quince and clover

south dakota -day 2

2010-07-20T19:51:00.001-07:00

waking up at circle view ranch.
petting the burros: baby burrito, mama and dusty.

catching grasshoppers-they were everywhere!

a little grass snake we came across.

the homesteading cabin.

checking out the outhouse.

inside: 2 beds, a table, sofa, wood burning stove and small kitchen.

view of the ranch from the homesteader.

sweet lucy.

look at that view!

ice cream at wall drug.

out back at wall drug-lots of fun stuff for the kids.the clouds were so fluffy!

more views of the badlands and the road we will take to go see buffalo.

prairie dog town.

our first buffalo!

buffalo crossing.

back to the homesteader.

night is coming.

we sat around the fire making s'mores, singing songs and looking at the stars. they were truly amazing-the kids couldn't believe how many there were!

good night

south dakota-day 1

2010-07-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

let the roadtrip begin!
a stop in mitchell, south dakota for a tour of the corn palace. all of the murals are made from different colored corn cobs and changed annually.

mount rushmore mural.

lucy kept asking if corny if he could talk and laughed each time he said "uhuh".

our first view of the badlands.

excited to be out of the car and running!

awesome views from the window trail.

rock climbers.

henry.

charlie.

lucy and mommy.

the badlands are badass (our quote for the week).

being greeted by hank the ranch dog at b & b circle view ranch. lucy thought he was bootiful!

view from the ranch. the little homesteading cabin that we will stay in on the 2nd night is down by the river.

rainbow after the storm.

fiery sunset. what a beautiful way to end our first day!

4th of july!

2010-07-12T10:47:00.001-07:00

we started out our fourth at the village fest.
out to gigi's lake to celebrate! the diving board was a popular spot.

henry

nicholas

max

jack jumping to kacie.

kacie touching her toes off of the board.

beautiful chloee.

charlie and jack.

friends gavin and addison.

lilly and lucy-no we didn't plan this.

h-man and sparklers.

henry and charlie checking out smoke bombs.

fireworks at the lake!

fun with the cousins!

2010-07-12T10:13:00.001-07:00

henry and chloee on the ferris wheel at world's of fun.
charlie and kacie.

mommy and lucy.

charlie x's 2, jack and lucy with snoopy.

so much fun on the mini detanator.

aunt nanci and kacie.

henry driving a taxi.

lucy driving.

charlie driving grandma and grandpa.

after a long day, headed to stroud's to refuel with some good fried chicken, mashed potatoes and cinnamon rolls!

cousins by the pond at stroud's.

more fun in the sun the next day at the new waterpark-schlitterbahn.

kacie 8, henry 7, jack 4, charlie 5, chloee 12, lucy 3.

the berry patch

2010-07-02T16:52:00.000-07:00

tying on buckets to collect blueberries.
heading to the fields.

beautiful berries!

wow-great picking!

charlie couldn't wait to sample some.

love that each summer we can head to the berry patch in south kansas city, mo.

i could pick blueberries all day! it is so relaxing and i love being out in the sun finding the biggest, juiciest berries i can find. it's kind of addictive.

outdoor education laboratory

2010-06-28T19:56:00.000-07:00

mom and henry-love this one!

off to explore-henry shows us around the camp on friday when families can join the campers for a cookout.

keeping the smoke out of his eyes-charlie finds a new use for goggles.

snakes!

exploring the creek.

one happy camper!

missouri town 1855

2010-06-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

laughing at some animal antics!

the guest house-hotel.

blacksmith shop.

the general store (yes, there was candy back then).

one room school house.

who knew the 1800's were so much fun?! even without airconditioning on a hot summer day the kids ran from one building to the next to learn about life in 1855 missouri.

summer at the zoo

2010-06-27T21:40:00.000-07:00

the cheetahs are henry's favorite!

brothers

feeding the lorikeets.

toady #1

2010-06-27T21:26:00.000-07:00

i think at this point we are on toady #4, but here are pics of the original. they love creating a "habitat" for them with leaves, grass, water and bugs.

spring 2010

2010-06-27T21:07:00.000-07:00

k-state baseball game against ku in lawrence with the eskews.

lucy watching blue's clues with her babies. she brings them all into the living room in strollers and lines them up next to her to watch shows.

charlie graduates from rolling hills pre-school. here he is with his awesome teacher mrs. nash.

check out what he writes for what his dad does: works on toilets.

our crazy puppy annabelle. we think she is part rabbit because she can jump so high. santa brought her for christmas!

the ms walk with our good friend matt.

riding in the st. patrick's day parade on the kansas city zoo float.

a day at home doing puzzles and playing games. sometimes that is the best!

activities spring 2010

2010-06-27T21:01:00.001-07:00

lucy started ballet at beller dance studio.

charlie soccer-it was a very wet spring!

henry soocer.

easter 2010

2010-06-27T20:21:00.000-07:00

easter with the cousins

henry-7

charlie-5

lucy-3

it has been almost a year since i have blogged here about our family and i have missed the record of our sweet time together! when time allows i will try to highlight that year-but for now-let's start with spring 2010!

the 4th

2009-07-13T21:14:00.001-07:00

we started out this year's 4th of july celebration at village fest with neighbors spencer, owen and joe.

then out to lake winnebago (gigi's house) for some swimming, boat rides, good food and fireworks on the water!

grandma nadine-87 and grandpa bill-88

fingerprint art

2009-07-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

henry age 6
charlie age 4
the boys got creative making fingerprint animals and objects inspired by this book.
i really like charlie's alien and henry's baseball.

passport to kansas city

2009-07-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

anita b. gorman discovery center

butterfly garden

foxglove at kauffman gardens

lamb's ear

allium

garden roses

several area historical sites, museums and gardens have an interactive passport to kc . the kids get a passport book and get stamps at each of the places they visit and if we visit 15 spots they will get a prize packet. the anita b. gordman center is one of the centers that participate and the kids were excited to get their first stamp!

summer reads

2009-07-06T19:58:00.000-07:00

every summer we participate in the johnson county reading program. the kids love keeping track of which books they read and getting a book to keep at the end of the summer. their favorites now seem to be anything that makes them giggle, sports books, animal/nature books and space books. here are a few favorites from this summer:

henry builds a cabin, henry hikes to fitchburg and henry climbs a mountain by d.b. johnson.

books inspired by the life of henry david thoreau, i love reading these as much as they enjoy hearing them!

the incredible book eating boy and the great paper caper by oliver jeffers.

there's a zoo in room 22 by judy sierra.

