tea + crafts

There’s a negative sign in front of the temperature today, thankfully, I have nowhere else to be.  Like most days, I am perfectly fine with that, imagine having somewhere else that I had to be. We just turned on Ratatouille and the kids are eating their respective snacks out of cups.  The baby girl likes to pour her bunnies out and then put them back in one by one, just like everything else.  She already helps clean up the toys, unlike the other child who is carelessly eating cheerios, while half of them miss his mouth and land on the floor, totally unaware. Don’t worry, they are polar opposites and everyday we see it more. 

She picked out her own outfit today, as we stood in front of her closet, she reached for the dress with blue, purple, and yellow flowers. She reached for it yesterday too, so obviously, she’s trying to tell me something.  Earlier she fell over and bumped her head, brother ran over and said, “okay baby, fall down on the floor?”  She responded, muah, with a kiss.

He learned how to play his harmonica last night and now he runs around dipping at the knees, wearing a silly grin, playing a tune that would make Bob Dylan proud.

I’m drinking tea, because my throat requested it and getting things ready for that birthday party we are planning  with fabric covered jars and paper hearts. {find my pinterest inspiration board}

The end.

three

 

When I found out that we were expecting our first baby, I bought a journal and began to fill it with letters to my child.  I keep it near my bed and write in it on occasion and one day I want him to have it.  I have one for his sister too.

This weekend, we celebrate his third birthday.  As I was looking through the journal today, I read these words that I wrote about the day we met face to face.  I saw his squirmy little face looking at me, one eye closed and kissed his perfect little cheek.

Happy birthday, my love.

inherently boy

“Hey baby, come look at this tree,” I said to him.

“Up?” he asked.  He reached down in his knees and lunged up and when that didn’t work, he tried harder. A few more times and he was frustrated. Then he stretched his arms and high as they could go and jumped all of two inches off the ground, surely this would work. 

I watched in amazement, the power of childhood, a world free of impossibilities.

Here’s the best part, he’s never climbed a tree, but deep inside his little boy heart, he must have known that trees are for climbing.

And then he found a big stick.

the five of us.

I suppose it’s time to tell you some important news.  We are a family of five.  I don’t know why I didn’t share this earlier, please forgive me.  Now it’s time.  Please meet the smallest member of our household.

Santa. Santa? Oh, yes.

This is the story about how Santa came to stay. Long, long ago, in the days of Christmas 2010, we made a trip to purchase a couple new ornaments for our tree.  Since two years olds are all aware of the world and full of opinions, we decided to let the boy pick out his favorite.  He chose a  wooden Santa on a train, big shocker.  Boys and trains.

Weeks went by and he admired the tree and obeyed the no touching rule. Then in his act of rebellion, against the beast of death that is a Minnesota winter, he figured out he could touch the tree.  He also learned that he could throw things at the tree and they would fall through to the floor.  Next, he went all in and started taking ornaments off the tree.  Awesome sauce.  Well, one day it was snowing, can you even believe that, and he set his eyes on the Santa express. Down came the train and during the fall, Santa abandoned ship, in efforts to save himself, I can only guess.  I set Mr. Claus aside and intended to glue him back, returning him to his position as conductor.  I never did.  The boy found him on the counter and wanted to play.   

And for six months, Kris Kringle has been H’s roommate.  Most days he rides around in his shiny car, and as he foolishly doesn’t wear a seatbelt, he falls out often (at least 100 times a day), which prompts, “Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Do?? Do?”  It’s tragic and serious.  Sometimes, he rides in the bus of all things collected (another time) and hides in bags, under pillows, in deep corners of the toy wagon, under beds, anywhere he pleases. When he appears to be missing, the sweet blue eyed-wonder gets this look in his eyes and we know he’s searching for his beloved Santa. Being a parent requires great investigative skills. I’ve always wanted to be an FBI agent. 

Every single time, we find that sneaky little jolly man in the red suit and we laugh because he’s like an inch tall and hasn’t been lost yet.  He’s always around, and that boy, he loves that silly little bit of painted wood.

It’s an unlikely friendship, but H is a good pal, because he keeps records of all his toys. Actually, we’ve only lost one toy ever, not counting the loud noisy ones that mysteriously disappear. I don’t know, I’ll never tell.

Oh hey, Santa just had a collision with the tractor.

holiday in the park

Wind. Water. Sunshine. Sand. Running in the park. Throwing rocks with daddy. Wearing cute hats.       This family is my favorite.

Memorial day 2011.

everyday magic no. 2

A cool spring breeze. A fleet of sailboats glide across the water, glowing, white sails decorate the vibrant blue waters.  This is not uncommon, as daily sailing clubs cross these waters, but today it feels like a parade in slow-motion.  It reminds me of summer days spent with friends.

He runs along the water’s edge, with the unhindered delight of a child who has watched the rain fall for days and at last the clouds are emptied and suns warms the earth and beckons to us, come out and play.  He collects rocks and tiny sticks that have washed onto the shore and as is the nature of little boys, he throws them one by one, back into the ripples.  With each splash, a bigger smile spreads across his face.  And I utter to God a request for my little family to always live near the sea.  For now, this lake will do.

In my arms, the breeze sweeps up her wild locks, shimmering gold and copper, a secret message revealed only in the sun.

Missing my favorite person, wishing he could watch our babies thriving in this moment given to us by our creator, but overwhelmed with gratitude for the hard work and time he gives for us. Tomorrow, we’ll bring him back.

