Links I Love

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30 Gifts for 30 Strangers in Sydney. 
found via chookooloonks.
I wanna do this!


30 gifts to 30 strangers in Sydney from Lucas Jatoba on Vimeo.

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Compliments and other Controversies from Girl's Gone Child
....since having a girl I have this on my mind.  I liked all these thoughts.

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Today:

Charley heads off to school and the rest of us venture out of our reality to dream about the June wedding for my brother.  We are off to check things out for them.

And then our weekend begins.  Can't wait. 

But first, waffles, latte, and getting us all out the door by 8:55!

Happy Friday, friends!



Just call me MEGA Science MAMA!

Maybe you remember this...

The new friend we found on our journey home after dropping Charley off on the first day of school. Ed questioned me..."What are you going to do with that?"
After some investigating and emptying the jar out daily for many days...because that thing eats milkweed and then poops it out like an expert, I realized that the fuzzy orange and black ones hibernate over the winter and do their magic in the spring...at least I think this is correct. So we let the fuzzy guy go.

But our good friends, who always have buckets with toads, frogs, turtles, and more taking up residence in their yard, gifted us with two monarch caterpillars. One of them didn't make it.

But one of them wound itself up into it's cocoon before we knew it. And then one afternoon....we saw this.

I was amazed at how real this life process was. I was so disappointed that I didn't see any of the steps actually take place. Everything happens so quickly. But how very cool the whole thing was. Next spring we will definitely be doing this again!

Super Sydney - a gift that made my day!

It has been a whirlwind of a week and a half.  

Now my mom is here and all seems right in the world.

But last week, was tough.

But there was a day when I dressed Sydney for the day with a smile.  

I had just bought her a pink superman shirt at Old Navy for 5 bucks. 

Couldn't pass that up. 

That day I went out to the mailbox and in it was a package addressed to

"Super Sydney".

FOR REAL.

A month or so ago when visiting with my mother in law I mentioned how I would love a superman cape for Sydney.  She made the boys each one...with their initials instead of the S for Superman.  I told her that I could see a really cute picture with them all sitting in a row with their backs to me.  Sydney in the middle.  

Blessed.  Truly blessed.

Not only did Ed's mom take the time to whip this cute thing up. 

She either knew that I needed a little pick me up last week...or she has perfect timing. 

Because not only did it arrive and put a smile on my face...but Sydney was already wearing a Superman shirt.  

So I snapped a few pictures of her in the house and then we raced outside, since the temps were favorable for a tutu, barefoot, photoshoot. 

The neighbor mom and her 16 year old daughter walked over.  She was dressed up in her homecoming dress.  It was fun to realize that now that I have a girl I will get to do the homecoming dress shopping spree.  But man, it also made me soooo glad that I was still at the tutu wearing, sitting on the blanket, and still occasionally ending up like this...stage. 

Thanks Grandma Charlie for every single handmade item you have gifted us.  

Each one is a treasure.  And this one meant the world to me. 

cruisin' along...

Spending my days with these two busy beans has me smiling.

Today we had a burst of summer.

The temps are in the 70s.

The windows are wide open.

Shorts/dresses/short sleeves...so bittersweet to go through Syd's closet yesterday and work on transitioning things to more cooler temps.  I got sick to my stomach piling up the cute outfits that she only wore a time or two before she out grew them or the temperatures dipped too low for.  Can't believe she is now moving past the 8 month mark.  It is going way to fast.  But today bring out the little bare feet! 

Come February I will never again have the youngest grandchild. 

The new little cousin will arrive and Miss Syd will be a whopping 1 years old.

She'll be running with the big boys.

Henry has surpassed my expectations on coming to terms with preschool.

Yipee.  Once again blessed.

Miss Syd spent an hour with Ms. Shari and helpers at our ECFE class today.  I sat in with the parents and talked recipes and feeding picky eaters.  We all agreed before our littles came banging into the room that our one hour a day, behind the secret window that lets us observe our tinies in action...makes us all better moms and dads.  It makes us all a little more deliberate in our choices during the week.  I almost dropped the class because Syd got a runny nose after our first class.  But Ed has been to the class.  He has listened to the moms chat and discuss and he has seen me after class.  And he told me I should stick with it.  A few germs will only expose Miss Syd and build up her immunities.  So we will keep on ...keepin' up with crew at ECFE.

