Christ is risen, dear ones. We had the most joyful and rejuvenating Pascha. Michael loved holding his candle and icon as part of the procession, and hasn’t stopped wandering around the house singing Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death! We didn’t get home from church until around 4 am, exhausted and elated.

We also had a beautiful Easter Sunday dinner with my grandparents and great aunt, and Beatrice and Michael had a blast with a small egg hunt orchestrated by my mother. Michael loved finding every egg and immediately emptying the candy into his mouth or the mini toys cars into his bucket. Unsurprisingly, Beatrice was content with picking up two eggs, one for each hand, and wandering around the yard with her prizes.

We had friends with us for the last few days of Bright Week (the name for the week after Easter), and really enjoyed good company, good cocktails, and good conversation. It was a low key visit given the exhaustion following Pascha, but we were able to go all together to our local used bookstore to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, and we girls were able to go to a fabric sale! It was adorable watching our kids play together, too.

We acquired a picnic table for our garden, planted some more flowers, and dusted off the water table. Michael has continued his obsession with the hose, and my plants are very well watered (his sister now less so, thankfully). We’ve spent more time in the sunshine and both children are developing quite impressive farmer’s tans.

Of course, Michael’s had some more toddlerisms:

Michael: Mama, you’re SO handsome!

Me: *giving Michael a plate of breakfast*

Michael: Thanks Mama! Wow, you’re so nice! 

Michael, singing at the top of his lungs: Head, shoulders, knees, and nose!

Michael: Hey Dad! Can you do me a favor?

Michael: Am I four yet?

Us: No….

Michael: I’m STILL three???

Michael: There’s lots of gods?

Me: No; there’s only one God.

Michael: But grandpa says God has a Son!

(This was at 8 am…I was not expecting to have to explain Trinitarian theology to my three-year-old before coffee)

Beatrice is growing in leaps and bounds. She gives high fives and loves throwing balls (then applauding herself for throwing them). She’s sprouted a molar and is working on another one, and all of us are sleeping less because of it. She’s finally getting a bit more hair, and it’s coming in a beautiful wispy strawberry blonde. Her favorite foods right now include mozzarella balls, sausage, and bananas. She dances along to music, loves trying on everyone’s shoes, and sings with much gusto and no tune. We love our precious, precocious girl.

We’ve already begun having 90 degree days, but thankfully they’ve been sparse and interspersed with some lovely mild 60-70 degree temperatures. On the cooler days, I’ve been indulging in some baking. I found a delicious soft pretzel recipe and have made it twice already: they don’t last long in our house. Michael loves helping me knead the dough once it’s no longer “too sticky”.

Me Made May is here, too — for those of you who aren’t familiar, it’s a social media trend where makers try to wear something “me-made” every day in May. I haven’t done every single day, but I still have really enjoyed incorporating my handsewn/knit clothes into my outfits more intentionally and documenting them.

Finally, this week Jake and I were able to have a date night out just the two of us, after months of trying to get one planned and having to reschedule for one reason or another. We were able to sit and chat without interruption, enjoy a good cocktail, and talk about everything from the funniest things the kids have said to life changes and next steps for our little family.

He is everything my childhood self dreamed of, and everything my adult self could ask for. I’m so grateful for him and all that he does for us.

And now we’re settling into late spring’s rhythms, taking each day as it comes. The days have some tears, but are mostly full of laughter and play and books and coloring and gardening. The nights have some sleeplessness and fatigue, but are mostly full of quiet and card games and comedy shows and beer and books and conversations and snuggles.

I am so grateful for the gift of this bright, bright life.

We’ve had a busy time over here: we have successfully embarked on potty-training. It’s been an over a week sans diapers with remarkably few accidents (only 2?) even during our very busy weekend and long drives. Now we rarely have to ask him if he has to go — he’s been confidently heading to the bathroom of his own accord. He successfully made it through a friend’s birthday party, church, and a play date without any accidents.

I have to admit I’d been dreading potty-training, but so far, this has gone much, much more smoothly than I’d expected. We aren’t out of the woods yet and I know there will be setbacks, but I’m still relieved.

(pun intended).

We’ve had a handful of hilarious toddler quotes:

Michael: *walking over with his underwear in his hand* I need a new pair.

Me: Oh no! Did you have an accident?

Michael: *giggling* Nope, I’m just pretending.

(Little stinker)

Michael: *putting a bowl on his head* I’m a lamp!

