A family

This morning I walked into a warm house with my little boy (I don't normally take him to shoots, but this morning was an exception) and was greeted by a boisterous loving family full of cousins at all different ages. It was a fun morning and I'm so glad I got the chance to meet them all! Also, thank you for letting my little one run around the madness!!!!

Earth Day....A Day Late

This year our project took a little longer than one afternoon. We had to spread it out over a couple of days. We made beads out of newspaper. Our attempt didn't quite come out as I had envisioned, none-the-less...it's a pretty fun project and could be mastered over time to make some really beautiful things.

There isn't much too these. It's pretty simple paper mache. Just a little time consuming.
First you get a small pile of newspaper and pour boiling water over it until it's covered. Let it break down for an hour or so. You can puree them in the blender if you want. Squeeze most of the water out of it and then pour glue over the top. Enough that it will stick together. Then roll into tiny little balls. Let dry for a couple of days.

If you want super round perfect beautiful beads, sand them down. If you don't, then paint them. (I didn't sand mine down and I wish I had, it would have made them a little more stone like) Several layers of plain acrylic paint. When they are dry you can sand some of the layers off so the other colors show through. Varnish.

Drill a hole in the middle of them and make whatever your little heart desires. I made a pair of earrings and a necklace. Great project for kiddos. It's a good mess maker!!!!!

Suuuuun Shiiiine!!!!!

Nothing beats a day when you spend the afternoon out on the veranda of your favorite coffee shop with your favorite little boy.
Nothing beats the looks of other people, the smiles he brings to others by just being him.
Nothing beats getting to be outside in just a camisole and no sweater and no snow boots.
Nothing beats laying in grass that is starting to turn green or finally seeing flowers emerge.
Nothing beats watching the joy of a boy who can run wild and free.
Nothing beats vitamin D.
Nothing beats an instant mood change or an upbeat attitude.



I wish I would have come up with this idea, but I can't take credit. My son's daycare teacher is one of the most creative, energetic, move all the time, kind of people I've ever met. And I'm thankful that he gets to spend a little time with her everyday. There isn't a day that he doesn't come home with an armful of things he's done and learned.

Today he came home with these. Fancy huh?!!! I LOVE THEM!!!


I love them because he looks like this!!!!! I can't take credit for the glasses, but the kiddo is all mine!!!!

It's All In The Eyes

I have to admit... I really love the serious looks of this little guy. I've gotten pretty used to them since I met him. I love it! He says it all with his eyes.

Quite a Pair

She really knew how to pose and he really knew how to steal a heart. Quite a pair they were!!!

Sharp Dressed

They looked like they were ready to head to the Kentucky derby. Extremely sharp and extremely gorgeous!!!

The Beginning

They were my first set of twins... and I have to say, I was kind of glad I didn't have to chase after them as it would have worn me out!!!

They are about to embark on a new adventure.... the real world. They will be graduating from college in just a couple weeks. The beginning. So exciting. So new. So real.

Noodles

I woke up this morning to several inches of snow and more to come, wind blowing, taking everything with it to Timbuktu. The schools were closed which always means I will be staying home for the whole day. YAY.......snow day!!!! (Sometimes weather warnings lead to good things.

I'm still in my pajamas, so is my son....it's 3:00 in the afternoon.

I built a fort 4 times over now.

I played with race cars.

I caught myself up on digital photo alums.

I laid in front of the fire.

I danced.

I chased. I was chased.

I made yogurt.

I napped.

I also made noodles.

I come from a traditional German family on my mom's side. I have two very different backgrounds in my blood. The other is Polish (and a little bit of Irish.) I find it ironic that those are the things that run through my veins as the stern German in me tends to be at battle with the whimsy of the Pollack.

My Grandmother, Elsie, was the German. She also made it a point to bring native food to our table during holidays. (That and diry jokes) Things like strudel, dumplings and cabbage burgers (something to this day I've never eaten and probably won't) She also made noodles. Lots of noodles. Recently, my god-mother decided that her pasta maker be passed onto me. I was elated.

On top was a label... "noodle machine".... in her handwriting. It took my breath away when I first saw it. Sometimes you never know how much you miss something until you happen upon it again unexpectedly. Handwriting for me is something that always pulls at those tucked away strings. Writing itself is a dying art. I wish it wasn't.

Noodles are one of the most simple things on earth to make. You don't have to have a pasta maker to make them. You can just cut them. (But the machine makes it go a thousand time faster!)

The simple recipe for them is this:

1cup flour

1 egg

1/2 cup milk.

That's it!!!!

They have to be a little dryer, so you might have to add a little flour if they are too sticky. Once they are ready, just cut them or run them through the machine. Let them dry for several hours (they must be separated), until all the moisture is gone and then cook. (Mine are still drying!)

A Request...

I know I've been a little absent from blog lately. I know I've been slacking it up badly. My photos are lacking color. My words are lacking excitement.
Here's the thing.....
I keep getting emails like this:

"Winter Storm Warning for Cheyenne Foothills, WY from 12 am MDT, Fri., Apr. 17, 2009 until 12 pm MDT, Sat., Apr. 18, 2009Issued by The National Weather ServiceCheyenne, WY 12:44 pm MDT, Thu., Apr. 16, 2009... WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON MDT SATURDAY... "

And then I go to bed, hide under a warm quilt and wait for it to end.