Plus, Henry seriously, hooted and hollered "YES! YES! YES!" when he heard it was Ms. Shari day.  I know that there will be experiences I will look back on with NO REGRET some day.  And knowing Ms. Shari and Ms. Nina and the tribe of moms that come from all walks of life is one of the best things that I get to have in my pocket as a stay at home mom.  They are my coworkers...my water cooler chit chat friends.   They are the one constant place where I get to ponder parenting ideas.

My mom arrives today.  She will be here for a good 6 days.  There isn't too much on our agenda that is written in stone.  But I always know that everything is more fun when she is here, whether I show it to her all the time or not.  As her daughter, I do tend to relax and show my crabby side more easily.  I do notice that it now comes out with Ed's mom too....she should take it as the biggest compliment in the world because it means I love and trust that she will keep lovin' me ...even when I am a snit.

Charley should be on his way home in the near future.  So we are going to go catch a bonus dose of natural late September Minnesota vitamin D. 

Wondering what your thoughts are on what kind of milk you are drinking.  Today at ECFE we discussed that skim milk has all the good fat taken out of it leaving it with an ample amount of sugar.  And the recommendations these days are to drink 1 or 2 %.  We had just switched to skim because of Ed's cholesterol or something.  Now I am tempted to switch back.  Curious if you have thoughts on this. 

Right now, I am...

:: enjoying a quiet rainy afternoon.  Sydney is napping.  Henry is puttering with Lego's but is waiting patiently for me to work on hanging up Halloween decorations with him.
:: ecstatic that my boys slept in a bit this morning and were happy about going to school. 
:: feeling content at home.  Travelling on a weekend ALWAYS makes me anticipate being home again.  I LOVE and NEED that feeling. 
:: vowing to start shopping more wisely and getting back into grocery shopping with a budget.  Promise.
:: wanting to get back to IKEA to exchange a few frames and items so that I can finish my photo wall.  

:: riding the wave of emotions that comes with losing a loved one. 
:: enjoyed a pumpkin spice latte this morning.  Kind of rich.  But also yummy. 
:: holding off on cleaning the bathroom until just before my mom arrives.  Maybe just my excuse.
:: thinking that baking pumpkin bars this week might be scrumptious.

:: grateful for a weekend with family to celebrate a loved Grandpa's life...but also glad to have absorbed it all in the quiet too.  And all the visiting, calling, emailing, and writing to my grandpa made losing him much easier to live through. 
:: anticipating  my mom arriving tomorrow.  I treasure our time together.

:: excited that I get to be an aunt to another little joy.  My sister is expecting...have I mentioned that!
:: itching to get a new pair of jeans.

:: wishing for more time in the day and for boys that went to bed with more peace.

:: wondering what we should have for dinner tonight. 

:: hoping to make more time for blogging, because it is a favorite and best in my life.

Life just keeps whipping along, friends.  Let's catch up (make sure your comment has your email attached)What are you doing this afternoon?

Inspiration for this post is from here.

Links I Love...it's been awhile.

1.  Fitting it All in - Enjoying the Small Things

I love the message in this post.  And I loved her reflection two days later on that post with 66 Minutes to Save the World.  It reminds me of my goal this school year.  When Charley walks through that door.  To put aside my phone and turn off the computer for the 2-3 hours that he is home with us in the evening.   


2.  When I was reading this post, In Which These are the Tired Thirties, by Emerging Mummy.  I had to laugh at this statement:

Last night, Brian was out working late again and when my mother called at 7:30, I think I talked for thirty minutes straight about 87 different things because I was just so happy to talk to another grown-up.


Because I have a tendency, especially with my mom or Ed's mom, if I get you on the phone on a day when I have had little adult interaction...I will ramble on and on and on. 

