OCMS

The Husband and I went away alone for the FIRST time ever since kids (5 years!) It was only for a night but it's a start and so enjoyable. We went to Hollywood for The Old Crow Medicine Show concert. It was amazing!!! They are already one of my favorite bands so I may be a little bias but I am telling you that they are the most incredible band that I have ever seen live. The musical talent on that stage was stunning. At the end of the show they were joined on stage by Jacob Dylan and Gillian Welch, (both magnificent artists) I didn't believe there was anything that could have made it more perfect until that moment! I am telling you if they are coming to your city (or a nearby one and you need a night away with the significant other) go see them and bring your dancing shoes ( I know you have a pair). Yes I am bossing you all around, you will thank me later! If you are not a fan you will be. I swear I do not work for them, I just love them!
We stayed in a hotel with chairs like the one below. I have sort of a thing for chairs, some would call it a sickness but I just REALLY like chairs! There could have been beds of nails but that chair and I would have loved the place.
The next day we walked around Hollywood together, bought some new music, talked, held hands, went to a museum, took a few pictures, put an offer in on a house and remembered who we were together.

 

 

 

 

Recovering

With my needles to keep me company I am spending the weekend healing from some awful wisdom teeth extractions. The weather outside is perfect for an evening walk but I just don't think my face which is a little reminiscent of Quagmire can take it. It is strange how I can miss my boys even though I have been in the same house with them for the past 3 days. Heal body Heal!

On the bright side:
1)The projects on my needles are slowly but surely turning into wearable objects
2)The fall like weather is perfect for soup and mashed potatoes
3)Less than a month until a weekend away with the husband (so excited)
4)My hat matches one of my couches, very important requirement in selecting a yarn.
5)Election day and change are just around the corner.

 

 

USB finds

Somehow during the move my treasured USB cable to my favorite camera was lost! Not just moving lost where you don't find it for weeks but LOST lost. I have never missed a cord so much or at all for that matter but I am cheap and held out hope it would magically show up in one of these half unpacked rooms. I couldn't take it anymore and ordered one, what a happy mail day it was when that package arrived! Here are some pictures that were released from the confides of my memory card....

I love this carnival game (as much as one can love carnival games)It is the least of all evils and pretty if you really look at it.
A strange surprise, I forgot about taking this picture.
It is bright but captures one of those 4 year boy moments where the weirder you are the better. I love those moments.

A beautiful window in historic Old Town, I think I will be painting some windows soon.

Cub and his well loved but not by him Big Bird. As much as I love having toddler sized stuffies in the house I said no to this one at a local rummage sale. His heart was so "broken" that a good intentioned worker took pity on him and gave it to him. He tugged it behind him for days and has not touched it since. It was true love while it lasted though. Now that I have that out of my system I can start all over with a fresh memory card and see what happens. I have actually finished a few projects lately and am starting a few new ones. I can't wait to post about them soon!

New (to us) house

We moved! We are so happy to to be in a city that we love in a big very old house with
doorknobs like this and

windows like this

I even have my very own little sewing room, now if that is not something to make me love a house nothing is. More pictures of the house will come when I actually unpack. The beautiful weather, having my mom live a stones throw away (our backyards our connected by a gate) and so many things to do unpacking has taken a backseat to fun. Living out of boxes and bags for a while is fine with us for now, it makes it feel like vacation.

Little Softies, me and the toys

4 Fabric markers +1 old curtain + 4 year old creative mind = Sew much fun

Forest Friends

We had our Cub's much anticipated Forest Friends Party at the lake last weekend. The kids had a blast, the weather completely cooperated and it was perfect. This is not to say that I was not totally stressed out leading up to the party or the fact that I may or may not have thrown a vegan chocolate cake that I made on the kitchen floor out of frustration only to call my mom and beg her to bring a new one the day of the party. Once we got to our site it was relaxing and of course I forgot about the torture I put myself through before hand.


Cubby decided he was going to wear his playsuit I made with a little persuasion from our buddy chocolate. He looks so darling though the bribery was more than worth it.

The kids decorated Forest Fairy hats that I sewed up from the Bend The Rules Sewing pattern with silk flowers and leaves. In Blake's case, "I just want one red feather sticking out of the top of my hat." They also decorated oatmeal boxes for drums.