Michael: *sighing happily* My bum-bum is beautiful.

Me: Michael, please stop crying —

Michael: I’m NOT crying! I’m WHINING.

Michael: Ooh I have SPICY burps (after drinking a sparkling water)

Michael and Bea had checkups recently and are both statistically confirmed as tall and rambunctious. Bea has sprouted tooth #5 and is working on #6 and #7. She continues to prefer crawling, though she’s shown us she will walk multiple steps if under a bit of duress. Her new phrase is “wiggle wiggle wiggle” — it makes Jake and I laugh every time we hear her say it. Whenever someone says “duck” or mentions ducks, she promptly begins quacking. Waving at people is one of her favorite things to do. She continues to use her voice at the top of her lungs, and her favorite foods have expanded to include mozzarella and veggie straws.

And she has the biggest toothy grin.

In garden news, my pea plants have finally poked their heads above the earth, but nothing else in my raised beds is prepared for spring. We had a few days of colder weather, crazy high winds, and rain, but my plants seem to be doing ok. I still have one bed to clear and two beds to fill with compost, but the weather and our schedules haven’t really permitted garden work. I’m hoping that, by April, I’ll have all the beds finished and the rest of my veggies planted. Our chickens have also resumed laying regularly, for which we’re very grateful.

As the weather has warmed up, we’ve spent more time outside. Michael has been driving his little Jeep almost daily and loves it when we buckle Bea in beside him. Bea is obsessed and tries to climb back in whenever we take her out. We’re impressed with how adept Michael is at driving: he now can back up and turn with very little guidance. We have the ability to stop the car remotely if there are any issues, but we don’t steer it for him anymore. And he’s only crashed once in recent days!

In making news, I blocked my finished blue shawl, and it really bloomed into its lace and shape. The pattern is Open Skies by Andrea Mowry — I loved its simplicity and beauty. It’s a lovely shawl to wear in the chilly mornings as I finish my coffee. Since it was knit out of a worsted weight yarn, it’s very warm and squishy. Michael loves borrowing it and running around the house like a shawl-superhero.

I cast on a new shawl just for fun: Pressed Flowers by Amy Christoffers. It felt like the perfect spring pattern. I’m knitting it purely from leftover project yarn and handspun. It’s a bit lower contrast than I’d expected, but the soft muddy look is growing on me. Also, the texture is a lot of fun.

I’ve realized just how much I enjoy wearing shawls. They’re so cozy and versatile. I guess I have fully embraced my aesthetic being a mashup between a hobbit, a crazy professor, and a grandmother.

I took inventory recently: I have 8 knitting projects, 2 spinning projects, 3 sewing projects, and 2 quilting projects — all in various stages of completion. Even though there’s nothing technically wrong with it, I feel a little sheepish when I see how many things I’m working on at once…but I like being able to hop between multiple projects as the mood strikes. It’s how I work best, especially in this stage of life. And I do finish all of them eventually.

When we’re younger, we’re often taught the virtue of singular focus: how good it is to sit down and focus on one thing at a time. And there is virtue to that! But right now, as a sleep-deprived mom of two young kids, I’m finding my joy in flexibility — in dancing from project to project as my free time and brainpower permit.

Flexibility has been on the forefront of my mind lately, as we deal with a teething and potty training and all the other challenges of parenting, on top of life’s challenges.

For those of you who don’t know, Jake stepped down from his role as both choir director and treasurer/parish council member at the beginning of this year. It was a difficult decision, but the right one for our family. Both of those jobs on top of his full-time position as a data analyst/accountant were just too much. It’s been so lovely having him home and present on the weekends and standing with us during Liturgy. We also transitioned to a new parish to help us all recover from the burnout that had developed. We’re so grateful for those who supported us through it with kindness and understanding, both at our former parish and our current parish.

Whether potty-training, toddler tantrums, one-year old teething, sleep regressions, or difficult life decisions, it seems like the life lesson of this season is flexibility: learning to deal with whatever comes our way with calmness, acceptance, and prayer. It’s kind of like a dance — one that I’m not leading. I could be rigid and stiff and fight to go where I want to go, or I could bend and move with the direction I’m being led.

And only one of those makes a beautiful dance.

Our sweet, fiery, loud, hilarious, adventurous Beatrice turned one this week. My goodness, she’s such a joy.