3.  On Publishing Your Life on the Internet - Mrs. Flinger

I wonder about my blog friends, when I haven't heard from them in a while.   I wonder about the people that take time to read my silly thoughts, when they haven't emailed or commented.  I worry.  And then I always remember that the Internet is just a snippet of their time in life.  They often only blog about one moment in their life that week.  And they might be reading in the waiting room with only a minute to spare.  I share on here - but I don't share it all.  I liked this post. 
4.  My brother always finds the coolest things.  He found this yesterday and I think it was pretty cool and so did my boys.  Draw a stickman!  SERIOUSLY, check it out with your kiddos.

You choose your friends...

There is a phrase I have heard that goes something like this:

You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family.

I am not sure who said this. But it is so true. But recently, I received very exciting news. My brother, while travelling in Tuscany with his girlfriend, called and announced his engagement. That means...he went out and made a friend and has chosen her to be considered a part of our family.   I, myself, didn't choose her, but my brother chose her and I get to reap the benefits of being his family..now their family.  I get a new sister.

We are all so thrilled for this gal, who rarely has an empty wine glass in hand...except in this gorgeous picture, to join our crazy clan.

Welcome to the family Liz! Let the adventures begin!

Henry's first day...

Dear Henry,

I wanted to write and tell you how VERY VERY proud I am of you.

In the last two weeks you have become such a big boy.  You have always been my "shy guy" and you have always been home with me.  I knew that starting preschool, twice a week, would push you.  And in many ways I thought about waiting.  Did you really need two years...but thinking about your personality and your tendency to stay close to me in new situations...I knew in my heart that it would be good for you to fly a bit away from the nest for just a couple hours each week.  I also knew that with Charley at school all day - this would give you a little special fun of your own. 

Your first day started rough.  You did not want to go.  You did not want to get dressed, but daddy was home and helped you get this done.  An old Star Wars shirt of Charley's that I dug out helped make this a little bit better.  (And those of you who know me well, know that this killed me...it wasn't the cute first day of preschool outfit that I had laid out.)  You did not want to pose for any pictures and I am so proud of myself for not pushing this.  It made me so sad but I knew I had to let this go.

You did get yourself in the car and you let me buckle you in.  Charley went to the neighbors that morning.  So it was just daddy, mama, Sydney and YOU!  You didn't cry on the way to school.  You jumped out of the van just fine.  But you refused to carry your backpack or flowers for your teacher.  I needed to turn in some paperwork in the office so I coaxed you to take your backpack and the flowers for a moment so I could drop the papers off.  Hehehe!  Tricky mama was able to snap a few pictures of you at this very lucky moment. 

We stood and waited with you and you were calm and quiet.

A friend offered to take a picture of us.

When it was time for you to go with your teacher you didn't want to go.  The principal stepped in and picked you up and off you went-- a very unhappy boy.  We were all very sad.  I was also very mad.  I wanted your teacher or your teacher helper to take you, I had spoken with them, we had a plan....not this stranger lady. 

But upon entering your classroom you calmed down.  And you were good. 

When I picked you up you were all smiles.  You took the flowers and M&Ms from me and brought them right over to your teacher.  Without hesitation.

We went out for lunch with your little friend S.  And the two of you were so excited and energized by your first day of school. It was really funny. 

Some of the things you shared:

*You made a new friend and you called her "Dell" but her name was really Belle.  You knew her locker was near yours.  Her mom had dark black hair.  And she had a penguin backpack.  S knew she was a new friend too.

*You talked about Dell a lot all weekend.

*You said you played Duck Duck Goose and you had chocolate bear crackers for a snack.

*You liked your teacher.  You went to the gym.  You told me I could stay away longer so you could stay longer like Charley.  You were excited to show me what was in your backpack. 

*And you said, "I don't want that lady to ever pick my up and carry me ever again."  And it was at that moment I once again was reminded to let life happen because it was probably a gift that a stranger took you away in that horrible moment and not your teacher who you now love.  You still talk about that lady who carried you away crying and how you didn't like that.  And so a blessing it ended up being.  Kind of like when you go for shots at the doctor and they have the nurses do it so that you  doesn't relate the shots to the actual doctor. 

Since your first day you have had two more days of preschool.  You have gone with a smile.  You even hopped out of the car in the drop off car lane instead of being walked in.  You have enjoyed each day and I just am so happy. 

