Super Sunday Sunday Sunday

Wow, I haven't made a post in a while! Honestly, this summer has been extremily busy so far! Yesterday was such a great day, we were invited to a wonderful celebration for my Great Aunt Dorothy, she turned 90 years old! She is amazing. The family celebration felt like a reunion. I saw relatives that I have not seen in years. What a heartwarming experience and also such a trip into the past. I almost felt like I was this little girl with pig tails in my grandparents house again. Many, many memories.

Yesterday we also celebrated Father's Day and my Mom's Birthday! The kids had a blast! As you can see from the photos, grape soda mouths and lots of sugar!

Right now Isabelle is at vacaction bible school at my girlfriend's church. It goes all week from 9-12. What a great opportunity! She gets to have such fun and I get a little break :) to get some things done! (I am preparing for a local rummage sale and also catching up with some Etsy orders). Of course, I have Ben to contend with...but it seems to be a bit easier without both children together, it's like a 1 circus instead of a 3 ring circus.

Isabelle started dance class a few weeks ago. She aboslutley loves it. I ask her to show me what she learned and she tells me she doesnt remember.... :) Even if she doesnt learn a smidge of anything, she is just excited to be there and that's really all that matters!

Noah has recently opened a new business office in town, so that is very exciting for us all!

That is all I can think of for the moment. I need to gather all my thoughts as I do believe they are somehow seeping out of my brain. Have a wonderful day. I must say, It is so nice to see the SUNSHINE after all the RAIN.

Our Butterfly & misc.

Our Little Butterfly Graduating from Preschool

Strawberry Mice I made for a brunch.

The Newest Members of the BLUE MAN GROUP. (AUnt Mary, did I thank you for the sidewalk paint? thanks...haha)
Heres a little misc. recap of our last few days: School has come to end for the season, Isabelle had her gradution ceremony this week. (I recorded it, if anyone wants to see it). In the chaos and craziness of this week's festivities, my mind was on overload and fast mode, I guess because I got a speeding ticket - JOY. Ben is saying a lot more words all of a sudden (sleepy, belle, baby, ball, diaper, milk , juice, bankee (blanket), cherrio, beer, bear...pretty much it seems, he can and tries to repeat whatever he hears. I serisouly wish that I could pay someone to get my house in order. I feel overwhelmed by each room, not only the dirt mess, but the clutter. The Office Season has come to an end and I am sad and having withdrawls. I haven't seen any good movies lately...oh, unless you count Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. That is such a great movie and I just recently saw it. I made potatoe salad from scratch tonight. I think well worth the effort, verses the store verison. This weekend we are mostly staying close to the homestead, to catch up on things and just relax. Tonight we are going to have a bon fire with smores. FUN. So anyway, for now I want to wish ya'all a very happy, safe, silly and grand Memorial Day Weekend.

misc. updates

The Garden is coming up quite nice.

You see here, the lettuce/spinach row.

Annie....

and her brother have returned!

Yesterday was an Annie day around here. Watching the movie, dancing....and Ben likes to take the wig off of Isabelle and put it on himself. You should hear Ben sing Dumb Dog! If you sing it, he repeats it very clear.

It feels like an insane asylum around her lately. It has been crackers and nuts. Loud and busy. Today is the last day of school for Isabelle and tonight is her graduation. Tomorrow is a fun day at the park for her class.

Also tomorrow is my last MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group of the season, it's a brunch. Don't know what I am bringing yet. Next year, I will play a bigger role in my MOPS group. I will be on the steering team as Creative Activities Leader. I honestly, felt called to do this and I am so very excited about this opportunity.

Once Upon The End - My online papercrafting store is going so great. I am actually having a hard time trying to make things and keep up (not complaining, it's a good thing). Still working on the balancing of it all. Also, trying not to put so much pressure on myself, only doing what I can, and letting the rest go for another day. :)

Have made no new recipes lately. Although we have a new cookbook in the house: Disney's The Magic Kitchen Cookbook. I can't wait to make some of the fun stuff in there with Isabelle.

Toddler notes: I wanted to share this funny. Ben loves to push the doll stroller outside. Well, the other day, I noticed my Gnome statue missing from the back porch, I look at Ben and sure enough he is pushing it in the little stroller like its a baby. My little weirdo.

I love that whenever Ben hears music (even on a commerical), that he instantly starts dancing. I don't love that Ben is constantly throwing the dog food into the water dish.

I think I have rambled enough for this a.m. Much to do. Honey Bunches of Oats to Eat, Places to go, people to see...I don't want to be late, late, late for a very important date...

