{Farmer's Market}

We have fallen in love with our new Saturday morning routine of trying our best to get out the door early, piling into the car with snacks and coffee, and hitting the road to our local(ish) farmer's market. We have a pretty good drive {45 minutes each way} so we have plenty of time to fully wake up, point out every single cow/truck/motorcycle/bird/cool thing, and talk about what each child wants to spend their dollar on this week. Honestly more often it's $2.50 for a bear claw, but they are so darn good I can't really tell them no. 

My sister often comes with us, and pushes Nomi around in the stroller while Jenny browses to her heart's content and dances to the live music...whenever she finds some must-have produce they come to collect Bobby and I or to tell me how many "dollars" it is for the most amazing "fill in the blank with produce" so that she can go make her purchases. She carries a tote bag around and is just outrageously cute. Seven is so big. {I wasn't prepared for that At.All.} Meanwhile, Bobby and I make our way to our favorite stand and get most of our veggies for the week. Getting to choose his own veggies has really {REALLY} worked miracles on his willingness to try them, and he often strikes up conversations with the sellers about his favorite way to cook cauliflower. Be still my heart. A bit of wandering around always yields some other goodies {this week it was purple potatoes and raddishes.}This weekend everything seemed to have tripled...all of the produce was bigger, there was more of everything, and far more variety. Summer is here...and I think I love it.

{Rainbows}

I suppose I should narrow down those pictures, but well...it turns out I can't. I'm obsessed. I'm working on several other projects, but since they are gifts I can't really share them yet. This rainbow though...isn't it something special? I started it with plans to pick up stitches along the edges and create a felted basket. I still might...or I might use it as a little table mat as-is...or felt it and use it as a table mat that way. Or maybe I'll hang it on the wall so I can look at it all of the time... I can't decide. (Feel free to offer your opinion in the comments!)

I'm currently attempting to read my way through these three books...although if you've ever read them you will know this is a silly plan. I need to pick one of them, grab a highlighter (or really anything except a crayon) and settle in like I'm taking a class. They are just so fabulously full of brilliant information. Information I wish I had when I started parenting, and feel like I need to learn quickly so I can do a better job with some of the issues we are working through right now. It's just that I haven't really figured out a good way to read AND parent. My brain tends to become totally consumed by one thing at a time and it's hard for me to break off one thought just because it's time for something else. You can tell this in my housework really...either the bathroom is consistently clean OR the laundry stays caught up OR dinner is promptly cooked and served every evening. It's something I'm working on... I think the key for me (or at least the first step) is in really (REALLY) reducing the amount of stuff in our home. That is my big project right now, and I have to say it's going pretty well! I'm trying to focus on filling giveaway bags instead of finding homes for things because we really do just have too much stuff in this house. I'm already feeling calmer and seeing improvements and I am excited to share the results in another week or so (it's a slow process)! 

I'm linking up with Nicole for Keep Calm Craft On, and Ginny for the Yarn Along, check out their blogs for more crafting/knitting/book goodness! :)

{Monday Randomness}

 {So in love with his Grammie's train set}

{I eat massive salads for lunch most days...and love it} \

 {My final view at night...it's a pretty great one, I think}

Okay so this picture...let's not look at the epic mess that often surrounds my chair. I assure you I tidy this space up about 100 times a day, but as it is most certainly the busiest spot in the house, it (despite my best efforts) generally looks like I run a home from it...oh wait. Just look at that outrageously funny girl, in the too-big-used-to-be-mine dress, drumming her fingers and waiting for me to come out of the bathroom so that she can use the hilariously creepy line "We've been expecting you, Mommy..." I just have to wonder where on earth she gets these things!! 

{Saturday Morning}

{What pen, Eliza?}

It was funny to see that Ginny has started journaling a tiny bit every day...I've noticed that about this blogging community, ideas seem to sweep through us and then there will be a burst of posts that are hilariously related. I happened upon This lovely etsy shop full of the most beautiful handmade journals and treated myself for Mother's Day, {although had it been any other month I'm sure I could have come up with a reason to splurge, I mean, that paper alone is probably reason enough} and I am so glad I did! I don't quite write in it every day yet, but I'm working on the habit. Just a page or two every most mornings, about whatever is on my mind...plans for the day, thoughts on the day before, about the kids or house or life...just a little glimpse into my thoughts to look back on. Putting pen to paper is so satisfying, and everything about the feel of this little book is grounding. 