I was really proud of the cake I made her: a simple yellow cake with cream cheese frosting (both delicious recipes from Sally’s Baking Addiction), decorated with blueberries and mint leaves. Sally’s recipes never fail me. I’m so glad my sisters-in-law introduced me to her website!

Like I did for Michael on his first birthday, I made her two things she can have as a keepsake: a little felt bunting she can hang in her room, and a birthday crown.

Her actual birthday was quiet and simple — we saved gifts and cake for the day after, when we could celebrate with family. However, we are very grateful for the family and friends who remembered her on her birthday and texted or called us to sing to her, belated or no. Even though she’s still little and may not remember her first birthday, both Jake and I realized how much it means to us when people remember and celebrate our babies.

Beatrice loves putting things on her head or around her neck: necklaces, towels, clothes — whatever she can find. She still prefers crawling to walking, and if she has something she doesn’t want to drop, she’ll clamp it between her teeth as she crawls. She’s as active as her brother, and loves to climb up on tables and the backs of chairs.

She’s got quite a voice, and she uses it. All the time. At max volume. And honestly…I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m proud of my fiery girl, and I love her so much. May she never be afraid to use her voice.

We’re grateful for the beautiful weather we’ve been having — it’s allowed for more garden time. Michael has been hunting “good bugs and bad bugs” (roly-polys and centipedes). He releases the good bugs back into the garden and throws the centipedes over our fence.

I got one more garden bed weeded and cleared: one more to go! We’re past our last estimated frost date, so I’m excited to get more veggies in the ground. I’ve also got a robust compost pile started — I’ve been researching composting methods and hoping I can make enough to healthily amend our soil without having to buy it in the future.

Michael’s been assisting in making meals lately, and he’s a very big help. We really enjoyed pizza night: homemade pizza is one of our favorite meatless meals. He’s been very patient as I still recover from sickness — even after a round of antibiotics I’m still fighting a gnarly cough. It’s made our outdoor activities less frequent, but we’ve had some fun sensory bins in the meantime. Dry pasta, rice, ice, and pompoms are the current bin filler favorites, and pipe cleaners, pots and pans, and bulldozers are the favorite toys.

We’ve survived the first week of Lent without too much strife: I did, however, somehow manage to crack our kitchen sink by dropping a soap bottle less than 4 inches from the surface. It’s a nice three-way crack that goes straight through the sink. I put pictures below because I know I wouldn’t have believed it without seeing it. The warranty-covered replacement is back ordered til April, too. Thankfully it’s still usable for the time being, but I look forward to when I can use our sink without constantly checking for leaks underneath.

I’ve been spending more time reading: I’m finishing up Lloyd Alexander’s Westmark trilogy, which I’d never read before and am thoroughly enjoying. I read aloud the short chapter book The Dragons of Blueland to Michael in one sitting, and we’re now slowly making our way through The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald while Bea naps and he plays in his sensory bins.

As for making, I finally finished my huge comfort knit shawl. I currently only have a picture of it before blocking: it bloomed beautifully large and lacy after blocking. I also finished spinning 4 oz of a combo spin, and I’m working on the second bobbin now. I’m still working on a handful of other projects and I hope I’ll have a few more finished objects to show soon.

As I mentioned previously, for Lent I deleted all social media apps except Pinterest from my phone (I use Pinterest for a lot of recipes and crafting tutorials/ideas, and don’t get sucked into “doomscrolling” on it). I’m actually really enjoying my self-imposed break (and the accountability announcing it has given me, lol).

I’ve decided to pop on Instagram/Facebook again on Saturday evenings to share my blog posts and do a brief catch-up on faraway friends (the two things I appreciate social media for most). It’s a good balance; one I’m hoping to maintain even after Lent. It’s helped me reclaim my time for things I enjoy more: reading, knitting, and intentional play with the kids.

I don’t know if it’s my lessened screen time or Lent or what, but recently it’s been easier for me to find things to be grateful for in the midst of the chaos of life: baby giggles, dog or cat snuggles, an unexpected extra hour of sleep, toddler rain boots, the way sun comes through the living room window at 7:35 am, new music to listen to, morning lattes. The smallest things I might’ve passed over have become tinged with the golden light of gratitude. And I hope that golden light finds you, too, as we move onwards through this fasting season.

As our last summer hurrah, we all took a family vacation to Maui just like we used to do when I was young. It was a trip with all four generations!

