For my family

Hey family,
I finally figured out what I can use this venue for - to share with you guys! I was trying to send some photos of Thanksgiving via email and it was just too big and so, voila - here I am. Most of these are from our gratitude circle (we all bring something or a few things representing what we are grateful of and get to share).

 Me sharing - recognize the photo? Yes, I'm grateful for you two, Mom and Dad, how we had such a great childhood and a good model of a marriage you were to grow up with.

 Maxi was grateful for being able to eat the food that we grow on the farm and this very large beet.

 This is a basket bottom or a tray that Addie made in WOLF school. His gratitude was for patience and time and our ability to create things (this came straight from his experience at school, so great to see what he is being exposed to).

The kids making fire. Check out Scout's new haircut as of yesterday. I just couldn't handle the giant hair mats and her refusing to let me brush it.

A long, long time ago....

...Aliah turned ten.  And he liked bikes.  This may have been one of my first cut-out cards ever.  Clearly I dug it because I took a photo of it.  I have been less than successful at documenting all the cards I have made since then but I am making much more of an effort to do so!

Cards of summer....

For David who loves to surf.

For my favourite Rio who turned three.

For Josh who loves wood.

Well, well and well....

Well, it's been a shockingly poor performance this year. My excuse? Yes, well, the small matter of a baby arriving in February. I haven't even been taking many photos of this whole Young & Kellow operation we've got running here. Oh well. Here are a few from the last 9 months or so.

I made slippers!

Maxi needed new slippers for school.

They started like this.... a sweater from the thrift that I felted, some wool...

and turned into this! I was pretty happy with them considering I've never made slippers before. Max seems happy with them too and wore them all morning. He would like me to add some designs on them so maybe I will get to that tonight.
Then, this afternoon, we made bird feeders.

Rafting for Four (& a half)

A few shots from our recent trip on the North Thompson River, from Clearwater to Kamloops.

So beautiful to be on the river. Lots of train action - good entertainment for long days on the raft!
Addie having some kid time on the beach.
On the raft.
Matt and Maxi on the river.
The scene. Let's face facts - I did not spend a lot of time on the oars although I would have willingly done more. I was more entertainer, distractor, snack provider, fight breaker-upper, etc.

One of our campsites along the river. There were great sandbars, little islands and beaches to stop at along the way. It was very smoky for most of our trip. It blew in on the second day and stayed around for the rest of our trip. There were bear prints at this particular spot which led me to think that I saw a bear but it turned out it was just a black cow. The clincher was when it mooed....
Reading in the raft. Got through the all of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories.

These two loved the beaches and were definitely happiest off the raft. Addie got in the river swimming a few times but even with his wetsuit thought it was cold. Maxi did NOT go in the river. Well okay, a little wading. There were a few rapids on the river and they both loved that too. All and all a great trip although I could have done with a bit more lying on the beach....

Silo

Highlights from Silo's life:

Being on the farm, playing stick, chasing chickens, barking at Sophie, barking at Freddie, Auntie Kareno, sleepovers with Auntie Kareno, getting stoned (Auntie Kareno!), riding in the back of the truck, looking for deer, barking at deer, chasing deer, moaning, Matt (she really did love Matt the best).

Did not love:

Being left at home (really, really did not like this), getting brushed, getting caught eating the compost, Sophie, Freddie (although did kind of love the last two on a certain level)

Silo in our life, 2002 - 2010.

She was such a great dog with the kids. So great with them as babies when they would crawl over her and pull her ears and nose.

She loved Auntie Kareno and I think the feeling was mutual. She also was a big fan of trucks.

We love you Silo, we will miss you and all your crazy barking.

Five & Three!

The story of the birthday crown is a little sad (to me). Above is the crown that HH made for Addie - see it, on his head? It's really a great crown. Below is the crown that I made - photos taken tonight at the desk because there is no actual picture of him wearing his crown. Because he hasn't worn his crown. He did receive three crowns for his birthday which was very sweet. The other two got worn. Mine did not - oh, the lessons of attachment and expectation.

Sizing was a problem in the beginning - too tight. But I did make it bigger, of course too big - you see the safety pin? Yep. Doesn't really matter since it's more of a backup crown, clearly not one for everyday (or any day) use.
These were pins I made for the children who came to Addie's party. I was pleased with coming up with this idea. I wasn't so pleased that I came up with the idea at 6pm before the day of the party. I was up late. Very late. But they were really cute.
Maxi on his big day. He wore his crown to open his presents. Also wasn't a big hit. Did I do something wrong? Did I not set the stage for crown wearing?
Bunny cake for Max. Addie asked for a unicorn cake (see top photo) - I love these guys!
Some of my easter eggs this year - went with the natural dyes - onion skins, tumeric and I tried yerba mate. The mate didn't work out fabulous but now that I've tried it once I think I could do it better next time. I didn't manage to get the easter tree happening this year - next year it will happen.
Enjoying eggs in the sun. What a lot of fun we've had! And a lot of work for this mama. I can't believe I have a five year old and a three year old.

Introducing...

Ms. Daffodil Girl. Isn't she adorable? I'm not taking a lot of credit here. I didn't invent her or anything. I made her during our last craft night/school meeting (oh, the benefits of Waldorf). Very fun and inspiring, you just need to have the materials really. She's here just in time for spring.

Coming soon.... birthday crown for son #1 and dusty gnome. I bet you can hardly wait!

The Dolls

For those of you that have heard but not yet seen, here they are. The dolls. Now known as Baby-Addie and Baby-Maxi. With just a little bit of cultivation from me, the boys have already developed quite a fondness for these little ones. Phew.
Addie holding his baby up.
It's all about the hair for Max and Baby Maxi. Last days with the cast too.
Max with the two babies. What is really funny is how much I love them. Now for some new outfits...

Name

I thought I'd better explain the name and give credit where credit is due. There is this little book called Selma by Jutta Bauer which asks the question: What is happiness? Selma the sheep shows us the way. She eats a little grass at sunrise, plays with her children, exercises in the afternoon... I love this book.