Ben's Bird

Noah the handler (aka bird whisperer)Ben the Naturalist

Discovery: Bird

One lovely Spring afternoon, we were all outside and Ben starting screaming and pointing at the flowers! We came over to see what the dealio (I don't say that word dealio on a normal basis at all, but I felt it to be appropriate here) was...and there was a little bird hopping around. He seemed to not be able to fly. Noah picked him up and the bird perched on him for a while. Isabelle sang to the bird a healing song (you are my sunshine) and then we released and relocated it back into the enviorment.

crab apple, livestock, mom

Our Crab Apple Tree in full bloom
Horses and Cows that we pass everyday.

Wishing all the MOM's a very Happy Mother's Day today! May you find Peace and Comfort. Hearts at Home. Love with Laughter. God Bless YOU!

Dirt and Dandelions

These past few days have been FILLED to the brim with dirt and dandelions. The nice weather is defintely upon us.

Tulip Picnic and Such

I always say that Autumn is my favorite season, and it is! But, Spring is almost equally amazing. I just had the nicest lunch date...with Isabelle. Since Noah took Ben for a hair cut and lunch, I thought that Isabelle and I should have a picnic outside.

So, we packed a basket with tuna fish sandwiches, cheese slices, pudding and drinks...grabbed a blanket and had a nice quiet lunch outside among nature's best. Just the perfect weather and peace (usually Ben is a hurricane to all situations, so it was nice to just have calm). Isabelle (with dirt on her nose) and I talked about the important things in life: like why Cinderella's step sisters wouldnt let her go to the ball with them and the inquiries such as "Mom, did they have bikes when you were little?".

Misc.

Noah just sent me a pic from his phone of ben after his hair cut. Ben does not look happy.

It looks now like its going to rain. It's going to rain on my laundry. Yesterday, the kids were playing fine. Ben was sitting in a diaper box. I went outside to get the mail, came back in and Isabelle was yelling and running toward me: Ben hurt himself! Ben was crying and running toward me...His NOSE was bleeding all over the place! He moved the box over next to this little desk, must have tipped it over and hit his face. This little boy has bled more within his baby existance (nose, lip, mouth, finger,etc) than Isabelle has her entire life. I can't believe that Isabelle will soon be having a graduation from preschool. I can't believe they are going to have a little ceremony. The bummer part is it is on a wednesday night, so relatives wont be able to come out for it. Good thing I have my Video Camera! I will be signing Isabelle up for her first dance class this summer, so that should be fun! The garden vegetables are starting to slowly rise beyond the dirt. Isabelle is currently picking me some dandielions. I guess I should go get some work done! Remember to smell the Tulips, they fleet way too fast!

Park Play & experiment

A child is a curly dimpled lunatic. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

So, the season of PARKing is among us. Ben had aboslutely NO FEAR at all to Climb and step forth onto Huge uncharted structures. While at the park ,A GIANT bumble bee landed on this kid's hand and he didn't care (I was freaking out just a tad). Well, he did have one fear, one big fear...I knew about this fear from last year and I was wondering if he out grew it...but...no...not at all...Benjamin quite does not like: THE SWINGS. He cried like a maniac at first push. I took him out and he ran for the tallest tower....

I must talk about my recent "husband experiment" . Whenever Noah goes into the basement ( a cellar that we do not use too often), he quite often leaves a few of the lights on down there (pull strings from the ceiling). He comes up and never returns to shut them off, so I always wind up going down there amongst the cobwebs and shutting them off for him. It is quite obvious if there are lights on from the top of the stairs... anyway he has done this once again recently and I told myself this time, lets see if he decides to ever go back down and shut them off. It is hard for me to just let them stay on (I am a close the cabinet, push the chair in type of girl), but I made myself...well let me tell you that 4 days later (I am not exaggerating) the lights were still on. Day, night, day, night, day, night, day, night...I couldn't take it anymore and I finally gave in and shut them off. (ever see the episode of everyone loves Raymond in which Debra nor Raymond would move the suitcase from the stairs?). So, anyway results prove to be as I did not hope, but as I suspected they would be. It really shouldn't surprise me coming from the same test subject who left laundry hanging on the clothesline for 7 days while I was on a trip in Las Vegas. (I couldn't take the laundry down before I left because it was still wet...I returned home , one week later to see the laundry still waiting for me) Oh wait, I think he might of took one shirt down...because he needed it. LOVELY.