I challenged myself to cast on a project on the plane and see how far I could get during our vacation. I didn’t have very much knitting time except on the plane while the kids slept, but I made some pretty good progress on my Sunflower Socks by Charlotte Stone.

Almost done with one sock — over a week of distracted work!

The trip was amazing. We swam with the kids in the ocean or the pools, and sat by the kids’ area to read or talk while Michael ran around. Jake and my dad swam with Michael a lot, helping him strengthen his swimming skills. I took care of Beatrice with my mom and grandparents and great aunt.

Michael had such a great time. He made friends immediately and played in the play structure with them for hours. He loved all the time outside: he was often down by the pool from sunrise to close to sunset. I don’t know how he kept going without collapsing from exhaustion: he never stopped moving unless we forced him to sit and eat or drink.

We took a drive to the Iao Valley and did a short hike to the Maui landmarks. I loved walking through lush tropical forest by the rushing river. If we go back, I’ll hoping we get to do more hiking. The scenery is breathtaking.

We also visited some restaurants we used to go to whenever we visited during my childhood. The food was amazing — I had some form of a poke bowl every day, which was one of the highlights of the vacation for me.

I also got to go snorkeling with my dad, and play with Michael in the ocean. Snorkeling is one of my favorite things to do: I could stare at the gorgeous coral reef and all the beautiful tropical fish all day. I love diving down as far as I can and looking up at the sparkling water high above me.

My parents watched the kids one evening so Jake and I could have a date night. We had a lovely dinner and walk on the beach, and finished with a cocktail and dip in the hot tub. It was so beautiful and relaxing. I won’t lie — it was the best part of the entire vacation for me. We were both so grateful to have a few hours without the kids to enjoy the scenery ourselves.

As lovely as the vacation was, there were several bittersweet parts to it. We were acutely aware of the absence of our deceased family members who had been here with us before. Many small things popped up throughout the trip and reminded us of them: a sadness I cherished because of the memories it came from.

Lahaina is still rebuilding after the fire last year that decimated so much of the island’s life and history. I only have a cursory grief, born of my few visits and childhood memories playing along the streets of Lahaina and visiting the Banyon Tree. It’s nothing compared to the grief and loss of those who called it home. I was glad to support local businesses in the little ways I could. When in doubt, if you have the means, Maui Food Bank is a wonderful place to donate.

There was a living piece of the Banyon Tree in our hotel’s lobby. I snapped this picture of Michael standing in front of it, to mirror the pictures we have of me growing up beside it.

Vacations with the very young are always interesting: as friends of mine have said, it’s just your daily parenting duties in a different, pretty (and not baby-proofed) location. It’s often equal parts exhausting and enjoyable. Now that we’re back, I’m tackling the dusting and the meal planning and the laundry (so much laundry) and easing into the slower autumn season.

It was a glorious trip that I’m grateful for and adored, but at the end of the day, this homebody hobbit is glad to be back in her little cottage.

August had quite a busy start. We just got back from a whirlwind trip to Minnesota to visit my grandparents and celebrate both of them turning 90 years old this year.

The flights both there and back went much more smoothly than I expected! Michael had his own seat for the first time and very much enjoyed watching Cars with his own headphones and holding Grandpa’s hand. Beatrice slept for 90% of both flights.

It was so special to have my grandparents meet Beatrice for the first time: even more so because one of Bea’s middle names (Margaret) is named for my grandmother.

Having so many family members in the same place at the same time was a blessing. We didn’t quite get everyone — three of the thirteen grandchildren couldn’t make it — but it was a beautiful turnout nonetheless.

As always when my dad’s side of the family gets together, there was much singing and playing of games. Michael and Beatrice were surrounded by “aunties and uncles” (my amazing cousins as well as my aunts and uncles) to hold them and play with them.

It was such a lovely time. I won’t deny it was exhausting: neither kids slept well or for long, and even tiring Michael out in the hotel pool had limited success. But I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

When we returned home, Beatrice turned five months! She’s quite the mover: even though she’s not quite crawling, she rolls and scoots and shimmies very quickly. She’s also often on her hands and knees, rocking, trying to figure out how to crawl so she can keep up with her big brother. She is still working on cutting her bottom two teeth, and she’s learned to screech with incredible volume for such a small baby. She loves her Sophie giraffe teether toy and any of her brother’s cars (much to his chagrin).

So now we are home (just in time for a few more 100+ degree days) and settling back into our routines. Next week the temperatures should finally drop into the high 80s and low 90s, which means we will be able to have more outdoor fun.