I thought I'd share a quick peek at my space. It's not exactly a desk, but it is the side table by My Chair as it looks this morning. A dolly jacket {made for me by my Grammy} with the ribbons needing to be untied {I remember working on those knots SO hard as a little girl and my mom probably untied them a million times...it's funny that Jenny will have the same memory}, a sea shell bowl of whatever Nomi was cooking last night, more delicious rainbow yarn for winding {if you follow me on instagram you might be getting tired of this yarn...if that's possible}, the all important MUST NEVER GET LOST notebook, my essential morning coffee, and my favorite print... Just a little corner I've carved out right in the middle of everything...where I can work or rest or snuggle, or whatever else comes up. 

Happy Saturday!

{Five}

Oh wait, not him...

Yes, this one. This sweet boy of mine is officially FIVE. Honestly I have no idea what to do with that number...seven, five and two...what ever happened to my babies?? But these numbers are awfully exciting and I really can't wait to see what they hold for my "babies". Bobby's birthday marks the end of our busy birthday season, although with such a large family, it never really ends. (That link runs over to a handy who's who on my sister's blog...while you're there check out her Home Tour series she's working on!)

{Ahem, that would be a "B" for Bobby, not an "8", I assure you...}

Explorer gear is my new favorite little boy gift idea! There is so much COOL FACTOR to be found! Ponchos, reflective heat "blankets", compass, lanterns, mini first aid kit, snacks, binoculars...the options are nearly limitless, and this time of year, very easy to come by! We wrapped it all up in a sturdy backpack with his very own stash of AA's and headlamp. I'm hoping to help him make a few field journals to tuck into the pocket and he'll be ready!

{Hi there}

Oh my, where to start? My laptop got kicked off of the bed by a certain now 2 year old. Back in...January. Immediately I knew what had happened. It's happened three times before. I knew that when I brought it into the shop they would say something about recovering my files for me. And then they couldn't. And then I go through a period of mourning. Mad at myself for not just BACKING UP THE FILES (AGAIN!!!!)... I knew how it would go and so in my usual method of dealing with things, I put it off as long as possible. Until I felt ridiculous about it. And so now I have a laptop back. With everything gone. EVERYTHING. I'm glad I never listened to people about clearing pictures off of my phone, and grateful my camera's card is large enough to hold many pictures in between dumps...and that I live close to family so there are lots and lots of pictures of my babies floating around the universe. But oh my goodness, it still really, really SUCKS.

Enough with the excessive use of CAPS LOCK. I'm back in the blogging world, and if anyone is still coming by to check in, then thank you for your patience and a warm hello. I'd offer you tea but my babies have a stomach bug that just wont leave. Only actively sick for about 12 hours, but then they have just been crying and sleeping for two days now? Surely it must be more than that. It's been difficult but we have survived and I think we will be able to creep out of the house this weekend for a drive, and maybe a stop at our local(ish) farmer's market. 

I'm going to try to go over some of the highlights of life in the past few months, although really it's just been more of the usual. Lovely in every way  but not too many big events to mention. Miss Jenny is seven now, and Nomi is two...we are waiting on Bobby's fifth birthday at the end of the month and birthday season will have passed. Other random highlights would be: My sister and her lovely husband moved back from Georgia, and are living in his hometown about three hours away. We see each other A LOT, with lots of driving halfway to meet them and snag her for a few days of girl time. It's good for both of us. We have planted our first garden! Hopefully the torrential rains the last two days haven't done any major damage, and I made a mental note that yes, I do in fact need to add drainage holes to the pail I planted the mint in. I've never had much luck with plants, but I am trying oh so hard this year and the kids are naturals so I think we might actually keep these plants alive long enough to pick some tomatoes and peppers. I'll share more about the garden soon, once I sort out pictures. We still have to plant squash, and Bobby's pumpkin patch, and (hopefully) lots and lots of flowers, but what we have is already a lot to be grateful for and proud of. I'm not feeling like tilling anything else, so I think the squash will be planted in little mounds and it can just spread and take over as it likes. We are renting so I don't want to turn too much of the yard into garden, as tempting as it is! 

 {from Jenny's birthday}

Let's see, other news. My hair is purple-ish now. Not neon, but as of last Friday it is very blackberry inspired and I *LOVE* it. I expect funky hair colors will hang around for a while. I've been knitting a ton, and I'm trying to carve out some time to add sewing into the mix. My mission to keep us going on our journey of cooking with whole foods (and gluten and corn free) is continuing on. Like I said, just living life. I do have so much I want to share here from our little projects, and I've missed writing and chatting with you all. I'm off to start scrubbing down the infirmary ..I think they are at the point where a quick shower and change of sheets will start to turn things around and remind them what healthy feels like.