finding our summer rhythm

Well, so far summer has not been at all what i have been expecting it to be. The weather has been gloomy and wet. The children have been grumpy and quarrelsome. The "progress" has been slim. And i feel that i am constantly changing my mind about where my priorities should be focused during this short season.

 I have noticed a bit of a lift in the clouds the last few days though. Definitely not as far as the weather is concerned but as far as family friendliness and my motivation there has been quite a shift. I feel a peace when i realize that this is only our second week and it really isn't going as fast as it seems.

 The introduction of chores.... early in the day i might add.... has helped a great deal with the children. It makes them feel good, just as it makes me feel good, to get something accomplished early in the day and then have the rest for play. Not to mention a little hard work really makes them appreciate free time so much more. I write the chores out on the white board and they get to check them off as they complete them. For some odd reason this makes chores much more fun. 

Another thing that really helps all of us is if i get up early, before the rest, and get a little quiet time to myself. Then... when the little ones start to rise i am not only awake but i feel so fulfilled and peaceful even with just 20 minutes of quiet and coffee. I think that this quiet will be the secret to my success this summer. Even if the only thing i succeed in is keeping a good attitude.

right now...

It's finally beginning to feel somewhat "back to normal" around here. With normal meaning bits of extra time here and there for catching up on things that has been neglected, and time for special family togetherness. Basically, time is the "normal" we have been lacking... with none to spare over the last couple of months (at least that is how it feels). It feels so good to finally be able to start planning some of the things i have been dreaming about since wintertime. Dreams that have been on the back burner much to long finally surfacing on the top priority list. Mostly little things like painting the living room (even though this one feels like a big dream to me), or planning my next flower bed, or creating a special reading nook for the children (this has been on my list for quite some time), many sewing projects (for me!), and even a women's creativity group for the summer. Lots and lots of little things.... sigh. But now there is time... or there is starting to be time anyway. I plan on making a "sand bucket list" for the summer. A bucket list of things to accomplish before summer gets away. Right now my list is much too big... i will have to narrow it down a bit. 

What would be on your list this summer?

the costumes

My tree hoods. I am very excited about the way they turned out. I had different plans for them originally but the paper ribbon was a much faster method. Don't they look great on my girls? I think that i am going to need to make a few for halloween. The hood is made out of extra fishnet... leftover from the bodysuits... and the paper ribbon (or paper twists) are woven through and opened up to make broad leaves. The long curlicues i made by ironing two layers of satin together with heat n bond and then cut "swirls" out of the fabric. I got this idea from layla actually. She had recently made some paper swirls with this method.

Layla's various "kitty faces." When asked to look like a kitty you would typically get the pose below. 

I really like the way the kitten costumes came out. I think they are adorable. I designed the kitten hoods and another wonderful mom helped me sew them all (thirty something total... whew!!) but besides the hoods i didn't have anything else to do with the kitten costumes other than pinning fur to my daughters leotard. 

I just love the way that they all came out just a little bit different. Such an adorable group.

All in all i'm not sure that i will do this again. There were times when it was very exciting and a fun challenge and an all around wonderful thing to be involved in. I felt like i met a lot of really creative people in my community. But there were also times when this whole thing was a gigantic source of stress for me and a level of commitment that i never imagined. I did learn quite a bit so we will see what happens when next fall rolls around. But for now... it's back to swimming lessons and sewing just for fun!

the trip

Matt and heikki went together through oregon, touched the tip of california, then through nevada... then matt came home. Heikki is still going though... all the way to new york, and then he is flying home to finland. Here is a map link to their tentative route together. If you want to read more about heikki's adventures (he is already in illinois!)... you can check his blog http://machinista.com/wp2/ride-x-usa/ (which he hasn't been updating... update us heikki!) or you can check his facebook page http://www.facebook.com/heikki.anttila.31 which he does update regularly! Good luck heikki! Hope your trip is filled with great experiences!