M+B=E2O2

Collections

 

Way back in the day (last week), we went to the beach in search of rocks for a project. (Which has not come to completion yet, thanks flu).  The kids love to collect things.  I haven't' quite figured out what to do with all of them yet.

We have

                                         our stick collection

                            our pine cone collection

                                our rock collection

                              more rocks in our collection

and shells, rocks and sticks recently collected at the beach.

As long as they don't want to collect spiders, I think I will be ok.

The First One Down

Evan with his "sock friend' on his ear.  I used to have (probably still do, just have no idea where) a lovely rice filled "pillow" that I used all the time when I was pregnant.  I draped it across my lower back as I slept.  I thought Evan would maybe feel a little bit better if he could apply warmth to his ear (nasty ear infection) but couldn't find my beloved rice pack so I improvised.  We have more lonely socks than we do pairs so I filled one up with rice and tied it in a knot.  As an afterthought I drew a face on it.  Evan loved it.  It didn't necessarily make his ear feel any better, but he loved having a warm friend. Antibiotics have done wonders and he is feeling sooooo much better.  Now we have to get the rest of the crowd feeling better.

This is his crystal that he made.  We have a green (or will it be blue?) one now.

BeastyCar Clean Garage

I had to move Ben's beast of a car out of the garage today.  The spinner in our washer decided to stop spinning which makes getting laundry done a little tough.  We've talked about a new set  for a while, but honestly, there are so many other things I'd rather buy than a washer and dryer (the timer on the dryer stopped timing quite a while ago).

Not that I haven't wanted  something new and pretty and front loady and all.But dang I would much rather win them on The Price is Right or something. However I've never been on any game show, so I had to move Ben's car today in order to unhook the old and broken so that the new front loady ones can fit  Friday morning.  I am proud to say that I- all by my very self- unhooked and moved both washer and dryer without anything exploding or shooting water everywhere or anything.  Yep, just me. 

I then proceeded to clean out and organize most of the garage- even the very overwhelming crazy corner that I bypassed a couple years ago when I last cleaned the garage (and even won 3rd place in a online organization contest!) I still have a small section to go- mostly kids stuff and art stuff.  I took before and after pictures of course.  The before is a bit embarrassing- the garage really gets the brunt of miscellaneous clutter.  The after feels great though.   Plus I got to drive Ben's car (a whole 15 feet or so).  Boy I tell ya, nothing like a beasty muscle car to make you feel like The Most Powerful Being ever.  

So here again I will put it out there for all to see.  The mess & clutter of before and the we-still-have-too-much-crap-but-it-is-all-in-its-own-place after photos along with some shots of the car. I did load the back of my beast (suburban) with a bunch of stuff to give away. I'm sure once I go through the kids stuff and art stuff out there I will have a bit more. 

Before

After!  I have no idea why there is no wall in that back corner- we sloved that poblem in the past by putting a washer and dryer there.  That is the current plan as well.  All that wide open space will have a beasty car in it soon, but boy is it nice to dance through now!

This is the corner I avoided back in'07.  I hate this corner.  I have wanted it to be an extra pantry type space since we moved in- but it somehow never got there.  Mostly it became a place to put everything.

Yay! look at it now!  Next in our plan is to rip out the white cabinet and the shelf and get proper pantry type cabinets.  I can not wait!!! Though I do love this and feel really good about it.  

And now some beautiful beasty car pictures.  The car first belonged to Ben's grandfather, then was passed down.  We feel so fortunate to have it now! We want to keep it as stock as possible.

    We've kept all of the bits of charm left behind by Grandpa Antonio

 

Merry Christmas (Yes I know it is February)

I never got around to posting about our homemade Christmas gifts.  I made jams- and to date still owe a few folks some- I'll get on that!  Our other main gift to family this year was reusable grocery bags.

I ordered plain canvas bags from Dharma Trading Co.  and then the kids (mostly Emma) and I used sharpies and rubbing alcohol to "tie dye" them with designs.  They turned out fabulous and were a hit.  I had a great time making them.  The boys and Olivia did one or two each, Emma on the other hand helped me with the rest.  We made over 40 I think.  Enjoy the pictures!

Here is Kathleen with her bag (by Emma).  It is a Christmas wreath.

My cousins Noel (my design) and my cousin Cathy (the back of each bag was autographed by all, Olivia's is the scratch beneath Emma's name)

My cousin Leslie, bag design by Emma I think.  

  My Aunt Loretta (bag by me)

Aunt Gert with another of my designs

 My cousin TJ - He thought his bag made a better hat.

And what would family Christmas gift giving be with out a 6 foot pink rabbit? (all we really needed to complete it is a Leg Lamp! LOL!!)

Emma loved it- Owen was not so sure! 

The Cow Story deserves a post all it's own... I have quite a few cow pictures to share.

I'll have to get pictures from my father in law to share some of the other bags given to Ben''s side of the family, I don't seem to have any- I think I left my camera at home or something....

ignore this post

sorry just testing something and trying to figure something out.....

the real post from today is the previous post ("It's New")

It's New

Gammy got Emma & Olivia these little hula outfits while they were in Hawaii.  The girls were so excited!  They love the annual labor day luau at the yacht club and are now so excited to have their own "hul-au" costumes.

