38

  Earlier this month I celebrated my 38th birthday. I wanted nothing more than a beautiful hike with my family, so Papa took the day off of work and we set out to one of my favorite spots.

 We didn't think to bring swimsuits, but that didn't stop us from taking a dip in the cold water that flowed through the gorge.

 

 We followed the meandering stream.

 I'm enjoying getting older. I'm learning how to embrace my quirks, my vulnerabilities, and my strengths. I feel more comfortable speaking my mind or holding my tongue, depending on what the situation calls for, and I feel much less thrown off by other people's reactions than I did when I was younger.

 I've always been a sensitive person and an intensely emotional one. I overthink things. I love deeply. I'm also playful and creative and I'm much better at going with the flow than I am at being structured.

 

 I'm grateful for my life and the people that share it with me. I'm grateful to be walking on this planet at this time even when shit gets real and the struggles run deep. I'm seeking ways to connect more and worry less. I'm looking forward to another year of laughter, adventure, and learning.

springtime ~ in full swing

I'm playing a bit of catch-up with a month's worth of photos. Here it goes, starting back in mid-May through the beginning of June:

bike path beauty

  up close with the ants

rustic bread made by Camille and Sylvia

embroidery and saxophone

 raking the tilled garden and digging compost

camping out on the edge of our property

saxophone performance for the interested yard birds

Memorial Day observance with the Girl Scout troop

and the marching band

snuggly mermaid sisters


rainy day fun

ropes course

upside down

 helping out a painted turtle

out of the parking lot, back to the pond

My kids have only recently become interested in Minecraft. Here they are foot to foot on the couch, building and sharing worlds while Ayla looks on. We have recently given Sylvia her own tablet and Camille has had one for about a year, in addition to our shared desktop computer. We don't limit their use of media and technology (other than for internet safety reasons), but with so many other interesting things to do, learn about, see, play on, cook, taste, experience, share, and create they seem to have a very healthy, natural balance with how they utilize it.

As spring grows full and lush and summer edges closer, I feel giddy for farmer's markets and friendships, swimming and digging and hiking, strawberries and rhubarb and kohlrabi, working hard, playing energetically, and daydreaming in equal measure. Feeling sun-kissed, rain-drenched, wind-blown, and barefoot on the earth. I welcome in the simple magic of it all. 

kids' questionnaire

This was so much fun and caused so much giggling in my house that I thought I would share it here:

WITHOUT ANY prompting, ask your child these questions and write down EXACTLY what they say. It is a great way to find out what they really think. When you re-post put your Child's age. P.S. There's a blank copy in the comment section!

1. What is something mom always says to you?
C - I'm sorry, like when I'm sad and stuff
S - Make sure you put stuff away
A - I don't think I'm ever going to answer that one

2. What makes mom happy?
C - When I do stuff you ask me to do
S - Planting in your garden
A - Getting snuggled

3. What makes mom sad?
C - When I'm upset
S - When me and Ayla argue
A - Not snuggling

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
C - When we watch Jon Stewart
S - (giggles) easily
A - OK, I think I'm only going to get the snuggle ones right

5. What was your mom like as a child?
C - Sylvia
S - Smart. You said you were like a nerdy kid or something like that.
A - I don't know, but you were not a puppy

6. How old is your mom?
C - 36?
S - 28
A - 3...22?

7. How tall is your mom?
C - 5 foot 2
S - 5 feet tall
A - 5?

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
C - garden, griddle, griddle!, griddle!!
S - I guess one of your favorite things to do is play with us
A - Didn't I already solve that with the snuggle?

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
C - We're pretty much always around
S - Sit around and watch shows and stuff
A - Watch tv with Papa

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
C - art
S - photography, that one's simple
A - gratography

11. What is your mom really good at?
C - being a mom
S - photography
A - I'm just gonna say snuggling

12. What is your mom not very good at?
C - I can't think of anything
S - flips ... (giggles) or being Dad
A - nothing

13. What does your mom do for a job?
C - homeschool us
S - homeschool us
A - painting

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
C - Fresh produce, pretty much
S - I don't know...organic?
A - egg salad?

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
C - You're really nice
S - You make me happy about a lot of things...but I don't know
A - Can I answer that with snuggling?

16. If your mom were a character, who would she be?
C - Not Bones, maybe Pinkie Pie
S - Phineas and Ferb's mom - "Anybody want some snacks?"
A - Twilight Sparkle

17. What do you and your mom do together?
C - Watch Bones and Jon Stewart. You drive me around
S - Read
A - snuggle and snuggling again

18. How are you and your mom the same?
C - We're good at stuff
S - We like math, I guess
A - We both like snuggling

19. How are you and your mom different?
C - You don't freak out about everything
S - I'm messier
A - She wears glasses

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
C - 'Cause you say it a lot
S - 'Cause she does a lot of awesome stuff for us
A - 'Cause she tells me a lot and she hugs me

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
C - He's Papa
S - He's sweet. Like when he walked through a marsh to pick those flowers.
A - 'Cause he's great at snuggling?

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
C - outside
S - outside
A - Hm. Going to the waterfall place

23. How old was your mom when you were born?
C - 27
S - I don't know. Can I do the math for it? Oh, 30.
A - 72?