funny poems about classroom pets

joseph had a little overcoat by simms taback.

a story of making something from nothing.

the song of francis by tomie de paola.

giving thanks for life and love.

a giraffe and a half, the giving tree, the missing piece, a light in the attic by shel silverstein.

classic silly stories, poems and sweet stories.

dinosaur bob and his adventures with the family lazardo by william joyce.

the berenstain bears on the moon by stan and jan berenstain.

henry likes to read these short chapter books to lucy and charlie.

my favorites this summer are memoirs.

trail of crumbs by kim sunee.
an amazing life searching for love and home through food and travel.

see you in a hundred years by logan ward.

a couple and their young son literally live life as close to a 1900 american farm as possible. no electricity, no plumbing, car or telephone while they raise and grow all of their food. not only do they survive they come out with new knowledge about their strengths and what is important to them.

expecting adam by martha beck.

another book about an unconventional way of discovering what's important in life and listening to God and angels.

dress your family in corduroy and denim by david sedaris.

a comical look at life and family. makes me realize my own family may not be that crazy after all!

baseball

2009-06-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

baseball has now taken over our life! charlie started t-ball this year and his team is just so cute! the first two games were rained out and practices were chaotic but when it came time for his first game-it was great! the kids ran the bases and all chased after the ball when they were in the outfield. so much fun to watch!

henry started coach pitch at 3 & 2 - he is big time now! he loves it and takes it very seriously. when we are not at a game or other activity you can find him in our backyard playing-throwing the ball on the roof and catching it if mom has had enough ball for the day-just waiting for dad to get home to pitch some more.

after kindergarten was done i took henry and his friend kyle to an afternoon royals game. this week we took all of the kids to a wednesday night game. the royals have a great weeknight deal: 4 tickets for 44.00, which includes lower level seats, unlimited games at the little k and 5.00 each for concessions. they were great-we lasted until the 8th inning!

2009-05-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

we have been busy with soccer games and practices this spring with both of the boys playing. next up t-ball and coach pitch!

2009-03-19T08:20:00.001-07:00

we started a little spring/lent family project to remind us of all we have to be grateful for. this idea inspired me. i trace the shapes (bird, butterfly or flower) onto colorful paper, the kids cut out and write what they are grateful for on them. then we hang them on this great branch that i found in our yard and placed above the kitchen window.

food kitchen

2009-03-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

monday i took the boys to st. mary's food kitchen where our church volunteers once a month. they did a great job passing out silverware and trays and greeting people. we saw a lot of people come thru and a lot of kids. we talk about people in need and ways we can help at home but i think actually seeing how many people need food and participating in that service makes it real. and when we say our prayers at night and they say they are grateful for their lives, i think they get it a little more.

bingo!

2009-03-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

the boys and i went with some friends to play bingo last night and we had a winner! henry won $16.50! fun stuff- and the plans that were made with the money-legos, baseball stuff, save some, rice bowl...it was a late night and you can see here that charlie got a little bored and decided to stamp himself.

happy st. patrick's day!

2009-03-17T07:02:00.000-07:00

from the brookside parade. lots of candy was gathered!

home depot crafts

2009-03-08T15:45:00.000-07:00

the first saturday of each month home depot and lowes offer kids craft workshops where they can build a project for free. each kit comes with instructions and hammers are provided along with an apron to keep and pins for each project completed. this month was a race car ramp complete with two little wooden cars. the boys were thrilled and proud of their work.

winter escape

2009-03-08T15:24:00.001-07:00

we were lucky this year to be able to escape from kansas city for the warm beaches of playa del carmen in mexico. we were celebrating our 10 year anniversay with friends, unfortunately one couple did not get to go because they were lacking a passport. don't know how we missed that fact since we planned this trip about 8 months ago! despite feeling horrible about that and missing them we had a great time: yummy food, cold beverages, lots of laughs, sunny days and relaxing on the beaches listening to the ocean.

we haven't had much snow this winter but we came home to plenty! and excited kids, both for the snow and to have their mommy and daddy back home.

read to a dog

2009-02-23T11:54:00.000-08:00

our local library hosts several fun activities for the kids each season. this weekend we went to read to a dog. they loved snuggling up with max, zoe and maddie to read to them. click on this link if you are from the kc area for listings of activities at a library close to you: www.jocolibrary.org

we lost our dog over a year and a half ago and have been thinking about a new one. the family vote is 4 to 1 to get a puppy but dad is holding out. we have done some dog-sitting for a sweet beagle, india. lucy is head over heels for her!

2009-02-20T10:27:00.000-08:00

happy birthday mom!

70 years of oz

2009-02-18T12:43:00.000-08:00

a trip downtown to crown center to visit the 70 years of oz exhibit. these free exhibits change every few months and the kids enjoy it every time we we go. this one lasts through april 26. the kids follow the yellow brick road past dorothy, glenda, the scarecrow, lion and tin man, through the witches castle and a ride on a hot air balloon.

of course we had to eat at fritz's where a train delivers the meal and look at that huge brownie sundae!

then outside to watch the fountains and enjoy a semi warm day in february.

valentine's

2009-02-10T15:24:00.001-08:00

here are our valentine's this year. we wrapped a chenille stem around a pencil and added our message and a sticker at the top.

friday family fun nights

2009-02-02T14:45:00.000-08:00

march's theme for tastebud magazine is family favorites, so i documented one of our friday family fun nights at home. it was fun to include the kids on this one!

Friday Family Fun Night
In our house Fridays are reserved for family fun night. This can include anything from going to the Nelson-Atkins art gallery to trying a new family friendly restaurant or the kid’s favorite, game night at home. Since this night is all about fun and family time together start with setting an interactive and brightly colored table. Roll out a large sheet of white butcher block paper and provide lots of markers, crayons and colored pencils for creating bold drawings. To hold our supplies we made ‘junk drawer’ robots out of recycled cans, old hardware, paper clips and any odds and ends we discovered in the garage. Have the kids design the robots out of these old parts and an adult can attach the junk with a hot glue gun. My kids were so excited to add their works of art to create our centerpiece. Next, bring on the games! For our last game night we played bingo. The cage served as the centerpiece, we placed the bingo cards at each place setting and spread the colorful markers all over the table. Another alternative would be to place a board game and pieces in the middle and get ready to play!
The menu is simple: make your own pizza and chocolate milk. Stop by Whole foods to buy their pre-made pizza dough in the deli area and get plenty of toppings (pepperoni, black olives, broccoli, mushrooms, red peppers, etc.), sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. Everyone is happy because they choose their own pizza toppings and they have fun making it. While the pizza is in the oven enjoy coloring and talking about the week. When the pizza is gone it’s on to dessert. What could be more fun than chocolate fondue? Kids love dipping marshmallows, pretzels, bananas and strawberries into the yummy melted chocolate.
Spend the rest of the evening playing games and laughing, dancing and enjoying this time together. We end our night with everyone piling into our king sized bed for a family slumber party.

