Big Sky Days

summer, just about

My boy finished up first grade today - with some goodbye tears.  Both of us.  So, apparently summer is upon us but we have one more detail to wrap up.

*Aghast* The dance recital!

We are just about there, but not quite.  Saturday is the big day, these photos are from the dress rehearsal.  Although, we were told flash photo will not be allowed for the real deal recital.  If I had only known.  Ah well,  she really does look quite stunning in this purply delight of an outfit.  And boy, was she ever proud and filled with all kinds of dancing spirit after this dress rehearsal.  She keeps asking when Saturday will arrive....

Soon, my dear.  Very soon.

(Doesn't she look like she is already racing towards it?!  Or running away...)



  

so much doings

The weekend started out wet - very, very wet.  And ended full of sunshine.  Such contrasting days. Such springlike weather.  It was nice.  

Saturday was all day rain and we, appropriately, went to an outdoor festival about water.  After a few hours and adequately chilled to the bone, we came home to warm-up with a lunch of cinnamon toast by a fire.  Since the rain kept us indoors, we had some friends over to play and my young boy shared his guitar for a bit.

"Hey Mom, did you hear that extra chord I added at the end, " Henry says.  " Just kinda raises my spirits...I like that."  

Then Sunday was sun-filled and warm.  We visited our local nursery and planted some annuals and talked a lot about where our garden should go.  Since there wasn't a vegetable garden on this property recently - it is still a debate where the best place lies.  We haven't studied the particulars of the sun and shade through the summer months yet and that leaves some uncertainties.  We are also, most recently, New Mexican gardeners and are unsure about the colder weather gardening that we are undertaking.  When to plant?  What grows best?  We are taking cues from the fields across our road and we can see local farmers are getting the earth ready...

It is hard to imagine not having a vegetable garden this year but it very well may be.  Perhaps just some potted veggies to keep it simple and make us all happy and give us time to plan a bit better.

Then we all cheered on Henry and his team for the Sunday afternoon soccer games.  This energized us all and later my husband said, "Oh, maybe just a small raised bed with a cold frame." 

Ahhh - now the hunt for a cold frame begins.

 

 

 

 

 

ballet today

Morning spreads across our lawn.  I sip my coffee with a book in hand, reading about a heartbreaking childhood and getting lost in it.  She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb is thick with sorrow but also very funny.  This is my second time through it.

I savor the first day's light.  I savor the windless day.  I savor the start of a new day.  Ballet is today. Tuesdays.  So after we do the usual things to get our day started, we are out the door on the way to ballet. 

These are the final ballet classes before the performance in June.  The girls know their dance routine and eachother so well by now.  Their toes are pointed, their leaps are big, and their curtsies will knock your socks off.   Ready, as ready can be.

To fuel this dancing spirit,  we opt for lunch at the Coop.  Our amazing Coop is full of everything you could ever want in quality food and it has seating both inside and out.  We choose inside to be close to the juice bar mixing and it's whizzing excitement.  "Mama, do you think they will add strawberries to this one?"  Ah yes,  they very well could and it will be delicious!  Strawberries.  I can hardly believe we have reached this time of year.

She is relaxed enough to take off her shoes, although this is the norm for her.  If her feet weren't so cute, I would consider stopping this habit of taking off the shoes instantly - every place we go, every chance she gets.  But I figure she has a few more years of super adorable feet, so why rein it in now?

Look at those baggy knees, they kill me. Wow, seriously precious.  Let's bring home the leftover chocolate milk, shall we?

Once home, we set out to feel the sun that is supposed cloud over and turn to rain this afternoon. 

Then it is time to come inside, read, and take a nap - recharge for the afternoon.  We both need this, sometimes me more than her. 

But first we unveil the special gift we were given today.  The special tutu to be worn for the big performance with strict instructions to hang it in our closet until them.  

Ta Da! It's called Perfectly Marvelous and, yes, I am sure they will be. 

glorious spring!

finish each day and be done with it.

you have done what you could. 

some blunders and absurdities have crept in;

forget them as soon as you can.

tomorrow is a new day.  

you shall begin it serenely and with 

too high a spirit to be encumbered

with your old nonsense.

-emerson

It seems this is what weekends are for - to renew, recharge, and let go of the week's events.  I know I was stuck on an interaction I had with a stranger this week and it feels good to finally let it go.  I am sure I will be stuck again on this or something new but not now, not today.

I have to admit this "letting go" is easier to do on days like today.

In mountains like those.

And with these kids.

I told my son when were riding the lift that spring days like today are the reason you ski through those awful, cold winter days.   This is a day to be grateful.  To wash the slate clean.  To throw all the nonsense by the wayside.  

A glorious spring day.

 

 

performance day

Things are wrapping up, spring is here, summer is approaching, and that means performances. School and extra-curricular.  We had two today.  A pre-dress rehearsal ballet performance and a first grade singing performance.  Back to back.  And although these type of performances are a sign of the end of the school year, here's the first peek outside for the day.

