Friday, May 29, 2009

Views from my window


The warm weather has stayed - somewhat. Big changes are afoot in the cul-de-sac. Some little girl of mine is riding a 2 wheeler! After one productive session with her dad, Sophie now rides like a champ!


The next day, after more vigorous riding, the chain fell off her bike. Oh, the tears and devastation! Hopefully, Bryan can fix that this weekend!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

The One Show That Makes Me Miss Television

Thank heaven for youtube.







Yard Sale Goodies

Last week there were few yard sales - something about a holiday weekend. I did find one sale however and hit the jackpot!! It was like reliving all of those glorious New Hampshire yard sales - great old stuff, covered in dust, completely unorganized with cheap pricing. I was literally salivating and counting out every penny of change I could find in the car!

Here's most of my loot - 2 matching ironstone platters ($4), 1 wooden box filled with vintage buttons ($3), one brown and white toile platter ($2), three decorative acorns ($2) and one footed hand-painted bowl ($2).


This was my favorite find - love the color, love the hardware, love the size.


The previous owner evidentially stored his anorectal wipes inside. After a good cleaning, I plan on filling it with scrapbooking supplies!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Typical

Saturday we worked. We weeded, we hauled dirt, we planted, we weeded some more, we cleaned bathrooms. We got very dirty - and then we went shopping. I was in a rather foul mood as my kids had just driven me INSANE in Home Depot. They were not whining or crying, but tickling, shrieking, running into people, splashing in puddles and in general, being loud when I wanted them to be silent. Headache. I did manage to get $10.00 worth of free rosemary plants at Home Depot though.


Skip ahead an hour, we are in in Menards (hardware store). The kids had tucked themselves into a shelf where Sophie and Calvin are hiding and Max is . . . reading (shock!). All of the sudden there is a shriek and Sophie yells "Calvin's bleeding!" Mother of many that I am, I do not bat an eyelash, as some kid is bleeding every day now that it is summer. However, Calvin has gashed his knee and is dripping blood everywhere!!

He runs from his Dad, trailing blood through the store until I catch him and bring him to the service desk where he proceeds to bleed all over the desk. If you remember the part about the dirt above, you'll know that I had to ask for a water bottle and a roll of paper towels just to clean off all of the dirt and blood to find the actual cut. We improvised with gauze and tape when really he needed a stitch or at last some of that great glue stuff. I figure he is a boy and a scar on the knee is manly - right? We declined filling out the accident report at Menards (they were somewhat panicked) and instead headed to Sam's Club, carrying Calvin. Stick a fork in me, I was done.

Calvin's Leaving Us

Ever since Calvin spent the night at my friend Lori's house, he has asked repeatedly when he can go back - not for a play date, but to LIVE there! Lori has four boys. Her house is filled to the brim with boy stuff including - Mario Cart (it's a video game for the few of you out there who are as clueless as I am) which Calvin evidently lives for.

Lori's house also has DOGS!! It was bad before when she just had Vadar, a yellow lab who can be both friendly and the most vicious guard dog ever. But now, now they have Bean, the biggest, gentlest, calmest 148 pound mastiff I have ever met. Calvin loves her - even though she drools something fierce and sheds like crazy!

When Calvin is upset with me, and sometimes even when he is not, he tells me he is running away to live at Lori's house. Can't say that I blame him.

Preschool Picnic

On Friday, I took the kids to the preschool end of the year picnic at Blackhawk Park. This was a big milestone for our family as my last child has now finished preschool. All three of my kids attended at least a couple of semesters of preschool through the city's Park and Rec program, so we know the teachers pretty well. I can't say I am going to miss shuttling the kids back and forth three times a week, but I am going to miss the teachers and I know Calvin is going to miss the routine of preschool and all of the fun crafts and games.


Taking three kids through the potluck: 2 out of three dropped their hot dogs on the ground and managed to get ketchup smeared all down their shirts. Fun.


Natalie, Miss Sandy, Calvin the clown and Miss Kathy.


Calvin wrote cards for his teachers and chose initial scrabble tile necklaces for each of them.

1st Grade Track and Field


On the SAME morning as Calvin, Sophie was celebrating her track and field day at Red Pine - Max's was two days earlier and we went to that one too. Johnny and I zipped over there to cheer her on for a bit before turning back around to drive back across town and see Calvin receive his metal. Good times.


My daughter is so dainty and feminine.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Preschool Track and Field


Calvin had track and field day on Thursday as he wrapped up his career as a pre-schooler. I was able to be a group leader for the first half of the day which allowed me to pay bean bag toss, face paint and dance the funky chicken with my four year old - a pretty productive morning.


The whole class with teachers Miss Sandy and Miss Kathy - note Calvin's charming pose.


Calvin with his two best preschool friends.

First of the Season

One of my favorite signs of summer - fresh corn on the cob at the grocery store. I'm so glad to have kids to shuck the corn and pick off all of those silky little hairs! I picked up a dozen and we had them for breakfast with oranges and toasted bagels with cream cheese.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Back to the Farm

Beautiful day at the farm in our Sunday best.

Charming

Try clicking here to watch.

Views from my window today

It is 90 degrees in the shade with a ridiculously hard wind blowing all of the tulips away. I guess we are skipping spring and heading straight into sweltering summer?!

Breakfast at Tiffany's

All day and night on Friday I baked and frosted and washed and sewed and glued and created and organized and slept . . . about 2 hours. On Saturday morning I was off to Tiffany's Yard Sale to pander baked goods, scrabble-tile necklaces and new wool felt hair clips. Max came along to sell candy, water and cake pops.


It was FREEZING cold the entire day with a strong wind blowing everything around that was not held down with rocks. I wore a coat and gloves and was still chilly! We had a great turnout - Tiffany sold a ton of stuff in her sale and all of my pastries were sold by noon! The lemon bars sold out first, followed by the rhubarb cake. I actually had people coming back to ask if they could buy the recipes. Max sold all of the cake pops and sold about as much candy as he consumed. He was kind of hysterical, explaining just how a cake pop was made to every person who came to the sale whether they were interested or not!


The new wool felt hair clips are beautiful - I am really happy with them and think they are unique and they make me happy -especially the grey and gold with silver accents. Sophie has already pointed out which ones she would like to add to her personal collection. I need to get them up on Etsy with some descent photography, but as usual, there never seems to be enough time. They did not sell really well at the yard sale - not the right venue for them, I think.


The scrabble tile necklaces also sold really well. The Breast Cancer ribbons and the Twilight versions were the best sellers with Keep Calm and Carry On selling well too. A lot of people bought them for teachers and friends and I actually had several people ask for my card - I have no cards, so I just jotted down my email on a napkin. We'll see if I get any orders. Thank you Tiffany for the use of your garage and for keeping me company in the freezing cold. It is strange to type that as it is 90+ degrees today, but our weather has been a bit flighty lately!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

!!!!

There are no words.


Ok, I lied. There are words. WHERE would one wear such a hair concoction? Perhaps you would pair it with these gloves?

Thinking Ahead

This may be our Christmas Card photo this year.


Or this one - who knows. You can't really beat a Christmas Card with a chicken.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Why

Why is Calvin riding his hand me down girly bike with no helmet?


Why is he wearing no shoes?


Why did he choose to wear a ladybug headband instead of the helmet?


Why do little girls always have three inches of saggy panties hanging out of their leotards? And why is she riding a scooter in said leotard?


Why is this kid so darn cute?


So many questions, so little time!