It's like nails on a chalkboard for me this time of year. I want it to be over already. Winter is suppose to last through the months of November to February. But noooo, here on the prairie, it only goes from March through May and Christmas is nearly a heat wave. Our climate in my native state has changed drastically in my lifetime and it's driving me batty!

Today though, I'm protesting the impending snow. I drove immediately to the flower shop to buy gerbera daisies after receiving the storm warning....... I needed them. My house needed them. I'm bringing spring into my life whether it wants to be here or not!!!

So dear, dear mother nature, even though my backyard needs your moisture.... bring back the sunshine soon.

oh and that's the little pitcher I painted at the pottery shop....I'm addicted and will be going back soon!

The Easter Bunny's Transportation

My son has a thing with the Easter Bunny. Doesn't really care for him at all really. He doesn't like the idea of a giant bunny sneaking into his house at night. Yesterday he seemed to have made his peace with him.

Even gave him a little hug.

Then he got to see thousands of eggs being dropped from a helicopter for him to chase after. (There were 40 thousand eggs total and to be honest, I've never been more impressed with an event and how smoothly it went for having 8 thousand people present, props to the Elements Church for putting it on for our town.)

Now, I've always dreamed of dressing my little boy up in seersucker clothes and matching hat and sending him off into the grass with hundreds of others for an egg hunt. Doesn't happen in Wyoming. We were in in winter coats, hats, blankets, gloves and by the end of the day there was snow. I fear my dream probably won't ever come true. That's beside the point.

We got eggs, just the right amount, brought them home, ate all the candy and crashed at the end of the day. But before he shut his little eyes he yelled to me..."mommy I need to talk to you!!!!"

Clearly upset. Clearly had thought about this all day.

"Mommy..... I don't want the Easter Bunny to come here. Can you tell him to just stay in his helicopter. I just don't want him to take my eggs back. Tell him to stay in his helicopter and go away."

This morning he woke to refilled eggs scattered over the house. He told me he was glad the Easter Bunny didn't listen to me.

Just because...

It's spring and I love grape hyacinth.

Cherry Blossoms

So I saw a picture in a magazine a few months ago that I thought I needed to try this week. It took me a good 3 hours to figure this one out. Luckily...there are videos. I love videos for learning and making things. In the olden days, one would have to go to the library, get a book, drive all the way home and then try to figure it out with pictures. Now.... I just watch a quick video. Technology. Some days I love it.

So here is the video I watched, and watched and watched. Origami is harder than I thought it would be. Then I became a little obsessed with the little flowers. I was making them at the dinner table.

We don't exactly have an overabundance of cherry blossoms around here, and I've never been fortunate enough to visit the East in the Spring to see them. (It's on the list), so I decided to make my own. Mind you they are a little different, but you still get the picture. Plus.......little boys LOVE to collect sticks! It would probably look more realistic if the sticks were darker.

Is He Related To The Hulk?

Doubt it.... he's a little scrawny for that. But this is what happens when Easter Egg coloring goes awry.

Pottery Painting

In my younger years I was never really interested in pottery. It wasn't really my type of art, and I was pretty big on art. I didn't know what to do with bowls and plates, I didn't think you could hang them on the wall, therefore they weren't my thing.
And then I grew up.
Then I started cooking.
Then I started traveling.
Then I started bringing the stuff home from all over the world.
And now... it's my kind of thing. I can't get enough. I would love to someday be able to make my own (though I don't think I'll ever own a kiln or anything like that....I just want to borrow someone else's studio for a day or something!!!)
Today, Park and I painted our own pieces at this great place here called Graffito. I've been meaning to go for a while now, but haven't had the chance, or taken the time. I took the chance today. It WAS A BLAST!!!! They had sooooo many things to choose from and if I was independently wealthy I would have spent a fortune there! Plus, it's extremely kiddo friendly. They cater to them actually. I don't know the first thing about painting pottery and I was insanely timid. (which I'm normally not, when it comes to painting things) because I have no idea how it will turn out after it's fired. The colors are not as they seem when you put them on. It's like drawing with invisible markers. I let Park pick out everything himself. Color everything himself....I'm pretty sure everything will be a weird brown or grey color. It'll be awesome!!!!

A Keeper

While I love the tradition of coloring Easter eggs and it's always a big night at my house, I sometimes like to make things with my kiddo that I can keep for the next year. So... this year we made one, just one, because A. that's all I had in the fridge as I was a little lazy about going to the grocery store whilst it was blizzarding out and B. that's all the attention span my kiddo has. (Epsecially when he doesn't feel well) I've learned not to push him too far unless he's really interested in things.

We decoupaged an egg. I had to blow it out (yes I risked salmonella...I'm a rebel that way) which I had not done since 4th grade. It took longer than I remembered. And poking holes into eggs was also a little harder than I remembered. Next we just tore little pieces of paper and dipped them in a water glue mixture and stuck them on haphazardly. 3 year olds love haphazardness. Today I put some polyurethane on it to make it shiny (it's all I could find around the house!)