Inventory!

The pictures from inventory night are so beautiful,

I had to share!!

Rose Bud in both small and large.

Big Trucks!

Rock Star!

A Tuesday Project

I feel busy. Really busy.

Because of it, I decided to focus all my energies on the kiddos today.

What else could we do but... CRAFT! CREATE! PAINT!

We started with "real" artist canvases. Big ones.

Remember as a kid looking down at a huge white piece of paper and wondering what in the world to put on it? 

That's the feeling I tried to evoke in my kids. 

The feeling that anything is ok, anything goes and anything will make mom proud.

And so it began.

Then it ended. 

The freedom, I mean. 

I couldn't keep my darn paws (not to mention opinions) to myself!

What is my problem?

I found myself micro-managing my four-year-old's grass! 

WHAT?! WHY?!

"How 'bout fluffy grass?" "What about a BIG house?"

I had to walk myself out of the room and ask her to surprise me with the result.

This was the end result.

She was happy.

I was happy.

(I didn't let her see me color in the dress on her purple portrait of herself. 

Again, what is my problem??)

Damon's masterpiece happened all on its own.

He was done in seven minutes and, I promise, I tried to love it.

but...

His two-legged, faceless deer was missing antlers.

I could see the sky through his ghostly-white, naked self-portrait.

The original tree was shorter than the (again) two-legged chinchilla standing next to it. 

 Together we fixed, and fixed, and fixed.

So, am I controlling?

Maybe.

But at the end of the day, 

the contents of the paintings came entirely from the kids.

The colors? Kids.

The layout? Kids.

The grass? Kids. 

Sky? Self-Portraits? Creatures? Kids.

And they were happy.

The Joy of Cousins!

I have been away. I apologize.

But these seven cousins are the reason why.

Non-stop fun,

phantom Storm Troopers,

constant laughing,

hours of Star Wars,

several water parties,

and giggles, giggles, giggles!

(Watch out boys!!)

In preparation for the week with seven kids, I considered planning some crafts and projects and games for entertainment. I considered organizing the days into neat little "camp-like" sessions to keep the kids from driving each other (and me) crazy! I could have pulled it off, and we probably would have enjoyed it.

But I reconsidered.

I let them run amuck.

They loved it!

I loved it!

SWEET!

Thanks for the vacation, cousins!!

Water Party

We live in a glorious part of the United States.

We live on the central coast of California.

It is rarely hot.

It is rarely cold.

I have ruined my kids forever.

This weekend was a blistering 85 degrees and the kids wilted.

Then came the water party. No "party" just our family in the backyard- WET!

DAMON!

JULIA!

BRADY!

Nothin' entertains on a hot afternoon like a little water!
And a little crack!

Preschool Graduation

Meet Julia. 

Today she graduated from preschool.

Today she felt REEEally big.

Today she thought she got to start kindergarten.

Notice the excited smile when she saw her daddy!

Her girls.

Her teachers.

Her gifts.

I must admit that I was thrilled to see my little girl so excited about notecards and a Strawberry Shortcake puzzle. I know that she is only 4 years old, but when I was shopping for this special occasion, I just felt the pressure to lavish upon her. Wait! She is 4 and she is graduating from preschool. Where would we go from here if she received a bike, or an iPod, or a Mercedes?

I am so proud of her, or maybe I just can't believe preschool is already over, either way...

she is four and we have a L.O.NG way to go!

Strawberry Festival 2010

The Arroyo Grande Strawberry Festival has come and gone.

Lots of preparations and planning for 150K people.

Here is how the booth finally turned out...

The doorstops in the left of the picture proved to be a very valuable asset.

Many, many folks stopped by just to ask or guess what in the world they actually were?

We loved it! Thanks doorstops.

As much as I like the look of the hanging bowls in the shutters,

not one onlooker felt comfortable enough to touch them.

Sorry.

More bowls!

In typical Lindsey fashion, her jewelry and accessories were masterfully displayed.

Here is Miss Pleated Poppy giving the final touches

My second booth partner brought the laughs! Here is Dondi...

and here is the gorgeous orange messenger-style bag that I purchased from her!

Happy me!!

The weekend was beautiful, inspiring and wonderful!!

Sew, Sew, Sew Busy!!

The 27th annual Arroyo Grande Strawberry Festival is only three days away! EEK! I am giving it a go and sharing a booth with two other wonderfully creative gals. Lindsey from The Pleated Poppy and Dondi from Dondi Bags. I am picturing the booth now! Can you say eye candy? If you are able, come check us out on the main drag in front of The Village Grill!

Lots of preparations. Daily hours of this,

have produced endless piles of this.

Good thing for this,

to end up with this,

and this.

With SO, SEW, SO much more to do before Saturday!!

My Baby is THREE!

Today my baby turned three. 

He is a very proud three. 

He is a very large three. 

He is a very loud three.

He is fabulous.

With Daddy out of town, it was fun to have Nana and Papa come visit to celebrate the big three-year-old!