Celebr-EIGHT-ing Big B

Yesterday, we gathered at one of our family's favorite beach spots to celebrate Big B's eighth journey around the sun. I arrived by car with the feast for our family and friends, and Papa and Noni brought the boys and the (surprise!) inner tube by boat.

At one point I walked down toward the water and saw so many of our village there, floating in the sunset lit water, every single one of them with a smile on their beautiful faces--and soaked in the good fortune that my children have to be living in a place with such abundant love, friendship, and beauty. We struggle with lessons of gratitude, humbleness, perspective--but I am confident that when they are grown, wise men, they will reflect on these days of innocence with appreciation and joy.

Big B's Eight Cake was a big hit! I used this tried and true recipe, per his request for a chocolate chunk brownie cake--with this amazing buttercream frosting. To make the "8," I just doubled both recipes and baked the cakes in identical Bundt pans. I sliced about an inch and a half off of the end of each and matched their edges to make a perfect eight. Bonus: The inch and a half remains were a perfect day-after-party treat for Big B and little b.

My wish for Big B for his ninth year is to be confident, creative, and happy. He was born with such rich gifts in his intelligence and his spirit--now I think he is ready to use those gifts in a new way, one that is on his own time and by his own design. I continue to feel the honor and privilege of the best seat in the house to watch him unfold. Happy BIRTH day, my prince. Thank you for making me a mama--the greatest gift I'll ever be given.

Thoughts on Seven, Thoughts on Heaven

The paths are many, the truths are one.

Big B turned seven today. I just have to go on record here and say that despite my lack of patience with several of his more testosterone-driven, spirited antics, the boy is an absolute joy to be around. He is funny, crazy smart, and curious in the sweetest way.

Tonight, on the way home from Papa's softball game, Big B asked me if there were other people that could do magic besides God. Is there is a more beautifully fantastic question? We talked about the magic of gravity, the magic of color, and, Big B added, the magic of being alive. We talked (again) about the fact that although there are many world religions with their various differences, there are underlying common threads among them that are the important things to remember: all we need is love, and be kind to each other. He liked this.

We had just finished this conversation, and were on to the scientific differences between sharks and dolphins, when we passed a church marquee that read, "The paths are many, the truths are one." I felt a peace in my heart and a smile on my face. It was a serendipitous affirmation of the honor and joy it has been to be a mother these last seven years. When I teach with my heart, I am rewarded with the truth. Every time.

I love you, Big B. The day you were born was the happiest day of my life.

Yard Sale Score: Ukulele

Could there possibly be anything sweeter than happening upon a fabulous estate sale on the way home from a fabulous morning at the beach?

I scored an antique German Little Red Riding Hood board book, a hand carved linoleum block for prints (which I am in love with and will be shown again in December, I'm sure), and a ukulele. In and of itself, a ukulele (pronounced oo-koo-lay-lay, I've recently learned) wouldn't be a big deal, but Big B was gifted one for his sixth birthday, and we are both learning to play it. Such joy to see his face light up at the prospect of us playing them together!

On Children and Money

Big B is one lucky kid. We are in the process of writing over thirty thank-you cards for the bounty he received upon turning six. Yes, when he's playing with a new birthday toy, we are mindful to pull out the gift list and remember who gave it to him. And sure, he's grateful. But merely two days after the bounty was received, on a routine trip to Target, he was dangerously approaching whiney-town for being denied a new action figure.

I realized that Big B is old enough and smart enough to begin to manage his own money, and to perhaps begin to conceptualize value. I posted the question of allowance to fellow parents in the social media world, and learned so much about the way other families handle this issue. Papa, Big B and I had a meeting, and agreed on a plan.

First, we emptied Big B's piggy bank, which contained, for the most part, all of the money he'd earned since his savings account was opened at birth. Big B helped me sort all of the money, bills and coins alike, by denomination.

When the money was sorted, I helped Big B count each pile, and then use a calculator to total his earnings. Tomorrow he'll make a nice deposit into his savings account. We talked about long-term savings and what he might like to use that money for one day.

And now, each Friday, Big B will get an allowance. This will not be tied to his household chores, as he is expected to pitch in as a family member anyway--and he can always go above and beyond to earn extra money. Like many families, we chose the dollar-per-year-of-age method. Together, we decided on his budget: one-third into his long-term savings, one-third is for spending (or short-term savings), one-sixth to charity, and one-sixth will go toward our family's Redwoods Forest Vacation Fund.

(We'll give little b a little allowance too--he loves to put money in his piggy bank, and I imagine the younger we start, the more savvy he'll be. There are also online games, like this one and this one, to help kids understand what things cost.)

Happy Six, Big B

I no longer have a five-year-old. Big B turned six yesterday, and we've been celebrating non-stop over here...so much so that I really don't have very many pictures to prove it. We had a Tiger Party on Saturday with a house and yard full of little roarers. Tiger tails, tiger toys, tiger books, tiger games, tiger prizes, tiger coloring, tiger balloons, poacher jeep pinata...okay, maybe that was a bit much, but the kids had a great time.

It was a scorcher until the rain fell, so we hired our good friend to come and serve our guests his famous Hawaiian shave ice treats. What a hit! He served over 100 of them!

