too shabby.

Yarn Along

It's Yarn Along time!
I started both a new book and a new knitting project this week.
The book is How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm and Other Adventures in Parenting.
One of the Mamas in my ECFE class suggested it and it's full of fascinating information.
The author is an American living in Buenos Aires and she compares parenting styles from different cultures around the world.
The first chapter was about sleep, and each chapter takes on a different parenting issue - toilet training, discipline, schooling, etc.
The knitting is small, I know, but I haven't had that much time to devote to knitting this week.
This is the yoke of the Ariana Shell. It should be a nice weight for late summer/ early fall.

What's on your needles this week?

800

This has been a busy week.

On Tuesday we went as a family and had our portraits taken by my insanely talented neighbor Shelly.

Then on Wednesday that same Shelly had a backyard concert playing marimba in a small instrumental ensemble. 

Such fun, though a little chilly.

Shelly even let the kids have a go on the marimba.

Friday I got together with my Caritas friends and we sang at a local art fair.

Though the reception wasn't quite what we expected, it was still fun to make a little music with friends.

I started a new project, though I don't have very much to show for my knitting exertions as yet.

Last night I sang a really fun concert with The Singers, and we'll repeat that this afternoon in Wayzata for local folks.

Finally, this is my 800th post.

Thanks to you all for hanging out with me and listening to me yammering along about my hobbies and my jobs and my family and whatever else I cram into this space.

I hope your Sunday is a brilliant one.

Talk to you soon.

Afternoon at Lake Pepin

Such a beautiful day.
We spent it on the road.
We traveled to Lake Pepin and had a wonderful time throwing rocks and burying our feet.