Eckenrode Family

Mousecasaur

Some mornings the boys wake up and chaos immediately ensues. Other days, like today, they wake up gently and happily. I was inspired by Miles who woke up and let me give him a long close cuddle and then immediately declared that he wanted to draw a picture.


When I told him he had camp at his school today his face lit up in a smile and he had a vision of a character that he wanted to be at school. He wanted to be Mouscecasaur. That’s right, Mousecasaur. You may be tempted to believe that Mousecasaur is a cross between a mouse and a dinosaur but you’d be wrong. Mousecasaur wears an orange cape, paints his face orange (which Miles did at school) and he’s a bad guy.
This morning was quiet and slow. I got the chance to soak in the chubby beauty of Ben’s legs as they swung from the bench.
At times having young kids can be hectic and exhausting. But this morning I had the chance to appreciate the beauty of it and I feel like the luckiest person on the planet.

Feeling Refreshed

My parents came to give me a break from being a mom for the afternoon. It was wonderful. I went to the basement and got some sewing done. I actually got to put in my ear phones and listen to a podcast of This American Life.
Later Tim came home and we walked to a great Mediterranean restaurant for dinner.
I feel refreshed and grateful. Thank you Mom & Dad.

The Rhythm of Summer

We seem to have found the rhythm of summer here. Bedtimes are much later and as a result, I’m not getting the time to sew that I once was. I have so many projects I want to do and so much delicious fabric waiting for me, I’ve been a little anxious. I have been walking over toys and dog hair on my way to the sewing machine for brief moments here and there.
I have been making sure to eat my breakfast on the front porch. I leave the abandoned juice cups and breakfast dishes and stop to enjoy homemade wheat bread with hummus and avocado slices (inspired by this blog). A slow, quiet breakfast has been helping to set the tone for the day.
We throw the dinner dishes in the sink and go for an after-dinner walk.

It has been so worth it. On our walk I turned around and saw the sun shining on Miles head.  It is almost as if I can see the sun making him grow. It is helping him to grow those muscles and confidence that allow him to jump off the diving board with no fear. It is making him run faster, climb higher and speak sentences that stop me in my tracks. 

You Know All About the World

Along with the mild weather we had this weekend, we enjoyed a couple of fun parties and the boys’ first parade and firework experiences. While Miles enjoyed the fireworks and late nights, Ben said of the explosions, “Don’t like it, hurt my ears.” 
 




  
Miles is making so many changes every day and is becoming a little boy right in front of my eyes. He is shedding his toddlerhood and going straight into full fledged boyhood.  It is such a privilege to see him growing more mature and levelheaded.

On Sunday we made time to go for a walk in the woods. After asking his dad several questions about what kind of things grow in the woods and his dad throwing him back answers that seemed to satisfy him he replied, “You know all about the world, don’t you Dad.”

Happy 4th of July

 

A Good Day

Today Tim turned 36. I overheard him on the phone saying he thought maybe he should be having a mid-life crisis since he didn’t know if he’d make it to 72. Ha! Instead of having a mid-life crisis, I think he had a good day.

I told Miles that his daddy’s birthday was in 1 day and asked him what he thought Daddy would want. He said he was going to his room to look through his toys to get daddy something. He took his time finding just the right thing and when he came downstairs he was carrying his soccer trophy, a race car and an orange accordion like thing. He asked me to wrap it up, then he took a treasured birthday invitation he received from his friend and asked me to attach it for daddy’s card.
 
 
 
 
Tim decided on a blueberry pound cake which I made from A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. I added a lemon glaze on top.
 
 
We all had a great day and Miles and Ben were saying, a lot more than usual, “I love you mommy,” and giving me hugs and kisses. It was a good day indeed.

Love, Hate & the Hawk

The boys have been inseparable lately. While there do seem to be less conflicts, the ones they do have are more explosive and well, louder.

Loving

Fighting

Unrelated to the dynamics of this brotherly relationship, Miles and I saw a hawk in our backyard yesterday during Ben's nap time. We were SO excited!