Eckenrode Family

Wordless Wednesday

The Weekend

We are really starting to bond with our little bunny Scooby. This guy has turned out to be a great pet. Miles had another baseball practice and we are enjoying watching him have so much fun while discovering this sport. The rain this weekend made it prime for mushroom hunting and our excursions into the woods were fruitful. We can smell cooking mushrooms wafting from our neighbors windows as I am sure they smell the same coming from ours. I also got back into a sewing groove while listening to This American Life. I have had a quilt made by Tim’s grandma on my shelf for awhile now. It has the most gorgeous vintage fabrics but sadly most of it is disintegrating. I have plans to salvage the good cotton from the front and reuse the flannel from the back which is still in pretty good shape. I wasn’t prepared at how removing her stitches one by one would affect me. I found that in the same way that I think and meditate about the person I am making something for; I have been thinking about her as I remove her stitches and attempt to breathe new life into these fabrics.  While removing her stitches, some of them hand stitched, I can feel her presence.

Watching Ants

The photo above has nothing to do with the post, I just love it. I was sitting behind Ben on the tractor as he steered. This is, by far, his favorite thing in the world to do, think about and talk about.

Tonight was Miles first tball practice. He was excited before the practice and even more so after. He went right out there and did the drills and caught a ball in the field and hit the ball off the tee. It was awesome to see him enjoy himself so much. In the car on the way home he said he loved it.

This afternoon we were throwing the ball back and forth and after a bit lay on the grass to rest. We watched two ants work together to carry a dead worm across the grass. It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten to lay down in the grass and at eye level to watch ants busy at work. We laid there and speculated about their plans. We made up all kinds of crazy theories and laughed out loud. I feel so lucky to have someone in my life that reminds me how entertaining it can be to lay in the grass watching ants.

The Definition of Guilty

Twice in the last month we’ve found Ben barricaded in his room (stuff piled against the door) eating candy.

Earlier this morning I walk into the garage where Miles and Ben are playing.

Me to Miles: What'd you do? You look guilty.

Miles: What’s guilty mean?

Ben: It’s when you eat the candy all gone, and you’re in trouble, and you get a tummy ache.

This Weekend

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

What's For Dinner

Morels! Tim started hunted morels for the first time last year. Last spring he had no luck. We would drive to a good hiking spot and he would spend hours looking; only coming up with a few. This year walking into the woods from our backyard he found the payload. So, tonight he’ll fry them up and we will have them for dinner. Yum!

While their daddy was in the woods hunting mushrooms, I found the boys sitting at the trailhead waiting for him in their pajamas. They were watching and listening for him.  Ben said to me, “Mommy, do you hear the wind through the trees? Shhhh (imitating the sound he hears.)” To a child that has spent his whole life in the city I think this is probably a sound he is just now becoming aware of.

Hand Holding

I reached for his hand when he was crossing the creek on some rocks. He said, “No, I do it.” I watched as he skipped across the rocks with no problem. I laughed with surprise and little bit of heartache. He does still ask for my hand on solid ground though. I think he just wants me to know he can do it.

All of earth is crammed with heaven
and every bush aflame with God
But only those who see take off their shoes.

-Elizabeth Barett Browning

Meet Scooby

We welcomed a new member to our family this weekend – a baby bunny named Scooby. He is a seven week old Holland Lop bunny. I was surprised to learn that bunnies can be litter trained and that they have so much personality. He has been so good natured and has put up with Miles and Ben’s constant attention. I have to admit that I can’t stay away from him either.

Growing Pains

He had kindergarten screening today. He cried and clutched me when they asked the kids to come into one room, the parent’s in another. I refused to push him. It’s so hard to know when to push and to know when not to. I usually err on the side of not pushing. Today I didn’t push him. I went into the room with the other kids and teachers as he clung and wept. The teachers tried to talk him away from me. They tried to talk to me and then I began to cry. We were a mess. Growing up is hard. Change is hard. He kept saying he was too shy. I told him it was ok to feel shy and that most of those kids probably felt the same way. I asked him to focus on the fun he would have and to put a smile on his face even if he didn’t feel like smiling. That’s something I’ve recently learned – if you put a smile on your face, it does actually make you feel happy and more relaxed.

On the way home he said he was going to miss his preschool and he didn’t think he’d be able to pretend to be a dog in kindergarten. I think I know what he means. He came home and immediately made himself a dog collar and refused to speak, communicating to me in barks and hand motions. Then we went for a walk in the woods after it stopped raining. The blossoming green woods were in stark contrast to the classrooms and desks we had just left.  I’ve been thinking all day about this big change coming up in his life, trying to convince myself that this is a good and necessary step in his development.