our favorite reads for the wee babes

Some of my dearest little moments of being a mommy have crept in on me quietly, while snuggled up with my wee ones,reading away. Even as tiny wee babes, I would hold them close in my arms, rocking back and forth, as I read our favorites over and over.

The words having been permanently etched on my heart.  I no longer need to see the pages. We flip thru, and for a brief moment everyone is quiet and still.  All the craziness from the day settles and silently falls away.

Even though my little tykes are growing and their interests and capabilities are evolving, we're still drawn back to our rustic bookshelf piled high with well worn and best loved reads.

As my wild ones have been ill this week, we have taken to these little classics. Piled on the floor, a mass of scrawny legs and chubby tummies and snotty noses and coughs, with silly rhymes and beautiful illustrations our amusement.

I thought I would compile a small list of some of my favorites, for any of you just entering motherhood, for those who hope to some day, or anyone really. If any of you have favorites for your wee ones, or some from your childhood you would like to add to the list, leave it in the comments and I will include them!

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

All the Sandra Boynton books- the cutest collection ever!

Princess Bess Gets Dressed by Margery Cuyler

You Are My I Love You the first book I ever bought, when I was pregnant with Aussie, still one of my favorites.

Dr. Seuss Beginner Books 

I Want to be a Cowgirl by Jeanne Willis

Baby Cakes by Karma Wilson- an absolute baby classic!

King Bidgood's in the Bathtub or any by Audrey and Don Wood

Bella & Bean by Rebecca Kai Dotlich

Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse -so funny:)

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen

The Rhyme Bible Storybook 

A Boy Had a Mother Who Bought Him a Hat by Karla Kuskin

endless

Endless wiping of snotty noses

Endless piles of dirty laundry

Endless farm chores to be done before winter

Endless meals to be cooked and clean

Endless questions to answer

Endless worry

Endless muddy messes to wipe up

Endless tattle tales to hear

Endless spats to calm down

Endless love for this little life of mine

Aussie's Musings

A couple of weeks ago, my Dad gave all my wee bits $5.00 for a little shopping about. After much debating, wandering, and very serious mulling over, Aussie settled on a bright blue sequined notebook. 

She quickly disappeared to her room, and emerged sometime later notebook in hand to inform us that she had begun a blog, just like mamma's, and her first post was achieved and ready for the people. It  came complete with hand drawn pictures of us and the farm and it even had a box drawn at the end for readers to leave their comments. 

She has been writing tirelessly these past few days, working away, full of ideas and beauty for future post. My sweet lass, she is one of the most creative gals arounds, this one. 

I decided to do a mini photo shoot with her to remember this special time and she designed the whole scene, knew just what we required. She had constructed and painted this little table last spring out of necessity, for she needed her own capacity to color, and the flag is a new piece- contrived for leading parades or keeping her brothers in line. 

As her Mamma, I could not be prouder! She is so quickly growing and changing, and having the time to foster these interests and her evolving skills is one of the greatest blessings of homeschooling. I cling to these moments on days when all I really want is to quit or run and hide.

So without further adieu, here is her first post:

My Faimuly

I have the best faimuly ever, my mommy holds the faimuly together. My daddy holds the farm together, me Aussie i like to play with the boys, and some time's i like to be in charge of the faimuly. The boy's like to play with lego's and eleanor likes to nap. 

My life is living on a farm with 2 Brothers 1 sister and the best mommy ever, and the best daddy ever, and 20 cows, 2 horses, 24 chicins that lay 4 eggs a day. I also have 2 cat's, 2 hogs and I think that is it.

Oh, how I love this girl!

Mr October

October has been a month chalk full of delicious moments, fun outings, friends, family and general merry making. A lot has been featured here on the blog, but there were a few noteworthy affairs that I haven't had an opportunity to share. 

So grab a cuppa and let's catch up. . . 

In just these past handful of weeks, my beautiful wee babe has morphed into a little girl. Walking, and talking and hanging with the big kids like she's one of them. It's beautiful to watch, especially as her brothers and sister so readily take her in, thrilled to have her accompany them on their many adventures. 

As fun as it is to see her blossom, I do miss her baby-ness, her all consuming need for me. We've put breastfeeding behind us for now, my first time to not have a nursing tot in years, and I find myself a little bereft, not sure what to do next.