They ran around freely sometimes with Owl Masks I printed, laminated and cute out from here.

Daddy discovered that the grass was full of ladybugs.

Cubby banged on his new drum (and has not stopped since). He even humored me by wearing his birthday crown for a few shots.

My baby is so soon to turn 2. Today was his last day as an official 1 year old but tomorrow it is an entirely different story. Tomorrow he will be TWO! I am hanging on to 1 as long as I can so if anyone is wondering my youngest son is 1. I am saying it as long as I possibly can. Hanging on to every second of todddlerhood that I can. Tomorrow I will face the reality but for now I am going to hang out here in the land of denial where all of us moms go the day before our babies get a little older.

Eastery Goodness

We had a pretty great Easter aside from some funky family stuff, what are families for though?
I love how magical holidays are to the kids. Blake was very interested in the Easter Bunny and how he got in the house and fit in in the tent to hide a basket. I always wonder how convincing I am answering these questions right off of the top of my head. I need some kind of reference book. This is such a great age, it is going to be sad when he questions magic and what I tell him. Blake wanted me to take this picture of him with his "favorite Easter present"Craft Sticks! I love this boy! Craft Sticks were his favorite. The answer may have changed if I ask now but it brings me pride that at one point he loved Craft Sticks enough to ask me to take a picture of him with them. Cubs loved his owl books, one of which was Little Hoot
It is such a cute book and the illustrations are wonderful! We have checked this out at the library and he was very sad to return it, now it is his forever. That little guy just loves owls!

I made this apron for my sister for Easter. I really wanted to snag it for my self but I gave it up. I tried to get her to take a picture in it but apparently her animal print shirt did not match the spring floral so here is me in her apron. I was having a weird bra day so please excuse that, at least now I know, it is amazing what a picture will reveal.

Now on to some new projects, I would really like to make myself a couple of summer outfits. I am going to use some patterns from Sew U and try a couple of my own. I don't have any patterns for tops though. Does anyone have any patterns they love?

Hope your Easter was a big fun mess!

Spring, Bowls and Bottoms

Spring is here! I am not a cold weather person at all. Hopefully this sunny season will bring some energy along with it's warmth. I have felt like such a slug this winter. I am ready to play outside, garden, camp, walk in the evenings and soon enough swim!
We spent this lovely spring morning in the backyard. "Can I be naked? It is so warm!" My 4 year old asks me "Me too" says my niece, Cubby is soon to follow in this naked enjoyment of the sun. It has been a long time since Blake has played naked and I thought he was done with it as he has been rather modest lately. He even changes with the door closed or in the bathroom when he has company. I am not sure at what age I became aware of my nudity but I know it was older than 4. We put so much importance, sexuality and shame on nudity in this country and I am trying to teach my children how normal and natural bodies are and let them be comfortable with themselves. Obviously there are rules to this naked play, like in the backyard or house only and we had a good talk about how our bodies are ours only but after that pure freedom!
About 10 minutes into playing in the yard the big kids run screaming "Cubby pooped on the slide" and yep there it is right there at the top of the slide and Cubs is at the bottom singing "Poopoo in the potty" We are potty training and while it was not in a diaper it was not exactly where I was hoping it would be. It was hard not to laugh, his potty dance is just so cute and he was pretty proud of his creative placement. Sorry about the poop post, but I am sure many of you understand, Poop happens and sometimes it is on the slide.
Other than cleaning poop off of the slide I have been trying to finish up some Easter gifts. Easter is sneaking up on me this year, I am usually pretty prepared. There is a really cute tutorial on Bitter Betty's blog on how to "Pimp your bunny" since i am not really doing any candy except a chocolate bunny for each of them I figure it might as well be super cute. I plan on making them Wee Bunnies too but we will see I might be a Wee too late (sorry, cheesy I know)
I am very excited about Easter though it is one of my favorites along with Christmas and Earth Day.

The bowls up top are my Thrifted Tuesday find and I love love love them! They are perfect spring bowls, I wish I could carry them with me like an accessory. I am sure I could figure something out it probably would not be too functional though and I am all about functionality these days, functionality and spring.

Edited to add: You can also see my bowls on Hyena In Petticoats who runs Thrifted Tuesday! I am so proud that she put them on there, she always has the most amazing thrifted goods and check out her Nongs!

