Wonderful, Glorious Summer Vacation Chaos

I really don't know how to put it any other way...it seems as though the chaos around here is ongoing.  In a good way, but barely time to slow down.  Here I must admit with a guilty little grin that any slowing down I've done personally has been to make, make, make.  I just can't stop myself (thank goodness for a patient husband).
We've had a chance to see dad play a gig (always a treat for the littles)!

 

I could watch him play guitar all day...

We've had lots of time to play with friends from near

And far away.  This little Vermont doggy in the photo below Molly has known since she was about 3 days old (if you don't count all the times I held her sweetness while Molly was still in utero).  We we blessed with a quick visit yesterday, I love to see them together, they are true old friends, no matter how much time passes they can fall into play in no time.

As you may have noticed from this post face painting is pretty popular around here these days.

I as I've already mentioned have just been doing a lot of "making" stuff...I made this top from Sew Liberated for myself.

It's a wonderful robin's egg blue cotton/linen blend that I found at sewmamasew.  I think I'll make a couple more of these as it's pretty sweet, though next time I will forgo the bell sleeves and just do a little cap sleeve.  I felt a little too much like a pirate the other night at Greg's gig. 

I also made myself the buttercup bag from MadebyRae.  I changed it ever so slightly with a pearl snap and I love it!  So much that I bought the pattern and licence to sell, not that I'll have time to make a bunch, but hey I'm supporting another mama right.  I used fabric from Heather Ross' Far Far and Away II (can't wait for III).

And finally (am I boring you yet) I've been playing with the band saw again!  I really enjoy that big-ol-machine, I may start selling a few things in the etsy shop if I can stop making for everyone around here.

OK, one more...just a sneak peak at these little wool felt booties I'm working on...I was inspired by a bit of Scandinavian flair for sure.

 They are so darling...now who's sweet little baby feet to put them on????

This Moment

Joining Soulemama for {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

The Big Kids

I'm not sure when or how it happened but it seems more and more my little babies are "the big kids". 

 Molly takes on this role very seriously and with great pride.  There has always been something very maternal about my sweet girl, she is a care giver and a nurturer.  But wasn't it just last week that she was the little girl looking up to the big girls?  I feel like sometimes I must have missed something, slept in or turned my back for one second too long.  Here she is the "big girl", painting faces, toting the littlest ones around on her hip as if it is second nature, she is even going to be a mother's helper for a dear friend who works from home this summer!  2 very sweet little boys who think the world of her, she is so proud.

Corey takes on this role a little more reluctantly sometimes...he is my baby, he truly enjoys being a "little", surprised when he bumps his head on the bird feeder that he could hardly reach not to long ago.  The nine year change has been difficult for him, who can blame him really; a life of fantasy and magic is truly unique and wonderful.  This is a great little article written by Rahima Baldwin Dancy on the nine year change if you are interested.  As a parent I have found helping my boy maneuver through this has been much harder than my girl...
The reason this "big kid" thought has been on my mind is this: yesterday while visiting a friend from work who lives in a simply gorgeous little part of our state, these two monkeys went kayaking all by themselves.

They were so proud, big, and independent!  All over the pond they paddled, coming back to shore to have lunch or to tell me what they had seen, then they were off again!  As  a mom watching from shore I can't describe the feeling as I watched them paddle farther and farther away from me.  First there was pride, "look at my babies" I thought.  Next was fear, "what am I doing?  I can't get to them fast enough!".  After that was a little bit of panic.  I called Greg, "freaking out a little aren't you?" he asked in a calm voice that no doubt had a smile.  Logically I know they are safe.  They are wearing life vests, they are both strong swimmers, and...there is a boat next to me with a motor that can get out to them in true need.  But they were far!

clearly this mama is a little reluctant to let these babes grow up...and it's happening!  What is a mama to do?  Embrace this yes, I know...and I do, but it is not easy.