You are such a big boy and you have done what all others said you would do.  You have done great and have surprised your mama and daddy. And you are not Charley.  You are Henry and I love the little guy you have become.  I can't wait to see where you fly next.

Love you, my preschool dude!

Love,
Your mama!

Embrace it.

Pottery Barn Lamp Shade - picture taken from website

I love living in the midwest for the fact that the seasons change.
Just as the boys start to lose interest in riding bikes, playing in the sandbox, and running through the sprinkler, the cool winds blow in and BAM! Fall is here. 

The leaves, the crisp air, the ability to play without feeling sweaty...revitalize the outdoor play.  The anticipation of playing in the snow.  The excitement of their first mug of hot cocoa.  All of this arrives at just the right time. 

And Fall has hit us early and hard with many days of cool temperatures.  I still know that we will probably have another day or week of warmer temps.  But for now the boys are needing their fleece jackets, socks with the running shoes, and jeans.

Many people complain about the end of summer.
But me - I embrace it.
I love the cozy morning latte - that warms.
I love jeans and a sweater.
I love when the sun dips lower and dusk arrives earlier.
Bringing the boys in from outside to a warm house that smells like a home cooked meal.  When it is cooler I am much more motivated to cook and bake.
Their bodies tire earlier.  It is more natural to snuggle in to bed a wee bit earlier.
Lamps are flicked on.  A glass of wine is poured.  A candle is lit.
And the pressure is off to go out and push our bodys a wee bit harder since it is so beautiful out.  Instead, we can curl up and read together, play a board game, and enjoy each other.

Don't get me wrong - it takes a while to adjust to the less running around and the more cozy-ing in.  But I find that my mood is calmer and that transfers to them.

So as fall arrives - slowly or abruptly- in your neck of the woods...I challenge you to embrace it.  Find the glory in the shorter days. 

What is your favorite thing about Fall...so far?

Here are a few of mine...

Feeding:  The brothers have each taken a stab at getting some num nums in Miss Sydney's mouth. 

Fall Football weekends:  Charley is learning slowly.  I do think football is harder for these little guys to know where to stand and what to do each play.  But it is darn cute.  And he is having fun.

Blocking...

One weekend it was HOT.  The next it was COLD. 

Either way...there are fans cheering and watching Mr. Charley playing.

His football buddy T.

And in all my spare time I have been enjoying some Simply Apple Cider warmed with a little whipped topping.  And the book that I am enjoying is this one. 

today we stay.

Today I am keeping my feet on the ground, my soul is feeling relaxed, my patience is miracuously present, and I am in charge.

We are supposed to be heading off to our morning class but my nose is runny and I look like hell.  So many say that the frost that recently took place helped their allergies.  Mine are WORSE or maybe it is a cold.  So we are staying put.  My goal is to not use the car today.  We will conquer laundry, bake, get something in the crock pot, enjoy a little Bert and Ernie, and look up how to sew patches on a tiger cub shirt.  I get to decide if it is better for us to go or stay.  And today we stay put.

Charley joined scouts and he is one enthusiastic scout at this point.  There are 7 little men in his den.  Ed grins and said he signed up to run the rocket day thingy. HA!  Love all of this.  Mainly, because I can just enjoy it from the sidelines...except for the patch sewing.  Yesterday in the car, Charley informed me that I would have to sew patches on his shirt.  I said, "Oh buddy, guess what, they make these nifty iron on things.  Mama can handle that."  But he has showed concern about the iron on things not staying put.  So I am determined to learn to sew a patch.  My mom comes in a week for a good many days.  So maybe she can show me her ways.  Otherwise, my MIL is always there too :)  He is supposed to go shopping for his shirt tonight...with dad.  But he was all crazy after the meeting last night and didn't fall asleep until 10.  So we'll see if he gets to shop tonight.

Homemade baby food has another plus.  When baby starts being able to handle thicker consistencies...you just don't have to add water to it, just thaw the cube and there you have it.  LOVE IT!  Sydney is picking up puffs and loving food these days.

She is also getting up on her knees and rockin'.  Soon she will be a crawlin'.  I am nervous about this change in our household.  Crumbs.  Legos.  Life is about to change.

I am working on a wall of frames/pictures.  Kinda excited about this.

