Embracing Life

So I stole this idea off pinterest. Worked hard on it over the weekend. And here is the finished product! Our "I'm Bored" Jar!!! A sampling of what's inside Red = Inside activities Green = Outside activities Yellow = Shows to watch on a rainy day Blue = Places to go (there are more, but I left off the ones with specific names on them)

I've made jewelry for as long as I can remember. I started young with those big plastic beads. In fact, I still have a couple of necklaces. As I got older (and had more money), I started working with semi-precious stones. They aren't cheap to make, but I love how pretty they are. The New Age part of me shines through as well, because you can use stones for healing as well. (Whether the stones actually work, or it's more mind over matter, I'm not quite sure. ;)) For awhile now I've been saying I should open an Etsy shop and sell some things.  Two things are holding me back, (one) I have little time to make pieces and (two) what if no one buys anything? Whether or not I actually start a shop, I will still make jewelry because nothing makes me happier than wearing something that I created! Chakra earrings Red jasper, carnelian, citrine, malachite, turquoise, lapis lazuli and amethyst Chakra bracelet with carnelian, as well as amethyst, lapis lazuli, tur...

Here is our annual bucket list for summer 2012. The yellow is a little hard to read, so here they are: Learn to tie our shoes Catch lightning bugs Bubble bath in the kiddie pool Scavenger hunt Mommy date with each child

Last week, I was off of work two days. One, an unscheduled sick day. The other, a very scheduled, very needed mental health day. (Plus I had to use up my personal day before the end of our year, June 30.) It was just the break I needed. First, the kids' stuff: Mismatch Day at Preschool Kindergarten Graduation Beach Party Night at Colin's Speech School Now for the "ME" stuff: I gardened (Is that even a word?) I prettied up the deck I went for a run I ate a healthy lunch. ALONE. WITH A BOOK. I got out my summer clothes and organized my closet. I read some more. I snuck in an AWESOME movie with my husband. We had popcorn  When the kids came home from school, I felt refreshed. It was something I hadn't felt in months. So glad for some me time before we start on our summer bucket list.

Which one is Connor age 2/3 and which one is Cousin Reid age 2.5??? As a side note, when we go out with Reid,  he is the same height as my almost 4 year old twins.  People always ask if I have triplets.  Happiness is family. And cute kids. ;)

This is my little girl. She is full of spunk.  And has an outstanding fashion sense. The way I look at it, I had 3 years to put my twinkles in coordinating outfits.  That time has since past. Colin sticks with his favorite 2-3 t-shirts or Mr. Hugh Hefner wears pajamas all day long. Keira Princess Rose (the name she gave herself),  has more eclectic tastes when choosing her outfit for the day. That outfit, minus the sweater and velvet hat, was what she choose  to wear to my uncle's cookout on Mother's Day. Who am I to argue with fashion? Or maybe I'm just smart enough to pick my own battles. If she wants to wear the same shirt and skirt for 3 days in a row (I do wash things at night if she will take them off long enough to put on pjs for bed), then so be it. And when she twirls around in her favorite skirt and asks me: Do I look pretty, Mommy? I respond with love each time: You look beautiful baby girl.

It was my choice to not bring the children to Gigi's wake or funeral. Well I had decided that the twins would not go, and Connor chose not too. They are 3,3, and 5, so I was not going to push the issue.  They did however draw goodbye pictures for Gigi.  They do not know that the pictures were buried with her, as well as ones drawn by my niece and nephew.  They don't have to know that until they are older. But I did take pictures of them to remember. Gigi lived for her great-grandchildren. They were her happiness and joy.  It's a roller coaster.