The Playful Pioneers

June 21, 2018June 21, 2018 ~ Crystle ~ 3 Comments

This summer we’re embarking on new territory!

I gifted Margot the box set to the Little House on the Prairie for her 5th birthday back in March. We read our way through the Little House in the Big Woods, and have gone through half of the Little House on the Prairie. Then I caught wind of a school age curriculum based around the Little House Series called the Playful Pioneers from the Peaceful Press; it expands on the books by using worksheets, crafts, recipes, and bible studies. The concepts from the Little House lifestyle are emphasized with supplemental book recommendations, practical art skills (weaving, natural dyeing etc.) and rounded out with theology lessons.

The curriculum is for early elementary students, and since Margot only begins Kindergarten this fall, we have plenty of time to work through the concepts in the next couple of years. For now, I read the stories aloud and help reinforce the ideas throughout the week.

It’s a loose approach to keeping my kids busy during the day, and to prepare Margot for the upcoming school year. And what a great way to bring scripture into our daily lives!

And for those who love the world of Laura Ingalls Wilder, I highly recommend Caroline: Little House, Revisited by Sarah Miller. It’s a wonderful take on the Little House migration from Caroline’s perspective. Historical fiction at its finest! I uniquely felt the highs and lows of the Pioneer experience while camping at the lake earlier this summer (hello hot days and cold nights). I checked it out from the library, but it’s worth the purchase!

I should also mention our family foray into fiber arts this year. As per my last post, needle felting has become a favorite way to pass the time. We’ve now caught the weave fever. Margot loves working on her mini lap loom, and I’ve gotten around to warping and weaving on my second hand rigid heddle loom.

Eventually I’ll join the Bisbee Fiber Arts Guild so I can work on their giant floor looms, I’ll need to get some more practice in before hand. I’ve also been kept busy with crochet projects. I’ve made a couple of hexa-cardis (see Margot modeling hers above), a Cal Poly Pomona themed afghan for my sister Kelli (she starts school there this fall), and a reading blanket for Margot (below).

Woody is waiting patiently to be the recipient of a fiber arts project by me; so I’ve begun a reading blanket for him using a gradient yarn in the Cupcake line from Lion Brand.

I’ll have to share my sewing projects as well! My Creative Bug subscription has kept me busy; I love the 100 Acts of Sewing patterns and tutorials. Most of that content has already been shared on my instagram page. Check that out for more details: Shirt No. 1 – @thatyeayealife

Happy Solstice, folks, I’ll be sharing more craft projects soon!

Four Months Later

July 22, 2013July 22, 2013 ~ Crystle ~ 8 Comments

Here we are, four months after bringing Margot into the world, and we’re still adjusting to the new family dynamic. As soon as we find our groove, Margot changes…and off the balance is thrown.

She’s learning how to crawl.

She brings her knees to her belly, then face-plants onto her quilt on the floor, unable to push her chest up and forward at the same time. She screams in frustration, then rolls over in exhaustion. This carries on until the frustration escalates into a tantrum, or she distracts herself with toys. Right now it’s the former. Don’t let the charming photos fool you, this sweet baby has regular meltdowns, too.

Lucky for us, she’s sleeping through the night, waking only once at around 5 am for a bottle and a diaper change before sleeping in until 8. It’s been a nice advancement in the baby game.

Her personality is beginning to shine through, too. Margot is effervescent in the mornings, clingy in the afternoons and playful in the evenings. Getting work done around the house isn’t always possible, but I’ve been told that’s to be expected.

While Margot attempts to crawl around — usually trying to chase after the dog, Isaac and I have been planning our move to Fairbanks. We’re still debating whether or not we want to buy a house or live on base.

It’s almost impossible to structure a plan around living in a land of such extremes. Many people we run into here in the Pacific Northwest have had some experience up there. Their opinions vary greatly, which muddies the water even further.

We’ll be leaving Washington in seven weeks, just before Margot turns 6 months old. Her first winter ever will be in Alaska. It should make for an interesting first Christmas, and at least an awesome Christmas card.

Until then, we’ll get used to our temporary routine and savor our last season in Olympia.

This is How…

June 21, 2013June 21, 2013 ~ Crystle ~ 9 Comments

I’ve always been an over-thinker.

When I was a kid I would think about my future a lot. I’d wonder what high school would be like, then count how many years left until I turned sixteen. My mind would continue to wander; I’d ponder what college I’d go to, what my future husband would be like, how my unborn children would look, and where we would live. Would we be healthy? Would we have a happy home?

And as these early milestones came and went in my life, I found myself thinking, “wow, so this is how my [life event] happens.” It was fun to fantasize about what the future held, then see elements of it come to fruition.

After Isaac and I eloped after just two months of dating (crazy, I know!), I found myself saying “wow, so this is how…” over and over again. One milestone after another rolled by; I changed my last name, quit my job, moved across the country and then got pregnant.

Then when Margot was born, it was the most overwhelming TIH moment.

This is my baby! This is my future! I am a mother! This is unbelievable!

It was truly a beautiful moment. I only wish it lasted longer.

That wrinkly newborn turned three-months-old this week. She’s holding her head up by herself now, and her dexterity is improving every day. Margot has become a happy, babbling, drooling bundle of joy that I can’t possibly get enough of. Our first home as a family, way out in Washington State, is full of life and love.

Just when I started to get really comfortable here in the suburbs, my husband reminded me that our move to Alaska is less than 90 days out. We’ve made our travel plans, started on the change of station paperwork, and begun looking for housing. I’ve been thinking and over-thinking about this move for a year now.

On moving day, I’m sure I’ll take one last look at our house on Stockholm Ln. and think “so this is how our Alaskan adventure begins”.