It's In The Genes

It would seem that my daughter is quite the artiste. With one art show down and I presume many more to go, her artistic inclination can be attributed to an entire gene pool of painters, sculptors and writers.

This evening we were invited to an art show featuring masterpieces by a chosen few from my daughter's elementary school. Amidst the drawings of pterodactyls and sponge painted depictions of the moon in its many phases, was my daughter's show stopping windsock. The colors delighted, the composition of the heart arrangement dazzled, and the sturdy paper construction was impressive.

Look out art aficionados, you'll want to clear some space on your wall in the near future.

A Budding Entrepreneur

When my daughter has her mind set on something, she is quite persistent until her goal is reached. Saturday morning I found her busily "making kites" out of computer paper and kitchen twine. Her plan was to sell the kites to save up for a Zhu Zhu Pet that she has been talking about for months.

Hmm, how do I explain to her that not many people drive up a down our street and probably wouldn't see her kites for sale (let alone the fact that the "kites" are tiny and not functional as kites)? She looked up at me with such enthusiasm and determination, I didn't have the heart to tell her. So, her daddy had her set up the cooler on the driveway and make a sign "Kites 4 Sale 25¢".

Well, like I thought, not a single person drove by to buy a kite; but seeing my two little ones "manning the booth" was so darling. And fortunately our neighbors bought a kite and gave a 25¢ tip. Along with the kite sale, my daughter raked leaves and washed windows, bringing her total to a whopping $2.50! Her daddy and I agreed that her drive and dedication was impressive, so we put in $5.00 toward her precious Zhu Zhu Pet, and with money saved in her piggy bank she was able to buy one that day.

Who wouldn't want to buy a kite from these charming little cherubs?

She LOVES the battery operated hamster to pieces, and I have just been informed that we are now a family of FIVE since Nugget came to live with us.

The Money Fairy

The night before Easter, my daughter lost a tooth. She was thoroughly freaked out about it coming out and was paranoid that there was going to be a lot of blood. There wasn't. Then she remembered that the Tooth Fairy comes in the night and leaves money. So, on Easter morning not only did she receive goodies from the Easter Bunny but money from the Tooth Fairy as well.

Leave it up to my daughter to see this as quite the money making operation! It would seem that she has been leaving a toothless envelope under her pillow marked "Tooth Fairy" and every morning she checks to see if there is money in its place. Apparently, she really wants a "Zhu Zhu Pet".

She's a smart one ... but the Tooth Fairy is smarter. {grin}

Hamming It Up

Since we don't have any current house projects going on, we decided it was time to take some Spring portraits of the kiddos. Surprisingly, they were fairly cooperative:

My favorite of her.

I like the creativity of this one, yet it oddly reminds me of a Summer's Eve ad.

This one came out a little bit blurry, but I love it so much I kept it.

So dapper.

Self-Imposed Homework

It's the first day of Spring Break and my daughter decided to use it to "teach" her brother "preschool". That's not exactly my idea of vacation, but hey, they both had fun.

It's Been Three Years ...

... since my belly protruded this far, so full of baby.

... since I first looked upon that little one who always got the hiccups, just as I was falling asleep.

And now, he makes me laugh every single day ...

... and gives me the sweetest kisses.

Happy Birthday to my little monkey!

The Boy Who Needs No Nap

This boy needs no nap, thank you very much. He is almost three years old after all, and doesn't get sleepy. He would rather play with his Daddy's pink toy Cadillac. Except ...

... Mommy found him sleeping on his floor today. He was out like a light amidst all of his toys. But shot up at the click of the camera and was playing again in an instant.

Nope, this boy needs no nap.

My Heart Goes THUD

Sometimes I take a photo of my child that makes my heart go THUD in my chest cavity. My daughter's long, dark lashes and blue-gray eyes only confirm that she is never allowed to grow up or date. Ever!

Take Two

Well, it would seem that we need to have another shot at making yogurt. I just know I did something wrong - perhaps the temperature wasn't right or I added something at the wrong time because our fabulous homemade Greek yogurt was just a bowl of thickened milk this morning. It smelled faintly of yogurt but wasn't nearly fermented enough and it didn't have the thick and creamy consistency I dream about.

We will try it again. And, if you think about it, that bowl of thickened milk allows for more quality time in the kitchen with my little ones. So, all is not lost.

Happy To Help

After a conversation I had with my good friend Lindsay last week about various recipes and her amazing find, Fage yogurt, I was inspired to make my own Greek yogurt. I had actually been wanting to try it since I read about it in French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Giuliano and thought this was as good a time as ever. Crazy I know, but the process didn't seem difficult - just time consuming. What is great about homemade yogurt is that it is a lot cheaper to make than to buy, and I was able to have my son help.

