Baby Calendar

I love to scrapbook, that's no secret, but I have projects that I especially love to do. When my sister was pregnant with her second baby, I knew how busy life would be so I made her a baby calendar. This way you fill it in when you have a chance, you have a beautiful scrapbook page and you remember to take a picture of your baby every month so you can see how much they change. Ten years later when you finally have two seconds you transfer the information to the baby book. I enjoyed putting every little detail into that book and seeing my sisters face when she opened it. Because she likes her calendar so much she has asked me to make one for her friend who is also having a baby girl. So in the quiet of my home, since all are asleep here is what I copied created tonight! It actually came in a kit  from Close to My Heart and I followed the directions but some colors have been added a a few minor changes make it a little mine too! If you would like to see it up close just click on the picture.

Coffee

Coffee sweet energy giving nectar. Coffee cursed coffee. I drank you too late and not I cannot find rest.

Summer

What is summer? Summer can be defined as endless days of trying to figure out what to do! Around here it consists of learning life skills like how to get along with people you don't like, how to continue to use a glass for wine when the day calls for just the bottle and a straw. We are learning to play with our gazillion toys because the Mom has threatened to throw them all out if one more person even suggests they have nothing to do. We are learning that a house that is 80 degrees is so very much cooler than a backyard that is 102. My children are learning that as their mother I have endless lists of chores and if they are going to complain about doing one chore I will surely have additional things they can do. They learned that one super fast. I think that all of this free time searching for people we want to be with, activities we want to do and try to not waste entire days, gives us all a love for school and the routine it brings. All in all this summer has been great so far. Knock on wood the girls took my threat of their world caving in to heart and have stopped bickering. They also found that as they try to be less selfish they are having more fun together. As for me, a little work and a little play seems to be how I will have a good day! Look a rhymer. Summer, yes endless days of trying to figure out what to do...how far will our imaginations take us? I have no idea but I do wonder how many bottles of Mike's Hard Lemonade can be in the recycle before people start to think you have a problem?

My Rock Star

I have to share this because you have to see it! When our friends from Seattle were in town we did a survivor game day. Included were teams broken up into different colors. We had each team come up with a name, a song and a dance that we promptly recorded! Here is a picture of Ryan as he was the star of Biggins and the Boys!

Root Bound

I planted seeds way back in the winter for my garden this year. We had great plans for a garden but this and that happened and we ran out of time and money. However, I have a precious few plants that survived and are now mostly feeding the rabbits. There is one plant that has taught me a lesson though. My cherry tomato plant and the one I was most excited to get fruit from. However, I had it in a container and although it seemed to be growing it was not looking healthy and it certainly was not producing. So I took it out and put it into a bigger container and just like I suspected the plant was root bound. I put it in some water and massaged the roots and replanted it. Now the leaves are full and beautifully green and those precious yellow flower that indicated fruit is on the way have begun to form! I can't even tell you how excited I am about that.

Of course me being me there is always a deeper something I get from experience like that. I started to look at myself and see areas where I might be "root bound." Perhaps stuck in a rut or staying too long in a comfort zone when in reality I would thrive better if I stepped out and moved into something new. I guess as I take inventory of life I need to decide what areas have served me well in the past but need readjusting and what things need to stay and what needs to go. I don't ever want to not reach my full potential.

I have to say have been inspired by more than plants as well. Some time ago Ron's Aunt stepped out of her comfort zone and attended a paper crop. There she tried something new and started making cards. They are beautiful!! Once she takes the step she has an offer to make some and place them in a friends store and I KNOW they are going to sell like hot cakes!! She inspires me to be unafraid to try new things and see where they will take me. Of course I would not leave you hanging without a picture of her beautiful work. Thanks Aunt DeeDee...you are amazing!!

Hives

I have them. I hate them. They refuse to go away. Worst of all I have no idea why I have them. All I know is that I am taking everything the doctor said to take and still nothing helps. Perhaps I am allergic to relaxing because as soon as I sit down and just relax for a second they pop out with a vengeance. I must admit I am getting pretty good at functioning in this haze of allergy fighting medicines. Every morning I have a benedryl hangover and all through the day I fight the urge to just close my eyes for a minute. I am getting a good amount of pity from my children though and that's always nice. I am bummed however because I have been taking St.Johns Wort and Gingko Baloba for almost two months and have been feeling great and the Doc made me stop taking it. I had fallen short on taking it the last several days so I really doubt that is what this is all about. Nonetheless I am trying to do it all right in hope that I might find sweet release from the itching!! I have to wonder though if by taking the Wort and then sitting in the sun for two hours watching Bec play soccer, if that's what triggered this whole thing...is that possible? I may never know, but what I do know is that hives are evil and I can't wait to get rid of them. I took the max dose of Benedryl so I will either get some sweet relief or it will go the other way and I will have enough nervous energy to finish cleaning up the basement. Pray for me...oh how I want to scratch!!

Bark, Bark

So for some unknown reason my son has taken to pooing in his pants. Not full loads but just enough that I have to scrub it and enough that he smells like a barn until I do. I have no idea why, but this new things is so very annoying and frustrating. At any rate, the other day I was pretty upset with him about it and so I say, "Ryan, why did you poop in your underwear again?"
"Bark, Bark" was the reply, "I'm a doggie mom and I can't talk." So I tell him to become a little boy again and answer the question. So he looks at me with those dark eyes and charming smile and beings to bark a "sentence" to me while he makes gestures with his arms. Darn it all, I laughed. That single laugh was the kiss of death to my serious mom conversation. I cleaned him up and told him don't do it again, to which he said, "OK" so I dove back in with the "why did you do it?" and the reply..."bark, bark..."