Our Summer Thus Far August 12, 2008

It’s been quite a mellow summer for us. Staying in jammies until noon. Too much Noggin and PBS Kids. Trips to the beach. Cinnamon-sugar toast for breakfast. Homemade popsicles for snack. Trying out new swimming goggles. Family movie nights. Picnic dinners at the park. Our big out-of-state move got put off for at least a year. Getting settled into our “new” home. Trying to nail down a routine that works around here. Preparing for new beginnings. Itching to get back to sewing and crafting. And last to mention, but not least…getting excited about homeschooling.

New Home

New to us living alone in it! It will make sense in a minute. My parents so lovingly are renting to us and it’s been fun making it our own despite its familiarity. We have put all the boy’s beds in one room as the bedroom and then use the other room as the playroom. What I love best about this set-up is that the bedroom rarely gets messy. Blankets, shoes, stuffed animals…that’s about it! What I don’t love so much is the “one wakes up and they all could possibly wake” scenario. We are also setting up an art area in the dining room and hoping for a craft/sewing studio once we get all the excess furniture cleared out.

I would insert picture here, but I haven’t taken one yet and I am not about to turn on the bedroom light to do so! Here’s a spot in the living room I set up for reading our ever-growing pile of library books. (See the stray puzzle piece behind the chair? Welcome to my home.)

Our Routine

In an effort to make days run smoother and take some of the “guesswork” out of an already full and active day, I’ve set up a morning and night routine for Rocket and Cricket to follow on their own. (One of many, many attempts.) Right now we are in the stages of me walking through it with them…but its working. And could I ask for more? I’m not gonna push my luck. The one headache I’ve gotten from doing this is that my routine posters keep getting torn down from the damn wall by my youngest, Tiger Cub. Tonight I am taping stapling nailing them up in a different, somewhat higher spot.

New Beginnings

Hoping for new job for hubby, a load of sewing projects waiting to be begun–and completed! Waiting for Fall -and counting the days!

Homeschooling

I have to say, I am most excited about this. Rocket will be in first grade and I just have some great ideas and have been learning so much as I’ve been gathering information about Living Books and Charlotte Mason’s approach to education. I am hoping to get to a Carole Joy Seid seminar this weekend. I am sure it will offer much information on this type of education as well as inspiration, motivation, and getting things cleared up in this cluttered brain of mine. Plus, won’t it be wonderful to spend a whole day alone, RaeAnn? Why yes, it would!

So there’s a simple update on our family. I will try to post more often. I have to admit I have been a captivated audience to several blogs daily and would love to make mine more consistent and interesting like the ones I love.

So bye for now.

some quotes from the little people: May 31, 2008

Rocket: (while sharing the mushy parts of his trail mix with his little brother)

“Can [Tiger Cub] have walmonds?”

 

And my heart just about burst when I heard this:

 

Cricket: “Mommy, my lips need to kiss wiss (with) you“

Cricket again: “Mommy you are beautiful and I don’t want to cut you”

 

They do these things just as I am beginning to wear thin. Its what keeps me going. Really.

Supporting the local artists. March 22, 2008

With all the artwork going on around us, I figured I’d share the wealth through pictures. Anyone with kids knows about the inevitable wall drawings and the lengths we go to support the creativity, while trying to keep our houses from looking like the side walls on the freeways in L.A. I used to freak out about it. NO! NOT ON THE WALL. PAPER! USE PAPER! But now, thanks to valuable child development education via some parenting magazine and MR. Clean Magic Eraser, I can coolly walk over and suggest paper instead. Sometimes I don’t catch the perpetrator in the act. So there are many forgotten and missed spots throughout the house. I’ve gotten so used to seeing these that they get overlooked. Until I have someone over. All of a sudden I see the house with new eyes. And the artwork is the first to stand out. Darn it!

So to prevent future embarrassments, I decided to get rid of the writings on the wall. I had to take pictures though.

This one is from the top of our fake fireplace. Artist: Cricket, Media: Marker.

This was done a year ago (it won’t come off). On our porch, right next to the door. Artist: Rocket, Media: Pink Sharpie.

This one in the backyard on the fence. This one is also permanent. Artist: Cricket, Media: Sharpie.

On our old closet door. Artist: Rocket, Media: Got-to-get-rid-of-these-damn-SHARPIES!!

And lastly on the back of our front door. Artist: Tiger Cub (amateur), Media: Crayon & Marker.

Thanks for viewing our art show. Next showing: most likely in a week.

A whole week! March 22, 2008

I knew this would happen. And I warned you.

It is so hard for me to keep something going…even when it’s good! I really enjoy blogging. And honestly, I think of different things to blog about through my day. Just getting to it has been a challenge. Husby has been doing a lot of work on the computer with trying to get his business going. So that being my only time when I am guaranteed a few complete thoughts, I am left with the day to be on the computer – interruptions and all.

Not a lot going on but I have a couple things to share.

