Happy Birthday Reuben!

Reuben is 3 years old today, enjoying his new pedal tractor and cart. Happy Birthday Reuben!

Baking Day!

My friend Kelly came over today with her 3 younger kids, brought her Kitchen-aid mixer and some other supplies, and we spent the morning baking up a storm of bread and tortillas with our aspiring little chefs. In between playing referee, nursing babies, fixing ouches, changing diapers and rushing to rescue the laundry from an impending shower, of course. And somehow we managed to squeeze lunch in there. Sandwiches on fresh bread. YEAH!

We combined effort, tools and ingredients, which increased our efficiency and production, but it was so much more than that. We leavened our friendship along with the dough. The bread that we make, and bless, and share among each other feeds our souls as well as our bodies. It is God's gift from the earth, which is made holy when shared together in the fellowship of the gift from heaven, the One whose body was broken that we might be fed.

My First Waldorf Doll

I started this doll last winter, hoping to make three of them for the three older kids, but ran out of time, then got burned out with crafting (I don't have a long attention span). So I decided to try and finish this one in time for Reuben's 3rd birthday next week. Most of it is hand sewn, but I cheated with the sewing machine a little. It is made with organic cotton jersey and stuffed with eco-wool. The clothes are made with felted wool from recycled sweaters.

Polliwogs!

More spring babies in the drainage pond in the garden. The kids enjoyed catching these toad tadpoles today and putting them in jars to watch (of course they let them go after a bit).