“Mom? I was dreaming about that day.”
“Yesterday?”
“mmm-hmmm”
(conversation with Davy-do, just a minute ago)
From my journal, yesterday:
“Day outside with children, for the day. Caleb is probably going to be sick from all the pickles we are eating. He has helped himself until I am amazed. I noticed Patches enjoying the warm sun, rolling back and forth and losing her balance in the dry grass on a hill. Grace is busy making herself a bracelet with wrong side out duct tape wrapped around her wrist. She is pressing small leaves, twigs, and berries onto the sticky tape. I tore a piece from my journal, a tiny piece, and wrote “love” on it to add to her bracelet, too. Ethan is in the stream, pursuing his latest passion–finding beautiful rocks. He bends down and scoops them out with his hand, like he’s searching for gold. Every once in a while he brings one to me. “I think I found an amethyst”, he said yesterday, when he showed me a find. Caleb fell and got his hands dirty and when I sent him to the pond to wash, he forgot about his dirty hands and said, “Fishes! I see Fishes!” After watching them for a few moments, he turned tail and said dramatically, “I scared! I scared!” He made Jacob and I laugh. David is happy, then mad, happy, then mad. Jacob is the most restless about having to stay outside for so long. . . .but he did play his fiddlin’ song for us, took some pictures with my camera, and jumped on the trampoline. Now he is reading his new book in the tent. Yes, we put up the tent first thing. . .and filled it with pillows, blankets, books, and I even brought down my sewing things so that I could repair a pillow that I had made. It’s nice and warm here on my blanket. I think I’ll close my eyes for a few minutes . . . .”
We didn’t end up staying out ALL day. Just ’til 2. We were all tired of fresh air by that point. Too much wind and sun for us . . .after being sheltered in the house all winter long. When we came inside, I put Caleb to bed and I think he would have slept all night because he did NOT want to wake up after 2 hours. David’s skin is ashy and I need to get him some good lotion (he has sensitive skin and has already gotten a mild sunburn since spring has arrived).
*************************************
I made this pillow last spring and was so proud of it (I rarely sew anything). I had put some buttons on it, which David promptly pulled off during a “nap” on my bed one day. It’s been an irritation to me all this time. . .finally, I patched the hole he made, and sewed on a new button. Good as new!
Our snack table. At first it was just cookies and ice water. But then, as we were all zippered up in the tent, I got a craving for pickles (and no, I am not pregnant, no teasing!). I made the kids play “20 questions” to find out what I wanted to eat. Jacob finally guessed it. “Now you made me want to eat one!” he said.
Later on, I brought down things for PB+J.
Caleb and me, in the hammock. Grace is cutting down briars. You should have seen her enthusiasm when I said, “You are such a hard worker, Grace, just like your Grandma!” She visibly puffed up and put in a good solid 15 minutes or so, until Jacob took the pruners from her so he could have a turn.
Me and my shadow. If he’s not near me, I get nervous. (because of the ponds) I think today I will make him walk around with a life jacket on, “just in case”.
Our musician:
It’s hard to look up and smile in the middle of a song. He wants you to know he was playing a “professional song, and not a baby one.” Is he sweet, or what?
Inside the tent. The kids strung buttons. We had a conversation about my mom. Jacob thought the buttons were from her and I said, “No, I bought these at an antique store. Grandma would NEVER give me her buttons. You just ask her the next time we visit. She’ll say, ‘NO'” Jacob said, “That sounded just like Grandma, that’s just how she says it. It’s not as hard to bear when she says it that way“.
The basket has my sewing things in it, and my journal. And lots of sharpened pencils.
See our crayons? I am constantly refreshing our crayon supply. I love to color with the kids.
The children carry around a pack of stuffed animals constantly these days. They all have names. Last week I had to wash them all, because they were floating them in small boats (snow sleds, really) on the pond!
Parker and his new doghouse. I kept Caleb busy and free from danger for a while, by giving him a piece of chalk and telling him to go decorate the doghouse. The kids love to sit on top of the roof and think about stuff.
