Simple Pleasures

Happy does not describe the way that these little hangers made me feel when I received them in the mail... How does she twist and turn the metal to form their little names? Who knows... Leave that to the professionals... Love it!

Waiting...

Sebastian's buddies resting on his bed, waiting for a snuggle...

My father's little rocking chair waiting to be sat in again and again...

The map in Sebastian's room waiting to be marked with his Papa's next destination.. Florida, and then back to California...

The hydrangea in our back yard waiting to produce beautiful blooms to fill the vases in our home...

Side walk chalk waiting to decorate the pavement that surrounds us, and make our lives that much more beautiful...

What are you waiting for today?

Full Circle Moment

There once was this girl... (If you want the whole story, click here...)  She and I didn't get along very well. She wanted my boyfriend, or so I thought... We were young and at the time, we thought we knew what was good. I decided that it was high time to put the past behind us and took it upon myself to extend an apology to her... She accepted and apologized to me as well. We have had light correspondence throughout the last year or so.  I found out that she was soon to have her first child, a little girl, and decided that I would make her sweet girl a gift and send it her way... I did just that.  I knit that little hat all the while thinking of this new found friendship that came out of such an old yucky place. She loved the hat, and thanked me so kindly for it. I open the mail today to find a beautiful birth announcement for her bundle of pink joy, and what do you know? The tiny hat that I made atop the head of the tiny baby that she made. Here's to taking chances, extending ones self and believing in the possibility of new beginnings.

Cloud Nine

Tonight I received what would turn out to be the sweetest surprise that anyone has ever given to me... My friend Lyn secretly came to my house and made a delivery upon my front stoop... She then emailed me and notified me that there was a little something for me at my front door... (All very sneaky...) I went downstairs, opened the door to find the following... A bag with a card attached and labeled "Date Night In A Bag", and a beautiful vase of roses, with a little card that says "Thinking of You.'  I open the bag to find a bottle of red wine, home-made brushetta and a baguette... I open the card and here is what it said...

Cloud nine is not high enough...

Grateful does not describe it...

Genuine, Thoughtfulness...

Lasting Impression...

With my husband out of town for the week, what else could I ask for?

Lyn- You are an awesome friend. I am so thankful for your friendship. I feel like you were placed into my life for the resounding effects of honest joy... You make me want to be a better person than I am today.  Thank you, thank you, I love roses, thank you... Cheers!

Mother Knows Best

My father gave this book to me over a year ago, and I tossed it into a pile of other books that are begging to be read... It donned on me that I should go ahead and crack it open a few days ago, and you will not believe what I found! In addition to a hilarious book filled with thirty year old antidotes for everything from bad behavior to poor table manners; I also found hand written notes scribbled by my mother, twenty some odd years ago.  Judging by the inscription on the books inner cover, my mother received this book as a birthday present from a friend of hers, signed Nancy... I am thrilled to announce that I know this Nancy friend quite well,and that she and my mother are still dear friends.  I love knowing that my mom read through these pages and chose different projects to make with my sister and I... I also love the "Record List" that I found tucked inside the books pages.  A record list? Hmmm... and the address that is marked at the bottom of the page,

Coeur D 'Alene Idaho, yep, that was us.I  feel like this was a little treasure hidden well, and now found! Kudos.

Slowing Down

I guess that there are many different elements that I could blame my high speed life style on... Various activities that cut my day into pieces and hold silly importance when thought of in retrospect. My days are full to the brim, with happiness and little boys, but full none the less.  I tend to get caught up in the lists that I tend to make for myself and often times loose focus of what it is in a day that really holds importance. I often lay awake at night reliving parts of the day and wishing that I could go back and do certain parts over, a different, slower approach.  

At age five,Sebastian's mind is bubbling over with facts and questions and random wordings that spill out of him each minute of each hour of each day.  I don't think that he stops talking from the time that he wakes in the morning, "Good morning Momma, it's a sunny day out!", until I am closing his door after tucking him in and night...And still then he calls my name once more, just as the door is about to close...

"Momma?" 

"Yes Sebastian?"

"How many times will you check on me tonight?" 

"25 times baby." 

"O.K. Mom." 

"I love you honey."

"I love you too." 

"Momma?"

"Yes Sebastian?" 

"Don't let the bed bugs bite." 

"I won't you silly boy..."

"Momma? Are there really bed bugs?"

So on and so forth... You get the gist of it...

Last night as I tried to fall asleep, I was reminded of a moment of our day when Sebastian saw two rollie pollies on the ground in front of him.  He told me that he saw them. He was excited, I remember hearing the excitement his voice.  I was in a hurry, shuffling along with a curious 18m month old, and didn't take the time to stop and look at the bugs that Sebastian had found. I rushed us past them, and didn't even think about them until hours later.  I wish that I could go back to that moment and really hear him when he spoke. I wish that I could have stopped and admired the rollie pollies the way that he did.  I apologized to him for not fully listening to him. He told me that it was alright.  I told him that I would help him find two other rollie pollies, and he seemed just as happy about the prospect of new bugs as he had seemed about the original pair.

I need to linger in the moments of pure childhood that are offered to me...

I need to slow down and take in the beauty and wonder which surrounds me...

I need to quiet my mind and listen closely to the conversations that are being had around me...

I need to let the little stuff go at the end of the day and remind myself that I am trying to do the very best job that I can do for all of us...

I think I'll start tonight.

Chore Sticks... Part Two

I tried to introduce Sebastian to this idea last year, but I think that it was a wee bit premature! I thought that I would try again now that he is five! I selected five popsicle sticks, along with five chores.  I decorated the sticks with two different types of paper, and applied glitter in various colors to the tips of each stick.... The idea is to write a chore on each stick for the child to complete... Whether or not they should be completed daily or weekly is up to you!  When the child completes a chore, he turns the stick upside down, so that at the end of completion, all glittered ends are facing downward! New day, or week?  Simply turn sticks upright and begin again! I have also come up with a system to reward Sebastian for his hard work around the house! Stay tuned for the reward...

On The Go Gaming!

Sebastian's Nana taught him how to play Tic Tac Toe the last time that she was in town, and boy does he love that game!  I thought that I would whip up a portable version for him to take with him on his many journeys, just in time to slip into his Easter basket! He loved it! I love him. Perfect.

Hoppy Easter

Good Morning

Number Two

I have been collecting samples and cultures from Brooklyn's diapers throughout the past three days... You see, our sweet baby boy has had quite the messy diaper now for nearly a month, and though normally I would not speak potty talk... I figure, those moms and dads that might be reading, won't bat a eye at the thought of poop.  I turned the cultures over to Dr. Rott, in exchange for two Wiggles stickers and a vague and nonchalant, "You'll have results in three to five days." So, now we wait... The doctor forewarned me that this series of messy diapers could be caused by a number of different things, all of which Brooklyn is being tested for.  Various allergy,sickness and disease, including childhood cancers... Although routine, terrifying.  Prayers, please. Results in three to five days. Thank you.

San Diego Children's Museum

Wax Eggs

Use crayons shavings to create these beautiful Easter eggs!

Five Alive

Tweet Treat

Sweet little bird nest treats for Sebastian's Easter party at school today! Almost too cute to eat, wouldn't you say?  I fell in love with this idea when I saw it in a cooking magazine years ago...I'm so happy with how they turned out, and lets face it, who doesn't love a rice krispy treat! Yum!