Saturday

It's been an interesting day. 

First, some flower cutting for Liam's NEW nature table, in the play room and completely different from our family nature table in our dining room.

And then, some planting and pulling, on everyone's part. Daddies are really good help for that kind of work.

Things We're Loving Right Now

Vegan carrot cake at a fantastic second birthday party.

Handmade, hand-wrapped gifts.

Flowers in our front yard.

Weeds

Our front yard flower bed is pretty overrun. The extremely rainy spring, coupled with the pregnancy and the general craziness of two little ones has not been good for my gardening karma. However! I have big plans for change, very soon. 

We just planted an heirloom tomato plant out front, named Rose (also the variety) and I just picked up a pineapple mint plant and a lavender bush today from the Northside Farmer's Market so I'm really excited to get those into the ground. Liam planted his sunflower seeds in a special place some weeks ago and they are already almost as tall as Isla! Plus, we have some little yellow flowers blooming and our big bush of...well, I'm not sure. It looks like lavender but smells like honeysuckle. Any rate, it's pretty and I really should weed and mulch to make sure everyone can appreciate it. 

My girl loves playing in the front flower bed, helping her brother water the flowers, digging in the dirt or even just picking a few stray blossoms. 

The Play Room

Sometimes I believe the play room is the most important room in the house. Goodness knows, it sees the most action (excepting the kitchen, of course.) Isla and Liam can and do play for hours on end. 

We're pretty devoted to our kids having the least toxic environment as possible. Equally important to us is fostering their imagination and giving them the opportunity for independent play with access to organized activities, costumes, play silks, and arts and crafts. I think our children really enjoy their play room and I know I enjoy being in there with them!

Next Door

Lucian is not ours but instead lives next door. He is absolutely adored by everyone who knows him! This dog has the best personality, the best temperament and he is so, so patient with Liam and Isla. 

The Parking Meter

One of Liam's favorite tasks is to put change in the parking meter. We spend quite a bit of time in downtown Cincinnati (Cincy), not only since Ryan works there but also because there is lots of great stuff to check out! 

I love the access that living in an urban area provides us, although we can still enjoy having a back yard and a driveway and a very roomy house. And living in Kentucky also means that we don't have to go very far at all to find a very rural culture--one that I in fact was raised in and appreciate to this day. 

It's June!

June is by far my favorite month. I love summer, and day lilies and the solstice celebrations (including my dear sister's birthday) and my birthday too, of course! 

Our June nature table. I've already gathered a few more things to add to it when the solstice arrives, but those are still surprises for our little ones.