The amazing pickle-eater.
(“That’s mine pickle!!!”, he just said (he’s standing by me as I type, eating raisins))
What bliss! To have a small boy sitting by my side, leaning on my knee.
It was a lovely time. I needed it for myself. I read the book my friend Hannah lent to me, and that is where I got the idea for the duct-tape bracelet. The link for the book is at the end of this post. I enjoyed being outside, away from the house, listening to birds (woodpeckers, chickadees, robins) and the water. I wore my shawl all day, and felt so cozy in it.
There are a couple of things that I must do this year outside. One is put up an old mailbox just inside the woods. I think it would be so fun for the kids to find mail in it (from their stuffed animals?). And the other thing I want to do is make little signs and put them up on stakes or trees. . .painted ones, with quotes or verses. I will paint them in natural colors, not loud garish ones. I just need to figure out how to do it so that they are weatherproof.
I also want to plant a couple small gardens, and put them in unexpected places.
Okay, I really must begin the day. I do so love to sit and write, first thing in the morning. Now comes the real fun!
Good to be Home 
What a blissful day! So perfect. I love the idea about the signs in the woods.
Everytime I put a tent up outside, whether to dry it, repair it, or clean it, my son wants to sleep in it that night!! We’ll be camping this weekend. My wife started an American Heritage Girls troup and we are taking one of the groups camping. I get to supervise the set up then my buddy and I get to camp a few sites down. I may have pictures next week.
What a great day! And you reminded me to bring you those books. 🙂 Anyway, looks like you had so much fun outside. We’re looking forward to spending much time outside today also. Love this weather!
It sounds like you had the perfect day! Looks like beautiful weather. Yesterday it got up to 68 but it was really windy, today it is back chilly again in the 40’s. We can see that warmer weather is coming and the kids just love being outside, they are always wanting to wear summer clothes now.
I love it, this post reminded me that I have a post I totally forgot to put up last week!
Did the tent get really hot in the sun?
The pillow is darling, I am glad that you took the time to patch it, I secretly liked patched things more than perfect things, like my pottery from Africa that Steve glued back together for me and now it has all these fantastic cracks. Your pillow looks better than store bought, you did a great job on it!
My favorite part was reading about Jake playing outside, would have loved to have been there hearing his professional song in person!
I couldn’t eat pickles like that, hehe. The first photograph is glorious. What lovely weather you have!
Blessings,Addy
I can see why Davey would ask if he were dreaming. 🙂
For your info- I just ordered 2 of the Farmgirl books from Amazon. 🙂 Thanks for posting about it…I think my girls and I will love it……
What a beautiful day and beautiful plans! I love the idea of a day camp! Just yesterday I was writing a list of things I want to have in my outside basket…what I take with me when I go out with the kids so I don’t have to keep running back into the house.
What a wonderful day! I am so, so ready for bare ground and warmer weather!! You are such a good mommy, and have such good ideas. You inspire me to think of new ways to have fun and make memories with my kids. Bekah is my pickle lover, but Jake and Sarah like them too. I like the pink bow in your hair- so sweet and feminine. I remember when you made that pillow. You did a very nice job of patching it- looks great!
we love days such as these — we can’t wait, Lord willing to live out on our land and do it more than just on the weekends 🙂 This post makes me pray even now that it might happen one day :~) OH, and I know about the shadow with the little one feeling — my two year old I often just stick a life jacket on him since we are on the River and have creeks and such — Now with Baby moving around a lot I am constantly looking to make sure they are near 🙂 -Pickles! oh, yum ~ we have a few pickle lovers who if they saw this post would ask for some this very minute ~ I love the pictures of your son playing the fiddle … does he look like your husband? I think I remember seeing one of him along the way and one of those shots seemed to really favor him. Good for you keeping a picture journal of what you do with the blessings God has given you~ these days will fly by – they ARE flying by and I want to remember them forever.blessings and peace on your day~alyssa
Camping, picnicking, and just hanging out in the yard together in weather like that…it just doesn’t get much better! These pictures brought back some childhood memories for me…and another thing that did was your mention of a mailbox in the woods. When my siblings and I were little, we made mailboxes, placed them next to our bedroom doors, and left notes to each other! I had completely forgotten about that until this post.
