The A's

Let me introduce you to the cutest (This picnic they planned?  Hello.), and possibly most destructive force on earth--the A's.  So named for the first letter of their names, we have come to realize they are a force to be reckoned with.  When we find a mess, take this tiny example for instance:

...the conversation usually goes like this

Me:  Who made this mess?

(substitute underlined portion with 'unrolled the whole toilet paper roll', 'dumped out the basket of folded laundry', 'unpacked the pantry again', 'drew on the walls', 'covered the floor with maxi pads', 'put bandaids all over the walls', 'flooded the bathroom', etc)

IN UNISON:

Big A: Not me.

Little A: Not me.

Girlie and Sam:  The A's.

Here's Little A. 

 I cannot get enough of this girl.  She runs from the camera and refuses to smile, but she is like my personal sunshine.  She is full of life and joy and I am ecstatic every time I see her.  J calls her my kryptonite, and reminds me that I need to say 'no' to her every once in a while.  I have the hugest crush on her.  She's sweet and girlie, says 'Cuse me' when she passes gas, and 'Ucky 'tuff' when she sees something gross or dirty, loves accessories and talking on the phone.  Sigh.  Someday, when it's just the two of us at home, there is going to be a lot of shoe shopping.

And here is Big A, with an 'It wasn't me...' look on his face.  He is like a little Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes), and I am serious.  He loves mischief, is clever and hilarious.  He sees shapes and pictures in everything--clouds, pasta, swirly lines.  He has a funny imagination.  He's got a bit of a speech delay, which makes it all the funnier when he says stuff.  Once when I told him that he cracks me up he said, "What?  Yike a egg?  You are yike a yittle chicken an I put you in a yittle egg and cwack you up?"

One time he walked in to see J yawning over some work.  He said "Daddy, if you aw tired, go to seep.  If not, wake up!!"  He adores vehicles and when we cross the street he looks both ways and says "No caws. No motocycles, no dump chucks, no diggos." (That's cars, motorcycles, dump trucks and diggers, for those who don't speak A).

And he loves his little sister.

And she loves him.

And they've formed this funny little alliance.  J and I think they are really going to be fun little ones to finish off our family.  Or, as I like to tease J, fun ones to tote through Europe.

Seriously.

Did I Mention Crazy Hair Day?

It was Crazy Hair Day at school.  We had a little fun with it.  We put a cup on Girlie's head and brushed her hair up and around it.  We left a couple pieces down on the side, braided them and pinned them up on the side.  Then I hairsprayed the heck out of it.

I think maybe I'll do this to my hair, too.  What do you think?

An Easter mini project

Craving an easy decor idea for Easter?  I was too.  That's why I jumped at 'Easter egg craft night'.  We cut out egg shapes out of double sided cardstock, then stacked four at a time and sewed (with a sewing machine) down the center.  Then I tried to fan and fold the layers open.

I made some small and some large.  I used some Cream City cotton ribbon to create springy curls and taped them to my drapery rod.

It was an easy creative fix.  They look so fun and whimsical, yes?

My kids are such caricatures.

We had the kids' caricatures done at the Microsoft Christmas party.  I LOVE them!  It was so fun to see my sweet ones in cartoon form, and the guy got them spot on!

My sweet Girlie

Wild Man Sam

Buddy (we think he looks a little Curious George-ish)

Sweetie

And, just for fun, here's J and I from the year before...

Realistic?

My Favorite Way to Fold a Napkin

One of my favorite little niceties in life is beautifully folded napkins.  It's the little things, right?  This is one of my favorite ways to do it.

 Lay the napkin out, right side down.  If you wanted to get all fancy, you could even iron the napkin.

Fold the bottom half up.



Then fold the top layers down on either side (one on top, one behind).

Start folding it accordion style from one side.

Fold it all the way across and pinch the pleats together.

Stick the whole thing in a glass or a napkin ring.

Pull the front layer down.

So the next time you serve something a little too, er, creative, just dazzle and distract your dinner guests with fancy-schmancy napkins in their glasses.  Bon Appetit!

