The Heron's Nest

More Small Moments.....

  

We are going through a serious jam making phase.  I can't seem to get the right sweetness and strawberry flavor.  Every recipe seems far too sweet for my taste.  With the ridiculous amount of pbj's I made this past school year, I am quite certain that my efforts have not gone to waste.  A couple of weeks ago the kids were lucky enough to have their granny visit. Having only one granny, and her being far away makes the precious moments with her even more special.....

  

The picking allowed for a spectacular way to spend a beautiful Sunday morning, celebrating the gifts of nature.

 

or as the kids thought...it was just plain fun to plop a juicy berry in your mouth.

  
 

Savoring......

12-15-08 013, originally uploaded by The Heron's Nest.

We are taking a bit of a break here, enjoying the tastes and delights of the season. Most of all, enjoying the time together.

There is a sweet little Christmas tree farm down the road from us. Nothing fancy, and the trees themselves are very far from perfect. Nevertheless, we were able to find a lovely little friend to make our ornaments happy, and fill our home with the smell of the holidays. We packed some hot chocolate and stopped by the local shop for homemade apple cider donuts. Scrumptious!

I have many unfinished projects that will hopefully be finished by the 25th, and be safe to share. Until then, I hope you and your family find peace and rest in the days to come!

The Attack Begins

     
        The Attack Begins, originally uploaded by The Heron's Nest.

Yes, the Thanksgiving panic has set in here on the mountain. We are hosting Paul's family this year, which is a treat, but my perfectionist/"has a little too much time on her hands" side has sent me into a bit of a tizzy. Lucky for me, my sister-in-law shared her mom's survival guide, which basically outlines every recipe, when to prepare it, and how to cut corners. Love that woman!  So,the lists are made, the house is still a wreck and I did what any sharp procrastinator would do.....

         

I found the BEST yarn shop and plunged into a new project! (Honestly, I have been meaning to jump into that shop ever since I found it a month ago.)  I swear I suffer from creative ADD or something. As if the challenge of one project is not enough, I must somehow torture myself and take on TEN at once?  All of this to postpone the real project at hand.......preparing for guests! Oops. Tell me I am not alone on this one!

                               

Heard from the livingroom........

SILENCE....the kind where you know something is about to happen.

THUD!!!!!!!!!  Crash!!!!!

Griffiin:  You see Ella?  That's how I fly!

Five Years Ago

My baby is five today.  I awoke with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, something I don't regularly feel on this journey through motherhood.  I am amazed by my tiny child who is now talking, laughing, forming his own quirky little personality.  Yesterday Paul and I were laughing because Griffin has developed this funny/nerdy little voice he uses when he delivers a joke.  We don't know where it comes from or how it developed.  Surely a geeky mama and comedic daddy probably has helped.  Regardless, I am amazed by his coming into himself.  I can only imagine this is just a tiny taste of what is to come.

Five years ago I had no idea I would love someone instantly upon sight.  Be able to lose myself for years into the care and nurturing of his little being.  Five years ago I could not imagine how easily I would come to shift to tears of joy streaming down my face, just upon seeing him learn something new, or make a funny face.  Five years ago I never thought the birth of this joy would cause my marriage to be pushed and pulled in so many ways that I could actually love my husband more and learn my limits as a spouse.  Five years ago I had no sense of the worry, fear and hopes that would come with loving this little being.  No idea that my own self would be changed so drastically that I would have to  work hard to retain the woman who was, before this little one arrived.  Five years ago, I had no idea I could be so exhausted, yet plug on though the days, weeks, years constantly giving and not expecting anything in return.  Five years ago I had no understanding of how my mothering would connect me to my own mother, reveling in her wonderful parenting, and constantly appreciating all that she gave me.  Five years ago my house was clean, laundry was minimal, and time was something to fill.  Discussions about nose picking, potty talk and superheroes only occurred in my classroom, rather than at my dinner table.