Sleepless not in Seattle

Here is the stalker Robin today. I got a better photo this time. It is still trying to get in the house. In fact, since I was sleeping on the couch this morning (because Ben kept me up half the night), this fine bird woke me up, banging on the window!
This little boy looks all cute and innocent, yet he is not. Now his current favorite thing to do is hit (slap) you in the face, and then right away hug and kiss you to make up.

A Glimpse of Spring

I found this gnome hanging in our crab apple tree.

His rope needs to be retied. He seems happy though.

This is always the first flower that I spot each spring.
This Robin has been trying to get in our house all day! He just keeps flying against the window, knocking into it and returning to the bush. Everytime he knocks into the window, ben yells uh-oh and laughs hysterically.

Today I am experiencing the rare occasion of silence. Isabelle is at a playdate and ben is napping. I got some cleaning done so that was great. Seriously, It's nice to do something that doesnt get instantly undone. Pretty soon I have to wake Ben up and go pick up Isabelle. So for a few minutes, I am enjoying this peace. Honestly, I don't know what to do with myself.

Outdoor Fun has Begun

Report from an Early Spring Late Sunday Afternoon:
The last (2) days we have been able to spend some time outside. The kids absoutley LOVE it. I hope the sun and fresh air will do something for us all. The kids get so whipped out, they come in and nap heavily and then go out again.

Noah started planting the garden today. He is excited because he is doing a different concept this year. Raised beds. It looks to me like each vegetable is grouped seperately and I don't know much else about this system yet.

I was so proud of my self today because I cleaned out my entire car from a long winters nap. It is amazing how many fishy crackers, slip beyond the little fingers of the youngins and wind up smashed between the seats and on the floor. No wonder we go through so many fish. So anway, I was so proud of myself for cleaning out my car....and I just went out there to move it , when low and behold....I had left the keys in the inition and that battery is dead! Duh! How the heck did I mangage to do that? WEll, good news is Noah is charging it now. I am just glad I didnt discover this tomorrow morning right before we had to leave.

Tonight Noah is making some fancy dinner. I think we have all had soup/some sandwiches for the last 3-4 days pretty much. So this will be a nice change of pace. And I just finished making dinner hearts. (paper hearts: that I distribute at dinner time every now and then to tell the kids how much we love them and a reason why we are proud of them or something along those lines. Isabelle will be so excited, she loves dinner hearts). Good night and God Bless us all dear family and friends.

The sicko

Here's one of my little sickos. He just loves oatmeal! I just wanted to share with you how sweet this little boy is. Last night we were sitting in the living room, resting and talking...Isabelle fell asleep on one of the couches...Ben decided she needed her strawberry short cake doll, so he got all his blankets off, got off the couch, went to the toy bin, retrieved the doll and layed it next to her..he was proud of himself so he clapped, then he went back to the toy bin got his special doll and came back to the couch, got himself positioned and just started hugging his baby and patting its back. It was just so sweet...melted my heart. A good little moment to focus on when things are so down right now.

Also - just a kid comparison observation thing. When Isabelle first started talking, she used to call JUICE: Joo. Now that Ben has started talking he calls JUICE: oose. Just thought that was interesting.

Orphan Annie & Sick Family

The "Annie Wig" - So, Uncle Al...found the most amazing pefect thing to go with Isabelle's Annie Dress. A wig! At first she was scared of it, but then she wouldn't take it off at all, she wanted to sleep in it. I even let her wear it to store because she wanted to. She does have a negative comment though: that she doesn't really like the wig...cuz it's itchy. Now she just wears it occassionaly.

Sickness All About. Yesterday was a horrible day. We have all been feeling sick and I got the kids into the dr. WEll 3 hours later, I left there with 4 (3 for ben, 1 for Isabelle) perscriptions in my hands, but not before bursting into tears in the dr's office. I think I was so tired from no sleep for two nights, and I was overwhelmed by the news. Isabelle and Ben have strep throat, and Ben has an ear infection and a rash. It is scary to me that what seems to be a cold can turn into so much more so quickly. To be honest the last couple days have felt like a nightmare. I've been trying to get dr. appoints for noah and I because we believe we have strep as well. But, everyone is booked so I think we will have to go to a same day care place if we can. Even though I feel like total crap (just being honest), I am SO thankful that the children were treated and they have their medicine and are on the way to recovery. Isabelle is quite upset that she won't be going to school today because she was excited about the show and tell she was going to bring. Anyway, please say a prayer for my family, that complete health is restored soon.