Beginnings of summer fun

Though summer doesn't technically begin until June 21, our summer vacation has officially begun.  Of course much is going on and there are not enough hours in the day.  I've finally built a zip line for the kids.  This is just the beginning of the plans we have for this little woodsy area, there are more platforms, a tree house, rope bridge and a few other crazy ideas floating around.  It's really fun trying to make the kids ideas come to fruition.   Sometimes a little tough, but fun just the same.  Both kids have busy summers ahead so we are trying to just enjoy being at home whenever we can.  Yesterday was perfect for that, I got some work done in the garden, the kids played, friends came to visit, it feels as though summer has begun...all we need now is a trip to the beach. 

A glimpse of the weekend

It was another whirlwind weekend here at our little home in Maine.  Greg was off playing music with the Oh-so-fabulous Dark Hollow Bottling Company if you haven't given these guys a good listen yet I highly recommend it!  The kids and I headed down to Providence for a quick visit with the grandparents.  Everyone had a great time, the weather was perfect, and there was lots to do.

There was face-painting at the zoo

visits with gargoyles and fortunes to be had...

The River-Fire was especially mesmerizing.

There were peaceful walks and a little special time with grandpa.

A street fair full of amazing locals artists and craftsmen and some henna painting.

We got to meet some of the gang from Big Nazo!

It was a full weekend that everyone thoroughly enjoyed!  Molly made me feel so proud sporting nothing but mama made clothing that she was complemented on more than once.  Such a nice treat for the kiddos to get to spend a little magical time with grandparents, and for mama to see them beaming with joy.  Providence is a great little city and an easy drive from here, we are lucky.
Hope your weekend was full of joy and excitement!

This Moment

Once again joining Soulemama for  {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Raising a Girl

When my daughter was born almost 11 years ago I had never experienced a love so profound.  I can still clearly remember the very first time I felt her kick inside me, and the the first time I saw her naked, wet, pink body when she emerged onto this world.  Back then I truly believed that when it came to nature vs nurture it was surely all nurture and no nature.  I was going to prove it to the world!  When my second was a boy I thought my case would be even stronger, now I have one of each and the world will see that we will raise them as human beings without gender stereo types...How wrong I was!  Sure my daughter played with trucks and wasn't afraid to get muddy or climb a tree.  My son loved the color pink and had a favorite baby doll, but early on it was clear there was something more "Bam Bam Bam" about him that I had nothing to do with.  Nature had something to do with it after all.  I quickly realized that while the influence of parenting and all those around us has a profound effect on our little people, there are certain characteristics built into them that I cannot control.
So on with life we have gone, raising these two little people as best we could trying to teach them right from wrong, teach them to respect themselves, those around them and the earth we inhabit.  Most days it feels that we have done a pretty good job.

Lately, as I watch my beautiful little girl grow and change I realize how self-aware she is becoming.  I watch her examine her every inch in the mirror, she brushes her hair until it's just so, she questions the hair on her legs and compares herself to others...this frightens me. Girls can be so self-conscious and self-critical of themselves and others.  How do I teach my girl to love herself and care for herself in a respectful way.  All of the sudden I feel like I am confronted with a great parenting challenge, one that is so incredibly important and delicate.  As a woman I must model a self-loving and healthy attitude.  While that in itself can be a challenge, there is the world around her, the world she becomes more and more a part of as she grows independent. 

There are young girls all around her going through the same things.  There are girls on the gymnastics team, friend, neighbors, the limited media that she is now exposed to.  Her father and I are no longer the only influence in her life, and she has learned that we may not always be right.  She has learned that she has her own thoughts, opinions and idea.  We nurture and encourage this of course, but are well aware that this is a challenge that has been set-forth. A challenge to us as parents, and a challenge to myself not just as a mother, but as a woman.
I accept this challenge, though it is intimidating at times.  This kind and gentle girl deserves it, together we will grow and change and develop.  We will find strength in each other and ourselves, we will surround ourselves with women who do the same and we will try and help those that don't. 
Funny, how the color pink and playing with trucks seem so much less important now...