A Good Day

At first it was a bad day.  The kids were finally in bed, and I felt overwhelmed by all that had not gotten done today.  Or rather, things that I had 1) not gotten done or 2) done, and then were undone very quickly.  There was the loft full of clean laundry (earlier it had been folded and put away, then more stuff got dirty), there was the 100th sinkful of dishes (I had already done them a dozen times today, then I cooked more food), there were the million, billion, zillion things that had not gotten picked up, or had been dragged out by my conspiring 3 year old and 1 year old and were now strewn about my house. In short, it looked like we'd gotten robbed, even though I had busted my tail all day trying to 'take back the house' as I like to call it. I felt so frustrated, so inadequate.  I'd given it my best, and my best just wasn't good enough.  A little bit of "Why do I even try???"  And maybe a smidge "Crazy, here I come."  The day was a complete failure.

And then a tender mercy.

Into my head flowed a list of things I had gotten done. Like...

I refilled my vitamin prescription.
All the kids got baths.
I made a "heart healthy" gameboard and bean bag for Girlie's Valentine's party tomorrow.
I wrote some love notes to people I love.  And actually got them mailed off.
I made beautiful bouquets of chocolate-dipped-sprinkled marshmallows for teacher valentines.
I called my (step) Grandma, who was having a lovely lucid moment.  Today would have been her anniversary with my dear Grandpa.  We talked and cried and I told her how glad we were that she was in our family and how much we love her.
I had a family meeting on "how to properly load the dishwasher."
I flirted with my husband.
I played the piano for my kids to go to sleep.
I snuggled and kissed the heck out of my baby.
I finished up the adorable valentine's that my kiddos are going to give to their friends.
I braided my daughter's hair so that it would be wavy in the morning.
I made a shrimp-pepper-red-onion-snow-pea-quinoa concoction for dinner.
I made arrangements to watch a friend's children so she and her sweetie could enjoy Valentine's day.
And I'm currently making mini blueberry muffins for my son's breakfast Valentine's Day party.

And all of a sudden I realized that it was actually a very good day.  Despite the fact that the whole first paragraph is completely true, maybe the day wasn't a waste.  Maybe I put some goodness, some love, out into the world.  Maybe someone's day was better because I was busy not getting my laundry done.

I'm so glad I had today.

What I Am Loving

What a blissful start to a new year!  So many good things to enjoy, eat and look forward to!  Here's a few things that I am loving now...

This sugar-that-I-use-as-a-jar-for-homemade-jam bowl.  (Only $4.95 at Crate and Barrel!  No, that's not a typo!) To save room, I made homemade jam and froze it in flat ziplock bags.  When I thaw it, I just pour it into this cute bowl that comes with its own spoon.  Do you know how much I love that?  It reminds me of my grandparents which makes it all the sweeter.

My favorite $5 to spend all year.  My new planner/best friend.

This little antique silver plate that a sweet friend gave me to keep all my pretties together.  How darling is that (the friend and the plate)?

Drooled over this soap pump at Target for the longest time.  Now it's at home with me, thanks to a birthday gift card.

Chunky pearl bracelet I whipped up from a $3.99 strand of beads at Michaels.  Classic.

Pretty plates.  Not just for eating on.

White hydrangeas.  Love how serene they are!

Salted caramel cheesecake.  Possibly my favorite dessert ever. 

Making paper snowflakes with my kids.  Because now they match the back yard.

Snow completely cripples Seattle, so we're enjoying some cozy time at home.  Playing in the snow and them coming inside to warm vanilla steamers.

Why can't January be pretty?  I made a simple bunting by cutting scalloped circles in half and sewing them together on my sewing machine.  It makes it look like a party in here.

May you have the loveliest year yet!

Potty Dance

Okay, friends.  I am now in a little bit of weird place where my son is now 6, which is apparently an age at which people begin to frown on him using the ladies room with me.  But, consider the alternative--him using the men's bathroom by himself.  I'm not a paranoid crazy person, convinced that every bathroom is crawling with pedophiles lurking in every corner just waiting to harm my child while I'm outside.   Okay, maybe just a teensy bit, but, hey, read enough news articles and it will happen to you too.

