Raise you up

I am sort of glad I waited to write this post. Instead of taking the picture, waving her off, then blogging about it, I have been able to fully swallow the fact that I have a second grader. I have had time to watch her get ready in the morning, only to ask me if her hair looks OK. Time to realize I didn't have to remind her to get her back-pack or tie her shoes. Time to notice she can get off the bus on her own and walk to our front door without me.

Time to let it sink in that I only have just this one chance to do this right. And what is raising a child anyways but to show them how high they can go? What they can do. Who they can be. It is amazing to watch her soar but still so wonderfully sweet when she comes back to my arms for rest. I love you my second grader...

August is my New Year

I am totally motivated lately and I really think it is because back-to-school time is more like my New Year. January just really stinks to start fresh. What better time to get re-organized then when all the coolest office supplies are on sale? When all the fruit and veggies taste great and there is still time a little daylight to take a walk after dinner?

Carissa had her first day of Preschool yesterday and even though she talked like a baby for the whole tour (talk about embarrassing...) she was like an amazingly BIG 4 year-old the morning of. Confident and ever-so proud!!

It was not a sad moment, that is for sure, and we both greatly need the space to grow. I am super excited for the things she will learn this year. She is so ready. Just ask her... she'll tell you.


In preparation for all the wonderful school projects I will be receiving I had Justin screw two pieces of 4' molding on my wall and I used the best glue in the world (E6000) to hold on the bulldog clips. Me and my bare fridge are happy :)

Here's to the New Year ;)

Paint a Kitchen Table

We bought this kitchen table 8 years ago at Sam's Club for around $200. In that time it has moved 5 times and, we figure, has had over 5,840 family meals around it. It has heard discussions, felt hands held, been climbed on, spilled on, wiped up and wiped down. There has been moaning and whining, laughing and crying, all around this table.

When you start to think of a piece of furniture like that, well it becomes a part of you - of the family. What better way to honor it then give it a face lift? She needed one bad, dontcha think?

Justin sanded and I stained.

I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with the finished product! It turned out so awesome. I woke up early this morning and couldn't wait to look at it again. The whole project cost about $30 dollars and we have a brand new kitchen.

I can't even imagine what will take place around her in the next 8 years...

And to make things even sweeter the weather was amazing this weekend. Nothing better then taking advantage of every drop of warm summer rain!

Crafty Owls

I didn't want to blog about my Crafty Owls idea because I didn't want to jinx it. Let's face it most of my brilliant plans don't really work. But this time I really, really, wanted this to happen and I am so glad it did!!

I had 11 women over and the first project I picked was to make headbands based on the "Lauren Headband" from this tutorial. It looked easy enough and also adaptable for all different styles.

Not only did these women create - they inspired!! And here is the crazy thing. The thing I really didn't expect, but I should have known would happen, I learned something new about myself and it had nothing to do with crafting. It feels good to be with friends and I really needed it.
Maybe, this idea didn't come to me as a need to be creative. Maybe this idea came to me as a need to be fulfilled... I can not wait for next month!
Speaking of being full of fill... they couldn't resist jumping in a pile of pillow batting. What the heck, right?
On the home front we are landscaping our backyard. Here is the before picture... more to come.

i am still grateful

Summer Slump

Is it wrong that I have began the countdown to school? 27 more days...

We have officially started our Summer Slump. The birthday parties have ended, swim class is over, library story times aren't exciting, the girls won't play together and I have run out of ideas. Oh and did I mention, 113 degrees outside?

I would say that being a stay-at-home mom is the best job in the world but on days like today it feels like a prison sentence. Relaxed mom was so relaxed that now I have looked up from my summer colored glasses and am starting to see a breakdown of sorts. No one comes to eat when I prepare a meal. No one picks up anything. No one puts their clothes away. No one brushes their teeth. No one thanks me. No one goes to bed on time. No one is even laughing... just bickering. AGHHHH.

So now I must readjust ~ yet again. I must realign our days to gear us back into some semblance of order. I must make it known I am in charge - not Dora.

There is a silver lining. (Isn't there always?) We have been working on our bedroom. We loaded up our carts at IKEA this weekend (love you Smaland!). We nailed and hung and redesigned and now I have a peaceful sanctuary (minus the dirty clothes) for which to unwind.

There are still a few more touches to be added but I love the feeling I get when I enter my room. Because it is mine and although a barbie may slip past the threshold I reserve the right to chuck it right back out :)

Now I must get started on that chore chart...

7 and Full of Life

Audrey,

Are you serious? Seven!! Really?? I love this picture. Your eyes are shining and I can see just what you are - the most caring, loving, sensitive sister and daughter. As with all the years you have had, I just wish I can keep memorizing everything about you. I relish in the minutes I just take time to talk with you. You are so animated and have so many thoughts. You have showed us how laid back things can be - a new perspective - you are adding your very own element to our family and it is amazing.

There is a whole new sense of determination about you now and your talents are endless. A year ago you would never be able to finish a stitch. But now you pushed and pushed until your whole project was completed.

You choose a Bowling Bash for your Birthday and helped me make the cake. It was supposed to look completely different (I swear it looks easy on those family websites) but you helped shape it into your own. It turned out fabulous, of course. Just like when I turned my new white tank top pink... you said it just added some *zing*.

Second grade will be great. You will make so many new friends and learn so much more. I hope to continue to encourage you to learn your guitar, write your songs, and sing whenever your heart needs to.

Happy Birthday our sweet girl - Love Mommy and Daddy.