Family Fun Night Tunes

House Party Time: Dan Zanes
Pizza and Chocolate Milk: The Terrible Twos
Victor Vito: Laurie Berkner
I Chalk: Justin Roberts
Heist: Ben Folds
William Tell Overture: Rossini
Catch the Moon: Lisa Loeb and Elizabeth Mitchell

ku natural history museum

2009-01-26T13:47:00.000-08:00

over christmas break we made the road trip to lawrence to visit the natural history museum. (since we are k-state fans the boys made sure to wear their jerseys). what fun was this! so much to explore-the bug room, birds, animals from every region, dinosaur fossils and a real bee hive. the kids had a blast following the scavenger hunt that the museum provides. we will definitely head back this summer for more learning and fun.

after we had fuel up so we had lunch at local burger. delicious and freshly made choices including a veggie, turkey, buffalo and cow burgers and yummy sweet potato fries!

2009-01-23T21:44:00.000-08:00

i have not been posting my articles for tastebud here because they are on my botanica blog.

head on over there to see what's up - i'm excited about the february issue!

if you are in the kc area-don't forget to pick up a copy at local coffee shops, grocery stores-there is a list of where to find them on the web-site.

***note to all 5 of my readers-if you would still like to find the articles here, just let me know.***

(a behind the scenes look at what is really happening when i'm trying to take pics. this little guy couldn't wait to get his hands on the fruit!)

at home-winter

2009-01-23T21:23:00.000-08:00

gingerbread houses. we made two this season.

tea time in the bathroom.

lucy's new fairy tent-our new reading spot.

eating snow

by far the most played with toys in our house. sports figures. we have soccer, baseball and football guys. lots of games have been played with these. i had been thinking about creating something like this a few years ago when we were making our own games with teddy grahms on fields we had drawn. soon after found these in a magazine. i'm sure created by parents whose children were crazy about sports and thought why not sports figures instead of power rangers. darn my million dollar idea gone!

winter family fun night-games in mom and dad's bed.

tis the season

2008-12-23T13:00:00.001-08:00

the nativity set from my grandma nadine, over 60 years old. a treasure.

all i want for christmas is my two front teeth!

our family at the plaza lights.

bringing home our christmas tree.

on santa's lap at crown center.

save, give, spend

2008-11-12T11:47:00.000-08:00

a little project our family has been talking about -oh- for a year now. trying to teach the kids (and ourselves) about money. with the busy spending and giving season upon us it is the perfect time to really think about how and where to use our money. the boys get so excited deciding where we should put all of our loose change, birthday money, etc.

2008-09-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

october tastebud article:

Halloween doesn’t have to be just for the kids. Celebrate this fall holiday with a table set using classic black and white elements with added playful and spooky surprises.
Start with a tablecloth in a bold black and white pattern. This could be a fun animal print or classic damask. I found this material at a local fabric shop and made my own. Next, use the staple white dishes topped with a smaller Halloween themed plate. Try to find and use a variety of these dessert sized plates to keep the table from feeling too formal.
The centerpiece for this table starts with a large white ceramic soup tureen placed on top of a cake platter. Serving soup or chili on Halloween is a great idea for several reasons: you can prepare it ahead of time, it is usually cold and rainy in Kansas City this time of year and it can easily accommodate any extra goblins that may show up on your door step! Surround the soup tureen with acid green hedge apples-these brainy looking fruits add to the theme. Then add in the other spooky choices: wooden blood shot eyeballs, spiders and furry rats or other night time creatures. Hanging spiders from the chandelier with fishing line is another great surprise. Now add in the pumpkins. Stay with the black and white theme by choosing a white pumpkin then painting or stenciling it with black paint. Be creative with varying widths of stripes, scrolly vines or bats and ghosts. You may even choose to write a Halloween message to friends.
This table, with it’s classic color palette and goulish details, is sure to please both the adult and child in all of us. Now it’s time to decide on costumes!

Find it Here (if you dare)
Creepy crawly spiders, webs and rats
The Curious Sofa
3925 W. 69th Terr.
Prairie Village Shops
www.curioussofa.com

Soup Tureen
Nell Hills
4101 N. Mulberry Dr.
Briarcliff Village
Or
Atchison, KS
and
Target Stores

Easy Taco Soup
2 cans of northern beans
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of shoepeg white corn
1 can of diced green chiles
Packet of taco seasoning
Rotisserie chicken (shred meat)

Add all ingredients to a stock pot
(do not drain beans or veggies)
Thin with chicken stock if needed
Simmer until ready to serve

Top with crumbled tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa

2008-09-19T12:05:00.000-07:00

are these the cutest pants and little model ever?! i stayed up way too late last night making these. i had seen a similar pair but they were unavailable so i thought i would try making a pair on my own. i'm so happy with the way they turned out and lucy loves her little poppit (pocket). they took a few hours to make, with no pattern so i probably won't be making any for the shop, but i was glad to sew something other than a onesie applique. and now that i'm finally feeling a little less scattered since school has started maybe i'll have time to come up with some more fun clothes for her!

felt flowers and monograms

2008-09-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

i finally had a chance to create a new little something and am so excited with the way these cute felt clips turned out! hopefully once we get used to our new schedule i will have a chance to make some for the shop.

and if you are looking for great gift ideas or need something monogrammed, check out my cousin's online business, the monogram girl. she put lucy's name on this cute lunchbag from gymboree!

birthday parties

2008-08-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

well, summer flew by and so did my blogging days, so i will be trying to catch up over the next few days!

henry wanted to celebrate his 6th birthday this year with a baseball party. we had a little cake and ice cream, pinata and baseball game at our house first then headed to see the royals play. these guys did so great at the game (of course we kept the snacks coming the whole time!) we even stayed to watch the fireworks after-what a display!

we had a small family celebration for lucy's 2nd birthday. we had ladybug cupcakes and paper flowers hanging from above and she was so excited to get a baby doll bed, highchair and dress up clothes!

summer fun!