I’ve been trying to be more intentional about our daily routines. I’m focusing on our mornings: getting dressed, breakfast, morning prayer, some crafts or activities, and then quiet play in his room til lunch. No screen time before 2 pm is my current rule, and it’s working well for our family. I hope to move it to 4 pm eventually as we find our rhythms and I rely on it less.

Michael is in a phase where he’s enamored with ritual: he wants to do things the exact same way over and over again as he masters them. Integrating rituals into our daily lives has been really good for him in particular.

I’ve been very inspired by an account I found on Instagram (@sasha__dube). Her unhurried and beautiful approach to motherhood and life in general is a breath of fresh air. I especially love her different sensory activities for her toddlers: they’re relatively low-maintenance, clean, and easy to set up. Right before our trip, I ordered some supplies and set up our porch to make these activities easier to facilitate.

It’s a game changer. I have time to eat my breakfast and drink my coffee while he plays and Bea watches or rolls around on her activity mat. Less stressed me, less stressed kids, less stressed day.

Some of the things we’ve done include painting old boxes with washable paint and water, washing animal figurines with soap and paintbrushes, and pompom “soup” with ice cube trays and spoons. I have a bunch of other ideas — some my own and some I’ve compiled from Instagram and other sources — and as we try them out, I’ll let you know how they succeed.

I’ve always been obsessed with productivity and results; always wanted to finish things and finish them well. But parenthood doesn’t fit well into a “productivity” mindset: you’re never truly finished being a mom. There are no boxes to check, no easily definable objectives to meet with multi-step processes to follow. And anyone who has ever been around toddlers or babies knows that conventional definitions of productivity don’t really fit with their approach to the world.

I thought I was a pretty unhurried mother, but the last few weeks have helped me see that I have a lot of unlearning to do when it comes to hurry and busyness. One of the ways I’m trying to do that is by focusing on making good, nourishing, and beautiful meals whenever I can, for both the kids and for me.

It’s easy for me to make my toddler something wholesome and balanced and then just scrounge leftovers or skip breakfast altogether. But I need to slow down for nourishment too. My days go better when I take that time to nurture myself alongside my family.

I’m also going “old school”: we got a CD player for Michael’s room and I borrowed a bunch of CDs from my parents to play during quiet times. It’s really nice to have something physical and separate from my phone to use. It’s less distracting for us both, and less glitchy than Bluetooth. So far, Michael loves Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns and Peter and the Wolf. We also have a few audiobooks like Beatrix Potter and Aesop’s Fables.

Unhurried rituals have started to be the saving grace of this summer. Especially after such a hectic weekend of travel, it’s lovely to be settling back into the embrace of these routines and taking each moment as it comes.

July has had record heat for us: it’s been a challenge to navigate keeping the garden happy, the children from overheating, dinners from making the house a sauna, and our energy bill from skyrocketing. It’s months like these I feel my Swedish heritage reminding me I’m probably more genetically inclined to be a Viking in cold temperatures rather than these hot days.

To keep the household running, I’ve been keeping a daily to-do list in a small notebook I had lying around. It’s helpful to see tangible evidence of progress. Much of the work I do week-to-week is repetitive, which sometimes clouds my perception both of the passage of time and how much I get done.

Meals are one of these things that repeat a lot, but lately I’ve gotten creative with our meals: lots of Instant Pot and stovetop dishes that don’t require the oven. One recent exception however was a delicious leek bread my mom made and shared with all of us. It had goat cheese and Parmesan and thyme and was absolutely worth turning the oven on. Also, I accidentally made a nice-looking omelet and was so pleased with myself I had to take a picture.

I used to feel self-conscious about things like that: over the years I’ve gotten my share of half-joking, half-snide comments about taking pictures of food, or outfits, or other random things that catch my eye. But I’ve gotten to the point where I’m determined not to bridle my delight. Life’s too short to pretend I don’t get excited and happy about these little things, or to pretend I don’t enjoy documenting them.

Currently, this theme of choosing delight seems to be permeating my life. My children are the best at pointing it out to me: I think a child’s default state is one of wonder and delight.

I love watching Michael play: he makes up complex stories regarding Mama and Dad and Baby Bea, and his “friends from church”. He currently enjoys putting a peg doll he calls “Michael” in his cars’ driver seats and having Mama and Dad dolls sit in the back while he drives.