-May 26, 2011

The H & H Weekly #13

 

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.

The H & H Weekly #12

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.

The H & H Weekly #11

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 H & H Weekly #9

I am overjoyed to report that at nine weeks old, little h is sleeping 6-8 hours straight at night.  {Fun fact: the very first night that big H slept the whole night through was Christmas Eve 2008… talk about the best Christmas present ever. He was 8 weeks old.} I’m so proud of my kids, they must get their sleeping skills from me.  Sleeping babies are the best.

This one is becoming his daddy’s shadow.  They are best friends.  Those boys of mine are terrific.

The H & H Weekly #8

This feature has pretty much become my version of a baby book. I love that, since the actual baby books I bought are in some box in one of the closets. I kept up with the little boy’s for like two weeks and then… nothing.  Personally, baby books feel too much like scrapbooking to me and please don’t hate me for this, but I’m not a scrap booker.

The mister informed me that when little h turned 2 months old that she would instantly become a daddy’s girl and I would no longer be her favorite.  Watching them together is possibly the sweetest thing in the world.

Big H is starting to help me in the kitchen.  He poured the chocolate chips into the bowl and enjoyed his first taste of cookie dough.  I think it changed his life.  Then his hands got dirty and he didn’t like that.  So, I washed them off and he reached for another bite. Silly.

snapshots

Little glimpses of my days. Tiny moments to treasure.  Everyday goodness. So much goodness. 

“Memory is the treasure house of the mind wherein the monuments thereof are kept and preserved.

John Fuller

The H & H Weekly 6 and 7

It appears that I missed a couple weeks, but it’s not like I wasn’t traveling the country or enjoying tons of family visits… so obviously, I have no good excuse.  I’m sure by now you are experiencing a serious H and H deficiency and I apologize. Silly life getting in the way of blogging.

P.S. Did you know that having two kids is a serious job?  You probably didn’t know.

So, here’s a look back at week 6 with my little H’s.

We bravely went where millions have gone before… a visit to the Mall of America, also known as the most insane place in the world. Also known as crazy, insanity land.  Also known as a place we never wish to return.  But we met Woody. So that’s cool.

 

This lovely is smiling like it’s her job, which it pretty much is.  Her other job is to be really cute, eat, sleep, and fill endless diapers.  What a tough little life.  But, seriously, most lovely smile ever.

 

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Week 7

This one spent the weekend with the daddy, while us girls were out of town.  He visited the children’s museum and from what I hear, he’s a big fan.

 

 

This little lady had a big week.  First flight on a airplane.  First time meeting all her aunties.  First visit to the ocean. Experiencing the warm spring air of Charleston, the feeling of the warm sunshine and the cool breeze (read: NOT FREEZING, BITTER WIND) on her face.  She kicked her little bare feet in delight in her stroller, as we took in the lovely city and the beautiful weather.  Literally, summer existed for the first time in her life and I know she was a little sad to come home to snow.  But she missed her daddy and brother very much and is happy to be home and not so busy.

Cars.

Since bloggers everywhere are celebrating the boy this month, I thought I’d share a little project that I sewed for my boy.

This one has a serious love of hot wheels, no doubt because of his hot wheels loving daddy.  It’s pretty much their thing.  I mean, he’s acquired quite the collection… good thing they are like a dollar a piece.  He even knows when one is missing and when this happens, it’s pretty much like the shepherd in the Bible who leaves all the sheep in search of the lost one.  It’s also super annoying because we have to guess which ONE is missing, to know what we’re looking for, but he knows.  He even sleeps with his cars, yes, he does.

For the longest time, he carried around his collection in a little shoe box. But wouldn’t you know, the shoebox died after a few months of love.  It was time for an upgrade.  One night, I whipped this up from a pair of old pants and some felt.  I added the car and letters in felt, because he knows all of his letters and I’m so proud. 

It took a few days for him to warm up to the switch, after we threw the box away, while he was asleep, but now he’s good and his collection has a suitable home.  Cars for everyone.  But… never, never matchbox cars.  Daddy’s rules.

The H & H Weekly #5

Haircut.  It was time.

This one is going to keep us on our toes. Already does.

The H & H Weekly #4

I wish you could hear how this one says “W,”  it’s the best ever.

Someone started smiling this week.  Melt my heart.

this little girl

     

my daughter. my second child. my sugar plum. my sweet little lady.   my cute, noisy, little piggy.  my little h.

she’s one month old today. 

it’s been a wonderful and exhausting month.

she’s a cuddler, a big eater, a noisy, but good sleeper, and umm, rather fussy good at making sure you know she’s not happy.

i love her.

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

 

“Joy is not in things; it is in us”

- Richard Wagner

The H & H Weekly #3

Here’s your weekly dose of those sneaky little things, who are very good at making demands and requiring all of your time and energy.  Good thing I like them.

look at those blue eyes.

  This one probably needs a proper  haircut, but it’s very Jude from Across the Universe and you know I love that.

Every time my mom comes over, she wants to brush his hair, part it smoothly, and tuck it behind his ears, which is something that she has been trying to do to me for my whole life.  Instantly, I give it a little toss and mess it back up.

because, we don’t brush our hair… we’re rock stars.

The H & H Weekly #2

This one is a big fan of being in the mei tai, because she gets to be snuggled up to mommy.  Double bonus for me: having her near and free hands.

This one is all about cars + trains.  He has quite the collection of hot wheels and always knows when one car is missing.  Let me tell you, the search for a missing car is no joke.