2008-07-07T12:06:00.001-07:00

this is going to be a long post! we have been having a great summer and exploring lots of fun places in kansas city.

one of our favorites is deanna rose farm. the kids loving running through the farmstead checking out all of the animals (goats, pigs, chickens, horses, cows, turkeys, sheep, etc.) riding on mini tractors, cooling off in the new cow barn and learning about native americans in the tepees and dirt house. if you are in kc with kids this is a must visit spot.

backyard camping complete with bonfire.

a great evening at my family's farm-always delicious food, perfect sunsets and the kids running and playing hide-and-seek until after dark.

Next, our first visit to paradise park where they loved the pretend village: running a pizza shop, grocery store and bank. 'cooking' classes. jumping in the ball pit, climbing and sliding. a three hour nap for all three kids followed!

our annual visit to the kansas city zoo lasted six hours! we did not miss a single animal. our favorites were feeding the lorikeets, getting close to the kangaroos, sea lion show, the baby chimpanzee, riding the camel and animal carousel.

our latest adventure was over to loose park (on the missouri side of state line). another full day-a picnic lunch and playing on the playground, feeding the ducks and geese, checking out the gardens and finishing up at the spray park.

loose park is a wonderful city park near where i grew up. this is where i first got my taste for floral design. at dusk we would walk to the park and load up on roses in all the wonderful colors (yes, i now know better). we would then go home and create bouquets and play pretend wedding. i guess i can't help my obsession with flowers and weddings!

if you haven't been over to check out my other blog (www.designbotanica.blogspot.com) go see the latest wedding i did. it was at the downtown kansas city library-with photos by sara farrar. fun, fun and just a little stress getting back into the swing of wedding flowers after about a year break!

patio perfect party

2008-06-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

(here's my article for the july issue of tastebud magazine. wish i had better pics.)

Our normal summer entertaining usually revolves around the grill but I wanted to try something different. My friend suggested having a ‘gourmet’ sandwich bar. Perfect! An evening picnic party. This idea works great for families and with most of the prep work done before guests arrive we could spend time playing in the back yard with the kids, talking with our friends and listening to great music.
First I wanted to set the mood: playful and relaxed. The centerpiece for the table was a picnic basket filled with plates, napkins, silverware and other essentials. I found great plates at Trapp’s in KCMO. The divided plates come in bright multi-colors and are recycled. Color was added to the table by placing single blooms of flowers in collected bud vases or recycled soda bottles (gerbera daisies or peonies cut from the yard work well for this). I laid out old quilts in the yard to eat on and set up the croquet set. My favorite detail was the hanging votive cups. Luckily there is a tree over our patio so the votives made the perfect floating chandelier. Even without a tree over the patio these look fun and festive hanging anywhere in the yard and entice people to stay after the sun sets. Find similar votive holders at Nell Hills, Curious Sofa and places like Hobby Lobby. Hang them at various heights with heavy fishing line or fun ribbons. I leave them hanging throughout the summer, they make family nights at home seem a little more special. To keep the party lively we created a playlist of songs that featured artists we knew our guests enjoyed. If there are young kids at the party don’t forget to add in a little Jim Cosgrove.

Now, planning the menu and drinks. We had one signature sandwich, a delicious chicken salad, sliced meats, cheeses and the makings for BLT’s. Fresh bread from Great Harvest Bread Company was a must. Great Harvest offers several varieties each day and don’t forget their great cookies, as well. Make sure to have a good selection of farmer’s market fresh lettuce, tomatoes, avocadoes, onions and cucumbers. To top off the sandwiches provide several condiment choices like mayonnaise with fresh herbs added, different types of mustard and home made vinaigrette. Serve the sandwiches with chips (we love Art & Mary’s salt & pepper), crunchy coleslaw or potato salad and fresh fruit. Because summers are hot here make sure to have plenty of beverages. Along with beer and wine we served a fun vodka slushy. Non-alcoholic drinks included raspberry lemonade and ice-cold strawberry water (this is so simple and pretty, just add sliced strawberries to a pitcher of ice water). Dessert completed the night: citrus cupcakes and Great Harvest cookies!
Great food, friends and fun-the perfect patio party!

Recipes:
Annie’s Chicken Salad
6-8 grilled chicken breast halves cubed
½ cup low fat sour cream
½ cup light mayonnaise
¼ teaspoon curry powder
Pinch of garlic salt
Pepper to taste
Add chopped celery, red grapes, water chestnuts and toasted almond slices
Toss together and add more sour cream and mayo to desired texture and taste.

Gigi’s Vodka Slushy
1-6 oz can frozen oj
1-6 oz can frozen lemonade
1 ½ quarts Cranberry juice
16 oz 7-up
16 oz squirt or fresca
1/5 Vodka
Mix in large container, freeze for 24 hours stirring occasionally
Scoop & enjoy!

Find Them Here:
Recycled Plates:
Trapp
4110 Main
KCMO 816.931.6940
Hanging Votives:
Curious Sofa
3925 W 69 Terr.
Prairie Village, KS 913.432.8969
Nell Hill’s
4101 N Mulberry Dr.
KCMO 816.746.4320
Fresh Bread:
Great Harvest Bread Company
83rd & Mission Rd (Corinth Shopping Center)
145th & Metcalf
Overland Park

Patio Playlist:
“And it Stoned Me” Van Morrison
“Better Together” Jack Johnson
“1,2,3,4” Feist
“Acuff-Rose” Uncle Tupelo
“You Still Touch Me” Sting
“Genius of Love” Tom Tom Club
“Here We Go Again” Norah Jones & Ray Charles
“Diner” Widespread Panic
“Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes” Paul Simon
“Don’t Touch My Hat” Lyle Lovett
“Why Georgia” John Mayer

new skirt

2008-06-09T14:43:00.000-07:00

a new skirt for lucy. sew simple to make-i picked three fabrics and cut 12" squares, sewed them together, made casing at the top for ribbon and a hem at the bottom. i'm kind of an impatient crafter and i like to get projects done in one sitting. this one took about half an hour - perfect for during the kids 'rest' time.

then later that night i wanted to try some embroidery. got out my stitch-it kit and practiced some stitches (i finally got the french knot and am so excited) while i watched the last few episodes of sex and the city. yes, i had to see them again before i went to the movie with some girls on saturday.

master bath

2008-06-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

here is a peek at our master bath. it is not big at all but i love the way it turned out (when we bought the house it was pepto pink with very old white with grey speckled tile). we found this dresser at mission antique mall and my crafty husband turned it into a vanity. he cut the drawers so they function around the sink and cut a hole in the top to fit the sink. the sink and toilet are from the company toto. they make the best toilets and are an eco friendly company. (i know all of this because clay is a sales rep for them). we tiled the floor in a natural stone and the walls are painted a creamy brown. the color is portabello from sherwin williams. we also tore down a wall of the shower and added a glass door. now it doesn't feel like you are showering in a cave.

