hockey and hats and songs

Well, I just went through and organized my pictures and downloaded everything that was in my camera. I normally sort through my pictures about once a week, put them in folders, etc. But, I have not done any picture organization since November. November! Can you say a little behind?

Well, I am caught up now. Which means I can hopefully get back into a regular blogging groove. Yay! Here are a few pictures to catch up on some things we have been doing lately.

Anabel is loving her new kitties. Here she is reading one of them a story.Too sweet.

We took the kids to see their first hockey game. A good friend of Don's was in town playing, so we went.
Enrique was totally captivated like this. Until the game started. Then he was done.

E has been stealing my camera alot lately. There were over 100 pictures on there that he took! Everything is fascinating to him. Here is one that I really liked...

A little art making..
But I am so out of the habit of capturing our days with the thought of sharing stuff here that I never took a picture of the finished product. Bummer. It was a fun painting for Don's mom that both Don and the kids did using some pictures I took.

Me thinks we need to be making more art around here, don't you?

We have been loving getting to play outside after way too many days cooped up with colds and freezing temperatures.
See that cute sweater she is wearing, my sis made it for her and I love it!


This is what pirates would look like if they could sail their ships into Colorado...
Gotta keep that head warm, which the pirate hat alone doesn't really do.

I never did show and tell of all the goodies we made for everyone for Christmas. So, here is one picture I managed to take of a couple of hats I made for the kiddos. E's is too big, I need to fix it, but I think they are pretty dang cute!


And lastly, a song for you from my goofballs...

A song for you from Lisa Delzer on Vimeo.

a retirement and a birth

I have an announcement to make! I am retiring this blog.. Gasp! I know, crazy huh? Well that is because I am starting a new one! I have been mulling this over in my mind for awhile now and have been working hard getting the new one all set up.

I love, love, love blogging! But, I was feeling like I needed a new angle, something a little more personal, with more of what is going on with ME and with more sharing of what is happening with us fulfilling some of our dreams.

The new blog is called What Feeds My Soul and will still have lots of what you find here- art projects, nature walks and our day to day happenings. But, I am also going to be sharing alot more about what I am working on personally and some of the dreams we have as a family.

So, go check it out (and I hope you like it!)...

Also, I transferred over all the old entries from this blog, so if you are looking for something, you should be able to find it over there.

the week in review

Why, yes, it has been a week since I have updated my blog! And what, you ask, have we been doing that has kept me away?

Oh, you know, a little of this, a little of that...

Making stuff with our weekly art group.


We did a similar project last year to give us some color in the winter months. This time I wanted a little something something to spice up my naked summer windows..


This is from over a week ago, but Enrique did some hangin out with one of his little buddies that involved cutting up paper into LOTS of little pieces that I only this morning got totally cleaned up!


Working in the garden.


Uh, yeah, this is a work out in case you were wondering..


Going for a bike ride with our friends.


Building a teepee in the yard with Daddy.




Making this awesome rainbow cake for a certain special daddy who turned 38 on Saturday.


Wearing our aprons while getting some housework done.


Making handprint t-shirts for Daddy's Birthday/Father's Day.


Eating the awesome rainbow cake for breakfast!


Celebrating the start of summer in a yellow sunshine dress.


And, we finally finished the new home for our little bunny!


Whew! It's been quite a week and here we are at the start of new one. One that is not quite so busy and is kicking off with a clean house. That truly amazes me (and makes me happy).

our favorite garden gnome

I have the coolest neighbor. Seriously. She is the nicest lady.. loves my kids, and I find myself chit-chatting with here almost daily.

Don and I call her our garden gnome. Often we look our the window and see sights like this...

Miss Diane in all her loveliness tending to her garden. On this rainy day last week, she was out there working all day and I couldn't help taking some pictures of her and wandering over for a visit.


I love that I trust the people who live around me. I know I can count on them and they will be there if we need them.


Both of my children love Diane. Enrique is always watching for her and asking to go over to her house to play. Anabel waves to her when she leaves for work in the morning.


I never knew that a neighbor could make me smile on a daily basis.

feeling quiet

Guess I have a little of the introvert thing going on right now, I just don't feel like sharing much.. We have been sick around here for weeks, and it is tiring. We are not super crazy stay in bed all day sick, but we have all had this cough that will not go away! So, we have been staying at home alot, doing some spring cleaning. Wow! We have a lot of junk to get rid of! I think a garage sale is in order.. stat!

I did redo our Chubbas 'n Boop website, it is so much prettier! Go check it out!

I FINALLY got my craft room cleaned up, a true miracle, I tell you! This has been at the top of my put off until later list for months, but it is done! Now, seriously if you all are not seeing some good things coming out of there soon, someone should come and arrest me.

