The time has come..

We have finally purchased a new computer.  Sorry kids, there goes another semester of college.  But thanks to Uncle Sam's tax return and my financial planner hero (brother), mama and papa could get the ever so lovely imac.  We currently are working on a laptop that has 21 missing keys, a power cord being held in by a candle and a memory with 2% left.  Yes, the time has finally come.  I will be posting pictures next week.

Loving this!

March Anthropologie catalogue (CLICK).  I would love to be walking in the jungle looking so cute!

Blue eyes

I love her eyes!

I just love her!

Healers

Turi-thank you thank you for healing me!I woke up this morning with a UTI and she sent me to the health food store with a prescription for cranberry tablets, uva ursi and pau d'arco.  Amazing, I have had so many urinary tract infections in my life and never have I seen or felt faster results. 

Cindy-Thank you for the sweet tulips and always being there to listen and remind me of the power of prayer!  The following made me think of you.

"Understand this:  everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger."
James 1:19
"The Lord, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abunding in lovingkindness and truth"
Exodus 34:6


I am not usually quoting the bible, so don't be afraid.

Linda-Thank you for supporting every decision I make in teaching and making me laugh everyday I come to work!

Thank you N, for telling me and reminding me that "we need eachother" and healing my heart.

Thank you Charlie and Mary Kate thank you for wanting to make a restaurant in our house.  It was priceless to make a menu and set up a table with candles and have you call me Sir.  Welcome to the Chinese Pirate Restaurant!

Life really is good!

Thank you brilliant crafters

Thanks to Pink and Green Mama and the Crafty Crow for this awesome crayon Valentine idea!

the kids had a ball hammering crayons!

As a mother...

I have made mistakes. 

Now that I completed the saga of vampires, I have had some time to pick up a few old parenting  books.  Parenting books are written either about positive things people have tried and negative things people have tried.  But there is always something out there that is going to make you feel like crap about what you have or haven't done.  Or the other way around, make you feel like you may have done actually one thing right.  So, I never know what I am going to get when I pick up a parenting book. 

I picked up good old Dr. Brazleton's Touchpoints.  I was just flipping through and got to a part about spacing children and planning a family. hahaha. I laugh because he says to keep in mind your own engergies and tolerances (both of which I did not have much).  Looking back, my little charlie was forced to become independent and grow up really fast.  I turned my back on him and felt angry toward him because I didn't have the energy to nurture Mary Kate.  I was not able to enjoy this rich period of learning and exploring for charlie, instead when he tested me, I got angry and frustrated.  Which then became part of his personality. 

I have spent the past year trying to undo and model tolerance for my little man.  Recently, N and I have agreed to keep him on a strict diet of no preservative, artificial colors or flavors.  I don't know if it is postive cooperative energy from N and I, the affects of healthy food and limited snacks and treats, or an overall focus on Charlie's well being... but he has turned a corner.  He has less outbursts of frustration, he sleeps through the night and is overall more calm.  He is a cool and smart little guy that I love more than anything!

As far as having my children close together, it is what it is.  At this point, they have become playmates and enemies at times, but I have more energy and tolerance to deal with them both.  I only hope that no permanent damage was done.

Tundra

We stopped measuring inches after 35 and round 2 of the 2010 blizzard.  Before going to sleep, Charlie asked, "Are we going to have a hundred of snow tomorrow?".  Despite the mounds of snow and frigid temperatures, we have enjoyed this time together as a family.  Our days have consisted of...

shoveling and neighbors to the rescue

sewing a peter pan costume and baby doll carrier

sledding and playing in short intervals (sooo cold)

parties in the barn with neighbors

baking carrot cake

naps with patey

building castles with charlie

and my own personal joy, finishing the Twilight Saga.  One of the best series of books I have ever read.  I got so wrapped up in this supernatural world. 

The feel around here is just cozy!  It is beautiful outside and I have a feeling this white stuff is going to be around for awhile!

PS- I have been experimenting with photo editing.  Love this pic of charlie, he looks like a little man.