peonies & bedside tables

2008-05-27T12:15:00.001-07:00

our peony bushes are blooming and i just had to cut some for the house. they smell so awesome, definitiely one of my favorite flowers. these are on the bedside table that i bought at mission antique mall. i love the color and curved legs of this table-it's really girly . fun vases from anthropologie and a cute store in downtown chico, ca ( i bought it when we went for a visit a few years ago), one of my favorite pictures there, too, of our family in the hospital after lucy was born.

precious

2008-05-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

this is it...my favorite age. she is just the most precious thing. look at those legs and that ruffled bottom. trying to keep up with her big brothers, excited about everything, giving lots of hugs and kisses, starting to talk, backing up to sit on my lap to read her favorite books and oh, the drama! this is something new in this household. i mean the boys threw fits (and still do) but the hands covering the face and just crying when things aren't going her way, too much- I just have to scoop her up and let her know it's ok.

fabric + paper

2008-05-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

an invitation i made for a friends shower inspired by the ones anna-maria horner made. this cute fabric is from the heather ross collection. too cute!

what we've been up to...

2008-05-14T21:16:00.001-07:00

our night time walks after bath is done. (they put these outfits together themselves, seriously, i could not stop laughing as i pushed lucy in the stroller and watched charlie's cute lightning mcqueen bootie and those socks scootering through the neighborhood)

lots of soccer playing.

royals games.

serious backyard playing.

2008-05-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

here is a look at my next article for tastebud. the theme for the issue was salad so i thought it would be fun to create a centerpiece out of planted salad ingredients. i used cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts mixed with non-edible plants such as verbena, coleus and dusty miller. other plants that would work: red and green leaf lettuce, arugala and edible flowers like nasturiums.
the little pots are an easy diy project. i spray painted them with chalk board paint from the hardware store and planted herbs in them. you can then label with the type of herb or use them for place settings and write your guest's name on them.
these great trays are from local designer kathi hardin with traybella. she creates fun trays in various designs and colors. they work great for serving drinks on the patio, taking items out to the grill, containing the piles of mail and paper work that seem to land everywhere and as the base of centerpieces.
the final detail for this table are the outdoor dishes from pryde's in old westport. the look so real that i passed them by until the sales lady told me they were for outdoors. they come in many fun colors and patterns from traditional to modern. i could spend a lot of time and money in this store!these great photographs are from sara farrar. her pictures make even the most simple of ideas look so neat!

the nadine

2008-05-07T14:04:00.001-07:00

named after my grandma nadine who started this quilt top. i turned it into a large tote and lined it with heavy cotton fabric. it is listed in my etsy shop but if it doesn't sell it's going to be our summer park/pool bag!

totes

2008-04-24T10:29:00.001-07:00

i have recently started writing for tastebud magazine here in kc. it is a free publication about all things food, drinks and local people and places. my first article was about setting a table for special occasions and how it doesn't have to be over the top to be unique. i used the tabletop from my mom's birthday i wrote about on this blog a few months back. tastebud is on the stands now and you can find it at local hen house markets, whole foods and lots of other coffee shops, etc.

my second article for the may issue is on reusable totes. here's a little preview:

paper and plastic are no longer the only options when shopping for groceries at the store or farmers’ markets. according to the EPA, last year Americans consumed more than 380 BILLION single-use plastic bags. the production of these plastic bags requires a great amount of oil and the majority end up as littler or in landfills where they break down into toxins that pollute our earth. an easy solution: bring a reusable grocery tote. this simple action is a way to spread the message of environmental sustainability and show off your ‘green style’ while shopping. there are the simple bags now offered by most stores but I thought I would search KC and the internet for some fun options.

the first pic is a selection from stuff: blue raddish appliqued canvas tote, a recycled plastic bag tote made from crocheting over 65 plastic grocery sacks, and a recycled rice bag from indonesia. the second pic is from bad seed farm: a local urban farmer's market that grows heirloom veggies and has a small shop in the crossroads. third pic is onw of mine that i will hopefully be making more for my etsy shop. the last pic is from it's only natural: printed logo on an organic cotton tote.

Where to find reusable grocery bags:
Locally
Stuff, 316 w.63rd, KCMO, http://www.pursuegoodstuff.com/
The Bad Seed, 1909 McGee, KCMO, http://www.badseedfarm.com/
It’s Only Natural, 407 W. Gregory Blvd., KCMO, http://www.itsonlynatural.us/
Bijin, 71st & Mission Road, Prairie Village, http://www.bijinsalon.com/

On the Web:
http://www.reusablebags.com/
http://www.melissavest.etsy.com/
http://www.delight.com/

also, check out my new blog @ www.designbotanica.blogspot.com. i will be adding photos from past weddings and gearing up to start doing flowers again! i would love for this blog to include inspirations for entertaining and weddings. lots of fun ideas and hopefully someday the time to create them!

good day sunshine

2008-04-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

this new design makes me smile! i can't wait for the sun to come out here.

yellow

2008-03-31T12:06:00.001-07:00

.lucy's spring shoes from puddle jumper.

.mama's new spring purse.

.inspiration /organization boards

made by topping a canvas with foam core and then wrapping with material.

.daffodils from the garden in our yellow kitchen.

.citrus cupcakes.

recipe:

white cake mix

1/2 cup oil

i can mandarin oranges, not drained

3 eggs or 4 egg whites

mix and bake according to directions

cool whip

i can of crushed pineapple, drained

1 box of instant vanilla pudding, dry

mix and top cupcakes when cooled

these are so light and springy!

a sign of spring

2008-03-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

the first buds on our quince bush in the backyard!

diaper bag

2008-03-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

this is the diaper bag i made to use with lucy. it was inspired by a picture in country living magazine. now it mostly spends time hanging on her closet door. it's amazing how quickly the baby stage passed, when i couldn't leave home without a bagful of supplies. now she carries her own cup and i throw a diaper and wipes into my bag and we're off...

ice cream

2008-03-15T17:12:00.000-07:00

a new design for summer! it's coming, right?!

tabletop

2008-02-25T18:53:00.000-08:00

i love this tabletop! we had my family over to celebrate my mom and my birthday's and i get so excited to have an excuse to set the table with more than the usual plastic plates with legos and crayons scattered everywhere.

i head to family tree nursery every year around this time to bring a little early spring into our house. i have been wanting to try a terrarium so i used a cyclamen and baby tears planted in a glass jar and added a few shells for interest. i love this white planter that i bought at the fiddly fig and think it turned out great with the soft fern, angel vine and baby tears. i had to add the little glass bird in my favorite color green.

i used white crackle glaze dishes from pottery barn and fun napkins from anthropologie. they have the best selection of quirky linens and dishes that can be mixed with the white dishes and really make them come to life. the swirl glasses are from anthropologie also and the etched wine glasses from nell hills (a past birthday present from my great friend amy. this year she got me the cutest tea towels from anthropologie. does she know me or what!)

i wrapped the votives in a light green vellum to add the perfect glow to the table.

of course the table wasn't complete until we sat down with family and shared a delicious turkey dinner (my favorite, complete with all the traditional fixings that clay made and cleaned up)!