We do seem to be keeping ourselves busy lately and I have been doing alot of internal work, thinking, contemplating about alot of things. I'm not really ready to put these thoughts into words, but I feel like change is coming soon...

today I am grateful

It is my birthday today! We woke up to a crazy snow storm, which is NOT suppose to happen on April 17th EVER. But, some blue sky is peeking through the clouds, which is making me happy. Don is out at the store buying me some ice cream, little girl is sound asleep on my lap. Life is quiet and peaceful.

Today I am grateful for:

- My amazing husband who is funny and entertaining and loving and sexy and kind.

- My son who is smart and clever and such goof, he makes me laugh every day.

- My daughter who loves giving hugs and just discovered the joy of dancing.

- The whole rest of my family who love me no matter what.

- Getting to have this time, right now, where we are all home together.

- Living in a cozy house that is quirky and fun and so totally "us."

- Nice neighbors who surprise me with fun gifts that make me smile from ear to ear.

- Friends who are really starting to feel like friends and not just acquaintances.

- Ice cream, which was just been placed in my hand.. mmmmm!

I am glad to get to share with all of you out there our life. Thanks for reading this blog and letting me show off the things that make me happy. Have a great weekend!

ahhh, breathe..

I spent the morning at the Dr. with my daughter, who has 2, yes TWO ear infections! And maybe the beginnings of a bladder infection, oh my!! No wonder she has had a fever that will not be defeated! It is such a fine balance isn't it between just turning over the care of our little ones to the medical world and all that encompasses (don't get me started) and trusting my mommy instincts, which means knowing when to turn it over to the medical world.

Today, I am so happy and grateful for having a doctor I trust and that trusts ME to know what to do to help my daughter. A nice partnership. And I feel like we are now on the road to recovery.. ahhh, breathe!!

It has been a rough week, taking care of a miserable little baby girl. And now I am hoping to see her bright shining happy face here soon. We got a little glimpse earlier. She and big bro were playing, laughing and dancing! Ahhh, breathe!

Now I think I am going to go tuck away in the tub and have a little quiet time to take care of me...and to breathe...

bonkers

Wow, have I been busy!! I don't feel overwhelmed too often, but right now I do... I am just behind on things, working alot, blah blah blah...

So, not much time to sit and write too much, but thought you all might enjoy a few cute pics, so here you go...

Playing with Daddy..
Our silly neighborhood friends...

Enjoying the sunshine...

Pigtails, yes, the cutest thing EVER!

And our cute little Hop-a-long, playing with the toys...

Things should be settling down around here over the next week or so. You'll know they have when you start hearing more from me again. :)

Woo Hoo!!

I just got news that the CPSIA law has been suspended for a year for them to take more time and figure out a way for people like us to continue to make handmade things for kiddos without spending a fortune getting them tested and certified.. This is REALLY good news and something we have been keeping our eye on as Don and I get ready to launch our little toy making business.

To read more about this update, go visit one of the very best places to buy handmade treasures... Etsy!

I am so happy!

a new start

We have a lot going on around our household...lots of new projects, new possibilities, new dreams. I truly feel that this year is a new beginning for us. For awhile now, we have just been surviving, working on things just to pay the bills, wishing for more, you know how that goes....

Well, we are at the start of a new way to live and "be"...

Don is making stuff and is really happy and he is REALLY GOOD! I am plotting and planning on how to grow his little enterprise and support his wishes and hopes. Soon I'll be sharing about all that, but today is about sharing what I've been up to.

For a few months now, I've been staying up late, being a busy bee here at my computer, starting my own little business...

What matters most to me is getting to stay home with my kiddos. We plan on homeschooling and really want to travel and give our children an adventurous life. I've been hunting around for awhile for a way for me and Don to both be able to stay home, but we still need to pay the bills, ya know?

Sometime last year I said to myself, wouldn't it be great to just be able to dink around on the computer doing what I like to do and make money doing it? Well, I have found a way...

It is going to take some work and some time and patience, but I have found the perfect thing for me to do...write and create websites on topics that I love!!! And the opportunity of making a much better income than what we are used to is a reality. AND, this will allow us to live wherever we want to, travel, Don can go crazy with his woodworking, etc...

So, finally, I have written enough info on my first website to be able to share it with you.

Cloth Diapers Made Easy

This is one of my most favorite topics that I can go on and on about!! I so love all things about cloth diapers (well except washing them!) and I love helping people get started using cloth. I love writing and babbling on about stuff and I can spend hours goofing around on the computer doing layouts, choosing fonts, etc.