He often needs to be reminded to be gentle with his kisses and pats, but he really is the sweetest big brother. He loves to play with her and help wherever he can — with great enthusiasm.

Some other milestones I forgot to mention: he has learned to count to ten, and often does so with great enthusiasm, especially for games of hide and seek. He hasn’t quite grasped the concept of hiding in different places yet: when discovered, he goes straight back to his old hiding place for the next game. Michael also has hit the asking “Why?” stage: every request or new discovery invokes a cascade of “why”s.

Beatrice has hit the four month sleep regression: we recently had a few nights where she was up every hour — the past weekend was definitely a rough one. She still sleeps very well during the day, though she strongly prefers contact naps. She has this adorable tendency to hold her head/ears when she’s chilling in her bouncer. We’re slowly collecting a whole album of these photos.

She also recently found her toes. She wants to move so badly: she gets on her hands and knees (or even feet) and screeches with frustration when she doesn’t automatically start crawling. I’m bracing myself for an early crawler/walker…our house is nowhere near crawling baby proof so that’ll be a fun transition (and a problem for future me to handle).

The heat has made my fiber related hobbies take a bit of a backseat: it’s hard to enjoy working with wool or fabric when it’s so hot. But I did make an adorable little patch for Michael’s shorts and cast on yet another pair of socks (this time for me, in a self striping colorway inspired by Little Women). I also finished spinning the singles of my large combo spin I started way back in February. Those three bobbins hold 12 oz of wool. Onto the plying stage!

In the meantime, I’ve been continuing to chip away on some fiction writing in the quiet evenings. Beatrice has even been joining me, watching in fascination as I hold her and type one handed. I reached 15k in my project recently which felt like a pretty big milestone. Only a few months ago, I hadn’t really touched writing fiction since 2021. It feels good to get back into the swing of things, even if it’s mostly only for an audience of one (me).

I’ve really enjoyed revisiting the No Write Way podcast hosted by V.E. Schwab as a source of inspiration on craft. I’ve also enjoyed being more intentional with carving out time for reading: I recently finished Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson (why didn’t I read this sooner??) and Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake. I devoured John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War in a few short days, and I’m currently reading a collection of stories by Kelly Link and The Whole Brain Child by Dr Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson.

In full honesty, it’s been a tough week. Between sleep regressions, teething, a high-octane toddler, a reaction to reflux medication, extreme heat advisories, and general life busyness, the exhaustion is heavy and clouds much of my outlook.

One of the ways I’m combating the melancholy is by taking pictures: capturing the small and beautiful moments that take place despite the exhaustion and the never-ending to-do list. Here are the ones at the top of my camera roll, and the moments of delight that prompted me to capture them.

I delighted in Michael enjoying his new balance bike and helmet, and making a nest of pillows in his living room play corner. He still loves the quilt we stitched together.

I delighted in the sweetness of Beatrice, snuggling and playing in the morning sun. Even when she’s uncomfortable, she’s got the sweetest coos and such a gentle, joyful smile.

I delighted also in some small changes in home and routine: I hung some number cards in the kitchen to practice counting with Michael, and we began lighting a candle during mealtimes. I got the idea from an account on Instagram (@holyfamilyhomestead). She coined the phrase “When the candle is lit, it’s time to sit”, which has helped Michael sit through our mealtimes with less fuss.

And I’ve delighted in my gallery wall and piano. I did some rearranging of art, and then I borrowed a songbook: Go In And Out The Window. It’s a book I had as a child: classic folk songs and nursery rhymes interspersed with pictures of art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s a delight to the eyes and ears.

Michael and I usually choose a few songs and sing them together at the piano while he looks at the pictures: his current favorites are Farmer in the Dell, Down by the Station, and Bingo. My current favorites are Lavender’s Blue and The Skye Boat Song.

I’m grateful for the camera in my pocket, the moments it helps me capture, and this blog where I can meditate on these joyful things instead of ruminating on lesser things.

When people say you can’t get seasonal affective disorder in the summer, I laugh at them and tell them to live in the Central Valley for the months of June-August. We’ve had two weeks of solid 100+ degree temperatures, up to 115 degrees. All the windows and blinds are sealed shut against the heat, the garden wilts by 10 am, and there are only so many layers of clothing you can shed before being arrested for public indecency.

