Wednesday, March 26, 2014

settling in


outside:




the lilacs and tulips are always a very sure sign that spring is here... at this point the sunny days usually start to out number the rainy days... and we know that we have just about made it.



inside:


i am unpacking suits, fancy shoes, and sparkly dresses... with this lovely haze of a most memorable weekend floating threw my head. can you believe that i didn't take any picures?? only about three on my iphone... sigh... i would've loved to share some of them with you today, but i should be able to get some a little later to share. actually, there are a few in my instagram feed in my right sidebar.

everything was absolutely wonderful... desert, palm trees, crystal clear swimming pools,tropical looking flowers, little white lights, various shades of coral, pink, and gray, floating chandeliers, citrus cocktails, dancing late into the night. a perfect start for a perfect couple. we love them both so much, and we are so full of happiness for them and their new life together.





luckily, spring break was just beginning when we returned... and we are easily settling back into home.



brand new crayons, freshly sharpened colored and graphite pencils, tell me i am not the only one who gets excited about these things!? also, just loving these chalkboard labels from martha. labels give me this false sense of hope that things will find their way back to where they "belong".... not to mention that they look really cute. the chalkboard part is what really gets me though. i constantly change my mind about what i want to use things for and exactly how i want things stored or sorted... and these erasable labels give me the freedom to change my mind all i want... love it!




a week or two before leaving for california i signed all of the kids up for a "swap" just like the one that i did. they will all be making little crafts and mailing them to various other kids all over the country, and then they will receive packages as well. we decided before the trip what we would make for everyone and now we have officially started the crafting. eislee's friend will receive some flower fairies, a beaded necklace, and some homemade playdough. layla will be making her friend the "kitty purse" above, and then jewelry, and maybe some flower fairies or a flower hair clip. i will share the rest as we work on them... but there is one new thing we will be experimenting with that i am very excited about! 

.... and i will tell you all about it once we get started!

but just in case you are dying of curiosity (not likely... i realize) i will share the link here: http://twigandtoadstool.blogspot.com/2014/02/borax-bejeweled-bits-of-nature.html


Tuesday, March 11, 2014

white paint











little painters...
 they were painting out on the porch so sweetly together.
mommy got a phone call and talked for a bit while folding laundry and then went to check on sweet little girls... found them painting each others faces... they had already painted the white porch... oy... how does it happen so fast??

the plants...
my aloe vera had babies... seven of them.
 i saw the clay pots with distressed white paint and chalkboard labels on pinterest. then the heavens opened up and i actually finished a pinterest project... yes... i did it. i put a link to the tutorial in my sidebar.

the banner...
layla has been requesting a banner of her own ever since the one for the blogger swap.
i let her do the stenciling on her own and with a little helping (and a whole lot of hovering) she sewed the pendants to the bias tape as well. i am very proud of her and so excited to see this desire in her for making... what fun we will have together!

our weekend was nice and slow... just what we all needed.
i barely picked up the camera once... partly because i wanted to just enjoy the moment... and partly because the light was just so awful. i am finally noticing a difference now... the days are starting to feel long... and the sun is probably winning 4 out of 10 battles with the clouds and rain (and i'm talking about daily battles here)... we are finally at the end of it... thank goodness.

... and next week.... wait... next week... really!?!.... yep... next week... we head to sunny california to officially welcome a new member to the family... although it truly feels that he has always been one of us... he just fits so perfectly. we love you auntie rebecky and uncle G-no!!

Friday, March 7, 2014

this and that


playing with our new craft toy... a scalloped circle paper cutter...




i have been so excited to try making some of these simple paper banners. i plan to make some for the girls rooms. can you believe the light in the photos below?? sheesh oregon! it (the light) as been fluctuating like crazy lately... we are almost out of the dark (yes!!)... but it feels like these last few weeks we have been caught in the middle of a light battle.... sunny... dark... sunny... dark... i'm on sunnys side :)




a quick reunion with an old friend... there is something so wonderful about reconnecting with someone who has known you for a long time


eislee is mesmerized by her painting... i should really let the girl paint more



reconnecting with some old favorites: "the creative family" by amanda blake soule, "playful learning" by mariah bruehl, and "living simply with children" by marie sherlock... some really fabulous ideas in these books


career day : : the teacher



teacher hair


career day : : the rancher
who would not stop for a photo... on his way to find the perfect piece of grass to chew on... he was also quite upset that we did not have proper cowboy boots or hat... they are necessities after all.



after months of searching finally found the perfect fabric to finish the girls christmas blankets. i was starting to feel a bit crazy, looking again and again and again saying "when i see the one... i'll know" (or something like that)... and then... just when i was starting to give up on myself.... i saw the one and i knew.... and faith in my sanity was fully restored.



she was pretending :)


white paint : : layla's progress on her own banner... and my progress on my pinterest project... both should be finished this weekend




a little girl reconnecting with her monkey after some serious surgery. poor monkey had his bottom rip open and then got vomited on by little girl... then lost his insides during a date with the washing machine. so, he was stuffed with new fluff and stitched up stronger than ever... and little girl and monkey had a special snuggle reunion. 



sorry how completely random this post has been but that is how our days have been going right now... but i have high hopes for some slowing down over the weekend :)

Monday, March 3, 2014

one of those moments












it happens periodically...
all four of my children... coming up with some creative idea.... and playing together in harmony... sometimes for five minutes.... sometimes for (gasp) an hour.
lately... when they have had these moments i have been taking the opportunity to escape and get some "me" time. but this time i decided i had better join in (and i thought to grab my camera on the way out the door). i am so glad i did. it is essential to get that alone time... but it is also so good for the mama's soul to witness the harmony too... especially when there is four of them... the moments of complete harmony are fewer and father between in this case. they were playing "store" outside of the shop. they built a structure... they made a sign.... they sold oranges, bananas, cheese, and water... it was perfect. i am so thankful that i witnessed (and captured forever) this wonderful moment.