2008-02-11T13:52:00.000-08:00

happy valentine's week - i'm headed for the sunny beaches of mexico!

2008-02-06T14:05:00.000-08:00

more onesies with baby's initial. i'm really liking the way these are turning out and having fun using new fonts and fabrics.

friday family fun night

2008-02-01T20:17:00.000-08:00

a few months ago we started a new tradition called 'friday family fun night'. it can be as simple as cooking dinner together and then playing games, going out to dinner with friends or like tonight a special event in kc. we headed to the nelson-atkins museum for a chinese new year celebration. we watched a dancing dragon performance in the main hall.

next, to the ford learning center where the boys made their own masks.

and finally a tour of the museum galleries and the new bloch building for contemporary art exhibits.

the kids love whatever we do and i love the time together after a busy week!

flower clips

2008-01-22T08:39:00.000-08:00

there will be a small shop update today!

snow day

2008-01-18T14:42:00.000-08:00

sand art

snow angel

3 inches

snowman 2008

hot chocolate

then we headed here for swimming, climbing, air hockey and a game or two of galaga for mom.

mama made a brand new bag

2008-01-14T11:28:00.000-08:00

i have been wanting a new purse for awhile now and hadn't found one that i loved, so last night i stayed up too late and made this one. it's a kind of pink velvet-y material on the outside and linen on the inside. the material is fitting for winter but the pale pink color and flower pin is a reminder that spring is not too, too far off. and as an added bonus it actually fit everything in it this morning including a book, the diaper and wipes case, a checkbook with a new matching cover, wallet and burt's bees chapstick!

i think lucy may need a bag of her own soon.

here she is modeling her new appliqued shirt and first haircut. all of the whispy baby curls are gone and she looks sooo big. another reminder that time does go so fast.

today's creative blog

2008-01-12T15:25:00.000-08:00

hope everyone had a great holiday season. we did but it was very busy, so sorry about the blogging break! i have been trying to finish up orders and working on new projects. i have had several requests for adult sizes and i am working on some fun designs. i will let you know when those are ready. one of my new years resolutions is to make more time create and grow this business. i've never been a good organizer, so we'll see how this goes. i promise to have some etsy updates soon!

last weekend (yes i'm that far behind) i was a feature on today's creative blog! thank you, thank you kim! thanks also for your kind comments, i feel like a real blogger now and am encouraged to keep creating!

the pictures above are from a new bag that i made to replace all of the plastic bags from the grocery stores, target, etc. (another resolution was to be more 'green') i have a few different sizes and versions and hopefully will be able to offer these for sale, too!

apron

2007-12-18T17:21:00.001-08:00

this is the first apron i have made and i think it turned out so cute. i can't wait to make lucy and the boys their own (this is an order for a friend). oh, how i wish i had time to make all of my neices one. perfect for helping mom and dad in the kitchen or working on art projects.

new designs

2007-12-17T18:29:00.000-08:00

fun for the big birthday.

soft and comfy soy onepieces personalized with baby's initial and a little flower or star on the back.

this snowflake with a little mountain scene on the back went to colorado.

christmas on manor

2007-11-25T15:56:00.001-08:00

click on photo for larger image and details!

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

2007-11-25T15:36:00.001-08:00

A fresh tree decorated with bright colored glass ornaments on the top half and lovingly and excitedly hung handmade or non-breakable ornaments at the bottom. i love that the boys hung at least three per drooping branch!

three handmade stockings and two not.

fun gift wrap i found in the dollar bin at target. i'm also using little suitcase style boxes for the kids this year. trying to be a little 'green' and then they have something to store all of their collections in after.

my favorite place in our house to change each season. i found the glitter letters for a dollar each at joanns and hung them on green velvet ribbon.

hope you are having fun decorating and celebrating the season!

a little organization might help

2007-11-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

in the last few weeks i have forgotten a meal for a friend with a new baby, snacks for henry's class at school and two weeks in a row i have left backpacks and lunchpacks in the parking lot at school while i drove off. both times a friend with three kids herself has dropped them by my house with a little laugh, while i'm sure she thinks i've totally lost it.

so here is my attempt to be more organized. a neat planner with tear out sheets for the grocery store and to-do lists. i made a snazzy cover with a fun amy butler print and some vinyl to protect it against spills and sticky fingers and pocket space for the important notes that usually get tossed in a big basket at home and don't get seen again until, yes, i 've forgotten something. now it will all be written in here and hopefully i will remember to check it daily!

creative play

2007-11-13T11:08:00.000-08:00

a bug house henry made from an old shoe box and filled with furniture and food for the bugs. and of course, a bug for them to drive!

"outside pie" yummy!

an art project idea from kids craft weekly.

i love that even with all of the toys these guys have it seems they get the most excited when they create their own things to play with!

handmade christmas

2007-11-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

my goal is to make at least one handmade thing for each family member this year. henry really wanted to sew the other day, so we started with this quick and easy felt tic-tac-toe game for his cousin keegan. he helped cut the x's and o's with pinking shears and then we sewed the game lines to the square. voila! one down.

racing to three

2007-11-04T17:02:00.000-08:00

charlie's third birthday party was this weekend and he wanted a race car party. i made the flag banner (which is now hanging in the boys room), the car birthday cake and i lucked out and found a great kit at target that had wooden cars for the kids to paint, add stickers to and then race them. i was amazed how long they all sat at the table and worked on their little creations. it was a beautiful day and they all played in the backyard until dark. of course he didn't want the day to end and passed out at the kitchen table while coloring. oh.. he is so sweet! everyone who meets him says the same thing.

