Her dark blue eyes are slowly turning lighter. Her hair is coming in blonde, deeply contrasted by the dark little curls that circle her face. She’ll be rolling over soon. And tomorrow, she graduates from college, that is if she wants to go to college.
The other day, I was shopping with my kiddos and the sister and I picked up a dress from the rack. He pointed to it and said cute. It made me day.
He is also trying to say, “I love you,” but it’s sounding more like, “I do.” Which is pretty much the same thing. This boy melts my heart.
|Image: Source|
|Image: source|
My mom used to say it doesn't matter how many kids you have... because one kid will take up 100% of your time so more kids can't possibly take up more than 100% of your time. -Karen Brown
My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first one being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint. – Erma Bombeck
A two-year old is kind of like having a blender, but you don't have a top for it.
Jerry Seinfeld
Do you see this? I did NOT put her there. I certainly did not. She had the nerve to scoot her cute, little butt off that blanket. She was very proud of herself too. She plays with her hair all the time (see hand), which by the way, causes lots of attention wherever she goes. It’s like people have never seen a child with hair. 
Children were not meant to be trapped indoors. This one was crazy about running all around the Post Office Park, yes we have one of those. He ran and ran and ran and found big sticks and threw those sticks. Little boy euphoria. Summer will be amazing.
It’s been just over a year since we moved away from the first place we called home together. Some days, I miss it like crazy. Others, I am glad to be in a city that is big enough for us to breathe. Most days, I’m still wondering just why we are here. For how long? For what? And what is next? Truth be told, we feel less connected than we’ve ever felt anywhere. We always thought this place would be a transition for us, but the transition generally suggests something new is coming and to be honest, we’ll valued citizens of Restlessville. And the restless are native.
I love change. I crave the unknown, except on the days when knowing sounds cooler.
I was just reading through something I wrote last year, right before our move and the sentiments from then feel even more true today. Which is good, but also annoying. Annoying, because when we said, “God, we trust your timing and your plan,“ He took us seriously and doesn’t feel the need to fill us in on those details. Ever.
.Anyways, I’m not looking for answers, because you surely don’t have them, but I found this and I know I need to remember it, especially on days like this.
We don’t have all the answers, but we do have dreams and we do believe that God has something greater for us… and that is all we need. – Me
So, there’s that. Thanks me.
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The other day I saw the most beautiful painting with a quote that read,
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
I love this quote, but I also hate it, because I don’t think I’m very good at doing that.
Queen of Restlessville signing off…
Here’s the thing. There are seven days in the week. You can guarantee that one of those days each week, the H & H will happen. I can’t be restricted to schedules, even if I create them myself. Schedules and rules make me feel itchy and crowded in my soul. So… even though yesterday was the start of week 12, you get 11 now, and that is how it works.
Someone has discovered her hands. She’s all Sherlock Holmes about analyzing every little detail of her fingers and wrists. The other day, she grabbed H’s shirt when he was sitting on the floor by her and he tried to walk away. He gave us the funniest look when he realized her grip was holding him back. 
She already is playing with her hair all the time.
Mr. Skinny has a new favorite show, Mickey Mouse. We got tired of PBS complaining about losing their funding and so we are kind of loving Disney Junior right now. Yes, my kid watches t.v., GASP! How do I even live with myself? He also likes to run around with no pants, but who doesn’t? Anyways, his vocabulary is growing like crazy. His newest words: toast, crash, doll, cheese. Most of these words he has picked from reading his books, isn’t it amazing how kids learn?
And that is what is happening with my H and h, learning machines.
The creative flow. I’m feeling it something fierce.
It could have to something to do with the ice melting, the grass reappearing, the beaming sunshine, and the fresh air floating in through my windows. It could be all the walks we’ve been taking, discovering signs of life coming back in the form of Spring. It might have something to with the baby sleeping 6-9 hours straight every night. And, it is probably because, I actually picked up a paint brush and remembered that I was an artist.
Of course, when I say that I could be, I really mean that it is. It’s the combination of everything and it’s a killer combination. It’s hearing the inspiration and answering the call. It’s recognizing the moment and sitting down to paint. It’s building cities out of cereal boxes with my little boy. It’s making headbands for my baby girl. It’s painting wooden letters and throwing them in a wire basket with fruit. It’s hot gluing ribbons to embroidery hoops, because you just feel like you should. It’s allowing the creative energy that is pulsating through you to manifest.
The key word in the creative flow is flow. Picture a river, the water must keep moving, it needs an outlet, it needs to pour out into something bigger and bring life to new things… and if it does not, it turns into a stagnant ugly mess. And that is gross. Rivers aren’t greedy, they don’t try to trap all the water within their banks, because they know there will be more. The source will not run dry, even droughts are temporary and the rains will come again.
Creativity is the same way. If you faithfully allow the creative energy to flow through you, the source will continue to supply more, but if you hoard it, it (or you) will turn into a stagnant ugly mess.
And who wants that?
When it’s cool and grey.
When the babes are asleep in their beds
And it’s just me with the stillness. The calm. I feel it inside. I know it is time. To waste this moment would be neglectful and foolish.
I gather the supplies. I arrange them in front of me. I pause.
And then, I play.
The Inspiration: When I was pregnant with my little boy, I started singing the song, Godspeed, from the Dixie Chicks, to him. The line goes, “My love will fly to you each night on angel’s wings.” On Tuesday, when I opened my sketchbook, I drew this. I’m crazy about balloons these days. I mean, I don’t actually like balloons, but I love them in art and pictures. They are so sweet and cheery, such delightful little messengers.
It felt so good to paint again. It feels even better to have such strong inspiration that demands to be expressed.
Hello dear friend. It’s been too long.
The morning was cool and crisp. The sun was shining bright. The day had finally come, the one that citizens had been dreaming of… for minutes. As the baby sister slept and the mama dreamed a morning free of toddlerfititis, Cereal Town was born. Cereal Town, established 2011.
It started small, as all cities do, but within hours, it became a thriving metropolis. Naturally, cereal town would never withstand an earthquake, being constructed of cardboard and scotch tape, but in its short life, it has already survived one natural disaster known as the fierce Hudson monster.
Cereal Town is a wonderful little town, with features that you might see wherever you live.
Yet, unlike some places, it prides itself on fiscal responsibility and government officials who actually want to keep it running, rather than run it into the ground.
It is full of Dr. Seuss like trees and quaint flower gardens.
And much like other cities and animated films, the animals escape from the zoo.
Cereal town is part city/part car playground, although owning a car here, may cost you a pretty penny.
Unless, you are the right kind of car.
Home of the raisin bran tower, the batman building (a tribute to Nashville), and the world famous l’arc de peanut butter.
Which is short for l’arc de peanut butter wafers.
And that’s Cereal Town, a place that prides itself of the virtues of being green and subtle advertising.
Cereal Town, fun for all ages. Welcome home.
