Sometimes I scratch myself when I’m not itchy so that when I get itchy, it’s already been scratched.

~Màiri Rose Irene

 How at 13 he still likes to surprise me with flowers.  And when he does, it inspires all of the younger ones and before I know what’s happening, there are little arrangements everywhere.

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week.

 Iain: Enjoying the warm weather.  Somehow this is the only picture I have of him this week.

Elijah: typical

Galen: learning

Màiri Rose: so excited

A little cold going through the family just now.  Very minor.  Just a gentle reminder to slow down a bit in this very busy season.  To take the time to let the little ones help make dinner, to remember to light the candles, take a deep breath and say a blessing.  When I was little, sick time comfort food was College Inn chicken broth, with bow tie egg noodles.  I wonder if when they are grown and get the sniffles my children will think, “Mom’s broth with grain free noodles and lots of kale and garlic…that’s what I need!”

We used up the last of the sweet thyme that we harvested and dried from the garden last year.  Made into a strong tea and mixed with creamy and rich homemade almond milk it was amazing.  I wish I could have some more right now.  Luckily little green leaves are starting to appear in the herb garden again.  Just in time.

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week.

Iain: a favorite game

Elijah: transplanting (photo by Iain)

Galen: identifying birds

Màiri Rose: she wanted me to teach her ‘Miss Mary Mac’

Galen: I don’t ever want to get married.

Me: No?

Galen: No, I want to live here with you and Daddy forever.

Me: What about you Elijah?  Are you going to get married?

Elijah: I’d rather have a horse.  It’s hard to pay for a horse when you have a billion children.

Me: We don’t have a billion children.

Elijah: Fine, it’s hard to pay for a horse when you have four children.

Me: I never said anything about having children.

Elijah: Still, it would just take time away from being with my horse.

My odds at grandchildren are not looking good at the moment.

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week.

Iain and Elijah: the yard is still half covered in snow and they think it’s summer

Galen: sliding during the game they call “base run”

Màiri Rose: this is new.  She says, “I took of my dress because it was making things complicated”

Things are busy here.  So gloriously, nerve wrackingly, abundantly full.  My health is improving.  The weather is starting to turn.  We are so close to so many big and exciting things…the official start of baseball season (just as soon as the snow melts off the field!), two dance recitals, our yearly camping trip, our wedding, a private little trip for just Steve and I, an 11th birthday to celebrate…  My to-do list.  Ha! It’s a bit of a joke, with “need to do” and “want to do” blurring and running on into infinity.  In between the great big projects, I try sneak in little projects or tiny bite sized pieces of medium projects.  This bow tie (pattern: Sunday Best Bow Tie by Crab Apple Attic) was cut and pinned late one night, while talking on the phone with a friend, and quickly sewn up another morning, just before breakfast.  Ultimately I’m hoping he won’t be wearing it with a pajama shirt.  I guess it all depends on whether or not I get around to making the rest of his outfit!

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week.

All of the above are from Easter.

Several blogs that I read and enjoy do regular “what we wore” type features.  I can’t say that I’ve ever, to my knowledge, been considered a fashionable person and the idea of being the actual subject of a post (not the kids or a knitting pattern or something), honestly makes me feel more then a little self conscious.  The thing is that when I read those posts the over-all sense I get is one of fun.  Lightheartedness.  I could use some more of that in life.  Who couldn’t?  And frankly I’ve been on a bit of a frivolous kick.  I find this happens as I start to make my way out of periods of sickness when everything is so serious and practical and real.  Sometimes all I want to think about is finding the perfect pretty dress for twirling.  Something that in the grand scheme of things really doesn’t matter at all.  And yet…yet, it can be just the kind of pick-me-up that one needs in a period of mental torpor.  I am not beyond bribing myself into feeling human again.

Also…I want to play with my clothes, I want to feel playful with my wardrobe.  I wear the same old, same old, most of the time.  I think it’s time to mix things up, try some different combinations and see what happens.  Clearly I have the ability to not take myself too seriously, so we’ll see where this goes!

All of that said…I’m going to make Rosebud go first!

Don’t judge me.

You know you would rather see her anyway.

Besides, she’s really cute.

I think this is the first year of her life that I didn’t make her an Easter dress.  This sweet linen dress was my sister’s when she was a little girl.  It’s been sitting in a closet waiting for her to grow into it.  Rachel, my sister, wore it for Easter one year and then to my high school graduation after that.  If I had the time I’d go up to the attic and dig some pictures out boxes to scan and share.

It’s a coat over a sleeveless dress, but it was quite chilly, so she wore both all day.

The Wee Girl and I are lovin’ these painted min-bobby pins I found.  She picks out a new combination of colors to wear each day.

to be continued…