Dumb Dog

I think this is my favorite book that I have made so far. It is a blank journal with coptic style binding. It has sold...so now I just have my memories and this lovely photograph.

This "spring break" week has flown by. Yuk weather, but what can you do?

On Sundays we try to take on a house project of some sort (the rate our house is at, we should take on a house project every day, maybe every hour) to at least make some kind of improvement. Today Noah suggested that we work in the basement. It is a horrible dungeon sewer moldy cobwebbed nightmare...noone ventures down there unless it is a complete neccesity. Well today, we tackled the beginning of emptying the entire basement out. It's just yuk down there and we think it would be best if it was completly empty. So anyway, worked hard and got a very good portion sorted out. Much went in the garbage, some went in the "sale/give" pile and then proud to say just a small portion is in the keep pile. I am all about decluttering my home and getting a handle and grasp on everything....an organizaiton....and this was a very good step to take. Feels good!

Today/night Noah made Lasagna from scratch, bread from scratch and salad..from scratch. It was a wonderful meal and I should not complain except....he left behind about 1005 dishes. I dont know where all the dishes came from? The basement? I didnt realize we had that many dishes. So anyway, I suggested that if we did it as a team that it would get done faster and be fun. Wow, was I wrong. Remind me to do the dishes by myself like usual. He returned several dishes to the sink , rejecting them in the rinse, saying they were not good enough. I commented that doing dishes with him was like being in hell's kitchen with gordon ramsay, except it was hell's kitchen Sink! Just when I thought dishes couldnt be any more tortorous (like when ben is pulling on me, hitting me trying to get me away from the sink) than usual....I have found a new high...or should I say low. Well, the good news is that the dishes are done. (for now)

Isabelle asked me today: If I got eaten by a monster, I'd never get to go to dance class right?

Ben doesn't say a lot of words, mostly: mama, hi, bye, wow, uh oh, ba, dah, etc.... but today he said...or should I say he sang very clear: dumb dog.... (we often sing that song and listen to that song from the annie soundtrack...maybe too often).

Well tomorrow regular routine of school and such starts...It's been a long day...I think I will go read for a smidge. Tonight we are trying a no tv night and I have to say I am really enjoying the quiet. I think we should do this more often. I keep reminding myself that we should set up some house rules like on supernanny.....of course if we don't watch t.v.....I will never know what grand advice supernanny may be passing out to desperate households....

goodnight.

A little Easter...

Ben Boo and the Blue Balloon

A Rambling of Misc. Thoughts - (as I just notice Ben is taking every kleenex out of the box...). I couldn't believe my eyes on Friday when I woke up to a winter blizzard! It was crazy! As I noticed my gas tank on E....I had no choice to fight a brutal element....as I stood there with the harsh whipping winds of ice snow slapping me in the face....I thought to myself...they like to say that Hell is a rather hot enviornment....I would think that it would be a brutal blistering cold like the moment I just had. Pure awful torture. Even with some new snow on the ground...Ive noticed the Robin's lately. They are back. Each bird has it's special something. I enjoy them all. I love how the robin....bobs...takes a couple bobbing steps...stops looks...and then continues on...again...just bobbin around the ground. I finally threw out our moldy pumpkins that we left outside and failed to get rid of before the snowy winter hit. It feels good to declutter (haha). Parent lesson learned: although it may seem to be a time saver to let your young toddler, eat and spoon his own pudding from a cup....it may be just slightly wiser to take the time to feed him yourself with this particuliar culinary delight....otherwise... chocolate pudding E V E R Y W H E R E. So, Noah was recently in a business meeting and his parnter was looking for papers and pulled something out from Noah's travel case....it was a half used bottle of baby rays barbaque sauce (curitosy of benjamin). About a week ago, we were looking all over for the barbaque sauce, we thought we had some left, but figured we must have used it all. Well when noah cleaned out his case for repacking, he didnt check the outter pocket... Yesterday ben stuffed a total of six books in to his footy pajamas and then walked away like a stiff little monster.... (please ignore my spelling errors today, for today I do not feel like checking my work). So thanks to Ben, I have a bruised bloody lip...he banged his head into my mouth last night...that was fun....but just a tad less fun than when Isabelle asked me what the spots on my face were and when they were going to go away (I am having some skin/blemish issues lately). She kept pointing in disqust, so that was lovely..Yes, motherhood can be so grand. Isabelle was trying to practice somersault's recently and she came to me upset...and said, I can do a somersault....but I am not sure how to do a wintersault.... Well....the Easter Holiday is among us. There is much to do. May your Easter be happy and God bless you.