Several friends are about to add their second child to their familes, or are just beginning their journey into parenthood.  I have felt this urge to warn them.  Warnings that were passed to me during my first pregnancy, which I tended to ignore, about time flying, how quickly they grow, enjoying the moment....As I am now entering the stage of mourning the end of babies in our house, I am beginning to understand how quickly time really does go when these little ones are around.  Paul and I were laughing another night, as we attemtped to actually have an adult discussion over the chatter and screams of our two children playing.  I finally threw up my hands and just said, "we can do this in silence in 16 years, and it will be so very sad."

For now, I will embrace my little marker covered boy with his love of superheroes, fairies, dress up and basketball, knowing that it is all so fleeting and that the moment is here to be enjoyed and respected.

Hello Summer!

drive to preschool, originally uploaded by The Heron's Nest.

Don't they look relaxed? This is just one of the amazing images we will be missing, now that school has come to an end, and we no longer need to make the gorgeous drive to school three days per week.
The end of G's first preschool was bittersweet. It was sad to be leaving the security of his first little school, a bit shocking that my baby could actually be old enough to be finishing preschool, but exciting to have him around more for the summer and not be ruled by start times. Painting in pjs can happen now! He had a great experience in his little school. He learned to love school, made friends, and got to play on this lovely little playground. Next year he will go to his "Daddy's school" (where apparently his father does not teach English, but instead "teaches his students about superheroes"). I can hardly wait to hear what trouble those two can get themselves into in one day.

Quiet Wonder

quiet wonder, originally uploaded by The Heron's Nest.

This was probably the only quiet, focused moment today. It seemed as though we were all cranky, trying to survive the throws of allergy season and the first calm to a busy week. We threw together some little builder/fairy people for an outdoor forest fort. Both little ones were able to enjoy for a bit before the crankies hit again and nap was calling for ALL of us.

I Am Back!!!!!

I am back from an unintentional hiatus.  I didn't plan to take a break from blogging.  It just happened.  We went away for Easter and had some nice family time.  Ok, well the 12 hour car ride was not ALWAYS "nice" with the impatient four year old and the screaming toddler in the back seat, but you just can't beat that quality time together.  Upon returning, we did some major spring cleaning, and slowed down quite a bit.  It was in that little respite that I began to realize how fast I had really been going.

A few days ago, I bumped into an acquaintance at the playground.  She has had a baby within the last few months, and I have not seen her in about eight.  We were catching up, and I found myself making excuses for why I had not been attending playgroups and the like.  I heard myself say something of the sort of, "well, I have just been so busy, running everywhere for preschool, field trips, crafting...I needed to slow down and be".  The look I received was one of. "ok lady you are nuts, how can that be too much?".  But truthfully, it has been.  I have felt rushed constantly for last two years.  The house has been a wreck, and I have felt stressed out, which kind of defeats the point of "being" if I am totally not in the moment.  So, we have been going at a snail's pace around here lately.  If we have been late for school......oh well.  If we don't get to the gym, we don't get to the gym.  I have made sure the typical stuff around the house has gotten done.  Stuff that wasn't before.  If we have had an impromptu invite to the playground, we have gone, and I have been able to do it because things are getting done, and I am not rushing.  My plans for each day have been cut down tremendously.   Sigh.  I think this is the way it is supposed to be. 

Of course, my poor little blog has been neglected.  My ufo's are backing up and that can feel a bit defeating, but I have to remind myself that the projects will wait...my kids will not.  I received this book in the mail last week.  (Who wasn't waiting for that to arrive????) and was reminded about the need for daily creativity in my own life.  I tend to want to conquer a project in a day or two, and I am slowly realizing that this really isn't necessary.  Just the "doing" is really all that I need, and the enjoying, of course.

Oh The Ugliness.......

A faint yell from the downstairs bathroom was detected, one which could barely be heard over the intense screaming of the teething two year old (whose screams often hit a decible that even her loving mother can hardly bear).....

" Mom, there's a wash cloth in the toilet!" 

Need I say more?

Tea

Tea, originally uploaded by The Heron's Nest.

After many of these parties on our coffee table recently, we managed to venture outside for a bite. The cabin fever got the best of us.

Wearing our jackets and hats we dined on sandwiches, chocolate milk and veggies with Ranch, all while enjoying the glorious sun. There was an air show between a nasty crow and a hungry hawk, and we watched as they soared and squabbled in the sky. Fun.