Our Very Own Candy Fairy

I read this yesterday and was inspired! We are totally having our very own candy fairy come visit after Halloween. She is going to leave the boys small gifts in exchange for the bulk of their Halloween candy. They will, of course, be allowed to eat some candy during and after trick-or-treating. But after a visit from the candy fairy I won't have to fight with them on an hourly basis over whether or not they get to eat the rest of the candy. Brilliant!

The Orchard

Recently, with Landon's preschool class, we went to a local orchard for some apple picking, pumpkin selecting, and a tour of the orchard. We had a really good time, and ended up spending most of the day there.

The boys each got to pick an apple. I got one too, and they were so good! We learned how to pick them properly so that we don't negatively impact the crop for next year.

Coleson showing me his apple. He was pretty excited to hanging out with all the "big" kids in Landon's class.

They also each got to pick out a pumpkin. I loved that the pumpkins were all little enough for them to carry out of the field. They currently reside on our dining room table, and are frequently colored with markers. You know, to decorate them for Halloween.

Landon grabbed one right away, but Coleson took his time choosing one that was just right. It actually says quite a bit about their personalities.

Landon ate all of his apple, and helped carry his pumpkin to the car. After we left, he held the pumpkin in his lap the whole way home (about 45 minutes) and talked to it. A few times I asked him if he was asking me something, to which he would reply in all seriousness, "No, mom, I'm talking to my pumpkin."

Before we left we had to play in the pea pit. It's like a huge sandbox, but filled with dried peas. My boys were in heaven because they had all kinds of digging trucks and stuff like that. I think they played for almost an hour before I finally convinced them to get out and go home.

We definitely have to go back again soon and get some more apples. I'm just hoping they still have some. I have yet to make my yearly applesauce. Considering that Landon ate four bowls of my mom's batch at her house yesterday, I think I'd better get right on that!

this month

This month we have . . .

. . . spent a long weekend at the lake.

. . . had Tyson home on vacation for a week.

. . . sent Landon to his first day of preschool.

. . . gone to the fair.

. . . picked up milk at the local dairy.

. . . played trains. A lot.

. . . preserved fruits and veggies for winter.

. . . put up bunk beds for the boys.

. . . gone swimming for the last time this summer.

. . . started planning for the holidays.

. . . said goodbye to summer and hello to autumn.

(I keep hoping to make it into this space more often to post, but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe with the cooler weather keeping us inside more?)

today

Today we are . . .

. . . running errands.

. . . starting new knitting projects.

. . . sitting on the patio.

. . . having leftovers for dinner.

. . . going to play with friends.

. . . picking flowers, daisies to be exact.

. . . wearing a white sundress, fully expecting it to be dirty at the end of the day.

. . . loving summer weekends.

summer

It's been so long since I posted. The last post says the beginning of April. Where did that time go? I suppose we have been busy with summer stuff, but I don't feel overly busy. Ah, well. We celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary, took a trip to Olympia and Seattle, went berry picking, worked in the garden, worked a lot in the yard, rode bikes, took walks, played at the park, and many other fun things over the past three months. And now I am hoping to get back into this space to post more often.

Let's start with this.

Outside my window... sunny and 80 degrees. Perfect for summer.

I am thinking... that I don't know how I want to spend Coleson's nap time with Landon gone too. So many choices.

I am thankful for... my sweet boys, even though they drive me crazy sometimes.

From the kitchen... wondering what to grill tonight and if we should have it with salad from the garden or greens from the garden.

I am wearing... denim shorts, a new girly blouse (with polka dots even!) and a white tank top.

I am creating... a lovely Christmas present for a family member.

I am going... to have to run to the store when Coleson gets up from his nap.

I am reading... The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson.

I am hoping... that we can have a relaxed afternoon.

I am hearing... Coleson's even breathing over the baby monitor.

Around the house... still trying to get things in order from our trip last week.

One of my favorite things... preparing good, healthy food for my family.

A few plans for the rest of the week: a trip up to my mom's, friends in town for the weekend, and a tie-dye party!

Welcome Sweet Baby Girl!

My wonderful friend just had her third little girl. Welcome to the world, baby Rebecca! We are so excited to get to meet her. She is the newest baby in my sweet group of mama-friends, and I know she will be welcomed with open and loving arms. Congratulations, Ivory and family!

Sweaters!

I have been knitting, and crocheting too, a lot over the last year or so, and not really posting any of my finished projects. I have been working on many things (socks, shawls, hats, baby things for friends, toys, mittens, etc.) but I got on a bit of a sweater kick, and knit about four of them. All for me. One was done at the end of last winter, but in the past two months I have completed the other three. So I finally decided to take some pictures and get them put up!

This is my February Lady Sweater, that I actually finished at the end of February last year. I made it as a knit-along at my local yarn shop. I really like how it turned out, but I wish I would have made the sleeves a bit longer. The sweater is actually a nice green color - these pictures don't really do it justice.

This is a more up-close shot of the lace stitches.

This is the sweater I finished this week, the Heather Hoodie Vest. I think it is one of my very favorite finished products ever. It knit up really quickly and it looks great. The first picture is the more accurate color.

Here is a more detailed shot of the great cable panel.

This next sweater, Sedum, didn't turn out quite how I wanted but I really like it anyway. The yarn I used has been pilling too much for my taste, and makes the sweater look more worn than it is. The picture isn't great, either (me and my sideways stuff), but it is a nice, everyday sweater. Hannah is the one who inspired me to make one, and hers is way more gorgeous than mine but that's ok. I will just continue to envy hers even while wearing mine.

This last sweater, the Tangled Yoke Cardigan, is probably the most time-consuming thing I have ever knit but I learned so much in the process. If I was doing it over again (which I won't) I would have made the next size up, as this is very fitted on me. I get a ton of compliments on it, and I know it will last forever, and I am so pleased with the way it turned out.

The cable panel intimidated the pants off me, but it all turned out nicely in the end. That is, despite a desperate phone call on a Saturday morning to a knitting guru friend about my cables being off a stitch for half a row three rows back and how to fix them.


So, there are all my sweaters from the last year or so. I am quite proud of myself, considering I learned to knit three years ago solely to make baby hats and wool soakers.