Olivia and Emma dancing the night away at Gammy & Gampys.

Getting ready to move our boat to the new slip at the yacht  club.

Garrett is so excited.

Here we are in our new slip!

I'm looking forward to more rain this week- I actually like the rain and the cold.  The kids are a little tired of it, though not completely.  We joined the local Y last week so that has been a great option for something to do.  Evan is not as thrilled with it because he is not allowed in the "big kid" area- for two more months.  He pitched a huge fit today over it.  We ended up sitting in the car for 5 minutes while the other kids were happily playing inside.  He got over himself though and I got to work out and he got to play.  I'm planning on taking them swimming tomorrow- after my workout. 

homecoming

After 30 days Gammy & Gampy finally came home.  The kids missed them terribly! 
(Dawn, I didn't use Picnik for this collage, I realized I could use Picasa and do this-very cool way to get lots of pictures in one space. )

In a homecoming of another sort, Buka came home today after having his, um, family jewels put in the bank permanently.  Poor guy.  Though it appears that he is just as spunky as ever- no post anesthesia sluggishness from him!

Here's Buka with his intertube.  It's a little bit easier to maneuver than the party hat that the vet usually gives!

A few of my favorite things

Olivia's toes...

My boys happily looking at a book together....

Quiet study....

Emma building with her favorite blocks.... (it is a boat in the making)

The little pink bike....

Look at this trick Mom!

So Evan learned to ride with out training wheels last week.  He'd been on the brink for a while, but not quite  there and there was only so much running beside him I would do on any given day.  For Christmas Olivia got a balance bike-  Evan rode that thing all over the house for 2 weeks straight.  He was flying on it really.  Last week we finally got around to going out front and playing.  Evan was eager to try out his own bike.  I helped him start out, and was prepared to jog along side when he just took off.  He did it no problem at all!  I think he was as surprised as me.  I know he would have eventually done it- but I honestly think that those two weeks flying around on Olivia's little pink bike with no pedals- made a huge difference for him.  I'm willing to bet that Olivia will soon need a new bike again.  Right now she hasn't really wanted to use the pink one- she wants the blue one because it has pedals like everyone else.  That will change though, we'll just keep it near by and ready to use in the house. 

Less than a week after learning to ride, he is now standing up and coasting.  I suspect he will be pedaling and standing next week!  Emma has not shown too much interest in her bike.  She still has training wheels and does not like that the bike wobbles.  That's ok, she'll get there eventually.  I'd love to make a balance bike for her, hmmm maybe a trip to one of the local thrift stores is in order.....

Here's a couple pictures from this weekend....

  Learning about note value etc at our monthly Suzuki piano lesson

This note is on a line!

This one is in a space! :-)

This is our new chalkboard that my parents made for the kids (thanks Mom & Dad!!)  It serves a duel purpose.  One is to write on (despite what Emma and I wrote on it!) the other is to help keep our dogs from snargulling (technical term) with the dogs who live behind us.  They were on the verge of eating through the fence just next to this space.  Dad put up some new fencing there (see next pic). 

Evan doing his new trick.   (Notice Creepy Weird Guy's lovely car front in the background...)

Ok the point of the picture is not to have you wonder how Evan can see with his helmet like that, but to point out how the mini blinds are permanently  stuck open at CWG's house.  They have been like that for all but an hour or so since we moved into this house (nearly 3 years ago).  This is one of several reasons he is Creepy.  One of the Weird  things (there are MANY, I will spare you) is that those are two of their 4 cars, they have had two other ones  as well, not sure where they disappeared to.  I know it is not weird to have 4  (or 6 cars) what is odd is that he does not drive them.  Almost never.  His wife drives one.  Every day to work (or something).  He is home All. The. Time.  ALL THE TIME. Why, if you are home  ALL THE TIME do you need 4 cars? Why? Weird. 

 This is the lovely MINT green house next door.  I am seriously considering making some chocolate chip cutouts and taping them to the house.  The car in the driveway is the previous owners.  They left a month ago- it is bank owned now- but apparently they still have the rights to wash their cars  at the house as well as BBQ in the back yard.  Nice. 

Sneaking in quietly...

Ok so 2 months is by far the longest I've gone without blogging.  Darn that matrix called Facebook!  Well, today's post will not be much, I am going to baby step my way back in! LOL!  I came home yesterday and on the counter was my camera.  A DSLR that I have been pining for, well, for as long as I can remember.Ben has got to be the best husband and friend in the world!!!

Today was our homeschool group park day so I had a great chance to play with it.  Though I have to admit I spent the majority of the afternoon knitting and chatting with my mom friends! 

I am going to try to get back on my blogging horse and share my life with those who might be interested in reading about it!  Here are a few pics for now. 

The boys getting ready for battle.

Olivia waiting to swing

More plotting in the trees.  Many battles are fought at the park- good always wins out!! LOL!

The girls with their Fancy (like Nancy) treasure boxes.

Evan looking sad.  Mostly he said he was just hungry (his new theme- must be growing)

My pretty diva.