First, was St. Patrick’s Day – which I never cared much to celebrate before. In fact, I was annoyed by the whole thing honestly. Then I had kids. This should be the ending to all my sentences. I like to read…then I had kids! I love to shop…then I had kids. I fit into my skinny jeans… I get enough sleep… I’m not crazy…

I’m sure you get the picture. Ok, so anyway. Rocket had to wear green to school and decorate a potato. (Potato = Ireland) So I died a t-shirt green and ironed on a leprechaun picture onto it. And what the heck! I made one for the little guys as well. Here’s a picture of them. I meant to get a picture of all three together, but forgot.

And then, this is my favorite. We dressed up Rocket’s potato like Harry Potter. And no joke, it was the best looking potato in the class.

Later that night I went to M&L and picked up fabric for Easter shirts for the boys. I found a great pattern for both men and boys. So I thought I’d make Jonathon (Husby) a shirt too. Today, is the day before Easter and I have not completed one shirt. I should not even be typing right now. I should be sewing. I will probably end up buying one for Husby. But here’s a picture of the fabric I got. Love that store. The stripes are for the shirts. I sneaked in a couple more yards of pretty fabric to have fun with.

The picture does not totally do it justice. I haven’t figured out what to do with the other stuff. A spring bag might be an order. I’ll let you know if I finish anything!
Husby and the monkees had some fun on the trampoline. Had to throw these in.

Until next time!

Rockin’ Saturday Night March 16, 2008

I changed the name of my blog. What do you think? It’s a phrase from a children’s book I just love called Louis and the Dodo. I’ve always been taken by that line in the book and wanted to use it for my own someday. Let’s hope I haven’t done any plagiarizing here!

On to my blog:

So it’s one of those moments that consist of inner peace and warm-ness. Where the burdens and stresses of the day (week….month….year….) are forgotten.

And all is right with the world.

I am having one of those moments right now. And just felt like blogging about it. Gave the two little guys an early dinner and put them to bed early. We finished dinner #2 about a half-hour ago. Husby and Rocket are playing Chess. I am reading a really cool blog about all things apron – once I figure out how to display links to my favorite blogs and websites, I have to add this gal’s blog, she’s so inspiring with her craftiness- anyway, our favorite internet indie music station is playing in the background. Tummies full, minds stimulated, music filling the air… Could I possibly ask for any more than this?
Pardon me, I must stop and be grateful for these moments. Lord knows they don’t come often, but are so needed.

Tonight I made my first attempt at homemade mac n’ cheese. It’s been a chilly day that demands comfort food. So I found this recipe from Sara Snow’s website. She’s this “green” living goddess, if you will, that hosts one of our favorite and much missed shows on Discovery Health. (No cable anymore. So sad.) She has several recipes posted and this is the first one I’ve tried. Jonathon loved it. Rocket did not like all the bread crumbs. The dish had some serious bread crumbs on the top. I halved the amount it called for and still, it was much. But I took a picture anyway just for the heck of it. I will probably give it a go again, sans bread crumbs and cayenne (yes, cayenne! Can you believe it?)

Catch you all later. Thanks mom and dad for liking my blog. I feel so special.

Pulling an “Oprah” (sorta) March 14, 2008

So I thought I’d make Fridays my “favorites” day. I have a lot of favorite things and they are always changing. So why not list them all for everyone to enjoy as well. Friday, in all it’s week-end-ness glory, is my favorite day also.

And plus, everyone cares right?

Okay. Favorite thing #1:

This is definitely next album I am going to purchase/download. Hear it. They’re awesome.

Favorite thing #2:

Found these at Trader Joe’s. These are both organic and yummy. No artificial crap. I wish more candy makers would make it their responsibility to find an alternative to petroleum-based flavors and colors. The sad thing is…more than half the products at a regular grocery store contain it. 

Favorite thing #3:

Ecco Caffe’s Organic El Salvador. It’s just so good. Husby has a contact at Ecco and just got 10 pounds shipped to us. (Miss the coffee shop……sniff, sniff.)

Favorite thing #4:

Since we have an obsession with You Tube in our family, here’s my kid’s current fave:(Warning: You will be singing this all day.)

Party in My Tummy

So there you have it friends. Have a wonderful Friday.

Ode to lazy Sundays March 10, 2008

Well maybe not so lazy. But we did do a lot of nothing. With Rocket and Cricket at nana and papa’s most of Saturday and through the night, we got loads of housework done. So I had no guilt indulging in a completely free Sunday. I find these days almost magical in their quietness that gives birth to creativity and invention. I’ll share mostly in pictures, since I took a lot to capture the day.

