With Love From Grandma

Last week my girls received very special gifts… Quilts that my mum has spent her last 4 years of evenings and weekends hand sewing - she has made one for each of her 4 granddaughters. That is 8 years of Sunbonnet Sue, birds and flowers.

While Eric tells the girls their bedtime stories, I like to gaze at the quilts and look at the perfect little stitches, uniform French knots and the uniqueness of each pretty flower.

Most of all I am reminded of all the beautiful unseen things that my mum wove into these quilts – her patience, wisdom, warmth and love.

Birthday Celebrations

We had a birthday party last week - really an entire week of birthday party especially for me.

I was surrounded by all of my very favourite people - my girls, my hubby, and my folks. It was filled with a spectacular cake, special nature finds, hand-made cards and a fancy new camera.

I feel thoroughly celebrated! 

My Happy Girls

Recycled Sweaters = Valentine's Kitties

For Valentine's I made kitties out of felted wool sweaters. To see the girls' happy little faces and joyful squeals made every stitch worth it. They took off running down the hallway with their kitty tucked under their arm - it was a precious moment.

K is for Kira

N is for Nola

For more embroidered fun I made hearts using a tutorial from Woolnest.

Tucked inside the pouch was a scroll that Eric made of special words for each girl... 

Nutty

Observant

Loveable

Artistic

Kooky

Inquizative

Rambunctious

Affectionate

Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop...

I have taken a little break from blogging because we had visitors. The house is trashed, the girls are spoilt, and I ate chocolate for dinner last night. We miss you already Grandma and Grandpop. xx

Weekend Fun

More scarecrows

More fountains

More projects (more to come...)

Tortoise Love

My dear Nola and Kira,

Your love of tortoise is an inherited trait passed down from generations of curly-haired people.

These tortoise were hatched by your Great Grandfather.

And now cared for by your grandfather.

And someday they will be for you.

They are 200 years of family fun!

For the Birds

We have a new Saturday ritual.

For the last month we have woken up to a Farmer’s Market in our park. We race to get dressed so we can join the merriment, visit with our neighbors, and buy local produce.

We eat lunch on our porch to the gentle sound of folk music as I ponder what to make with the season's harvest. By the afternoon, the stalls are cleaned up and there is no trace of the hustle and bustle of the market. But, we are left with a relaxed and satisfied feeling that makes our whole weekend feel more focused on family and home.

Spencer Combs Photography

These pictures were taken by an incredible photographer and super nice guy - Spencer Combs of Spencer Combs Photography.

I am blown away by how well Spencer captured the girls' spirit. I look at these pictures and gasp. This very special time in our lives has been captured so beautfully.

Enjoy...

Hungry

Hubby out of town Twin A throwing up all night Two days of dishes in the sink Hit the freezer with no hope of dinner What to eat? A beautiful, plentiful, comforting tub of mother-made scalloped potatoes. Happy Helen

Grandpop's Workshop

Grandpop has been busy again...

Handmade with Love

More Mother's Day fun. Everyone knows that I like celebrations to last a good week. Here in blog land I'm trying to do the same.

The girls made me lovely cards, pictures and a hand print t-shirt. Thank you Nola, Kira, Daddy and Alex for your hard work. I love it that my t-shirt says Mum and that the girls were able make something so useful! I know I will treasure it forever. Long after I have worn out my shirt I'll still look at it with a tear in my eye!

How Far We've Come...

I had a perfectly lovely Mother’s Day with hand made presents, pictures and cards. We went to a nearby park for a picnic – my very favorite thing to do.

On my first Mother’s Day, we bought sandwiches and took the girls to the park for a picnic. We hadn’t planned to do this – with 6 month old twins we were still living hour by hour. It was a beautiful day and it was one of the first times either Eric or I had relaxed since the girls were born.

This year we went to the same park with our basket full of home made treats. As I was eating quiche and watching the girls run around, I thought about that day two years ago and how very far we have come. It is such an honor to be these girls’ Mummy.

Nola

Kira

Nola :: Kira

Yummy picnic treats

Nola and Daddy go for a run

My first Mother's Day

Kira

Nola

Mothers

Happy Mother's Day to my Mum. I wished I lived 400 miles closer. You have taught me all I know about being a mum.

Happy Mother's Day to my Mother-In-Law. You raised a brilliant and wonderful son. You have taught me how very loved my children are.

And to a mother who is no longer with us. When I was pregnant, Eric and I asked Grandma Barth for any parenting advise she had. Grandma thought about it for a long time and finally said, "just don't name them anything wierd." Hope she liked the names - I think she did!