True Feelings

Most little girls love to have their photos taken. They will tell you they hate it...but deep down inside, they really like it. I found if you let them know, it's fun to be yourself and it's OK to like it. You don't have to pretend not too! This one had no qualms with that way of thinking.

her little brother... well he was a little more reserved. I'm pretty positive he didn't like the camera... even deep down. But it's OK.. I coaxed a few out of him anyway!

And it's always wonderful to see that deep down... your kids like to kiss you!

Song: Beautiful You, Monk and Neagle

Literary Genius

Today we are celebrating in my house...
If you haven't noticed, we celebrate A LOT.
What's not to celebrate? We're alive and able to enjoy all the awesomeness of everyday!!!

Today is Dr. Suess's Birthday.
He's pretty much amazing and he changed the way children read and hear things, plus his books are pretty insightful to most adults.

Luckily, my kiddo LOVES to read books. He absolutely loves the library and memorizing what I read to him (he's got the alphabet mostly down, but we working on a few words now!) The only problem is.. he picks out dinosaur books EVERY time. So in effort to get him to expand his horizon, we are going all Dr. Suess, all week.




Tonight we are having Green Eggs and Ham for supper so we needed a Suessish center piece. These remind me of Horton's flower! And of course I somehow managed to have a pair of these socks hidden away (I didn't buy them!)

And what dinner is complete without candles. Colorful Candles!!!

Now.. I challenge you to read "One Fish, Two Fish" as fast as you can without getting tongue tied!

In lieu of a song... here is "Cat in the Hat" narrated. And part two here.

Gone Bananas: Monkey Hat and Snack to Match

A few weeks ago I was checking out some baby photos of a fellow photographer and saw this little t-shirt. The monkey shirt. I HAD to have it. I searched and searched and searched. Found it and despite a little sticker shock, I got it.

After all, it matched Howard. The monkey I made when he was a baby.

When it arrived... my first thought..I could make this. My second thought. It needs a little something. Something extra.

So I went in search of Rockford Red Heel Socks (the original sock monkey socks, which can be found here at Murdochs or various places online)



It was actually a pretty easy process. Cut them just below the heel, and then cut them in half. Sew those two halves together. Then round the top off. Add a little nubby thing to the top and voila! There you have it... a sock monkey hat.

And what do little monkeys need to eat?..... bananas of course!

When I was in Thailand I had one of the easiest, yet most delicous desserts. It wasn't something that I would have ever thought of, but now love. I didn't have a name...(that I can remember) except banana-a-delicious!

Two simple ingredients: Coconut milk and sweetened condensed milk. Mix them up, heat it up and pour it over bananas. (though, while I was there, it was served to us more like a soup, but that's a little too much for an every day snack!) MMMMM!!!! So easy, yet so yummy!!!!!

Song: Banana Boat, Harry Belefonte (since it's his Birthday today!)

Royalty

She tip-toed around me in a tutu. She showed me the 5 positions of ballet (the last one we did together as the fifth position was always the hardest for me as well.) I asked her if she liked being a princess. Which princess was her favorite?
Her reply:
"I'm not a princess. "
"I'm a Queen!"
This girl... she knows what she wants! And she will be 4 shortly.

And this one... well are there any words really that can describe how adorable his little rolls are? Not really.

I couldn't wait to hold him. And he snuggled me instantly.

Ahhh...baby snuggles. Doesn't get much better than that!

Song: Queen of Hearts, Juice Newton

Him

Have you ever seen eyes that show so much in them? His are unique. Different. Special. Full of color and show every emotion he has. (And I'm not just saying this because he belongs to me!)They gleam when he's happy. He has a black look that makes you want to crawl into a corner sometimes. They break your heart with tears. They can light up your world. His eyes reveal so much of what he is inside. And he's only 4. He's one of those with an old soul. He was born that way.

Song: Heart of Mine: Peter Sallet

Just a Little Late

Last week we celebrated Fat Tuesday. I know it's a week late. Catching up seems to be somewhat of a past time for me these days. Fat Tuesday is a day of feasting. Celebrating. In a french manner.

I spent a few days in New Orleans last year. The mecca of Marti Gras and Fat Tuesday celebrations. While I was there, I definitely feasted. There was a certain little shop that I went into several times.

Aunt Sally's. The Praline shop. With samples.
I kept going back.

If you don't know what a praline is.... well, it's kind of like a soft candy. Mapley. Nutty. Caramely. Invented by the french and planted here in the south by them.

Now, after I ate a heaping bowl of jumbayla, I munched on a couple of these. Though I doubt they are quite Aunt Sally's, they still taste fabulously praliney. I used a recipe from the only Southern woman I could think of whose recipe I know would turn out great... Paula Dean:

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons dark corn syrup
1 cup evaporated milk
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups pecan halves

Directions
Butter the sides of a heavy 2-quart saucepan. Put the sugars, salt, corn syrup, milk, and butter in saucepan. Over medium heat, stir mixture constantly with a wooden spoon until sugars have dissolved and mixture comes to a boil. Continue to cook to a soft ball stage, approximately 236 degrees F on a candy thermometer. (If you do a cold water test, drizzle a drop of candy into a glass of cold water, the ball of candy will flatten between your fingers when you take it out of the water.) Remove from heat and allow it to cool for 10 minutes.
Add the vanilla and nuts, and beat with a spoon by hand for approximately 2 minutes or until candy is slightly thick and begins to lose its gloss. Quickly drop heaping tablespoons onto waxed paper. If the candy becomes stiff, add a few drops of hot water


Song: Les Yeux Overts, Beautiful South

Frozen Carrots

He says they are frozen blue carrots. I like to think he's right.