You inspired me~I just went and found our box of crayons to smell ~the wonderful waxy memory. I love to color and haven’t done it for a long time.Brianna is upstairs wearing her cozy pants and Eric’s big sweater while reading “To Kill a Mocking Bird”. I told her about this post, and how my hope is that one day she might have such a place to raise her children. (She has told me she plans to move away from So. Calif to raise a family)
What a wonderful day! I really admire your creativity with all the things you do with your children, making memories for them, and facilitating their learning with things like the bracelet — and taking care of yourself as well!
Wow ~ that was a full day! Wonderful too ~
Such a blessing of a day and a blessing that you love to write about it…..so good to keep those memories…..we benefit!
I love reading about your blessings in thoughts and in your children. Its neat to be able to picture everything as you describe it and it sounds like your children are as home sick for their grandma as you are!! So . . . when will you make another visit to Afton for awhile?
It is so nice that you don’t have to go far for an outing. It all looks so peaceful. Beautiful fun memories….and the work it took to make it all happen was well worth it. I love your patched up pillow. I too am trying to simplify.
What a nice day you had!
What a wonderful day you had with your children!
:o) Can I be a little girl again, and come live with you?!!I love buttons, crayons, fiddles & pickles ….. oh, I could go on! I loved reading this … I was carried away … I laughed and I cried! What a blessing you are!I love your plan for ‘the mailbox in the woods’!!Sounds to me like the title of a very good book!Thank you for sharing your precious memories!Blessings on your weekend!~ Deborah <><
Such neat creative ideas you have! Sounds like a wonderful day!
Your journals will be a treasure to your family in future years!
such fun stuff going on there – reminds me of what life w/ Anne Shirley 🙂 as a mom would have been like – mailboxes in the woods. secret gardens. messages on trees. LOVE it! thanks for the inspiration~
I keep a journal too. I love sitting down at the end of the day an scribbling in it. It’s even more fun to go back years later and read the scribbles!
Some things are even better when they are patched!
Wonder Years–You are so right. enjoy them –It looks like you do. The large tent remindes me of so many years ago–A 17 footer in the back yard until a hugh rain caused a major problem. My family was not a big advocit-(sp) of camping but we did a little. The water looks so clear in the pond. Is it always that clear, Is there fresh water coming in and going out?
By all means use the swimmies or sometrhing on the little fellow, they can disipear so quickly. My Grandson fell in our pond one day and we were all around, All of a sudden one of my boys said–What is that in the pool, There Austin was face down floting with his little behind-(with diaper on) sticking up.–In a split second I was in clothe and all. When I realized he was OK I almost fell apart, I just trembled all over. God just had him hold his breath I guess. If the child had drown –OH MY.–I’m weeping just thinking about it now.
Austin is now –22 years old and a fine young Christain Man
When I saw the picture of Davey, I thought at first it was a picture of your hubby when he was younger. Davey looks like his dad.
I love the picture of the back of Caleb’s head. There is just something so sweet about a little boys neck isn’t there? What a treat to share the day with those precious gifts from God. Thank you for sharing with us.
What a beautiful and fun post ~ chock full of life’s priorities! Please let us know when you publish your first book OK? You really should! What a beautiful family…so delightful to read about too. What a blessing…..
I saw this book on your link once….I wondered if it was good. Thanks!
Stephanie
Shanda all your posts fill me with peace. That’s why I come to your blog because you share real life but in a beautiful “exhaulted” way..you make the ordinary worth thinking about and living!!
@momtonine – ((hugs)) love you, too! Enjoy your day, dear Mom of NINE!