today we had a 'date' to see jim cosgrove with the kansas city symphony. we have season tickets to the family series which is four concerts including the magic of christmas. it is great, they have an instrument 'petting zoo' before each show where the kids can play the different instruments. a fun way to spend a sunday afternoon!

open house - fiddly fig nov. 2-4

2007-11-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

happy halloween a day late

2007-11-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

one happy face jack-o-lantern, a vampire and a silly face. those were the requests for carving.

the boys had sooo much fun and would only do football poses for pictures.

sweet little cheerleader lucy, not quite sure about any of it.

clothespins

2007-10-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

these little clothespins are so happy! i've been wanting to make some for lucy's room and here they are, some packaged for the open house in two weeks.

deanna rose farm

2007-10-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

what a perfect fall day to spend with friends at deanna rose farm. lots of running ahead to see the next animal or to climb on another tractor, milk a cow and finally a hay ride to pumpkin hollow. i love fall at the farm with lots of fun games, a corn maze and a field for picking the perfect pumpkin. of course the boys picked the biggest one they could find and then wanted mom to carry them along with lucy, the camera, drinks, etc. lots of smiles and now, yes, three napping kids! enjoy this beautiful weekend, lots of fun stuff going on around kc!

giddy up

2007-10-17T13:22:00.000-07:00

well it is a soggy day here. henry's field trip to deanna rose farm was canceled, so i had time to stop by harper's to pick up some new fabric including this cowboy print and dots in lots of colors. and long naps for the two little ones meant some time to sew!

nesting

2007-10-16T10:20:00.000-07:00

fall weather is finally here! i love decorating our house for fall and thought i would share my dining room sideboard. the three tier shelf is from nell hills and i love changing it with the seasons. it is one little area where i can put some of my favorite things that the kids can't get too. i love the etched glasses, a gift from my friend amy who always noticed me drooling over them on our trips to nell hills, silver vases from anthropologie and julisko style glass vases.

peace and love

2007-10-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

creating new designs for the open house. i love working with the different colors and styles of the soy clothing. i also have an order for letters and 'art' for a children's store in pennsylvania.

sugar

2007-10-02T14:28:00.000-07:00

every year about this time i start nesting and the first sign is making sugar cookies. the boys enjoyed mixing and rolling out the dough and then cutting them into pumpkins, bats, ghosts and leaves. it is a long process but totally worth it! we have several friends with new babies who we will be sharing these festive treats with!

baby soy

2007-09-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

i am so excited about a new line of baby clothing that i have to applique! it is from baby soy: style + nature's softness for eco-babies and sassy mamas! there are long sleeved onesies, kimono onesies and onepieces, kimono tees and pants. they come in fabulous color combinations. i had to take the picture of them outside because it is gorgeous here today.

love, love, love fall!

other exciting news is quince and clover will be featured at the fiddly fig for their open house november 2-4. this is the flower shop i worked at and they have a great retail area as well. the open house is lots of fun, a ton of beautiful fresh flowers and great holiday decorating ideas!

better get to sewing...

bows

2007-09-25T20:17:00.000-07:00

what to do with all of that great ribbon? bows! lucy's hair is so long that it hangs in her eyes, so i really do have a great excuse for making all of these. and i have found that they are easily lost. not sure if i'll make some for the shop or just for fun.

what a weekend

2007-09-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

friday morning was a trip to gymnastics for open gym time. lots to do for this energetic bunch: a huge foam pit to jump in, zip line, trampolines, slides and a rope swing.

that night it was off to shawnee mission park for a kids concert featuring local favorite

jim cosgrove and trout fishing in america. it was like a little greatful dead show for kids complete with balloon animals, glow sticks, air filled slides and bouncers and good music to boogie to with friends and grandma and grandpa!

saturday was a friends carnival birthday party. it was so cute and very creative. a ticket booth made from a refrigerator box and tons of games including a duck pond, ring toss, bean bag toss, lollipop tree, fishing and bowling. and of course popcorn, cotton candy, face painting and a neighbor boy to put on a juggling show!

that night we headed to my aunt and uncle's farm. i absolutely love it there! there is always plenty of food, lots of laughs and a big bon fire to make s'mores. it is so peaceful there. the kids love the horses, cows and the freedom of wandering around, digging in the dirt and swinging way after dark.

some of my favorite childhood memories are of times i spent there with my cousins. we would go on four wheeling adventures taking along our lunches and building forts out by the ponds. we would spend the whole day out exploring all of their land until my aunt would ring the bell to call us back in. this city girl even flung a few cow pies!

sunday was the start of children's church, then a quick stop home for lunch and off to henry's soccer game. he scored a few goals. i love his shy smile after each one, when he would look over at us to make sure we were watching.

and off again to another birthday. this time a karate party which was a great idea!

now i'm off to bed-i'm exhausted! did i mention clay was in south dakota at a golf tournament this weekend?

peanut

2007-09-20T18:07:00.001-07:00

a new little work of 'art'.

addictions

2007-09-16T18:10:00.001-07:00

what a great fall weekend! this is a tea towel from the new martha stewart line at macy's that i added some applique to. the color is great and it made the perfect little gift for an artist friend's birthday. i already started one for myself and maybe another for etsy.

here is a peak inside my bookcase which holds ribbon and old magazines. i think i might be addicted to ribbon. there is more in the basement. i go through my magazines every few months and tear out pages to put in binders. i have idea files for every room in the house, landscaping, crafts, entertaining, business ideas, floral design. these are magazines that have too many great ideas, so i keep the whole thing: mary engelbreit home companion and holiday editions of cottage living, country living, country home, victoria, martha stewart living and others i've picked up at the news stand. i think i might be addicted to magazines as well.

other things i could have endless collections of: books, dishes, glassware, cake plates, tea towels, fabric, paper.

the frame on top is an article from kansas city home design about botanica (my flower business).

lucy love

2007-09-11T21:26:00.001-07:00

yes, i have been doing a lot of onesies lately for all the new babies but i thought lucy needed a new one for fall. she took her first steps this past weekend. it is so cute, after two steps she just dives for my lap. this is absolutely my favorite stage, between one and two years!

and another first, charlie wrote his name. i didn't even know he was close but when i told him what letters spelled his name, he wrote them out! he loves to color and draw and it fascinates me to watch him doing it left handed. you can always find markers and paper with little works of art spread across our kitchen table.

science city

2007-09-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

this was our first family outing to science city at union station. the boys had a great time playing air miniature golf, exploring a bats cave, the haunted hotel, a mock police station and a musical park. lucy most enjoyed lunch at the harvey house diner. union station is such a beautiful restored building and i hope that it can stay open. you could definitely see they were struggling financially by the lack of employees(there was not even one in science city).

