Upon reflection

In looking over my posts of the past two years I see a person very happy with their life but perhaps a bit too idealistic. Should any of my posts have offended anyone I do say "we all have our flaws". I have recognized this tendency in me and hope to bring some reality in to bear on it. I can still have my dreams but I think a little less opinion and a little more understanding might help the balance of my generally self-centered personality. and for the rest of you who are totally confused by this post, I can't help you. lol. it's after 11 and I'm rambling.

budget makeover

alright for those of you who asked. . . (okay so no one did but let's pretend) . . .here are the pics of my newly redone master bedroom. Of course I think there would be more in it if I had money for it but I don't so. . .here is a pic of my old bedding, simple but not exciting and there was NOTHING on the walls. (love renting!, not)

so I began by covering my futon, which had a nuetral with blueish sort of abstract print in a white down comforter (college lame I know, but the look is clean and simple at least). Then I searched for bedding. Bedding is ridiculously expensive people. Finally I found this comforter/sham set at target for $30. yeah baby! It is a really fun lime/sort of avacado green. Super springy. Then I recovered some pillows in fabric I fell in love with at joannes (about $8). My mom began them for me but in the end I had to hand stitch them and NO I will not be posting close up. lol. A few changes in accessories for the nightstands (jeremy got me the gorgeous vase for mother's day $23) and we are well on our way. The last element was the picture. I was DETERMINED to find art for the bed wall that I wouldn't have to put a screw or gigantic hole in it for. Finally (thank you Ross I love you) I found this canvas print of tulips for $19.99. Score! It looked good with all my random bright accent colors and added the softness and coziness I was looking for in my now pretty much white room. Of course I wouldn't mind if the walls were more ivory to warm up the room but everyone knows you don't paint a rental unless you have to so I am happy with results. well, for under $100 what do you think?

success!

Success is: my kindergartener going the full school year without getting a tummy bug.

what's your definition? feel free to comment.

Goodbye Aquarium

Today was the last day of our Aquarium membership. I didn't realize how much I enjoyed taking the kids until I realized we wouldn't be going for a while. We took our time at the flannel fish wall and amazingly enough we saw just about everything get fed which NEVER happens. The octopus was active and trinity got to reach out and put her hand right on the glass where it was. That octopus is not usually so much fun but today she was putting on a show. There was a diver in both fish "walls" hand feeding the fishies. It was so much fun for trinity and blake to see the fish pulling the little bits of food apart; even taking some right out of the divers' hands! We also saw the mommy/daughter otters sharing food with each other. It was very cute. To mark the occasion of the end of what has been a great year of fishy watching I bought each of the kids a book and signed it with the date of our membership. Oh, and we each got one of the Aquarium's famous lemon/ginger fish cookies. Trin picked the octupus, blake picked the seahorse, and I got a yellow finned something or other. Doesn't really matter as I ate the whole thing in about five minutes! As we left the Aquarium and walked the beautiful Seattle waterfront in the full summer sunshine I was extremely grateful for my children, and the beautiful area we live in; but mostly for the fact that I can enjoy it whenever I want. I know in previous posts I have vented about the boringness of being at home or my frustration with never being part of the "providing" for the family, or other such business stuff but in reality I wouldn't trade my time with the kids. The fact that I get to take them on these daytrips and see their smiles as they touch the starfish or hear them laughing at the seal's antics is precious in so many ways. I get it. Some moms have to work and even find fulfillment in their work and if I did work , that is exactly what I would hope for. Still, in this moment I am utterly unmotivated by money or success and purely happy with the chance to share this life (who knows how long we have) with the only people that really matter. My family. I am not bound by the expectation of a boss or stressed by the productivity or lack thereof of a company or even that of a team. It's just me and the kiddos learning and exploring and investing time in each other and you know what? I totally think it's going to pay off.

Let Summer Begin

this weekend we were able to travel with a couple of families to the Oregon coast and boy did we have fun! We lucked out with a GORGEOUS rental house (thanks bella beach vacation cottages) and SUNSHINE. That's right all you seattle-lites that haven't seen over 75 degrees yet this year, it was loverly! here are some pics to prove it.

Blake wasn't too fond of the beach but would warm up to it each time we were there and by the end of the day was digging away in the sand. Trinity and Amy cracked me up running from the waves. All the kids got wet even though the water was freezing! Crazy kids. So thankful for family friends and long weekends that make the everyday a little more special.I love traveling with other families, it means the children get entertained by their friends and the grown ups get to stay up late playing fun games and eating treats! lol.

Of course I just love being by the ocean. I could see it/ hear it from our rental and the last evening Jeremy and I were able to enjoy the sunset, which was bliss. The water takes on some amazing colors in the twilight hour.

Trinity's Last Day of Kindergarten

Well it has come and gone and I am a little sad. I mean, first grade is like the beginning of the end right? Call me melodramatic but I feel like baby days are gone for good. I struggle to even remember her as an infant and have to close my eyes to picture the details of her behavior/look before she was a toddler. Thank heavens I made all those adorable scrapbooks to remember her by. No one else may care but I am sure I will be weeping over them in about 12 years. (that's right folks, she will be graduating then). also included some pics of blake in his linus t-shirt. My current fave. A little bird said that last weekend when grandma and grandpa had him but not his blanket there was NO thumb sucking. Uh-oh. Blankie might have to go bye-bye. yeah, I'm soooo not ready for that. I guess we will try the thumb splints first?

Song

well if you look about four posts down you will see a poem called terrible beauty. today I put music to it and I *think* I am happy with it. It's a breath of fresh air to have some progress in this house! lol. of course mostly to the detriment of my children. . .they ten do get ignored when I get going on something at the piano.

Whistler

I had a great time reconnecting with my sister and her husband for our birthday in Whistler! Friends and grandparents took the kids off our hands for a couple of days and away we went. It was fun to walk to shops, admire the scenery and spend time together. For those of you who don't know, Natalie and I are practically joined at the hip and we do not like going prolonged amounts of times away from each other. most of the time around the village it was nat and I walking together with the boys behind us. Jeremy said he didn't mind the view. *snicker*. He also commented to Daniel that if they ever died nat and I would be living together in a flash. well no duh! Thanks for a great birthday Nat! loves!