Boy did that make his day!

In fact, as soon as I asked him if he would like to help me he grabbed his stool and positioned it so he could see over the counter. He found great joy in pouring the milk into the pot (he even convinced me to pour some milk into his sippy cup!) It isn't finished doing its thing (whatever that is) but it will be a fun treat to try out our yogurt tomorrow morning, and hopefully it will convince me that it is worth the effort. Of course, his happy giggles and enthusiasm made it rather worth it already.

Little Monsters

When I was a little girl I was afraid of monsters.


Now as a grown woman I find them to be good company.

Kiddie Couture

It started out as a project for me - I had this overwhelming desire to make myself a simple little top. Then my daughter begged me to do a project with her so I decided to make a simple little top for her as well. I had in my mind that we would have coordinating fabrics that would go well together. Perhaps we would have a little photo shoot showing off our matching outfits. Then my daughter enthusiastically chose her fabric.

You can't get any more "Under the Sea" than this.

It had bubbles and sherbet colored sea animals. Her exclamations of "This is perfect" and "It will be gorgeous" deterred me from insisting on something a little less ... colorful. And really, it is totally her style: bright, cheerful and bubbly.

So, while I chose something more understated and elegant, I happily stitched away at her summery top. And judging by her prancing around in it with her mermaid doll in hand, I would say that she is quite pleased with her choice!

One "Cool" Kid

My son chose his outfit today. A red Lightning McQueen t-shirt, gray fleece lined McQueen sweatshirt, dark gray cargo pants, McQueen tennis shoes and of course a McQueen baseball cap to top it all off. When he checked himself out in the mirror I heard a loud "Cool!" coming from the bedroom.

Do you think he might be a little obsessed?

Pretty House

My heart is filled with joy every time my two and a half year-old son gasps and yells, "Peeety house!" when we pass by a home decked out with Christmas lights. Oh the simple, untainted enthusiasm of a little boy - what a wonderful gift!

Happy Little Jack-O-Lanterns

Despite being sick for the greater part of October, we finally did make it out to the pumpkin patch as a family. It is always a joy to watch the kids choose their pumpkins and run around in the corn maze.

Oh, how I love these happy little jack-o-lanterns of mine!

I chose these warty mini-pumpkins for my window boxes. Their bumpy texture makes me smile.

The splash of orange from the pumpkins is in perfect contrast to the dark purple-green of the coral bells. Our dog, Gracie, seems to agree.

Mother/Son/Pumpkin Date

One of the benefits of my daughter going to school is that I get to spend more time with my son. There are times where he is easily overshadowed by his big sister who has a big personality, and I have enjoyed getting to know him better.

Today we went on a mother/son date to the pumpkin patch. Along with a few other moms and kids from church, we had exclusive reign over the farm. And boy did we have fun ...

... picking out the perfect pumpkin ...

... and thinking that this smiley scarecrow couldn't scare anything away...

... and eating our lunch on a bale of hay while the kids rummaged through bins of knobby gourds. We have yet to go out to the patch as a family, but I am grateful for the time I had with just my boy.

A Keen Observation

On a recent day our family was driving along in a car. Noticing that there was little noise inside and outside the vehicle, I remarked "Oh, it's pretty quiet today". And without skipping a beat, my daughter said "That's because I haven't been saying anything!"

Kaput

"Kindergarten is just great Mom!"

Wednesday evening - 6:13 pm

And completely exhausting, it would seem.

Hard To Let Go

My heart is spilling over with emotion right now. Feelings of joy, pride, sadness and disbelief are overwhelming me - I just picked my daughter up from her first day of Kindergarten.

I sort of thought it wouldn't be such a big deal, that I probably wouldn't cry. I was wrong. As a family we walked her to her classroom and the tears began to well up in my eyes as we made our way down a staircase to meet her teachers. It just hit me that this little baby girl:


Is now a school girl:


When did that happen? Anyway, it was a total delight to hear about her day, the friends that she made and that she got chocolate milk at lunch (of course she would choose that kind!) She got a sticker for raising her hand before asking a question, and for obeying the rules.

Such a big day as this really IS harder on the parents. When we first got her to her classroom, she said "Bye Mom and Dad!" and immediately got settled right in. It is REALLY hard to let go sometimes.

Today especially.

Conversations With A Five Year-Old

My daughter. So articulate but it is difficult to have a conversation with her. Why? Here's a snippet of my conversation with her earlier.

Me: Okay, we are at the library, lets go get some books.
Her: Are they open Mom?
Me: Yup, they are open.
Her: Because it's Wednesday?
Me: No, it's Friday.
Her: So, they are closed?
Me: No, they are open until 5:00.
Her: It's 5:00?
Me: No, they are open UNTIL 5:00.
Her: Oh .... so they are closed?