At the moment Henry is busy with cars and Sydney with puffs....and I with the latte making shenanigans. 

I do finally feel more routine this week.  Henry got off to school without a hitch yesterday.  So proud of him.  There are no knew things this week.  Family dinner is in the works tonight.  The evenings are growing darker earlier and I actually embrace this.  It means hunkering down, cozing up, and letting our bodies relax a wee bit more.  I feel like I know what to expect this week and it makes me happy.

My mom is coming for a week.  And she and I have not even chatted about this.  But I am SO looking forward to it.  I love when she comes for long stays and just gets in our groove with us.  A run to target or sitting in the carpool lane is that much more enjoyable with a sidekick.  And with Charley at school and Henry at school she can have moments with Sydney, lunch with Charley, and maybe a special outing with Hank. 

Gearing up for a burst of blogging that is going to be out of control.  We'll see when and if it happens.  But I have so much to share and am feeling it.  So stay tuned.  I just need a moment or 60. 

And thank you all for the kind words and thoughts regarding my grandpa.  It continues to weigh heavy on my heart.

Today I am sad.

Today I breathe with a little more effort.

I lost my Grandpa Schnooksie.

A kind, generous, and gentle man who had a special place in his heart for me - and I for him.

He gifted me many many years of loving fun.

Fishing on the shore of Random Lake with his amazing creation..the bucket that did everything from holding our catch, his tackle, and allowed him a place to sit and bait worm after worm on his grandchildren's poles.

 I remember visiting him and hearing the noon whistle ring.  And up he peddled to have lunch with his schnooksie.  He made me tapes of his favorite singers, Box Car Willie and others.  Playing Kings Corners for hours and hours. And the most precious gift was that he taught Charley how to play.  He danced with me at my wedding.  He has met my three children.  He shared stories with Ed each time we visited - the favorite being how he wired his barn with his own two hands and his farmer education.   He called on the telephone and we tried to visit whenever life brought us to his neck of the woods - never often enough.

I have been so blessed to have had him in my life for 35 years. 

The funny thing about having children - they are a HUGE distraction.

This morning I HAD to get Henry off to his second day of school.

I HAD to get Charley off to school.

I HAD to get Sydney up and going for the day.

And all those distractions are good - but on days like today there are also moments when you just need quiet and alone.  But the distractions are good too. 

I talked to my Grandpa the other day.  And the nurse said he heard me because he wrinkled his forehead and lifted his eyebrows.  And in the last days I felt my Grandma's presence.  My pancakes turned out perfectly on Sunday morning.  Typically, they are overcooked as I get going. 

I know my Grandpa timed it just perfectly.  It has been many years that he has lived without his best friend's cooking and baking - especially her famous pancakes.  I think he made it to her kitchen table just in time for the first pancake to hit his plate.  And once again they can make their bed together each morning, play cards, and indulge in some strawberry jello pie and soda water.

Today I am sad.

 

Chicago - part 2

There are many people in my life that I wish lived closer.  And Ed's brother and family are some of them.  I know that we would do sleepover nights so that we could have a night out without kids.  I know we would utilize babysitters and double date.  I know we would get together and make pizza on a Friday night and let the kids play.  I know we would have an ongoing Canasta tournament...involving bloody mary's, white wine, and Dairy Queen.  But right now, they live far away.  And already our long Labor Day weekend seems like a blur. 

But moments like the one above make me really wish we had cousins that lived close by. 

 Miss Morgan has been known to not like her picture taken.  But this weekend she smiled big and cheesy for almost every single picture I took of her.  I LOVED it.  Maybe she is just starting to "get" her Aunt Sarah.  When the camera is out...it is best to just smile and get it over with.

 Miss Sydney's first big girl swing at the park.

When I go visit someone for a weekend I always come home inspired (sometimes it is to organize, decorate, clean, move furniture, change my ways).  This time I was reminded how fun it is to meal plan and try new recipes.  Aunt Becca takes the time out of her busy working mama role and bakes homemade graham crackers and many other yummy meals and treats.  We were very well fed and I am still needing a few of the recipes she made for us.  This week I have three recipes to try.  Woo hoo!