You betcha.  As I have been telling anyone who will listen, I am focusing on the pretty way the snow clings to the bare branches or the cleanness of a fresh blanket of snow or the bright sunlight/blue sky after the 4 inch snowfall.  Because it really is pretty outside, especially when you forget that it is the middle of April.

Performance #1.  Pre-Dress Rehearsal.  Their final performance will be in June.  But this is some practice for these little ballerinas to perform in front of people.  Since for many it is their first time.  Leaps.  First position.  Curtsies.  Just darling stuff.

Performance #2. One Big Happy Family 1st grade performance.  A short show of what this music class has been doing for the last few months.  Lots of singing, some public speaking, bit of sign language, and a tender sentiment about family togetherness.  A lunchtime treat.

He is moving and grooving. 

Finally, the sun still shines.  That makes the icicles drip and the snow magically melt away.  I think we've had three good performances for the day.

 

kids at work

“The land is where our roots are. The children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the Earth.”  Maria Montessori

The work was to find the spot for our treehouse.  

 The hunt quickly ended in front of our little red barn/future chicken coop.  I think because it was most convenient and the desire to climb was too strong.  But, who knows, I may be jumping to conclusions.

They each climbed up to glimpse the prospective treehouse view.  Thoughts of climbing higher were considered.

Some love was passed around.  It did feel good to be outside in our light jackets.

Then the real contemplation began.  The treehouse is mainly this boy's dream.  His sister is willing to share in the joy but the real work and dedication will not be done by her.  He is drawing plans in his head and thinking of consulting an architect friend.  He has a treehouse construction and design book.  He knows there will be a trap door.  He thinks mosquito netting may be required.  He has had this dream for some time and it has been permanently cemented by his love of The Magic Treehouse books.  

I like this.  It seems like good work.  It feels like we are putting down some roots.  Did I mention it felt good to be outside?

a surprise, here and there

It was a bit of a surprise when we walked out the door this morning.

Lots and lots of snow!  I knew the snow was forecasted but somehow I didn't believe it.  I mean, spring was in the AIR yesterday!  It was nearly 50 degrees out!  Plus, we had just returned from a trip to New Mexico where the weather was nothing but glorious.  Seventies, nearly Eighty.  At one point, I was comfortably sitting with friends at an outside table after dinner enjoying the moonglow.  (I know New Mexico weather has nothing to do with Montana weather but it still somehow seemed significant enough to mention.)  And I guess it really isn't a surprise that it snows in spring.  

Next we checked in on the chickens.

Now here, I am actually going to admit some surprise over their growth.  These little ladies are big! Hmpf.  Um.  Not sure how we are going to keep them in this same spot till JUNE, as originally planned...I will have to think on this one.  

We returned inside to review and download all the photos from our recent trip.  Near the end of our trip, we got to go to the Santa Fe Children's Museum.  Although it was not the first time for both of the kids, it was a new place for me.  By this point in the trip, the kids needed a bit of exploratory play.  And that is just what they got.

Which was a nice surprise.



 

 

 

Freein' the heel in zero degree temps

We had a cold snap and now it is warm and the snow is melting.  Weather.  Anyway, during the cold snap my son still was able to entice us outside to ski in our yard and just outside our property. The smile on my daughter's face is real and persisted for the entire event.  But finally, she and I had to come in but the boy stayed out by himself for about 1/2 hour longer.  Freein' the heel.  

The wind howls, the horses come inside

The wind has been howling.  Howling so much that my little 3-year-old has been using the word howling.  With that wicked wind, the play comes inside.  This time in the form of a horse, carriage, and a princess passenger.

 I love this sort of play...the dress-up, make-up, be whoever-you-want-to-be imaginative play.  It reminds me of when I was a youngin' making up my world.  I remember spending a lot of time by myself pretending.  I grew up on 3 acres but it was surrounded by large wooded areas and a quiet road.  I was out there, outside all alone (with my imagination) for hours upon hours.  And like many parents, I do tend to romanticize my childhood and this aspect of my childhood in particular.  But doesn't it sound great?!  Spending after school and weekends wandering the woods as a grade schooler.  Trudging through ponds, playing in old shacks, climbing rock walls, skinning your knees...you know, being a kid!

Not these days.  At my parent-teacher conference yesterday, we were chatting about this type of imaginative play and how it is often outside and how outside time (especially alone) has been dwindling.  Parents do not want their children to roam free or be outside unsupervised.  Also, those outside spaces are fewer and fewer.  This all reminds me of a book that has been on my list for ages, Last Child in the Woods  by Richard Louv.  Although, we try as a family to get outside as much as we can.  I think I need to dust that book off and read it to remind myself why it is so important to get out in nature.  

But for now, with the wind and winter around the corner, sometimes the horses do have to come inside.  I will just try to remember to stay out of the way.