Somebody. Help. Me!

That's My Girl

This girl loves to take rides in Kilroy with Daddy. Yet, she thinks he should put a roof on the Jeep to keep her hair from blowing around too much.

We are definitely related.

How I Get My Radiant Summer Glow

Today I look darn good. My face is shining, my hair is staying firmly in place, and my skin is an unusual shade - not exactly bronze, more like Southern Oregon red clay. You too can get this amazing look if you follow these simple steps:

1. The Location

Find the perfect place to spend the next few days for your various summer treatments. I chose a charming establishment called Willow Lake. Sounds serene doesn't it? Make sure your surroundings are natural and organic. The presence of a lot of dirt, rocks, campfire ashes, and flying insects is crucial. And may I suggest consuming a bug once in a while, if you are lucky, a gnat looks like some ground pepper and you don't even notice the difference.

Begin your summer spa treatments with a good dirt bath. Really grind it in!

2. Sleep Deprivation

To properly appreciate a good night's sleep, you must be deprived of it once and a while. My recommendation is to find neighbors who like to blast Run DMC and Country Rock at 10:00 pm. It also helps if they have been drinking all day long to extend the enjoyment of listening to profanity, yelling and loud bodily functions. Disrespect and booze is a winning combination! Then, it's a must to wake up at 7:00 am to seek out another location to allow the relaxing to begin. A hammock is the perfect place to kick back and breath in the fresh mountain air.

Swinging in a hammock helps to take your cares away and is perfect for a good snuggle.

3. Aromatherapy

If mountain air tends be too fresh, it is good to inhale a healthy portion of campfire smoke once in a while. It makes the eyes water, resulting in the necessary removal of contact lenses. Coughing and hacking is bound to occur, as is the persistent aroma of burning juniper that permeates your clothing, hair and sleeping bags.

4. Hydrotherapy

It's no secret that water is important for our well being. After all, our bodies are made up of 70% water. A morning row in the canoe is good for the body and spirit. Build strong arm muscles while taking in the glory of God's creation. Next - and this is most important - drift lazily upon a glassy lake on a giant inflatable killer whale. Take in the views of Mt. McLaughlin, the dragonflies, and the many sunbathers who let their suits sag below the Equator (if you know what I mean!)

This charming couple (who look an awful lot like my in-laws) demonstrate proper canoing techniques.

There is no dignified way to ride an inflatable orca.

5. Skin Treatments

Why people like take a shower every day is beyond me. It's amazing how skin looks after days without a shower and the buildup of sweat, sunscreen and dirt. Scraping your knees on lava rocks and getting gravel down your pants is good for you - it called exfoliation. And don't forget to allow the oils to build up in your scalp, it keeps hair healthy and is the perfect husband repellent.

"What? And? Yeah I'm getting filthy ... it's my job!"

My Little French School Girl

To continue the story of my daughter's haircut, several inches are now gone from her head. She insisted that she wanted short hair. She insisted that she wanted hair like Mommy's. She insisted that she was on board with the whole haircut thing.

So, after I cut her hair I asked her if she liked it. Her response was a bashful "Not really."

"I'm sorry you don't like it. What don't you like about it?"

"It's just that I look really different."

"Well, are you going to cut your hair again by yourself?"

"NO!!"

So, until her hair starts to grow out, I'll just have to live with my little French school girl. I personally think she is beautiful and I love her hair. Was it the best job on a haircut ever? Um, no. I am surely not very skilled in wielding a pair of styling shears, but considering my inexperience, I count it as more of a success than disaster.

Plus it's comforting to know that hair always grows back.

This new style will be perfect for the hot summer months.

Lookin' good with the hair tucked behind the ears.

Fortunately, she is very confident and secure. She seems pretty unfazed by her new 'do.

I am thinking I should knit her a little pink beret to complete the look pour ma petite fille!

It Was Bound To Happen Sometime

It was inevitable. Every girl does it. I have been waiting for that moment ... my daughter decided to cut her own hair today. Slumped over a handful of her own hair, she tried to hide the evidence. After seeing a rather healthy amount in her hands, I braced myself for the worst!

Fortunately, the damage was pretty minimal. Wanting to cut her hair "like Mommy's" (which is about chin length), I think I will have to finish the job tomorrow myself . Perhaps a nice summer bob is in order.

And it may have to be with bangs.

Mr. Squinchy Face

With all of the moving around he's been up to lately, it is a rare treat to capture (although not very skillfully) the favorite and most beloved expression affectionately dubbed ... Mr. Squinchy Face!