My house is in total disarray and it is
driving me crazy! Obviously not crazy enough to do too much about it.
 Blake went to school today wearing one yellow soccer
sock and one black soccer sock both pulled up all of the way which on his
little legs comes up to the top of his leg where his underwear would
be if he were wearing any. He is not a fan of this particular under garment.
Oh and he is wearing shorts so it is super
awesome because you get the full effect of his socks!
He wanted to wear one of his game socks and one practice sock
so when he ran around and played with balls at school he would be
getting equal practice for both games and practices when the season starts
again.  I love ideas like this!  Cubby is walking around begging for
"Elmo Mobeeee"  "elmo movie" and milk.  I dont know what makes this
child think I am going to let him veg out on tv while nursing him.
TV time is seriously limited around here but he
is very persistent in thinking he is going to change my mind!
I guess that is his ultimate dream though elmo and mama milk, does it get any
better than that?  Oh, he is also pointing to Zero who is in his crate
saying"EEEEEEEWWWWWWWW, PooPoo!!!" because Zero has a dog bone that
looks like poop and he thinks he is eating it. I love how
my kids crack me up everyday.  Is there anything funnier
than the things our kids do and say say?
Jerry Seinfelds got nothing on my kids!

Our thrift store is
open today so I am excited about going to check that out and drop some
junk off.  I am really trying to thin out our possessions.  So far so good.
I am attempting to be ruthless in this project.
I get so attatched and emotional to things and I really wish I didnt.
"Aw remember when Blake played with this (plastic piece of junk toy that
is broken and he has not picked up in 2 years)
he looked so cute, that was suck a fun day.  I can't get rid of it"
"One time Cubby played with this and then that night he took his first
steps and I think he might have walked past it.  I should keep it."
I am trying to keep my self from that inner and sometimes outward dialog.
I just need to remember how good it feels to give and how great it feels to be
able to clean up in a reasonable amount of time.
Yesterday Zac and I took our first together bike ride.  Blake was playing
at a friends so we put Cubby in a seat on Zac's bike and
I went around the neighborhood.  We live in a very "hilly" area and I got a
little too confident on the way down not thinking
at all about the fact that we were eventually going to have to return to our
house at the top of the hiils.  I did not realize what a big hills they are.
I walk up these all of the time but WOW is biking up them harder!
I thought I might die, literally slide off of my bike and die right there.
I give it up to these kids zooming around here on their bikes like it is nothing.
I don't know how they do it.  This was clear a reminder that I am not a kid anymore.
Ah, to be young and able to ride your bike up a hill without thoughts of who will
raise your children when you never make it up.

Nature's "Goodies"

What lovely family day. I just love these days when we stay home and enjoy each other. After a day of riding bikes, playing out side and long naps, we took the best walk this evening before dinner. The boys brought buckets to collect their "goodies" The best kind too, nature's goodies. We found acorns Blake and I found each one cuter than the last. Cubby found sticks to fit in his buckets, he was very particular about which ones were deserving of going in his bucket.
As we were walking I was thinking about how these days of long walks and finding wonder in everything are numbered. One day Cub won't point out every tree to me with pride. Blake will not think sticks and acorns are the best things in life. How sad it will be when taking a late afternoon walk with mom dad and the dog will not be appealing in anyway. It reminds me that I need to take in everything and pray I remember the sweetness of these days when my little boys want nothing more than to hold hands and walk in the woods. Each morning they are a day older and a little bit closer to being grown up. Some nights I just lay there and try and rehash the little things that happened the things that just slip by without a second thought and are gone forever. So I will continue to harass my family with my camera and watch them with tears in my eyes. I will try to enjoy every minute, relax, watch my beautiful boys grow and love them with every bit of my soul no matter how much it hurts sometimes.

Burrrrr

Blake's handknit hat. (I think I forgot to sew in the top)

It was supposed to stop raining at noon! It did stop raining and start snowing! We are NOT used to snow. The first sign of flakes, screaming, jumping, jackets, hats, outside. Cubby was less than thrilled that his butt was covered in snow the first time down the slide. We lasted all of 5 minutes. 2 hours later and it is still coming down. I am itching to go out but the wind is fierce and the fire is warm.