So, to battle my tendency to melt into a depressed puddle at this time of year, we came up with some creative ways to change up our indoor spaces or escape the heat. We took an IKEA trip with some friends who came up for a weekend and got some storage items we needed for Michael’s room (and a few toys for him too). It was the perfect excuse to do a bit of redecorating.

We removed the closet door and reorganized both his and Bea’s clothes: it has already made putting away laundry so much easier. The TROFAST units has made cleaning up so simple and Michael loves all the bins. I also hung one of my favorite art pieces in the corner (A print of Aslan, Lucy, and Susan by Loré Pemberton) and hung the hand-sewn bunting I made for Michael’s first birthday.

Michael already spends a lot more time playing in his room. I didn’t realize how much I enjoy creating kid spaces: rooms that are beautiful and whimsical but also fully kid friendly. I love making spaces beautiful: functional but with little magical details that catch the eye and delight the heart.

Here are some that I’m particularly fond of right now: the corner with Michael’s high chair, the Middle Earth tapestry hanging by our couch, and the newest addition to our gallery wall (a print of the Dawn Treader in a beautiful vintage frame).

We also took a family trip to the California State Railway Museum: it was Michael’s first time going, and he was absolutely enthralled.

We walked around for hours, enjoying the museum (and its stellar air conditioning) and letting Michael see the trains and play with the different interactive exhibits. He especially adored the third floor, which was completely dedicated to model and toy trains.

He wasn’t too sure about the “pretend people” (mannequins in period clothing) and didn’t prefer the sleeper car exhibit (which rocked and moved like a real train), but he still talks about the trains and constantly asks to read the train book we picked up at the gift shop.

The week of fourth of July was also 105+ with an excessive heat wave warning. Unfortunately, that meant none of us were up to Independence Day activities: BBQ and sparklers just weren’t appealing. It felt wrong to do nothing to mark it, however: so I tried my hand at homemade ice cream. I got an old fashioned ice cream maker and tried two different recipes. One was a quick one with just milk and cream and sugar, and the other was more labor intensive with a pre-cooked custard step: and of course, the more labor intensive one was absolutely incredible. I didn’t get any photos, but we all agreed that’s a recipe we need to save and make again.

Beatrice turned four months old and had a checkup with our doctor. She’s soaring into the 75th+ percentiles of height and head circumference and also hitting some six month milestones (rolling over both ways (though she definitely prefers her right side) sitting with some help, and supporting her weight standing with some help). She’s quite the overachiever, determined to keep up with her big brother.

We were grateful to escape the oppressive heat and spend the holiday weekend in Morro Bay with some good friends.

I joked that I was a Victorian woman with hysteria, prescribed a trip to the seaside for sea air.

We went to a delightful coffee shop and perused the bookstore next door. I love crowded bookshops with used books piled to the ceiling and knickknacks displayed on the shelves. They’re just so cozy — I could spend hours in them.

It was Michael’s first time at the ocean: he loved throwing rocks into the surf and looking for shells and pebbles with me. We rolled up our jeans and let the surf “kiss our toes” and jumped over bits of shells and seaweed. He loved every bit of it (except for sand in his shoes).

Before we left, we got to eat at Giovanni’s, which is one of my favorite places to eat. Their poke bowls and fish and chips are excellent, and Michael watched them select crabs and played in the giant shell.

We also celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary over the weekend. The past five years have been filled with more blessings than I can recount. I’m so grateful for my husband and for my marriage. He is strong and virtuous and kind and intelligent, and everything I have ever dreamed of in a husband.

I indulged myself by perusing our wedding photos, and I thought end this post by sharing some here, too.

Five years down, eternity ahead.

It feels like May just began, and somehow it’s basically over. Time just seems to pass more quickly every year.

Spring weather is slowly creeping into summer weather here: we’ve officially had our first few 90 degree days. My tomato plants are enjoying it, even if I’m not. I’m sad to have my knits packed away until October.

However, I’m relishing the mild mornings: I’ve been waking around 5:00-5:30 am with Beatrice, who seems to be a morning person. So I often get up, open up the windows to let the breeze in, and start a pot of coffee. It’s given me some quiet time in the mornings, often with baby snuggles and a good book or knitting project. I’m grateful.

I’ve come to really appreciate our armchairs perched in front of the window. They’re the perfect place to sit and read and knit. They’ve become the focal point of the living room.

Michael and I have been sitting here and reading together. I read him his very first chapter book: My Father’s Dragon. He loved it and was very concerned about the baby dragon. We are now reading the second of the series, Elmer and the Dragon.

