Camera Photo Dump

I did my weekly photo dump and have to say it wasn't too exciting and I think I need to hang out with my camera a bit more.

 A little doodle time

 pissy pants.

 Dont worry this won't be our Christmas photo. The kids had fun with these.

And more Fieldin and his planes. The one on the right is newly acquired and goes everywhere with us!



Them

I love moments like this....

Cat Love

 Oh My! I never thought I would be a cat person... but I adore our cat. For a family art project we all colored in a wood "chompers" and then I glued them to black canvas. We were going to hang it above his litter box but we were worried he may take it down. Fieldy taped a newspaper pic of a cat sitting on a toilet that had been potty trained. We soon found it shredded.....

Top left to Right: Miss Gretas and mine
Bottom left to right: Jeffs and Fieldins.

love this.

In Search Of Things....

I feel like I spend a lot of time looking for things that either don't exist or are hard to find.

Most times I give up, move on and then years later see the item of hopeless searching, EVERYWHERE... I hope this happens to other people. I want others to feel the frustration..ok, not really... but I do feel like I am the only one constantly searching for a special piece of whatever that I can never find.

Tonight I realized maybe it is because my brain works a little funny. For example I have been in need of an extremely large wall covered in chalkboard paint TWICE this week. I've had two crazy ideas swimming around my brain that are totally unrelated that I can't do without chalk and a wall. I was vetoed about painting one of our walls, with an exception of maybe being able to paint one of Fieldin's walls. I think he'll give in, after all I am the one who sneaks him cookies.

Plus, when he is older he can use the wall to keep track of his girlfriends phone numbers.. or to express his teen angst.

Next I have been looking for a hay bale. I need it to decorate with. I did find some, but they were gnome size and cost $8... no thanks. We drove around forever this evening trying different stores and all Fall/Halloween decor is clearanced out. I couldn't find anything I needed, unless I needed Christmas stuff. There is lots of that.. Come on people. Greta wants to throw a Halloween party and I am afraid we will be giving out Rudolph pencil toppers for party favors if I don't act fast..

I am realizing I am ranting. Sorry. But hey, if you have some extra human size hay bales or 8 feet of chalk wall, please let me know!

Today

Today I am..

Trying to give up coffee for the 111th time. Drinking decaf tea instead.. have a headache... I am motivated to quit caffeine this time. Not that coffee is bad, just bad for me.

Celebrating the first day of Fall by cooking up a chili in the crock pot, bringing home a pie pumpkin and squash and wondering how much longer I will need to wear shorts before the sweaters can resurface.

Buying sweet Jeff a bouquet of sunflowers. He has been waiting for his sunflowers to bloom and the day before they should have some deer, rodent or whatever ate the sunflower tops off... bummer...

Doing daily puzzles(he looves them) with Fieldin and trying to talk him into going outside. "No" he says. "We do this puzzle, and this puzzle then do them all over again"....

Unable to move my upperbody ( comfortably:)) after my workout last night.

Looking forward to squeezing in some time to do a creative project tonight.

Missing my Greta. Enjoying Fieldin and Chomps. Glad to see Jeff at lunch today.

Today I am content and wondering how Fieldin just found the deflating balloons I snuck into the garbage earlier. "how did these get in there..MOOOOMMMY!..

Gotta go...

You

You.. I love!

Thank you for being such a rockstar at your first dental checkup and amazing your dentist.

Thank you for trying hard to share and being a good friend to your amigos.

Thank you for being you.

Thank you for looking out for your sister and Chompers.

Thank you for being my co-pilot.

Thank you for checking on the roses and strawberries in the backyard. :)

Thank you for eating tomatoes and oatmeal.

Thank you for trying hard at toilet training.

Thank you for keeping us all in check.

Thank you for my days full of laughs and gruesome slimey kisses.. ick.

Thank the heavens above, for picking me to be your mama.

A Visit From Gigi..

We had a weekend visit from Gigi which the kids enjoy especially Greta because they have a sleepover.
This visit we had a pre-birthday celebration for Fieldin who will be three soon! Ack!!

He got to pick out his birthday gift. Of course something that flies...

Taking a Sunday hike

We had a nice visit. The kids love seeing the grandparents and Greta and Fieldin can't wait to see their grandpa in a couple weeks!

Last Week..Around Here...

We are back in the swing of things, saying goodbye to summer and bringing in Fall with open arms!

Big legos... he still loves anything that flies. He likes to build planes and fly them around the house.
After school hot chocolate treat.

Our sweet lover of books. She needs to read 20 minutes a night for school which quickly turns in a hour :)

A visit from grandpa Chuck and Nana

Ready for school. I drive her to school this year. That extra 45 minutes makes the mornings run smoother and no rushing!

Tomatoes....

Pasta sauce is put away for winter!
The house smelled so good for days with constant roasting

and an experiment that turned out more salsa than sauce.

Alot of work, but well worth it!

Autumn Means Soccer

So I have been watching Fieldy play soccer since he was 1 1/2 years old. He loves it. We take the summers off since there are no classes but we started back up once a week on Friday. He was so happy. He kept asking "is it soccer Friday?"

The lighting in the sportpark is horrible so sorry for the fuzzy pics. I added a video below. This was before practice, the minute he got on the turf. he was already red faced and panting before class started.
So proud of you Fieldin.

Right Now

Haven't posted for awhile so here is a Greta update!

She loves school. She likes her teacher very much.

Greta says her favorite things about school are the playground, math and reading everyday.

She is still a lover of books, besides the books we have at home we are starting biweekly trips to the library to keep up with her.

so what else has been going on around here...

