born imaginative.

Another year around the sun

Another year around the sun for me. 43, and I can't help but to think/grieve what my mom's life was like at the same age I was. Her days were numbered and she was fully confined to a wheelchair at age 43. Sometimes I get really sad when my age parallels those memories and other times I feel really thankful that I have had so many more healthy days with my children than my mom ever had. So what sorts of things were in these days around my birthday?

I ditched my evening chores and painted something miniature instead.

The ocean.

We finished this book, which I love, love, love.

We thrifted. My haul for $6 :Books, Spanish CDs and scrabble quick challenge.

I got myself flowers, the cake my grandmother always served, my family got me some chocolates, I opened some sweet birthday mail (Thank you!), enjoyed a surprise celebration with homeschool friends (Thank you!) and got a laugh out of the card from my dad...which he is still sending me my mom's cards (she died 27 years ago!).

I'm not sure what I expected my life to look like at 43, but I'd say there are plants everywhere and definitely more roses than thorns.

Cross Country Skiing

Cross country skiing is probably one of my most favorite sports and today's conditions were perfect. WHY DOES IT HAVE TO RAIN? Rain is the forecast, for my birthday none the less, I wish we could just have more snow!

Regardless, we had an amazing day today. Anna-Kate did the most she ever did, made it around the whole loop. So proud of her! Adrian chose snow shoes, the rest of us were on skis. MORE of this, please! Somehow they let me take all the pictures today, so I did.

Audra is 11 and a HALF

11, 10 and a HALF, TEN, Nine and a HALF, Nine, Eight and a HALF, Eight,Seven and a HALF, Seven ,Six and a half, Six ,Five, 4 1/2, Here's 4 , 3 1/2, 3 years, 2 1/2 years, 2 years 18 months, 12 months, 9 months? 6 months? 3 months? Just being born

Happy 11 and a HALF, Audra Grace!

There is no animal whisperer like you, Audra! You can sooth, excite and pal around with any and all animals. As of late, you've been doing your best to do your animal chores, which I know they appreciate. When you have money, you buy treats for your animals. However many animals we have is absolutely not enough in your mind. Not even close. When you're a grown up, you'll absolutely have more.

You thrive on routine but crave new things. A sticky place to be at times, but audiobooks help you out of these valleys along with your fave sports (swimming and ice skating lately). You're also excited about the book series you're working through: Swallows and Amazons.

Crafting has always been your passion and you always have new things you're enjoying. Lately it's the intricate color books, weaving, making gnomes and pompoms, diamond art and jewelry.

You care deeply about your friends and people in general. You care what they think of you and work your hardest to be at your best when you're with them. You were elected president of our 4-H club by your peers, what an honor!

Day to day life is hard, hard, hard for you, but you keep keeping on. Someday I hope you can look back and say 'I persevered and it is worth it!'. I'm front and center for all accomplishments and will always be your biggest cheerleader. Happy 11.5 Audra! Love, Mama

Snow

We had our first 'more than a dusting' snowstorm of the year. Oddly I wasn't involved much with snow removal.

That's because we have Adrian. He's seriously the world's best shoveler. Justin did the snowblower, but I took no photos to prove it.

Audra spent some time outdoors.

And then mass produced these.

Anna-Kate was served snacks as she played outside. She also did some sledding.

She certainly got her wish for snow, but it's definitely not snowman snow.

I did some housework and rearranging.

And made A LOT of food. Trying to use what we have put away and what we've been gifted. I made a double batch of corn chowder, processed a homegrown hubbard squash, made a stew, two loaves of bread, two carrot cakes (one for the freezer) and cream cheese frosting and BLTs. At the end of the day, it seems like there's not much left to show my efforts, as we're feeding a shoveling teenager now.

I think one of the most favorite parts of living in Maine is days like today when we're stuck at home. We had time for good food, playing outside, a movie, board games and read alouds. We had two fires going inside, so it was nice and toasty all day. When it was bed time, we changed out of yesterday's pajamas into fresh pajamas. 10 out of 10!

Bruins Hoodie

Adrian is a Bruins fan and has many T Shirts. He recently (after Christmas) said that he wished he had some long sleeved Bruins apparel, his fave pics to the tune of $50 to $100.

Enter his crafty mom. A quick trip to the thrift store yielded possibilities! I picked up this $3.00 like new Gap insulated Hoodie and a well worn Boston Bruins T shift for $2.00. For a grand total of $5.00, he has a Bruins Hoodie that he loves.

Before:

The After: He's thrilled!

Lighthouse Crawl #2

Part 2 of the lighthouse crawl, part 1 here.These are the lighthouses we can see from the Maine coast from our house south, with the art work we did.

Nubble

Portsmouth Harbor

Whaleback

To end, we had a picnic. My husband and I were introduced because of Stonewall Kitchen. I was thinking my kids haven't had any of the jam because I make all of our jam homemade/homegrown and have basically done that for their whole lives. We bought a sampler pack and I made different PBJs so they could sample them all. Adrian liked Holiday Jam best. Anna-Kate liked the Wild Maine Blueberry. The rest of us liked the Raspberry Peach best.

So this wraps up our lighthouse series, onto the next thing!

Lighthouse Crawl, Day 1

As mentioned in this post, I did a month long series of light house art with a bunch of kids. I was aiming for our kids to know the lighthouse we can see from land. This post takes you from our home, up to 30 miles north. These are the lighthouses we can see on land and the art we did.

Portland Head (It was really rainy)