i'm hoping to take a day trip on the train from here soon!

hip to be square

2007-09-05T14:00:00.001-07:00

new onesie design.

funky finds

2007-09-04T14:45:00.001-07:00

a custom letter for a little one named willa (such a cute name!) and a new flutter appliqued art for my etsy shop. also, does anyone have another good name for these little works? they aren't really 'art' but i can't think of anything else to call them. any ideas would be appreciated!

and i'm very excited to be featured on funky finds today! this blog is so neat because it features items that you might not find anywhere else. she is also part of a really neat group of creative girls. thanks jessica!

plant a tree

2007-08-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

just a few little things i made for my friend and best customer anne. the onesie is a new design that she requested for the baby of a landscape architect. a tree on front with a little shovel on the booty. it turned out really cute. also my new tags are pictured. i made these with paper and then scanned them and added the quince & clover font. i had some other ideas for a logo but this will work now, especially for the baby items.

there is also a new fall onesie that will be in my etsy shop later and a few burp cloth sets.

we are just enjoying the last few days of summer before school starts for the boys and then i will be ready to come up with lots of new things! i have so many ideas...

i also just agreed to take one more wedding next spring. my friends will think i'm crazy since i've been saying i am done for the past few years but i can't seem to stay completely away.

bath

2007-08-27T20:18:00.000-07:00

we bought our home almost three years ago and have been updating it ever since. we really only have one and a half big projects left! i have a huge file of inspiration pictures torn from magazines and separated into different rooms. i always seem to pick bathrooms done in all white with a hint of blue. these pictures are from our hallway bath and i love the way it turned out! we used hexagon tiles for the floor, subway tiles in the bath, painted beadboard and pedestal sinks. i love the ocean and water, so i've been bringing home sand and rocks from places we've visited and putting it in bottles. i've placed those on top of the medicine cabinets and a map on the wall of the places we visited on our honeymoon. it is such a relaxing room even if most of the time it used to bathe three splashing and singing kids!

time to...

2007-08-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

sew a simple skirt.

make a new onesie design.

create some new little birdy art for etsy.

my wonderful mother-in-law watched the kids yesterday so i could have a little time for things that are hard to do with 3 little ones around: a haircut, sewing and dinner out with clay!

sprinklers and diving boards

2007-08-23T14:25:00.001-07:00

it is hot here, so anything outside has to involve water! the boys ran through the sprinkler during the day and then when the pool opened in the late afternoon we headed there. henry, who is very cautious, decided to try the diving board! you can see by his face when he popped out of the water, he loved it! i was terrified at first, then so excited at this new milestone!

pictures at the lake

2007-08-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

i am so excited about these pictures taken by our friend sara.

she is so great with the kids and really caught their personalities.

they are taken at my mom's house on the lake.

how many diving board pictures have i taken and never had them turn out so cool.

i love the last one of the my three babies on the dock.

more flowers

2007-08-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

this was one of my favorite weddings. pinks, pear greens and whites. peonies, hydrangea, roses and sweet peas. we used pears as table numbers and added grapes into the centerpieces. each table had different silver containers: mint julep cups, a tray with tiny antique silver vases and revere bowls.

photos by joshua hoffine

summer blooms

2007-08-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

just a fun late summer bouquet i did for a wedding a couple of years ago. dahlias, roses, gloriosa lilies, mochara orchids, mini callas and orange lilies. i do miss having fresh flowers around. maybe i should go pick some up to play with!

shop is open!

2007-08-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

the shop is finally open at etsy and the most exciting part is i've already sold a few things! i was giddy with excitement that it all actually worked! i'm not very good at the business part, but somehow i managed to get connected to paypal correctly and i will be shipping the first items out today!

i am also going to be working on some fun stuff, like the little flower hairclip pictured above on my beautiful model, lucy. hopefully i will have some in the shop by this weekend!

celebrate

2007-08-13T12:15:00.001-07:00

flowers, pink, cherry chip cupcakes, cookies, fresh fruit, chicken salad, blt's, dolls, clothes for fall, family,

celebrating lucy's first year!

jurassic garden

2007-08-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

what could be more exciting than dinosaurs at powell gardens?! the heat didn't slow down the boys who were so excited to run and see the next dino.

the gardens were still pretty and colorful, even in the august sun.

precious packages

2007-08-08T19:50:00.001-07:00

yes, i was excited to come home to two great packages, new fabric and books to inspire!

of course, the most precious package i have ever received on this day was sweet lucy! i can't believe she is already a year old! amazing to see her personality blossom and bring so much joy to our family! it is so fun watching her play with her big brothers, she is already a tough little cookie in a pink dress.

here are some pictures of her room. i loved making her bedding, painting the furniture and adding sweet things , both old and new, in her first room. it really is a dreamy space with sheer curtains pulled over the windows and sunlight filtering in.

the changing table was a free find in our old neighborhood. we just painted it and added the pad on top. we have used it with all three kids. i bought the 'seasons on the farm' pics from eeboo. love the colors and hung on a cute pink and green ribbon with clothespins.

this shelf was my in-laws' 70's, dark wood stereo shelf. it is now too cute painted! there are my old beatrix potter books and silver cup, a painted piggy bank, vintage lunch box and a frame that were gifts.
this corner has an old doll crib that was my mom's and bedding made by my grandma nadine and my first baby doll, a cute growth chart given to lucy by our wonderful friend amy and a toy box that was my little sisters. we love hanging out in here reading books and playing and for lucy sleeping! that is until she finds out that her big brothers are in mom and dad's bed!

postcards from colorado

2007-08-07T19:32:00.001-07:00

we just got home from a great vacation in colorado. it was the perfect mix of spending time together as a family and meeting our friends who live in colorado and their families. the picture above is from piney lake with a view of the gore mountain range. we took out a canoe on the lake and then had dinner at the piney river ranch.
hummingbird at the betty ford alpine gardens.

throwing rocks in the creek.
ready for the long drive home!

pirates

2007-07-24T17:01:00.000-07:00

henry's 5th birthday party was sunday ( a pirate theme). we made the invitations above together. he drew the map and we came up with the cute wording on the other side. so much fun watching 16(!) very well behaved kids play a 'walk the plank' water game and then hunt for a buried treasure. even though the pirate ship cake ended up looking like it had been hit by a cannon before the candles were even blown out, it was a great time. the best part was after all the craziness, henry looked at clay and i and said 'you are the best mom and dad in the whole world!'