That Leprechaun has struck again...

St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time - a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic. ~Adrienne Cook ( I know I have used this quote before, but I just love it!)

This time the Leprechaun turned the milk green and turned Isabelle's underwear green (or so she thought, when I layed out her clothes to wear, including green undewear that were in a pack she has not worn yet...immediately she came to the conclusion that the magic little fellow changed her white underwear to green. The tricky little fellow also left a box of LUCKY CHARMS for the kids. He also visited Isabelle's school....she told me that her class went to church and when they came back to the classroom...everything was tipped over and there was gold (chocolate) everywhere...there were some shoes left behind and a note for the kids. Tonight, we had the traditional corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots and irish soda bread. Today was fun and enchanted. We are not Irish in the slightest, but I sure do feel lucky.

This weekend I went away with some friends to a conference that supports and celebrates the profession of motherhood. This national conference is called Hearts At Home and I found this weekend to be completely inspiring, empowering and truly wonderful. I have been reminded, I have learned and I have shared, I have cried and I have laughed so much. I recommend this event to any mother who has the opportunity to attend. I bought some amazing books written by some of the speakers and I cannot wait to start reading them. I was also introduced to the beautiful music of a Christian singer named Cheri Keaggy who performed at the conference. The first book that I intend on reading is: How to Live with your kids when you've already lost your mind (Ken Davis).

Silly little Children

Above: Yes, that's my son wearing Pink & sporting a dirty face.

Next, Isabelle had to wear the hat (she has to do whatever Ben does).

What Love for eachother! (It's either this or pulling hair...)

Isabelle, What do you like best about your little brother? When he don't pulls my hair. What do you like to play with Ben? Restaurant, dolls and I like dancing in the kitchen with my little brother, when you put the music on. What does Ben do that is silly? Takes all his clothes off and throws his diaper! What does Ben do that's bad? hurt me and hit me, make messes and don't clean up.

Tiny Butterfly Journal

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly,

"one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."

~Hans Christian Anderson

I came across this project on a craft site and I had to make it right away! I absoutley love this! It was so fun to make. It is a tiny little journal... It feels like it might fly away any moment!

Pretzel on the Pillow

These sweet thoughts from my daughter is what I am taking away from yesterday. Yesterday was not a good day overall. My theme song yesterday could have been the daniel powter song: Bad Day. But, it's over now. Today is new. :)

Lance had to get up at 4:30 a.m., so I've been up since. I should have gone back to bed, but then my mind wanders and I can't sleep anyway. I think my real reason is that I like this little quiet alone time. The calm before the storm. I savor it. Once the circus performers are up...it's crazy showtime!

March, Annie Dress, No more Bottle

Isabelle's very special gift from me for doing so wonderful with her writing/spelling.

She will not take this Annie Dress Off. It is very difficult for me to get her to change into anything else...I ordered it a little big so she will have it to grow in, but I don't know how long it will last if it is worn everyday all the time. haha

This is a personal project I am working on this month. My friend got the idea from a scrapbooking blog and we are going to try it. It's a tag album book. And you try to fill out a tag everyday for one month. "It's a month in the life." On one side you write a very short story, or tidbit of the day, on the other side you can put a photo or whatever you want. Freedom, no rules. This is the cover of mine and so far I have done march 1 & 2 and I must say that I truly aboslutely love this project, it is so fun! It is not overwhelming or time consuming, yet it lets me be creative and focus on my day/family for a few moments without the pressure of getting a big project done. At the end of the month, I should have a great mini album!

So, finally one of my favorite Months has arrived. The weather has seemed to slightly improved and so have our colds. Our big news is....I made Ben give up the bottle all together. No more bottles. Just sippy cups. He is SO not happy , it is not even funny. It had to be done. He was biting the ends, etc. It was just times. So I made him go cold turkey. He has dranken out of sippy cups before but not him milk, he has always demanded milk from his bottle. It was his comfort, his joy and I ripped it away from him as any good mother may do... He started out by whipping his sippy cups across the room in a rage throwing himself on the ground for a little tantrum ...but times have gotten better in the last couple days...I am glad we persisted through the hard times...because the kid got thirsty, missed his milk and eventually drank it out of the sippy cup.

The other day Isabelle asked me what "marriage" is. I told her it is when two people are stuck together for ever and ever. She asked me if they are stuck with tape or glue? If anyone knows this answer, please pass it on because I am clueless.

Oh man! I just looked out the window, it is snowing again!