Made a rocket (the object) for Rocket (the child) and his Woodstock. Oh Woodstock… (remember him?), he was mine when I was little. Given to me by my late Aunt Cindy when I was 3. I always used to see him sitting on her bed among other cutesy dolls and stuffed animals. I remember frequent visits to her room in my grandma’s house, and I would sit on her bed and play while she got ready to go out. Anyway, I couldn’t understand why she didn’t play with these toys and finally asked her if I could take Woodstock home. Of course she said yes. I played with him for a while and then he became one of the many stuffed animals that adorned my bed – no longer played with. So anyway, my parents went through some old stuff recently – unearthing boxes of old artwork, Barbies, and the aforementioned stuffed animals. Of course my Rocket with his keen eye for toys, spotted the glorious pile of old friends and picked Woodstock as his own. So today he “needed” a rocket for him. *************Side note: Isn’t it funny what kids think they need. We parents stress about nutrition, education, too much tv, vaccinations, should they be doing this or saying that…….all kids think they need is fun stuff to play with. And a rocket for Woodstock. *********************So anyway, back to my day. I got him an empty oatmeal box. Daddy cut a hole for Woodstock to be stuffed into. I saw this and the wheels began turning.

I pulled out some supplies and sat Rocket down to paint.

Ta da!

( he doesn’t look happy, but he is!) Now Woodstock is ready for his flight to the moon.

Now while we were waiting for the paint to dry. I decided to have a little Demolition Derby. This consisted of Rocket hammering the heck out of some cars.

Not life size vehicles. Geez. Hot wheels and such. Check it out:

Boys love to destroy things. Don’t they? Okay well mine do. I read this article about this mom who actually let her boys smash their poor little cars to smithereens. I am always harping on them about breaking toys and being careful for this and that. Well my free spirited mood today brought this article to mind and I thought I’d let my own give it whack.

He loved it! Before anyone calls CPS on me (relieved my neighbors didn’t), that is paint on his hand, not blood.

Daddy wasn’t so enchanted by this activity. “Why would you encourage him to smash his toys?”

Apparently as a child, his cars were his treasures and seeing what was happening to these cars made him a bit uneasy. (And questioned my sanity for sure.) But nevertheless, he got into it and gave Rocket some pointers on getting the best whack.

We set them up before sweeping them into the trash…for one final picture.

While I was outside, I saw my plants and remembered they needed watering. Can you tell?

It gets worse:

I really want to garden. Our own organic garden would be a dream! But I am so deathly afraid this will happen to it.

Sigh.

So after all the fun we made pudding because I had a hankerin…

A little blurry, but trust me…so good. That’s real whipping cream there in the background. I had Rocket do the whipping of the cream, which I am enjoying the remains of as I type right now. mmmm……

The day wasn’t all fun and games, poor Cricket was sick and slept most of the day on the couch.

I just feel so bad for them when they are sick. We did good all season, however over these past 3 weeks, we were hit pretty hard with one bug right after the other. I call them bugs on purpose. I hate bugs – insects, that is. (Though I try not to show it too often.) And I see sickness as a little bug that must be destroyed. So this one has had it’s day. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll all be closer to normal.

This is how I found Tiger Cub this evening. Apparently the gate to the kitchen hadn’t been closed.

This isn’t unusual.

We had pizza for dinner, had a little discussion – prompted by my husby, I swear – about being greener (I’ll go into that later this week), and then I took a little trip to Henry’s. I love that they close at 10:00. Even on Sundays. Some people might be appalled by this, but I find it completely ingenious. Not to mention convenient. I spent some time browsing the store, trying to keep to my list. I am not an organized person………at all. So my husband has been stressing over the past 5 years that I must learn to take a list to the store. So I just recently gave it a try and it works out pretty nice, actually. I am a slow learner.

It’s late now. Everyone’s asleep. That disorganized person I just mentioned, yah….well she’s got dishes to clean and a shower to take. On to a new week. Look out!

Yay for first blogs! (and I’ve had a few) March 7, 2008

Welcome to my first blog!

I figured I’d just jump right in. This blog is meant to keep in touch with family and friends and hopefully…make some new ones! I am not a great writer, though I used to enjoy creative writing as a teen, but just don’t do it much now. I have my share of favorite writers of blogs…and just writers in general. I usually stick to magazines and blogs when it comes to reading, because books take me too long to read right now. However, it is one of my goals to squeeze in some quality reading time. I have so many books on my bookshelf that have been started. And….then….that’s it. Oh! Which, by the way, brings me to mention that this blog may go the way of abandonment. As has every other blog I have started. It’s not my intention, it’s just that my perpetual lack of focus and motivation have caused my previous blogs to cease.

But as morning gives way to a new day…WordPress gives way to a new blog!! And we shall see how it goes.

Here’s some pictures from our morning today. My eldest child, will be referred to as “Rocket”, had to miss Kindergarten for the third day in a row due to a nasty bug that won’t go away. The other two, Cricket and Tiger Cub are always around since they have not yet started preschool. So my days are pretty full. And here’s a typical (wait…there really is no typical) morning.

Some morning tv.

Eating Oatmeal.

A little dish washing always makes him happy.