Temper Trap

I know this song is really popular right now...but it reminds me of being young

Good, crazy, amazing things to come.....

Times they are a'changin around here at the casa.....we have been decluttering (Geez, it is amazing how much stuff you don't need.  I am also very grateful for all the local charities that are willing to come and pick up donations.)  And we have been cleaning.....and cleaning and cleaning (yes, we do have two little kids).  And we have been planning......more accurately we have been drawing and dreaming about HOUSE designs.....yep...we are finally going to start building our house.  With that comes listing....as in LISTING our house.  It went on the market today.....cross your fingers/toes in hopes of a sale.  I have also been buying....as in seeds and will start my seedlings this weekend (20 different vegetables this year and one melon).  We have also been dreaming....about chicken coops, compost bins, honey bees and deep freezers.  And for those of  you who are new to this endeavor...here is where we are building(2.5 acres of magic). And yes, that one bedroom cabin is going to be our home for the summer (well, hopefully that is the plan).  More pictures to come. 

A couple of random things that I am so coveting.

Pretty much every piece of clothing on the Shabby Apple website.
These custom made Uggleboo clogs.  I know the price is insane....but they are fun to covet.

Freckles

I love the freckles, eyelashes and big ears.  Oh and the rainbow.

Sap

Tapping Maple Tree...two trees were tapped and a day and a half later we got this....(tap's can be purchased at Fleet Farm)

Full turkey fryer of sappy liquid....doesn't taste or look like maple syrup

The ratio is about 40:1 (starting liquid to actual syrup)....about 24 hours later of intermittent boiling we have this and it is still going. 

Pancakes for breakfast....yessiree.

I lied

She does like princesses (today, one time only, and so I had to document it)....

YES

This is pretty much my favorite picture of when we were kids.  There is a lot more going on in this picture than you probably realize.  For one, this picture resembles the same life that I want to pass along to my children. I keep this photo in my bathroom because I want to look at it everyday and I kind of say a mantra each time I see it (whispering) "This is the mom I want to be. This is the mom I want to be."  We went camping, hiking, swimming in cow ponds, we got lost in the forest for hours, we road our bikes for days on end, we made mudpies, we did not watch TV, we ate granola, we got dirty, really dirty, we made jewelry out of rocks and twigs and flowers and we were so free.

A few weeks back I was reading Emily Falconbridge's blog and it was like a light went off that completely summarized all the things I had been thinking, but had not really put on paper.  Essentially she was discussing that moving forward in 2011 she was going to work on saying YES to her kids more.  Yes. One simple word with so much power.  Yes, we can go to the library.  Yes, you can use the glue. Yes, you can use the paint. Yes, you can make a fort out of your room.  Yes, you can lick the frosting.  Yes, you can dress your brother up as a princess.  Yes, you can grow your own garden this year.  YES....  and not just yes in their lives, but yes in my life.  Yes, I can take some time to go volunteer.  Yes, you can breath easier.  Yes, you can go work out for an hour. Yes, you can bake goodies every week and bring them into work.  Yes, you can save up and buy a beach cruiser.  Yes, you can dream about trips to Bali and the Caribbean. 

I guess what I am getting at is stop making excuses.  Take chances.  Say yes more.  Stop doubting yourself.  Messes are temporary, imagination is endless and the opportunities in this life are so abundant.

 

More New Music

PJ Harvey--Legacy



Just bought tickets for Iron & Wine



Hoping that Fleet Foxes show in Mpls soon.



Adele...she kicks ass but her show sold out in about 2 minutes...good for her

Sorry, one more post...Sunset on the lake

Shout Out (and a plug for canvas)

I just wanted to give a quick shout out to my mom (mi madre) for her craftiness.....

Just in time for spring and for someday when the little monkeys lose their teeth

And to match the bird theme we have going on now in her room.

Cupcake

The makings of cupcake birthday party (for which I barely have any pictures of):

Bakers Boxes (holds 12 cupcakes): purchased on eBay
Wilton cupcake form to make one mega cupcake for the birthday girl
Cake Mixes (Devils food was the best and Betty Crocker beat out Pillsbury): 6 Boxes
Oriental Trading Company Aprons
Dollar Bin at Target for spatulas
Loads of frosting, candies, sweethearts, M&Ms, sprinkles...
Musical chairs where the competition was fierce
Play castle to burn off sugar overload
Community Center to leave the mess behind = Fun fun times!

Dill

Five.  Years. Old.  Five. Years. Young.

My daughter turned five this weekend.  Five.  It must have been some glitch in the time-space continuum because I literally can't grasp that five years ago I was pregnant.  She is my princess-hating, barbie-hating, non-girlie girl, artist in the making.  Her beautiful brown eyes melt my soul.  Her imagination is endless.  Her legs are long.  Her hair is fine.  Her second toe lays slightly under her big toe.  She has a little mole above her right eye.  She sneaks drinks of her dad's pop when he is not watching.  She knows I don't approve but she smiles that smile.  That one smile.  And well, I am a pushover.  She can spell Mason, Mom, Dad, Pop,  Dog and Poop.  Yes, Poop was the 5th word she learned.  We are at that stage, go figure.  In the summer, she spends every single day doing the monkey bars.  She has calluses to show it.  She wants to lose a tooth really bad.  She can't wear flip flops.  When I was pregnant she lied like a taco in my stomach.  Her feet where next to her cheek.  She still sleeps like that.  Her teachers asked me out of concern.  I am fine with it.  She is magical.  She is striking beyond belief.  She hugs her brother and watches over him at school and it makes my heart twinkle. Everything she does twinkles.  I love you sweet Dilly.

Spring is coming! Spring is coming!!

Somehow Regina Spektor makes me think of spring, flowers and sunshine.  Dance people dance!!