Sleepaway Camp


Just like that, there's a big hole in my heart.  Part of my heart is checked into the Braves Longhouse, top bunk nevertheless.   He has never spent the night away from home apart from the two times I gave birth (he stayed at my neighbor's).  His first for fun overnight is a week long and I know he is going to love it. My farewell was a nanosecond as he bounced off with a grin from ear to ear with  his new friends. I know he cannot wait for the meals. He can't wait to swim. He is going to take ten years deciding what he wants from camp store. He is ready to have the time of his life. And he will. Because he's the type of kid who decides he's going to do something and he does it.
Mama, on the otherhand, has a heartache as I ready for bedtime books, the first time without my oldest.  Daddy definitely shed a few tears.  Audra talks about missing him every 5 minutes.  Anna-Kate keeps asking "Where is Adrian?"   I don't want his week to fly by for his sake, but I am counting down until Friday pickup for my sake.  I cannot wait to hear about by big boy having the time of his life. He's spending his week making memories to last a lifetime.

Thrifted

 A gorgeous dress for Audra. Two name brand pairs of sneakers for the kids. Game and a John Deere Puzzle. And books. $5.00

Below: Books. Blank journal. Madlibs. Keenes and hiking boots. Two games. Rain pants that still have tag from Kittery Trading post. $10.

"I WEAR PITTY DWESS"

Little miss "I WEAR PITTY DWESS" and nothing but pretty dresses, right here.  It's fun that she loves to wear not only my homemade dresses but also the dresses my mom saved from my childhood.  Here are two 'pitty' ones that my mom dressed me in decades ago. It's sort of like getting a hug from the amazing grandmother she never had a chance to meet.

 

Where we met...

We took the kids on a little roadtrip down memory lane to the place we were introduced on a blind date back on October 2nd, 2004, where I was living during the time and where we celebrated our engagement on November 2nd, 2004.  It was a busy month!





 They loved a safe place to play Pooh Sticks.



 And here we are all these years later with three kids to bring back to the same location. Who would have thought?!

Homemade jammies, x 3

A lightweight summer capri type pj pants is what Audra wanted to make.  She finished her first pair of jammie pants!

 There was plenty of fabric left, so now there's a matching pair for mama and Anna-Kate!
 Two of out of the three of pj models.  Anna-Kate is also wearing the apple dress that I made for Audra years ago.  Only she says "Not apple. HAPPLE". So, she can say apple, but prefers to call it "Happle".  We all call it he "happle dress" now.

7th Annual Country Kids 2019 Recap

Many, many thanks to the folks (big and small) who came out to celebrate our County Kids day. And many thanks for your generosity, we have some donated art supplies for the less affluent nursing homes around here and some cash that we will be using to fulfill the resident's wishlist. We  ended up with 42 people this time around and it was a good number for fun and games.  I didn't pull my camera except before things got started and after they were wrapping up, but I can assure you the middle was lots of fun.  (Also noteworthy, hard to get a pic of Adrian at the beginning because he was all business with parking folks. That kid..)














Thrifted

 Nursery Tale vintage book, smartwools, old fashioned play dress, Livie &Luca shoes.  All for Anna-Kate. $5.25.

And below: Blank book of art paper, home decor fabric, rain gutter fanciness, water color books and another book.  All for me.  $8.50

Preppin'

Here we are, preppin' for our Country Kids party.  Kids cannot wait. Much to do, much to look forward to. Friday afternoon/evening. Do come, it should be a fine time!

Thrifted

 This is a ridiculous haul for $10.  Two vintage books.  Two brand new blank journals, an 'old fashioned' canteen for Audra, a basket making kit, a cross stitch kit, pot holder making loops, Marmot rain coat for Audra, flannel lined coat for Adrian.  Did I mention only $10?!

And below, I actually spent $10 on myself. A pair of sneakers that had zero tread worn. I think they pretty much took them out of the box and then donated them to the thrift store. A devotional. Smart wool socks. A wool over the shoulder bag and a vintage sampler that says "But to be Young was Very Heaven". 

Farming

Because you're never too young or too small to work on your farming skills.


Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to this guy, my husband, daddy to three. This guy is an excellent, excellent dad.  For our kids' whole life, he has stayed home with them when I was working.  He is a calm and even force in our family, even when chaos is going on all around. He has no qualms about bringing the trio places alone-from errands to hiking a mountain (which he did both this week). He is super involved in their lives and would do anything for them.

Case in point.  Justin was just commenting/laughing about living in a house with all these books. 

He said "Twenty years ago, if you would have told me I'd be living in a big farm house without TV, but with piles of books around, I would have laughed aloud." 

Adrian quipped, "Well, you are just a part of a family who loves books, dad. It's just the way it is."

Because he loves them so, the kids talked him into reading a couple of chapters of our new copy of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle aloud to them.  He is not an independent reader. Definitely does not volunteer to read aloud. Graciously tolerates the racket of audio books in the cars when he'd much prefer music.  But if his kids ask him to read, he'll do it.  (Psst....I think they all enjoyed Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle too.) 


I call him a heluva good dad and we're all thankful for him. Happy Father's Day, Justin!



Last day!

Around these parts, those in our town had their last day of school today.  Since we school year round, there's not really a 'summer break' like in public school.  But, we did have what I think is the last day of sewing until fall today. I was going to continue throughout the summer, but the truth is, coordinating schedules is too challenging.  I have truly loved offering regular sewing lessons for the past five months. I've had some who have come once or twice and some who have been sewing just about weekly.  Each child has gained skills, and that makes my heart happy. I took photos each week of the kiddos with their projects and there's quite the album of accomplishment I will someday print off.  This is the only photo of a project I took without a kid in it!  Her first dress, isn't it lovely?

I plan to continue in the fall. Until then, we shall enjoy our summer Fridays with friends and family. Happy summer, folks! 




Thrifted

So this thrifted post is incredibly special because one of my very special kiddos I used to see at work a while ago surprised me at home with some thrift shopping money for teacher appreciation day! (They know I love to go thrifting!).  It was the sweetest gesture, so generous and what I love most is I got to hug one of my little friends who I haven't seen in a long time. These are my treasures...and when I look at them, I think of a very special family.  Thank you!!!




Home grown!

 Been picking greens daily lately.  Audra is fantastic at picking greens. She always throws in some herbs, green onions or chives and she knows edible weeds, so she throws those in too.

First radishes were yum!
 These were grown by Adrian. But pulled by Anna-Kate. Whoops.
 Salad. It's what's for lunch. And yes, my kids eat all this and ask for more. Even Anna-Kate has discovered she yikes greens! The more colorful for her, the more she yikes it. Hello summer eating!

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...