Monkeying Around

We had fun with the monkey theme for Jasper's party. What started it was finding this cute little party kit from Martha Stewart on sale. I don't like to go crazy with a particular thing, but it is fun as a starting point. He was so very grateful to have a real party that was all about him! It was very cute.

Since monkeys and bananas seem to go hand in hand, I made this heavenly banana cake from this awesome food blog. I doubled the recipe which made a little more than three dozen cupcakes. Yummmm. They were light and delicious. Thank you, Caroline!

The girls helped me to make up some goodie bags. We made a batch of vanilla scented yellow play dough with a bit of glitter mixed in. I found a few healthy treats, pin wheels, and rainbow colored pencils with cute little monkey toppers. The one year old guest got a felt ball with a monkey face that I had fun making.

The kids were having such fun playing outside in the gorgeous 60+ degree weather (Yes, in early February!) that I didn't need to have any activities other than eating cake and playing pin the parrot on the pirate. Nothing to do with monkeys but I couldn't resist!

This cute little monkey travelled all the way from Denmark. It was crafted by Cuddlet, this etsy seller. I love the way it looks and the fact that someone made it by hand.

Another favorite birthday find came from a this etsy shop, Olliekate. They are two lovely local mamas who also have a wonderful blog! Jasper is hopefully soon to get his own bedroom, and this pillow will look so cute on his big boy bed. Even the reverse side is gorgeous. For now, it is staying in the living room where I can enjoy it!

And one of my favorite books for Jasper is called Too Big by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire. The illustrations are beautiful.

Yes, my boy really is a monkey! Check out his tail. :)

There is so much to be grateful for! Jasper's Grammy and Granddaddy and even his Uncle John and cousins came five hours to attend the party. It was one special day for a sweet little monkey.

May all your pin wheel wishes come true...

Three Years Ago Today....

I was just at the beginning of my labour with Jasper. We were living out in the country ( the year which we now refer to as the experiment...) , all of us nestled into a 850sq ft cottage on 25 acres of gorgeous land in the mountains. I had called my midwife and was just taking space to myself, trying to stay comfortable while my mom put the kids to bed, and David prepared the birthing tub. I don't know exactly how he managed to do it, but he filled it with our tiny water heater and then added hot kettle water, and covered it with blankets to keep the water warm. By the time I got in, it was still really warm, therapeutic level - it was divine! David and I had the most beautiful winter walk to the high meadow by moonlight, pausing here and there to allow waves of contraction to pass. I recall the air being cold, but enjoying it in my handmade legwarmers (recycled sweater) and night gown, layered with a coat and sheepskin boots. It was the most exquisite snowy white, clear, silent night. And by the time I returned, I was fully dilated and ready to ease into the tub. Within about 20 minutes and several pushes, little 6lb 12 oz Jasper Finn entered the world! He was born in the caul, which means his amniotic sac was intact, a rare occurrence which carries lore of good omen. It was my first home birth, and such a beautiful experience. Such a beautiful son, who I will wake up and wish a Happy Third Birthday to in the morning.



~Here I am full term, hours before labor began, with my little Vivi girl~

And minutes after his birth, my little Jasper and my dear, sweet midwife, Jan, who has caught two of my babies!

And here is what it looks like around here with Valentine season around the corner...

Our friend, Abby, taught the girls how to make these really cool origami valentines. We plan to practice making more together.

And Vivi made some sort of game that involves rolling dice and choosing a color of paper

I am signing off to prepare my little star's birthday table... pecan coffee cake for breakfast, a monkey balloon, three candles on the birthday ring and present to open. And Grammy and Grandaddy have arrived to celebrate with us!

~With love and gratitude to my beautiful midwifes, Jan and Molly~

Snow Day

Well, this was a day that we have been waiting for... it snowed! And though it wasn't much by most standards, it qualified as real snow for us. You may be wondering what qualifies snow as real, so allow me to explain! According to Vivienne, you have to be able to sled on it, it has to stay the whole day, and it has to make that nice crunchy sound under your feet.

One of the reasons that we have been waiting for a real snow is so that we could enjoy our family tradition of baking apples on the first real snow. We almost baked the apples a few flurries prior, but it was worth our wait. Our friend, Abby, joined us for warm apples and fireside stories. She is a children's librarian and the kids love when she visits!

We had a fun day of sledding and sipping cocoa with the neighborhood kids, and then came home to find ourselves locked out of the house. So, our lovely neighborhood friends welcomed us in and shared lunch while we waited for Papa to get home. Many thanks, Allison and Scott! It worked out to be a happy accident of sorts, the kind of day that kids love... spontaneous, full of friends and fun, and (hot) chocolate. That is my idea of a good day, too.

Can you believe that today it was in the teens with the wind chill and yet, in three days the forcast is calling for 60 degree (F) high? Crazy weather in these parts!


And as always my kids are impressing me with their busy hands. Vivi and Mia have both been working on presents for Jasper's birthday. They can't stand to wait, and so every day he has been showered with gifts. Today, Vivi made him a little stocking cap out of a fabric scrap. She appliqued a heart and wrote "I Love" on it...

We sure do love this little honey boy...I can't believe that he is soon to turn three!

(Im)patience with Winter

To have patience, I have decided is the inner lesson for today. Patience for Grandmother Winter to go and wake up those root children. I am ready for spring! We have not had much snow this year, and the dullness of this time before spring is getting to me. I am ready for spring cleaning, shaking all the dust bunnies out in the fresh air, wearing t-shirts and lightweight skirts, putting away the heavy wools and getting my hands in the dirt. There is so much I would like to be doing in the garden! Day by day I am noticing the little addition of sunlight, and I know that in good time, the season will shift! I just need to savour these days of sipping tea, knitting by the fireside, baking birthday cakes and cupcakes, and morning snuggles with my children under a big wool duvet. Hmmmm, I guess I like winter after all. I just needed to remind myself why.

my little gnome- this cozy sweater has been worn by each of my children!

Another good reason to love winter... you can wear awesome, cozy mismatched knitted socks !

You can get silly with static electricity:

And spend time building homesteads for the small folk

Or have fun drawing with family. The first picture is mine, a doodle that became a story in itself. And the second picture is Vivienne's version (which I like even better!)

Mia's puppy found a nice hang out in the weeping cherry tree

What are you doing with your winter days?