Earlier in the month, my parents went on a camping trip and on a whim, took Michael with them. We stayed behind to take care of the animals and gardens, and enjoyed the photos they sent whenever they had cell service.

To say he had fun would be a gross understatement. He went on many adventures with Grandma and Grandpa and loved making pancakes, playing in the dirt, and seeing the big trees.

Michael is growing in leaps and bounds. His new obsession is the Disney animated Robin Hood. He has added singing “Oo-de-lally!” to his song repertoire. He loves to sing: usually a mashup of Old MacDonald, Alleluia, and Row Row Row Your Boat. He loves to talk and has some adorable toddler-isms. My current favorites:

“Buckle me out!” — the opposite of “buckle me in”, said vehemently when he wants to get out of the car.

“I’m playing hide and seek with my eyes!” — his version of peekaboo.

“Go frontwards” — the logical opposite of backwards.

“Hold me up!” — instead of “pick me up”.

He is also a very protective and loving big brother. Whenever someone else is holding Bea he gets very concerned and wants to know where she is at all times — sometimes even telling that person to “give her back”.

Beatrice has discovered she can smile, and does so with gummy gusto. She also has found her head and clutches it quite often, which makes for some pretty funny pictures.

We took a trip to Southern California to visit Jake’s parents and celebrate his younger brother graduating from high school. We got to see many dear friends and family members.

Michael was especially excited to spend time with Oma and Opa: together, they watched Robin Hood probably 4 times, and read books and played silly games.

I was able to visit one of my favorite parishes for Vespers and Mass: St Michael’s in Whittier, CA. It was lovely to catch up with friends and pray in the place where I discovered the beauty that is Orthodoxy. This is where I was chrismated. This is where my soul is most at home.

There was something that was particularly meaningful to me: six years ago on Memorial Day, I attended a youth BBQ at St Michael’s and met this cute guy from Michigan. Now here we are on Memorial Day, at the same place where we met, after nearly five years of marriage and two children. To God be the glory.

On Pascha, our little Beatrice turned two months! It’s amazing to see just how much she’s grown.

She’s an adorable chubster with rolls upon rolls, the squishiest cheeks, and the most intense and varied facial expressions. See below!

Like her brother, she is afraid of missing out on things and loves to be held so she can see all that’s happening around her. However, unlike her brother, she is a champion sleeper and even slept through the night a few days ago. I’m grateful!

She got rave reviews at her recent two month pediatrician appointment. She’s 11 lbs 11 oz, and growing excellently in every way.

Michael adores her: he still calls her “Baby Beatrice Margaret Marie” over and over again and wants to help with her in any way he can. When I’m not holding her, he gets very concerned and wants to know where baby sister is. He does get a little territorial when he sees her with Grandpa, however.

When we are at church, we jokingly say that she’s “everyone’s baby”. She is usually either being held by her godfather or one of the several other members of the parish that love baby snuggles. Over Pascha, I think I held her maybe twice outside of nursing her. It’s nice to know she is so loved and well taken care of at church, and it’s nice to have the chance to be at the choir stands too.

Nearly two and a half, Michael is as rambunctious and precious as ever. He’s got some adorable “Michael-isms” right now, with my favorite being “Buckle me out!” when he wants to get out of his car seat (a reasonable opposite of being buckled in).

He loves any sort of vehicle as usual and points out every car or truck he sees whenever we’re driving. My mom recently got him a bunch of different construction and farm equipment toys, including an attenuator. He loves talking about his “attenuator truck that grandma got me!”. It’s hilarious to see a two year old throwing around a five syllable word. Whales are also currently a favorite, because “the whale flies in the sea!”

Age Two definitely comes with its difficulties — my goodness, does he have a will of unyielding steel — but it also comes with its beauty and sweetness. I really love how his curiosity and wonder show me a new way of looking at the world.

We are still recovering from Holy Week and Pascha over here. Things are quiet — well, as quiet as they can be with two children — and peaceful even amidst the busyness. I’m working in our garden, hoping to grow quite a supplement to our grocery bill this summer. I’m knitting up a storm (more on that later).

I’m also preparing for the storm of preserving that summer will bring. It’s already begun: we stopped by our local strawberry stands and bought two full flats: I’m hoping to can up some strawberry balsamic jam this weekend.

Happy Bright Week, dear friends — Christ is risen!