We also had tiger-themed food, prepared by both of Big B's grandmothers.

Aunt S came through with some gorgeous face painting for our little cats.

Through rain and chaos, we had a wonderful celebration. Yesterday we intended to celebrate further with the real tigers at Busch Gardens, but little b's fever had other plans. So we stayed local, had a sweet day of game playing Grammy, Papu, Noni and Uncle Bob, and enjoyed being with our new six year old.

As I told him the story of his birth last night, I couldn't help crying. He asked if I was sad, and I said no, quite the opposite...that his choosing of Papa and me has made me happier than I ever dreamed. I thanked him for being exactly who he is, and I told him what an honor it is to watch him grow, and grow, and grow.

Yard Sale Score: Vintage Goodness

At a lovely Sunday-only yard sale this morning, I was delighted to find a large and tasteful selection of vintage wares. This darling 1960's serving tray was probably my favorite. Big B and little b are thrilled that I picked up a Donvier Chill Fast Ice Cream Maker, circa a very long time ago, in perfect condition.
I scored big on this gorgeous batik of four horses, perfect for a certain someone in my family with a summer birthday.
Signed, original, antique and described, this will make a very nice gift.
I love yard sales, especially unexpected ones. Have you noticed? Add a brand new dress to the tally above and for twenty bucks, I'm a happy girl.

Birthday Wishes: Thirty-Six Amazing Things

After wishing our amazing Papa a joyous thirty-sixth trip around the sun last Tuesday, we loaded up for the weekend and headed north to celebrate in South Georgia. This was Papa's only wish. In his honor, here is the list we came up with on the way home: thirty-six amazing things we did over the long weekend.

1. Received nourishment from Grandma and her garden
2. Watched a mother whipoorwill protect her baby
3. Saw three deer
4. Saw two rabbits
5. Saw one fox squirrel
6. Saw one enormous red-tailed hawk
7. Saw one gopher tortoise
8. Saw one water turtle laying eggs
9. Found two nests with baby birds
10. Fed chickens and saw day-old chicks
11. Saw lots and lots and lots of butterflies12. Opened our camper door each morning to the sight of Grandma's flowers
13. Took a sunrise walk14. Tried to catch minnows in the pond15. Saw new quilts in progress
16. Shared freshly boiled peanuts in the sunshine
17. Picked blackberries (both in a garden and on a pond bank) and ate them off the vine18. Drew water from a well19. Caught frogs
20. Called to a bob-white bird and were answered
21. Went blueberry picking (and blueberry eating)
22. Played kickball in the rain
23. Got stuck in the mud
24. Gathered wildflowers in the fields
25. Went searching for interesting mushrooms
26. Caught a grasshopper
27. Held baby kittens
28. Welcomed a full moon
29. Stayed up late, roasted s'mores, had sleepovers
30. Went searching for arrowheads and found flint
31. Built fires
32. Revisited a goose nest we discovered on our last visit
33. Went swimming in the Altamaha River
34. Floated a watermelon in the river and ate it while swimming
35. Hiked to rock caves
36. Spent a long weekend with four generations of family

Quick Holiday Knits

I've been a knitting fool lately. We've experienced record lows here in the Sunshine State, and as Rose says, there's just something about chilly weather that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a couple of sticks and a ball of yarn. I knitted a total of eight gifts for the holidays. They flew off the needles so quickly I didn't even catch some of them to take their pictures. Here's what I did manage to capture.

The standard K2,P2 rib pattern hat was a staple of holiday gifting. I used variations of Alex Zorn's Hot Head pattern from the original Stitch 'n' Bitch book for each of four hats. Here's one I made for PawPaw using super chunky yarn. I adapted the pattern to include about an inch and a half of garter stitching at the base, to keep it nice and snug.I made the same hats for Big B and little b using the colorway I used on my very first knitting project for Papa. I also made a hat for Noni using this pattern, but in a gorgeous homespun green yarn. The same yarn also contributed to a simple stockinette hat I made for The Girl's second birthday. I didn't get pictures of either of these, but I had so much fun knitting with the homespun!

For my stepsister, who lives in a colder place than I do, I made these awesome fingerless mitts. I used chunky yarn in the interest of time, and though I absolutely LOVE the color, I think next time I'll use a worsted weight yarn--and there will be a next time, because I must own a pair of these for myself!...and my latest completion was this scarf for Grammy, made with 2 skeins of Angel Hair yarn--easily the most luxurious and soft fiber I've ever worked with. It was such a pleasure to knit this scarf that I may just have to make another one. I didn't use a pattern, but CO 28 stitches onto size 10.5 needles and knit until it was the right length for her. I also made my first fringe, which was so easy and gratifying I must do it again!!Now on the needles is a red chenille hat for Mimi. I got nice and familiar with chenille when I made a black neck warmer for my next door neighbor a couple of weeks ago (the eighth gift, also not pictured). Working carefully with this brittle yarn is worth it; the results are velvety smooth.

Not to worry, sewing machine, I will visit you soon...there are quilts to be finished and baby gifts to make. But for now, I will soak up the cold weather, curl up on the couch, and grab a couple of sticks and a ball of yarn.