See....it's perfect for me! I feel really blessed to have found something for me to do and be passionate about AND that will eventually be able to support our creative little family.

I have so many plans for what I want to do with this site, including tutorials for sewing your own diapers, reviews, sales announcements, etc.

So, go have a look and let me know what you think!!

whew!

I feel like the fast train has finally stopped. We have been so busy since before Christmas.. We were making presents, celebrating, making more presents for E's birthday, celebrating, being sick, then enjoying lots of family time while my sister was in town. It has been really fun, but now I feel pooped!

And behind.. seems like my to do list just keeps growing and growing and growing. And I just want to sit here and do nothing! That is how it goes, I think, when you put too much on your plate. You can only go a million miles per hour for so long and then you just have to stop. So I am enjoying a week of quite a bit of doing nothing and a little bit of getting caught up.

In the midst of all our running around.. we got a special new family member. His name is Eagle Earth (named so by Chubbas).
Did you know that trying to take a good picture of a rabbit is REALLY hard? They like to move around alot!

The kids totally love him! He is really sweet and likes to cuddle. And doesn't seem to mind being chased around the house too much.

A bunny! Who would have ever thought I would get a pet bunny! I love him.

today is a good day!

Happy New Year!!

2008, I think, was a really great year for us. Both Don and I got reconnected with our creativity and our passion for art and making things. I feel like we are truly creative beings.. NOW, not someday... and Chubbas announces all the time that he is an artist!! This make Mommy and Daddy so happy!

We also moved into this house at the early part of the year and doing so has helped get us out in nature way more than I ever have in my life. Our children get to see beautiful animals right out our windows, we get to stroll through the woods, splash in the stream and breath fresh air. Though we live in the foothills, E proudly says that he lives in the Colorado mountains!

I lost 38 pounds this year!! That is really awesome!! I just went and looked it up and am surprised it was that much, I thought it was a little less. I feel great and so much better about myself. 38 pounds!! Crazy!

Our children seem to be doing really well! They are happy and healthy and oh so loved!



I am really looking forward to this year. So much exciting stuff going on, dreams to realize, life to live. Can't wait to share it with all of you....

things making me happy

1. Finally! Blogger let me download all my pictures... yay!

2. It is FREEZING (literally. it was 1 degree today), which doesn't totally make me happy, but I am happy that we are all snuggled in, warm and safe.

3. A visit from this old man...
Who was so obviously old, slow moving and graceful. He was beautiful.

4. Making snowflakes...

5. My son ate brussel sprouts, which if you know this kid these days, is truly a miracle!
6. A visit from Grandma...
(who cooperated so nicely with all the bops in the nose.)

7. Picnic dinners under the Christmas tree...


Hope you are all staying warm!!!

blogger is a booger!

Sorry for not posting here this past week. Blogger hates me! It won't let me load pictures and I got frustrated and ran away...

I have TONS of pictures and stories and things... so hang in there..... This has happened before and will hopefully work itself out in the next day or so...

the glass is half full

Yesterday, Don came home with news that the economic crisis has finally hit our household! He was laid off! Oooo-vay!!

Really, I should have seen it coming. His hours have been really sucky the past few weeks and when you live really simply (and pay check to pay check) in the first place, not getting 10 hours of overtime pay every week, is noticeable! But, I kept hoping it was just a dry spell...and, well, I hoped wrong!

So, now "we" are without a job! Ido have one wedding client I am working with, so I have a small (tiny) income coming in from that for a few months. And nothing in the hopper so to speak...

So, what are we to do??? Cry? Panic? Totally freak out?

Celebrate?

That is how I feel, like throwing a party. It is totally weird.

Yesterday, I wrote up on my "to-do" board this:

Create Magic!

And then this happens. And, it feels like a good thing. For so many reasons that I cannot even really explain. Like the universe needs this to happen to us right now and something wonderful is going to come of it. Like we were stuck and now we are unstuck, open to having life be a little more magical, fulfilling, and exciting...

I think we have been in a bit of a survival mode and not doing enough creating... Yeah, sure we've been crafting and creating "stuff" but this is different. You know the difference when you are really living and thriving in life, versus going through the motions and just surviving.

Well, time to start thriving again. I feel awake and happy and peaceful. I feel like we are creating magic!

in case you forgot...

what these two cute kiddos look like:


Yup, that's right.. My camera is fixed and back home! YAHOOO!!! And even better is that is was covered under warranty, so I only had to pay for shipping, gotta love that!

Lots more blogging coming your way...

what we've been doing

Yes, still no camera! I'm am seriously missing taking pictures, ugh! What can you do, though, right?