My amazingly beautiful and talented friend Trisha came to spend the night with me. I am so grateful to have her. She is the most loyal friend a girl could ever hope to have. I feel so honored that she always finds the time to drive two hours to spend the night on the farm. 

With no agenda, we sat at my dining room table til the wee hours of morn chatting away. Always scheming and dreaming together, we planned new ventures and laid out hopes for the road ahead- and laughed- big full belly laughs. I love this gal so!

We have scootered away these fall evenings. My little bugs love them some razor scooters.  With no place to ride at the farm, we load up scooters and the stroller and head to town.

I have enjoyed these evenings so much- The weather has been so mild and the sky so clear. Kaleb and I walk hand in hand sipping hot lattes, all the while the three bugs ride on. Filled with excitement and frenzied energy, they roar ahead showing off new tricks as they go. Our little Eleanor so calmly relaxing in the stroller as she enjoys the show. Good times, these nights.

Using some spray paint we found in the garage, Kaleb fashioned the kids their very own football field. So any downtime seems to have been filled with hilarious tournaments that somehow evolve into huge family wrestling matches. 

These crazies are so used to being here on the farm. They love getting to roam free, run like mad men and play and wrestle. It can sometimes make it challenging to get them into town where they are required to practice a little restraint.  On one such town outing, Zain said, "I just want to go home, so we can be wild!".  

The stars aligned and my BFF and I actually had a day that we could spend together. It's a rare and beautiful occasion, and when it comes around, we jump at the chance and relish every moment. This gal is hilarious! Fiercely loving, smart and beautiful. 

We've been best friends since I was fifteen. Our relationship has stood the test of time. Sometimes we fight like sisters, sometimes were brutally honest, but we're at the loveliest of places where we know that none of it matters. It will do nothing but stregthen us, we're in it for the long haul!

We ate and shopped, had manicures, ate some more, then topped it all off with our first try at hot yoga. It was too fun! She always has to show off. She does headstands like they're a party trick! And yes, I'm a little jealous of them, but she even did one the last time we did yoga together, and we were on paddle boards! It's too much- am I right? I kid, I kid.. It was a fabulous day and I am so crazy blessed to have her.

We got to take a little weekend jaunt with my Mom to celebrate her birthday. One morning we headed straight into the heart of the Ozarks to hike and walk and play. The kids had the best time, running along the path, dipping their hands into the cool stream and exploring uncharted trails.

While strolling I told them a tale of me- a little girl from Alaska who had traveled to see my Grandparents in Missouri. I described to them a day I remember so vividly. My grandma out washing laundry in a silver tub, while my Grandpa had just sat down to enjoy a cup of coffee. He told me if I could catch a floating leaf then legend had it, I would have seven years good luck. I ran and chased and leaped for the free-falling  leaves all day, with never so much as one caught.

My bugs accepted the challenge, and chased those leaves our whole day thru. Except they walked away victors with near forty years good luck for each of them.

Here's Zain with his prize, and it was camo colored to boot- He was a happy boy!

I gifted my previous camera to this beautiful gal, and she has blossomed with it. She carries it with her everywhere, snapping away when she sees fit. We have slowly been learning our way around it, and she has started shooting in manual now! She is such a talented girl and I love watching her grow and her interests change, strengthen and take shape. I am so proud of her.

While driving home one evening listening to the radio, Kaleb heard that the Broadway musical 'Once' was on it's way to the Memphis Orpheum. Sweet man that he is, he surprised me with tickets. It was the most amazing show I have ever seen! The entire cast was so talented and I laughed and yes I'll admit it- I cried too. It was such a dreamy night out with my man. He is the finest one around, this one.


It was a good month, busy sometimes a little crazy, yet delightful all the same. 


Finally I believe fall weather has truly set in and I am excited to welcome November. I have high hopes of taking this month easy, resting. Focusing on being more present and not a million miles ahead on new projects, and to-do lists. Here's to a new chapter!

How was your October? Anything you're looking forward to or hoping to accomplish in November?


p.s. My friend Trisha creates the most lovely hand sewn little girls vintage inspired dresses. You can find them here.