Saturday, January 31

repurposing sheets and pants...

my nails...

SOOOO... I am so excited to report that I spent ALL night last night sewing. Yah me! Dad and the little boy played Batman Lego... and me and the little girl played with fabric.
First I made three cloth shopping bags. I brought this really old, shall I say 'vintage' sheet from a thrift store just for this purpose. I bought this over a year ago.

my shopping bags...

Then I made our 'field bags' for our journals. One for Corbyn and one for Myla. I used a pair of my old cargo hiking pants. (I used this tutorial from Lori.)

bye bye favorite pants...

These pants have been all over, I had them before we were married (so, we were still in Columbus, GA)...and have used them multiple times throughout discovering Arizona. Even though it was hard to make the first initial cut, I am quite happy that they will be used by the kids for this very purpose.

ready to go...

It looked a little plain to me... so I set it to the side and started working on Myla's. Then it occurred to me to get out my stamps and paint so that they could tell them apart. (I could already hear the disagreements).

completed....

All in all I had a wonderful evening. I listened to all my favorite music (Kenny Rogers was included), my favorite little girl by my side doing something that absolutely makes me happy. Its my therapy. How's your weekend?

(Also getting ready for a BIG testosterone filled weekend... UFC has a big fight tonight (2 of my favorites are fighting tonight) and then of course the Cardinals are playing in the Super Bowl, at the stadium of hubby's favorite team.
GO CARDS!!!!!


***update... I just thought of this... today being the 31st, I made SEVEN bags this month. The first two were when my mom was here, I repurposed the curtains I made for my daughter some time ago into bags for my mom and my grandmother. I can't believe I let her get on the plane without taking a picture. And then the other 5 were done last night. Go me for jumping into the new year with some new stuff!!!!

Sunday, January 25

Ain't no mountain high enough....

Today was a nice day. The weather was beautiful, though a little warm than what I would like for January (72 degrees) but it was really nice to have the kids out and in the sunshine. We decided to head up to the mountain near our home and go for a little expedition. With field journals in hand or in a bag rather, camera ready, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches packed by my son, we were ready to go.

the happy explorers....

this is the bag that carried the journals and pencils. He carried it the entire time and didn't say a word.

he's on a mission

some findings...

'

this is what he was drawing...

January 2008 015

All the pictures were his ideas... he would ask me for spelling help but that was it. So, I want to give a big shout out to Lori at Camp Creek Blog she has so much enthusiasm in learning and being with her children. Though I am not a homeschooler I yearn for having the most out of our time together as a family. I love learning anything new and want to pass that on to my kids. Her site is just fabulous, inspiring, and always thought provoking. I have found so many useful ideas and the journals being one of them. So go on over and explore a little... you won't be disappointed.

tree texture

January 2008 016

These two pictures really get me (thats us on the mountain).

barrel cactus


the field journals

Little Dude's is on the left (dad thought at first that he wrote I shop. Silly dad. and I guess I will tell on myself... I told him the wrong date. Silly mom.) Little Pie's is on the right. She would tell her dad what she wanted to draw and hand in hand they drew mountains, trees and a few clouds.



So... I think that the pictures say it all. We had a great time with no rush. We saw many families out enjoying the day like ourselves. Lots of people have dogs with spots, and no matter their breed, my daughter will fight to the end that they are Dalmations!!!! She even corrected her dad when he told her it was a pitbull... No dad, its Dalmation... it have spots.

Saturday, January 24

Stand Up for Change....

So how cool is this....
this picture of my darling little boy....
(if you click on it, you can see all of the picture)

finger painting anyone???



is going to be used on the site. This young lady contacted me to use this picture in the
I couldn't be more excited to participate and bring awareness to this cause. As a mother of a
5 year old sweet soul, it turns my stomach to think of him being hurt or
teased by someone. Those poor kids probably need more attention at home, but then again who am I to say...
Bullying can and could affect someone for the rest of their life if they lack the self confidence to see beyond their hurt and recognize the insecurities of this other person.
I have been a stay at home mom since the birth of my first child, mostly to protect that innocence and witness all of their beginnings. I strive to be a great mom and it really stinks to think that some 'child' could ruin all the great things I wish for him/her.
Anyhoo... because if you know me you know that I love to YOuTube.
(***beware, it will tug at your heart....)


Friday, January 23

new year... new hair...new look....

Introducing the new little girl in my life. She has a bit of sassyness added to her already big girl attitute.

front
new hair cut

back



here are a few of her running from the camera... the picture of the front was after I held her down and tickled her....

gettin' ready to run...


and she is off...


I love how her hair moves with her. It makes her seem a little bigger, which in her eyes is probably just fine seeing how if you call her 'baby' in any sort of endearment she will correct you and say..."I not baby, I two and a half"...