Thought I would pop on here and let you all know what we've been up to...

We had 2 birthday parties for A in the past few weeks, one with Don's family and one with mine. I finished her little baby doll and it is oh so cute! I promise to post pictures just as soon as my camera comes home.

We've been making lots of art and had a fun art playgroup last week with lots of kiddos. We soaked some chalk in sugar water and drew on different colored paper. The sugar water makes the chalk really bright and it sticks nicely to the paper. Really pretty pictures were made by everyone!

We flipped all of our rooms around in our house. The playroom was off of our bedroom, so that meant whenever we had company, everyone congregated in our bedroom while the kids played. So we decided to switch the bedroom and the living room. Makes so much more sense this way, especially because the playroom is the sun room, which I imagine is going to get pretty cold this winter. We also flipped E's room with the craft room. This way he is right off of our bedroom and we put a bed in there forBoop. She is still sleeping with us, but this way she has a little territory that is just for her.

I'm still trying to put my craft room back together. Didn't I just get it all organized?? I'm a little sad about the change, less space and the old room (now the kids' bedroom) is so much more sunny. But, E LOVES his new room, calls it his house, and plays in there all the time. The change was a really good idea.

I've been sewing and knitting like crazy, starting in on Christmas presents. Lots of fun stuff being made. Don is working on a rocking horse for A and it is really cute! He is also going to make a castle for E.

We are getting ready for Halloween. Chubbas is so cute, totally excited and talking about it all the time. This is his first year of really "getting" it. He says he wants to be a cowboy, which is not really a big deal, an almost everyday occurrence around here. A few weeks ago he said he wanted to be a magician, so I am making him a cape and top hat. We'll see what he actually ends up wearing. Could be a pirate, who knows. He wants me to be a bat, so I need to come up with something creative for that. Don decided to be a clown and after putting the wig onBoop the other day, we decided she needed to be one also. So CUTE!!! If he wears her on his back, they will be a 2 headed clown, which I think would be hilarious!

What else?? I've been working alot, but that should be slowing down quite a bit (I hope!). Seems like we have just been super crazy busy lately. I'm trying to slow us down a bit, get back into our daily rhythm.

On the homeschool front, in addition to our Friday art group, we are now doing a weekly Science Club with another homeschool family. We are just getting started, but I am sure I will have more to share about that in the future. Interesting experiments and discoveries...

Things that E is asking about/interested in right now: volcanoes, fall, pyramids, and magicians/magic. Cool, fun stuff!!

Ok, I guess that is enough to bring you up to speed. Sorry I haven't been around too much, I think I just like showing off my pictures of the kiddos more than anything else on this blog. And, well, no pictures!! But, I'll pop in and out to let you know what we are doing. Really, I will!

yay!

We got a new camera last night!! Now I just have to spend some time fiddling with it, so I should have some new pictures to share soon. We are going camping for 3 days this weekend, good excuse to take lots and lots of pictures. I have been really missing being able to capture those sweet moments with my goofballs! Really, really missing!

Here are some things we have been up to:

Chubbas:
Ant hunting.
Playing magician, abracadabra!
Drawing tiny pictures.
Building houses and rockets.
Playing the guitar with Daddy.
Singing lots and lots of songs, especially the Beatles.
Making and splashing in mud puddles.
"Reading" his library books (sharks, whales and of course, trains).

Boop:
Trying to stand and thinking that is totally funny.
Working on a new tooth.
Talking and babbling to us lots!
Getting more and more on the move, but not really crawling yet.
Pulling open my desk drawers whenever she she sits here on my lap.
Banging things, doesn't matter what.
Giving sloppy yummy kisses.

Mama:
Knitting. Almost done with the wool soaker I am making for A. It is so cute!
Making lots of homemade food like cream cheese, bread, and fresh butter.
Working lots, I have some new wedding clients and feeling like my business is moving along.
Loosing weight. Slowly, but I have lost 15 pounds since February. I'll take it!
Reading. I am always reading. Recent topics are food (surprise), homeschooling (surprise again), and a great book called Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Napthali.

Papa:
Teaching himself the guitar, playing almost everyday. (so sexy)
Fishing (of course).
Working his butt off in his hot shop so we can do all the above! (thanks babe)
Watching baseball.
Getting us ready for our first camping trip of the summer.
Cooking on the grill as much as possible.

See you next week with PICTURES!!!! Yay!

so bummed

My camera is broken!!!! Ugh. So I won't be posting too much here until I figure out if I am going to get it fixed or tap into our savings and get a new one. Don't know what the deal is with it, but for sure it is not taking pictures. And telling stories is not as much fun without pictures....