J came home from work with tales of a co-worker's young daughter being 'bothered' by a strange guy while she was in the bathroom with her daddy while they were at the Cheesecake Factory in Bellevue.  Did you hear me?  At the Cheesecake Factory.  In Bellevue.  With her daddy!!  Because, hello, if that's not safe...

So we were at the store.  Sammy was about to wet his pants, and as I pull the cart with all my kids towards the ladies room, a mom comes out and says "Oh, there's a big line in there."  Sammy looks desperate, so against everything in me, I say "Okay, just use the boys bathroom."  He runs in there, and 3 seconds later a man walks in.  I panic, but think "He's probably a perfectly nice man.  Don't be ridiculous." and then 1 second later I think, "Forget it.  That's my kid in there."  I go to the door and prop it open with my foot. "Hey, Buddy, are you done yet?  No?  Okay, well I'm right here.  Do you need any help?  Are you sure?  I'm right here if you need anything."  I kept the door propped open until he came out.

But, he is getting old enough that it's kind of weird that he's using the girls bathroom. On the other hand, he can use the girls bathroom with me til he's 16 if it means I can keep him safe.  He can't always hold it, I can't put him in a pull up (just in case), so....

What's a mama to do?

The True Meaning of Christmas

I thought this story was a cute way to reconcile Santa and the true meaning of Christmas.  Someone gave it to me once upon a time and I just stumbled upon it.

The True Meaning of Christmas~~

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree.

"What are you doing?" I started to ask.
The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes.
His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know.
He then answered me with a simple statement . . .
"TEACH THE CHILDREN!"
I was puzzled. What did he mean?
He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree.
As I stood bewildered, Santa said,
"Teach the children!

 Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Clause, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."
~Author Unknown~

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I went with a totally different theme this year.  All silver and glittery.  Look at me getting all kinds of wild and crazy.

 

I attached the lighted garland using the same method as last year, but this time used wired silver ribbon to wind throughout, followed by silver organza fluffing out the top, and silver and gold balls wedged into the branches.

I have two sets of lights going on here--one woven in with the garland and another one on top/behind to make the mantel 'glow'.

When I pick a new decorating theme (any season, not just at Christmas), I pull out any of my accessories, large or small, that are the right color.  It doesn't matter if they were being used somewhere else, on the wall in another part of the house, whatever.  If it's the right color/feel, it's coming with me.  I put them all up on the mantel, then I  stand back and start arranging my favorite ones into interesting groups.  By interesting, I mean variety--tall/short, plain/intricate, big/small, light/dark, shiny/dull.  I try to make the negative space (the space around the things) as interesting as the positive space (the actual stuff).  You don't want everything to be in a big clump, all the same height.

Loving the change from my usual red Christmas (though I'll probably return to red next year).  And if J asks, yes, I already had all these ornaments.  I did a lot of glittery things--crystals, lots of silver snowflakes and deer and sparkly ribbon.  It made me a little sad to not have all the usual memory-filled ornaments on the big tree, but I let each of the kids decorate a smaller tree with them.

This is the old trunk that I fell in love with and bought myself for my birthday.  It's my new end table, and for now it's holding a silver lantern with a fake-lit candle.  I love the new against old.

 

Girlie's tree gets to be by the fireplace. 

My favorite thing in this picture is the little boy who is so patient with his mom, who is interrupting Dinosaur Train.

Usual garland and kissing ball.  I did Christmas red everywhere else, because, let's face it, I didn't have enough silver stuff to do the whole house.

I call these my Dr. Seuss trees, because they are so weird and fun.

 

I hung the stars up with straight pins so the holes wouldn't be too bad. 

I tied the garland to the railing by very thin yarn.  Then I wove in the berries and the jingle bells.  The bow had big twist ties on the back.

 

I put up lights indoor this year.  You can't tell, but they're actually medium sized round glass bulbs.  I feel like I'm adding a little 'cantina' to Christmas. :) It's just good fun.  Never mind the mess in the back.  Leftovers from a little dinner party last night and a honey nut Cheerios breakfast. 

Click HERE for 2010's decor and HERE for 2009 and HERE for 2008.