Not to mention she has basically decided on her own that she doesn't want to wear diapers. She still wears them if we leave the house of if it is bed time, but I tell you this little momma has taken to the potty like a champ. Pee and Poop!!!!! I don't even have to remind her to go...
she is an awesome little person...

oh Myla....

Monday, January 19

....that our flag was still there....

My husband loves football. I like the sportsmanship. I like touchdowns. I like the rush of excitement from winning a game, especially a championship game. But.... it is very hard for me to sit still long enough to watch a game in its entirety.

So... with that the last five minutes of the fourth quarter are my 2nd favorite part of the game... my first you ask????? Is the singing of the National Anthem. My husbands too. We have been known to rewind (do you love DVR like us) and listen to it a second time if they truly nailed the song. This past Sunday Myla and I were at a birthday party and my husband sent me a text message just to tell me that Jordin Sparks did a fantastic job and that he recorded it for me. (that is just how much we are into it...I smiled and loved him more for thinking of me)



I remember many moons ago watching a game with my hubby and father in law... the guy (hubby's dad) was in tears and choking up during the song... that's when it hit me, this song is more than just verus' that I had to learn in school. I have never been in combat... I was just living in my own oblivion and living the life that so many do, in a time and a place that we expect these privileges be our own. We have never fought for them. This man, my father in law, has fought... he was an immigrant who vowed to protect a country that offered hope to his family who had come from Poland originally, and then fled to Venezuela and then came to the States in hope of a better life. He enlisted in the Army I believe when he turned 18... there is such a huge story and history of his life that I won't try to write at this moment in fear that I would get it wrong. (This would call for its own post which is stirring around in my mind.)

What I do know... is that from that moment, around 9 years ago, that song, this song gives me chills... makes me proud... and as a mom I want my children to appreciate all that has happened before them. Witnessing that amount of patriotism from one man, brought an understanding of my freedoms that I daily take for granted.... I love my country. I love my family. And above all I love life and hope that everyone experiences the depth of love that I have been able to witness and enjoy. My life is far from perfect, but it is my life and my family.

There are so many versions of this song from so many performers... I remembered this one from earlier this season (football) and she, who I have no idea where she came from or who she is... was one that we replayed a few times just to hear her rendition... very well I think. When she says 'streaming' I shudder!

My son knows that today is a holiday. Martin Luther King he says fought for peace. He has brown skin and ours is peach. Something happened on a bus. He was shot. He made a difference. (he is 5)

My thought is how lucky we are to live in a time when we don't even see the significance. Years and years from now.... what will my great grandchildren be learning in social studies???

Tuesday, January 13

All you have to do is call.... and I'll come running....

On the 8th of January... hubby left for the gym around 11:30am... if you know me then you know that, that really isn't that big of a deal. When he returned home Pie Pie ran to the door and my computer is at the front window... I notice him getting out and I am just chatting away to my friend... hubby comes in gives us each a kiss and again... I am just chatting my guts away when I look at the window and see this lady walking by (no big deal) but I think to myself that "oh she resembles my mom"(which lives 2500 miles away)... I look away and again I am chatting with Julie and then I look back out and the same lady is still walking and almost past our house... and I take this double look because not only does she resemble her...but she looks identical!!!! Mario says that I jumped up and was yelling..."is that my mom?"... (he never said a word, just smiled)...."why does that look like my mom"... "is it my mom"... I ran outside and called for her "MOM????" and here she came around the tall bushes..."yeah" .... I was completely surprised. In fact I have never been so surprised in all my life. I had no words... I just kept saying... I can't believe you are here!!!!

Sooooo... I am enjoying my mom and my kids having a Nanny around them. Myla has been all into fixing hair and will tell you that you look messy and not so nice... she will spray a gallon of leave in condition in your hair and brush and brush and brush...she has a pretend little hair dryer that makes noise and blowes a little cool air... she finishes with these huge gaudy Dora barrettes and earrings... and then says... "Does Nanny look nice?" two seconds later... "you not look so nice" "I brush you hair".... and over again it starts....

She will leave this coming Sunday on the 18th and I will surely be very sad. I am re-posting our song here... I hope that it reminds you of someone special too... (the orignal post is here)




The words to this song strike me very deep. I could cry if I let myself almost each and everytime, especially when she is far from me. Moving away from my family gave me freedom to become the adult that I am. The wife that I am. The mother that I am. But most importantly I have roots embedded deep that helped it all along. She is my rock. As much as I try to take care and protect her (I always have)... she makes me and has made me the strong woman that I am today... she encourages... she praises me... and she drives me nuts. And that is just the way that I want it.

Around the holidays I miss my family to the extent that I can't explain it with words. So, even though this is our song and has been... some of the lyrics are even more fitting now, this past year has been an awakening of sorts and support is what I have needed the most.... as a mom you know that if your child needed you, you would coming running. So, even if you hate clicking on links and videos... click and enjoy.... love yourself. Love your family. Love your friends. I hope to see you or talk to you soon. Make it a great year!!!!!