steps to planting a tree

First, engage one preschooler, one toddler, and two hot and sweaty parents in said tree-planting activity.

Read lots of books to inspire excitement and motivation.

Start digging.

Parent #1 realizes that it will take him a long time to dig a hole "two times as wide, and double the depth of the root ball".

Parent #2 pulls out the big guns.

Yup, I rented a backhoe for my sweet one to drive. The boys were caught between excitement and hysteria. The thing was LOUD. But, we were determined to plant our meek little apple tree and finally give the baby's placenta a proper home. (yes I recognize that almost 17 months in a freezer is not appropriate. But - hey - we've got our hands full here!)

Next step: break child labor laws and encourage all availabe civilians to participate in the filling of the hole. This made for a sweet family activity, and I found myself crying a little bit (despite the heat. and the sweating. and the whining of the little ones). Planting a tree together is such a special thing...and even though we likely won't live in this home forever, I hope that this tree will be a marker of our time here...and the family we created here.

So here, is our humble tree:

Still Got It

Just when I thought the sling nap days were over (so over, in fact, that I scrapbooked about it...which I did because I really believed our littlest one was finished with them), I get the wonder of this. A sweet, quiet, head on the heart kinda moment. Everyone says it, and it really is true - these days go by too fast.

and now we are three.

Our big boy turned three a few days ago. I'm just becoming accepting of the fact now. In this picture, I think you can see so many parts of his active toddler personality...see how he's not totally smiling? That's his way of asserting his independence, since Mommy just said "Okay, everyone smile!". And the way his shoulders are raised, they make him look just a little bit taller. And bigger. Wow. It's remarkable to me that three short years ago, my love and I were just embarking on this amazing journey of parenting. We've grown up so much. And our baby has too.

It Might Be Love

I may have had some mild success with this one. However, while I might have sewed them, the Easter Bunny took credit for them. Dontcha just love that?? Regardless of who gets the praise, I can't begin to convey the joy that M. and I feel when we get to share some of our own holiday memories; and create them again for our wee ones. It brings us many smiles, and I think it also brings us closer together as a couple. It's fun to share these parts of our lives that we each did not witness for the other. After all, our childhoods shape such a large part of the adult we become, yet most of us do not get to experience our partner's early years.

It's amazing what a few pieces from the scrap bag, a couple hours of insommnia, and Hillary Lang's fun and simple pattern can create! The boys seemed to love their Wee Bunnys (pattern here) and I admit to feeling not a small twitter of pleasure at their reaction.

But as I update this I feel sadness and weakness in my heart, with the news today coming from Virginia Tech University. What is there to say?

Wishing you, and yours, peace tonight.

Tote Bag Love

There are many days when I find it remarkable that I am able to sew anything at all. The only way I'm able to do it, would be that it takes me days and days to finish something that in theory, should only take an hour or so. I mean, it's not like I'm working on anything complicated, like this, or this. But anyway. The totes. The Thomas the Tank Engine one is lined in Thomas fabric and will be a birthday present for my sweet Big Boy who is turning 3 (eek!) in a week. The other one does not have a designated recipient yet, so maybe it'll be for me. I like the pockets on the outside (good to slide a library card or short list in) and they each have a pocket on the inside as well. Fun!

Taggie Blankie

I just made this new taggie blanket for a friend who's due any day now with her third baby. She already has two little boys at home, so I think a lot of people have their fingers crossed for a girl ;-). In any event, the colors were so lovely and the texture so soft, that I made one for my sweet baby boy as well. He loves it and has now become a "blankie" baby! Now, neither of my boys took to either the pacifier or their fingers. Bottles were a no-go also. Robert does have a softie dog that he sleeps with, but he's not particularly attached to it and never takes it out of his room. However, Matthew has fallen for the blankie. It now comes almost everywhere, and when he is sad or tired he clutches it. So sweet.

Whew!

Can you say "overwhelmed" five times fast? I feel SO frazzled and overwhelmed these days. School is really challenging me in many different ways - philosophically, as I make decisions regarding my belief systems with natural healing; intellectually, as I struggle to memorize loads of Latin terminology; and emotionally, as I try to balance missing my babies and not being able to put them to bed two nights a week. I miss them terribly while I am at class. My beloved's aggressive travel schedule has also been wearing on us (it's coming up on a year now). So - we are delighted to be heading off to a family vacation in Orlando, Florida! A friend had a condo available to be rented, so we snatched up the opportunity and cashed in some free flyer miles (M's got a lot - guess that travel is finally paying itself off!!).

Here's to a few more naps in the sun....