7 weeks

7 weeks, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

floyd fest

wagon, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

We are back from the woods. Our third Floyd Fest was loads of fun, exhausting. sweaty, dirty fun with three little people. John and Ella camped out for three nights, but Ri and the two littlest came home with me each night. We packed in the picnics and whatever the campers needed, and my knees are still aching. I'm posting six of my favorite pictures, but I didn't capture the ambience of the festival this year. Here are my pictures from last year. The festival is a feast for the eyes apart from the amazing selection of live music. I just don't snap as many pictures with a newborn strapped to my chest. She did wonderfully in the sling. Her only complaint was the Avett Brothers. Too loud for a girl of six weeks. Ella loved days of running around with her friends, hula hooping, and going to see fire dancing at night. Little John, "watermelon man" was happy as usual. He used the stroller as a climbing structure, rediscoved the wheel, and listened to a lot of banjo.

ella

ella, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Ella picked out the beads and strung this necklace for herself. She'd wear a chandelier around her neck if she could. I thought that beading would be a nice Zen activity for her, and it is, but she is so concerned with symetry that she gets somewhat obsessive.

lips

lips, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

peace::out

peace::out, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

ruby::morning

ruby::morning, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

spinning

spinning, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

ruby june, six weeks

ruby june, six weeks, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Ruby June is headed out to the woods to listen to some fiddles and banjos this weekend. When she gets back her mama is going to start blogging again.

girls

the girls, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

five weeks

five weeks, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

going to the zoo,zoo,zoo....

tiger, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

John was cracking himeself up by climbing up on this tiger; we might think that he had climbed on the back of an actual zoo animal..

pipevine swallowtail

hands, originally uploaded by ellajohn

Butterflies were congregating in the wet sand at the water's edge, and they were content to be picked up on scoops of damp sand. Ella also has a sort of freakish affinity for flying things. This little beach is in the state park about fifteen minutes from home. We even camped here last summer, and I'd like to do it again in August.

ruby::lake

ruby::lake, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

On friday we met a friend at the lake for the morning. I was wondering how I was going to take three kids, but Ruby was saintly and took a four hour nap in her carseat at the waterline. There was a nice breeze and I covered the whole seat with a white blanket. Ella and her friend played happily in the water, and even John decided to brave the water. He usually sets up camp with a shovel in the sand, but he put on a floaty and rode a noodle "dolphin" like the big girls.

grandmarie

grandmother , originally uploaded by ellajohn.

four weeks

After not writing a word for four weeks it is almost hard to say anything at all. My mother left monday afternoon, so I've managed to keep all my children by myself for more than forty eight hours. They had baths. I fed them healthy homemade food. I'm going to take the three littles to the lake at the state park on friday, my first solo outing.

I'm elated and yet ready to cry at every second.

Ruby sleeps at night. And I mean all night. She mumbles a bit, nurses, and then falls right back to sleep for hours. If I nurse her she will stay asleep for twelve hours or even more. By day, she is awake and wants to be held. She is content to ride in a sling, and I'm going to have to learn to do everything while she is in there. I'm not sleep deprived, just overwhelmed with the needs of three little people.

It feels very lonely.

ruby::three weeks

ruby, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

ruby

ruby, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

three week feet

three week feet, originally uploaded by ellajohn.