Connecting, not complaining

So here I go again, but I really mean it this time! I'm going to start blogging more regularly, because lets face it I have all these thought running around in my head and a daily word allowance that needs to get spent.
I recently de-activated my FB account, and first off let me start by saying, I feel wonderful about it! In my opinion over time, the entire feeling of it has really shifted from a place to connect, to a pace to complain. When did it become socially acceptable to just lay out all the inner workings of our lives for everyone to read, and them comment on???? Now I'm not a everything is FANTASTIC all the time kind of gal, but I do believe in a little thing called tact. I highly value relationships, you know with real people not a computer. People that I can hug, and be hugged in return, they know my inner workings. There's also the gossip-y, I don't really want to read this, but I cant stop myself feeling. Like the people on the highway rubber necking to see the car accident. You know, you sometimes just cant stop yourself. I hate that feeling, what has that added to my day? Anything positive? Or just a bad taste in my mouth? I think I can live without that. And my last point, probably the most yucky was the emails by the I have no idea who you are creepy guy, the "I saw your picture and you are stunning I'm at home call me and lets hook up" Well I had just one to many of those...
I'm enjoying my days without the feeling I some how need to just pop on and check out/ stalk and see what everyone else is doing.
My days are filled with little boys, and little boy things like playing in the fort the have hollowed for themselves in the bushes. Slow walks pulling the wagon ( sometimes filled with more than one small boy) School with the boys, cooking with the boys, you name it I got three awesome side kicks. I want to spend my time really connecting with them, making our time together count, they are real and here right beside me.

Well that was a little longer than anticipated..

So its only been a year since my last entry... Im unsure as to if anyone actually reads this? Maybe if I posted a little more often there would be more of a chance of that happening.
But its good for me, to just type, thoughts spilling out and then hitting the "post" button.
So Im back here again, at least I think so...

They seem to search the soul

Those eyes, and that look. Oh, how I love them. A big six months already, how can that be?

My brother and sister just had their forth baby yesterday. A little bundle of boy beautifulness, he is. At a slight 7 pounds 4 ounces he looks mini compared to this giant of mine.

I love how he seems to just take it all in, starring, eyes fixed, unblinking, and then a smile, just a hint at first and then full on heart melting, drool dripping love. Hope your day is wonderful!

vacation playing

When we were vacationing we went to check out this new play ground in my old home town, WOW, it was great fun! New and nicely laid out. Smaller structures for littler ones and bigger structures for, well, bigger ones. And the spinney things! We love those things! We picked up some takeout and ate in the back hatch of our van while the place cleared out for the evening. Perfect for us!!! The playground was now empty, so we all played! Aahhhhh, don't you love vacations!

Yarn dying

When we were away on our Family vacation, the ladies of my family and I tried our hands at dying yarn! I have wanted to try it for quite some time and what better time to do it then with some other lovely creative women.

So, you need to start out with creamy/light colored yarn (natural fibers please) dont use white, it will not dye, because it has been bleach and stripped and the color will not take.

You also need food coloring (easy cleanup!) white vinegar, and plastic sheeting, pot to boil water and a large ish colander. If your yarn is in a ball you will need to wind it loosely into hanks, a tightly wound ball makes it difficult to dye evenly.

Soak your yarn in half cup white vinegar to one gallon cold water solution, (min 2 hours - to over night) Squeeze to remove most of your water then lay it out on your plastic. Now comes the fun part! Mixing your food coloring, we mixed a quarter cup of water with ten drops of color. You can use an eye dropper or small teaspoon for application. Now go to town! Have Fun! ( on a side note,) not to much FUN, as you can apply too much dye and it results in a foresty brown/green hodge podgey look, so if you are aiming for that look apply away! Once you like what you are seeing, place another piece of plastic over your yarn and gently massage. This blends the colors and works them together a bit. Boil a pot of water and suspend a colander over the top (not touching or in the water) place your beautiful yarn in the colander and cover with a lid. Your water should boil they entire time, the rising steam will lock in you color! To check and make sure its "done" your steam water should be clear. Remove from the steam and cool, once its cool, rinse with cold water. If properly set, you should not see very much coloring in your rinse water. Once you have rinsed, hang to dry (I did mine on the clothes line) Once dry, wined back into balls and then knit something beautiful!!

To Grama and Grampa's house we go

I love family. I love it because its with them you don't have to try, and then there are times when you do. But its those times that you want to try your hardest, because its the most important.

Every summer since my brother Eric and I started having children, we have been taking a week long family vacation together. It's been my mom and dad, my brother and sister in law Lynn, me and Dave and both of our ever expanding broods. Usually in a cabin by some lake. There's swimming, floating, sunning, laying in hammocks, eating good food and bond fires in the evenings.

Towards the end of this summer Eric and Lynn's brood is expanding again! We are all so excited to see who this beautiful bump is. In preparation of another little body occupying there cute little home, they are building on.

So family vacation this year is in my home town, at my parents house and our days will be spent working and helping my brother with his house.

The kids are just as excited as ever for our vacation! It doesn't seem to matter where we are going, they get to sleep at Grama and Grampa's, and see there cousins everyday. What could be better than that?

We have been doing the calender count down, we are now down to two days left. Today out came the suitcases, and I'm starting to pack.

Grey came out from his nap dragging his empty suitcase, declaring "he is ready to go to gramas house " and all he needs is his blanket.

Summer's bounty

I love harvesting things that were planted by my two hands. Remembering the grounds chill as these were first tended, with summer passing its warmth and light to growing these beauty's!