Everyday Challenge of Potty Training!

We are a touch late in the game... twins are nearly 3.  Son has NO interest still!  (boys, sigh.)  My dauther on the other hand, has a new gusto and I am running with at a full speed!!  She sees the toilet, rips off her diaper, and has to sit.  (YEAH!)  I hand her book after book, for as long as she will sit, waiting for anything to happen.  I have let her put my make up on for me, and survived unharmed with my vision intact.  Jude on the other hand, just looks at us funny, and wants to know what book is next.  Every now and then he will run off and come back with a chair, or a pillow to sit on.  Can't blame him.  Caught him loading the washer for me the other day.

So Maddie, keep sitting there, reading away... your name sake would call you Betty Jane!!  And have a good laugh, I am sure.

Its actually an exciting time for us!!  She is just blossoming into this sweet little girl right in front of our eyes.  The phrases and new words she is adding are wonders to us.  I can only dream tonight about what she will make me beam about tomorrow.
Love you, my Chicken!  (yes, I call her chicken.)

And to my dear son, we will wait for your turn.  I see your wheels turning.  You will let us know when you are ready.  Until then, did you add the detergent yet?
Love you too, my Peanut!!

Sewing Bug

Well, I haven't started my seahorse yet.  He is still swimming thru my imagination.  I'll catch him sooner or later. 

For now, I need to make a pair of weighted blankets for the twins.  Great excuse to shop for fabric.  And boy did I find some cute stuff on line.  Even better, they shipped from California to me in no time at all!  Scary fast really. 

That means when I get a middle of the night buzz to find a perfect collection for my dream pattern, I'll be back on that site again ordering MORE fabric.  Just what I need.  :)

Could be worse.  It could be bolts, and not fat quarters!! 
Happy sewing!

Seahorses in my dreams....

I am sleeping again.  Yeah!  Seems that only 1 child wakes up thru the night, and that is only once a night, thankfully!  So the dreams return!!  Even better.

Recently Pete hung my jellyfish mosaic up in the dining room.  Just thrilled it's hung.  I seem to have a theme of glass and sea creatures running for mosaic projects.  I started with my first piece, a star fish for my kids bedroom.  Hung it up, sold it.  Jellyfish has been hung, and now I'm dreaming of ways to make a seahorse.  I see some brown bottles being purchase soon.  Of course they will be full of some yummy beer first!  But I see those bottle bottoms and mouths in use for scales.  I have to get to the studio and finish my busy work, so I can get this sea horse started.

Okay... now do we have any shrimp in the freezer? 

Smile! Click Click...

What a great way to spend a Sunday!  Photography class!!  All day with 3 pro's, 3 models (2 human, 1 well behaved dog!) and lots of interesting folks.  Keep your eyes open, I hope to put some of this new knowledge base to good use in the near future! 

Walking around with about 7 other students, we all had questions.  Each question answered by 3 pro's with a technical and artistic aspect with the bonus of personal style from each photographer.  Great way to learn!!   Too many cooks?  Not in this class!  Well seasoned pot if you ask me!


Now to go play with the 30 day trial of software they recommended.  The software was as much fun to discover as all the little buttons and knobs on the camera! 

Now for my index finger to get a work out. 

Spring Fever, my temp is rising!

I have the sudden sickness that follows many this time of year!  Spring Fever is here, and I know of only one cure... getting my hands dirty!!

The 4 of us set out on our first family gardening adventure yesterday.  Start seeds!  It was cold and wet, the kids were loving the long morning in PJ's and I was itchy to do something!!   Did I mention it was really cold and rainy outside?!  Really cold and wet!!!

Maddie and I started broccoli, her favorite veggie!  Jude and Daddy started cilantro, our family favorite herb!  We'll be sharing lots of seedlings with neighbors if all 25 of each plant start. 

The kids seem to really enjoy getting dirty.  Daddy was a bit nervous about the mess, and I was nervous that I wouldn't have enough room to do another 6 more trays like this for lettuce, arugula, spring onions, cucumbers and tomatoes!  Just not enough flat space in this one window.
Then I discovered the window sill in my bathroom!  Oh, I am doing more seeds!  Shh... just don't tell Pete yet!  I am hoping the sill is deep enough he wont notice the trays for a week or so.  Heck, he might not notice the sill for weeks if I keep the curtains closed as usual.

So what are you planting this spring?! 

Visions of inspiration...

You never know what will inspire you to do or say something.  Recently I walked into a church basement that doubles as a thrift store on Wednesdays.  Picked up some heart molds for 50 cents.  I have had idea after idea of what to do.  I knew I would not cook with them!  Sad, but true. 
So far, I have started using one as a body with measuring spoons for arms.  Looking forward to seeing how things have dried and settled. 

I look at what I toss in the trash or recycling bin and wonder if I am loosing a valuable recourse for a project.  Odd, I know.  The idea of this stuff ending up in a landfill to just build up and up is disturbing to me. 

So this inspiration has led me to look into lowering my over all waste!  We have done a good job at reducing our trash and increasing our recycling.  Now onto reducing both. 

So far, we no longer buy seltzer in bottles.  We purchased an Penguin.  Love it!!  Never out of seltzer again.  Need to get the beer fridge fixed and get that tap line flowing again! 
I know those bottles, caps and boxes are all recyclable, but wouldn't it be nice to reduce the stress  on our backs to the curb? 

Playing at the studio!

After dinner last night I walked to the studio for some "Mommy" time!  Gosh it was great!  3 hours to myself to play, I walked home with a smile on my face and a feeling over energy that I could go home and tackle anything! 

Hope you are finding time in your week to recharge your batteries!  It makes you a better YOU!