Chompers the cat loves to play fetch. He catches then brings the object back to us, drops it at our feet and waits for us to throw. This is awesome except for when I am trying to cook dinner. If I don't throw he shoves his object at my toes over and over. He also is very protective of the kids. Love you chompers, and your plastic straw addiction.

I decided to buy 25+ lbs of tomatoes to make pasta sauce for winter. Thanks to my friend, Wendy, I have a great recipe. My last two days have been filled with cutting tomatoes. The sauce is great but after spending so much time with tomatoes wondering when I will want to eat one again.

Fieldin is loving doing puzzles. He finishes big floor puzzles alone and yells" I did it!" All he wants to do is play puzzles and go to soccer practice these days... and eat cookies.

Fall is on the way and I am so happy. I love the cooler weather. I roasted a butternut squash to welcome Fall last night.

I have been working out regularly and not expecting too much too soon. It was hard to get motivated but I am enjoying it now. My poor old body is still not quite used to it yet. I am enjoying feeling stronger.

We are enjoying all of our hibiscus blooms that change daily. I just wish they would stay around longer.

also looking forward to seeing some family over the coming weeks.

Life has been busy but getting back into the swing of things!

First Grade

School year 2011-2012. The First day of school.. so what did Miss Greta request for her first school lunch? I filled her lunchbag with pita, applesauce, cheese, raisens, strawberry fruit snacks, pretzel fishes, juice and water...and of course a secret card from mommy hidden inside. She is pretty excited about her lunch!

The kids woke up early this morning and I could hear them talking while sitting on the sofa in our room. Greta was explaining she would be gone at school all day and wouldn't see him until afternoon when the bus dropped her off. "I will miss you fieldy" she said. " I will miss you too" said Fieldy. It was so sweet. They hugged and gave each other kisses. When she got in the car to go to school she told him again how much she would miss him. Thank you for being such a good big sister Greta. We miss you.
In front of the school. It looks like she is the tallest in her class again but a few boys are catching up. :) oh.. and her backpack is a Hello Kitty one as well as Hello Kitty shoes.

This Girl....

This girl starts First grade tomorrow. I think she is a bit nervous but it is hard to know with her. She has a good poker face. I made her favorite dinner tonight and Jeff made her an apple cake for a pre- 1st day celebration.

She has been sad about the change to a full day at school instead of a half day. She wishes she could be home for lunch and she will miss me. I told her she will love lunch with her friends and I will be eagerly waiting for her after school. The honest truth is.. I have to hold back a few tears because I will miss her terribly. We have had lunch together since she was born, even through kindergarten and pre-school. Lunchtime will be a bit different tomorrow.

So what is Miss Greta looking most forward to at school this year?? "Recess and Math" she says.

Her and I are so similar in so many ways but I am 100 % positive I have never uttered a breath of excitement over math. You go Greta!

and P.S. Miss Greta.. we are always so proud of you.

The Cape

I finally cleaned off my crafty table and found a sewing machine and this wonderful metallic like material. I originally was going to make Fieldy a knight dress up costume so he could wear it with his plastic armor but I made a 10 minute or less cape instead. No pattern or directions, no cutting.. just threw it together with some elastic I had laying around. When it isn't in use by the kids the kitty claims it..
Our hero leaping through the house with his cape...

he is super fast in this...

flying..

and luckily it fits Greta too. Our heroine informs me it is her cloak, not her cape.

You have your cape..er cloak...so be off to fight crime and keep our backyard safe!

and on a side note.. check out her big sister shirt, she wore that the day Fieldy was born. You all know that she outgrows her shoes and clothing faster than I can keep up but she can still fit into this shirt... Pretty cool!

What I Have Been Up To?

I haven't been writing much. I have been a little busy as of late....
Trying to workout, trying to clean off my art table to do some sewing and drawing, watching lots of Austen movies, working in the yard, hiding from the heat, cleaning out closets, getting Miss Greta prepared for school, laundry, playing, purging stuff, reading too late at night to myself and the kids, keeping the kids busy through their end of summer restlessness, preparing Fieldin to potty train, keeping the cat out of trouble, sneezing and sneezing thanks to my allergy to grass/ragweed..arggh, daydreaming, baking, school shopping, hiding my to do list, and reminding Greta that school is great and she loves it( I think she is a bit nervous..it's her first year of being at school a full day and being around the big kids).

Fieldy

I haven't written about the little man in awhile... he will be three next month. He has the silliest laugh, the cutest cheeks, the bluest eyes and he is so full of life. I love him so.

Lately, he loves all things that fly, all superheros, star wars, legos and wrestling. He is a speedy runner, so very fast on his bike. He is tough. His new favorite color is green because his big boy bike is green. This means all the straws in his hot cocoas must be green.

He pretends to be superheros and has decided that he likes being catwoman best. He doesn't realize cat woman is a villian.. he likes catwoman because he thinks she protects all the kittens. Speaking of kittens, he loooves his kitten and tells strangers that he has a kitty at home named Chompers.. he likes to draw pictures of him. The other day he drew a picture of chompers bottom.. I asked why and in all seriousness he said" he has a butt, I draw a butt" a true artist...

He loves to help, loves his soccer, he loves his sister, he loves peanut butter, soy milk, tomatoes, pizza and cookies, he loves bathtime and the park. He doesn't like naptime or missed meal times. He is an awesome dancer, can be bribed with lollipops, likes haircuts and shopping, he likes watching sports and taking care of his flowers. He likes to ride his motorcycle to the maibox, eating snacks, singing with greta, comfy blankets and cartoons(the back yardigans and old hannah barbara) he loves to be read to and tickled.

That is just a little bit about the little man. All I know is I am a lucky mama to have him and his sweet sister.