Enchanted Mama

38 things to do before I turn 39::

Yes, it's that time of year again.  My birthday is today.  

In years past I have told you "36 things".  I have told you what I would be doing "today".

This year I thought it would be interesting to name 38 things I want to do before I turn 39.

So here it goes...  

 

1. Eat a homemade chocolate cake ala the big daddy with LOTS of candles for my birthday.  

2. Take a series of six salsa dancing classes. 

3. String twinkle lights somewhere unlikely.

4. Finish reading all of Jane Austen's books. 

5. Learn more about natural dyes and the plants to make them.

6. Make hula hoops with my children and their cousins over the holidays.

7. Knit four pairs of socks. 

8. Document a week with photographs.

9. Instigate a yarn-storming extravaganza. 

10. Watch Anne of Green Gables with my oldest girl. 

11. Visit Prince Edward Island.  

12. Get certified to scuba dive.

13. Expand my garden next summer and use all the space available. 

14. Begin my own sourdough starter and then bake some bread.    

15. Knit eight items using yarn only from my stash. 

16. See a Musical in New York.   

17. Make a fairy costume. 

18. Listen to a local folk band. 

19. Sew some new skirts for myself.

20. Write about my children once a month so I remember the moments. 

21. Invite the neighbors over for soup night.

22. Decorate gingerbread houses.

23. Sleep through the night.

24. Camp at Yosemite.

25. Have a family game night.

26. Spend time swimming in the ocean.

27. Finish the BIG writing projects.

28. Explore natural lighting photography.

29. Write twenty hand-written letters.  Especially for friends who love receiving them. 

30. Decorate bikes and have our own parade. 

31. Create a photo book for my children. 

32. Help organize a knit-a-thon. 

33. Leave secret messages in chalk for others to find.    

34. Take the children and our watercolor paints out into nature. 

35. Sample six different foods that I've never tried before.  

36. Serve a meal, outside, with no utensils.  Spaghetti and meatballs?

37. Wear shorts next summer.

38. Knit myself three sweaters.  A knitter should own some knitwear, just sayin'.

 ***One to grow on*** Double hula hooping!  

 

What are some of your "things" for the next year?  I'd love to know...

 

 *list idea from the lovely list maven herself*

His Day::

It was a good day.  A delightful weekend.  A birthday that marked a shift in my guy.  A subtle shift that I haven't quite put my finger on, yet lovely none the less.  

He was celebrated by family and friends.  

He was loved.  

He was reminded that we are all so glad he is a part of our family.

Now the eight year old adventure begins...

 

 

 

 

Eight::

Eight years since this sweet one came into our lives.  

Eight years since the day I held him and wondered how life could be so painful and beautiful all at the same time.  

Eight years since we realized what we were missing.     

Happy Birthday to our delightful boy.

We wouldn't have wanted anyone but you.  

 

We love you!  

 

 

Celebration of Rainbows::

Quite a Celebration of Rainbows we had here last Friday.  

According to my four year old it was, "the best birthday ever!"  

I'm going to pretend that the statement had nothing to do with the new silly putty he had just opened.  No, I prefer to think it had to do with all the love that went into making it a day just for him.  

Full of "loads of rainbows" just like he requested.

Full of handmade lovelies from his brother and sister as well as the pair of mittens his mama barely finished in time.  

Full of our wishes for him and his next year.  

We celebrated our little one and that was best of all.   

 

 

 

 

 

Four::

Today our little guy turns Four!  

Amazing to think that by this time four years ago, after laboring through the night, I held him in my arms for the very first time.  

Today will be full of rainbows.  Loads of rainbows because that is what he wanted.  

We will be playing just what he wants to play.  We will eat just what he wants to eat.  We will be loving this boy today as we are all so grateful he was born.  

We love you our sweet, sweet boy!  

Happy Birthday!  

Sweet and Simple::

A sweet and simple celebration for our littlest, our big one year old.  

There were a few gifts wrapped in silk.  Some papaya for breakfast and a day full of play.  We dined outside in the evening breezes and she had a lemon cupcake with a piece of pineapple on top.  The candle(s) on top (one for the year and one to grow on) she blew out herself.  

She laughed and clapped each time someone sang the Happy Birthday song to her, so of course her siblings sang it all day.  She loved all the doting attention.  

Simple.  Sweet.  Lovely.  

Just what I hoped for my one year old.  

Happy Birthday sweet girl.   

 

Thank you all for your lovely birthday wishes.  It means a lot to have sweet messages to read and cherish. 

One Year::

Our littlest girl is one year old today.  

July 20th 2010 at 12:37 p.m. she came to us after a long journey.  

We are so glad that you were born...

Happy Birthday my darling girl!  

We love you so.  

 

Those moments::

She's crawling now.  More of a full body slide--hands out in front pulling her little legs right along, the knees attempt to come up but mostly it's still a slide.  

It happened so fast.  I'd wondered when she would crawl and then?  Well, she's all over the place.  She's fast too.  Fast enough that I had a moment yesterday when I wondered "where is she????" 

I found her by the door watching her siblings play outside.  No doubt contemplating how to get out there as well.  Then she turned and flashed me a smile.   

It's one of those moments when you can't believe how fast they grow up.  A moment when you can't imagine loving them any more than you already do and then, you do. 

A moment I want to remember.