PS... those waiting for new projects (you know who you are) they are coming soon. I won't let the children down.

Personality

He just oozes it! It comes from every bit of him and this is what makes my job so fun!!! Sure I had to chase him. Sure I was huffing and puffing sometimes...but it was completely worth it to get these kinds of looks!

Song: Personality, Rocky Curtis

This Is How It's Done

I yelled "Kiss her! Kiss!!" He smiled and obliged. When I put the camera down, he whispered to me that he would have done that again and again without having to be asked.
And that's what makes them work.

I'm grandparent-less. In the last 8 years I have lost them all. These two have witnessed my heartbreak and always lent a shoulder. They have willingly and openheartedly become the fill ins for me, and even though waking up to the smell of bacon makes me miss my own family, it's makes me grateful to be part of this one as well.

I have watched the two of them argue. I have watched the two of them hold hands through every family wedding we've attended. He calls her "Mackie" something I've heard no one else call her. My son calls her Grandma Mac and Cheese (that's what he thought Mackie stood for), also a name no one else calls her. They are both stubborn. They are both hard headed. They both love each other fiercely.

A couple of years ago, she was struggling for her life. He kept vigil by her bedside for months and months and months. She was not expected to live and miraculously came around and is now home. The only place he wanted her to be. With him.

And this...this is how it's done. Love that is.

Song: Til I Kissed Ya, Everly Brothers

Love Grows

Valentines day has come to mean something a little different to me. Instead of all the pressure that comes with the holiday. You know the kind..."do I get a gift, do I give a gift, will it be enough, will it be too much, chocolate, no chocolate, flowers, etc"... and normally, because there is so much pressure, it normally leads to hurt feelings or fights. Half the of world is really happy. The other half is not, which I'm totally over at this point in my life. Spend some time with me that day. Make me smile...I'm good to go. The rest is just frosting on the cake.

I like to make the whole week fun for my kiddo. A week of love. Love for everyone all around us.


So today we took a picture of the two of us. We don't have many of these. They are few and far between. He's really cooperative most of the time and as few have seen even gets a little jealous when the camera is pointed elsewhere (yes, I created a little monster... kinda, but he's so stinking cute!!!!) We both love chucks. The shoes that is. And these were taken today.

This was taken 3 years ago. Oh my...how love grows and grows and grows.

Song: Love Grows: Edison Lighthouse

They Change

I haven't seen him in over a year. The last time, he was so shy, so quiet, so tiny.
This time, without missing a step, with sunglasses on (upside down), he came to me and said
"Yo, Yo!" in his coolest rapster voice. I knew we would have a ball!

He traveled to see me. From down south and then I kept him outside for probably too long. But it was so fun to see him run and laugh and play. Even though his pale little nose turned bright red.

Song: Everybody's Changing, Keane

What Do You See?

Sometimes when I'm out and about I notice things. And maybe I notice things in a different way because my mind works in a slightly more obscure way.

But this particular day, I thought to myself:
This little flower.
Cold in the winter.
Roughly resembles
A flower that Dr. Suess would use in his books.

It sticks out.
It look like it has hair.
And it kind of twirls in the wind.
.
.
.
Makes me want to rhyme.
All the time.
All the day
In a wacky wonderful way.


Song: See the World,Gomez

Another One

Seems like around here there is constantly a project going on, if not two or three at a time. It's no wonder I can't keep up. Something is being painted, redone, hammered on, or broken at all times. This little project was done a couple weeks ago.

The first giant meal I cooked here, I felt lost in my kitchen. I just kinda kept wandering around. There were five other people in there with me and not once did I bump into them... it was a strange feeling. So.. I moved in some lonely furniture. I went to the antique store and picked up a little table with no top. I knew I could save it. I just knew I could. So home with me it went.

It's top got a new tile job via my husband...(with my vision of course!)

New knobbies. And a towel rack (which wasn't installed when I took these, but I didn't want to re-take them)

And now I have a place to stop when I'm cooking. A place that my little boy can reach with ease and I'm sure one day will tower over it (given the rate at which he's growing... he's lanky and skinny and TALL!) It's a place where the oranges sit (no I don't just have those there for decoration!) It's a place where cookie sheets sit to cool down. It's a perfect addition to the kitchen! Now... about those walls.....

Song: Working on a Dream, Bruce Springsteen

Beauty

Perspective

Sometimes I come home from my day, walk into my house, throw on the most comfortable clothes I own (which are normally old worn out sweatshirts that I have for ten years), curl up under a blanket with the sleepy little one I just woke from a nap and snuggle. Quietly.

I look around me and think to myself how lucky I am. How much I have. How much I haven't lost and the things I do gripe about, the little things that bother me, the tiny things that shouldn't be thought about twice....are let go. Because someone out there, while I'm being bothered by little things, is dealing with something so much bigger. So much harder. From that... I gather perspective.

Today was one of those sometimes. And the little things have been let go. It's a good feeling.

Song: Heart of Life: John Mayer

She Had Them All

Looks that is. She had them all. Happy, sad, ornery, calm... she had them!!!! I'm so glad I got to play with her for a little while!!

Song: She's got the look: Roxette

ABC's

I'm beginning to think that learning the ABC's (not singing, but recognizing and putting letters together and learning the sounds, etc) is a lot like potty training.....where patience is a virtue and they will learn when they are ready. Slowly we are learning.

I have a friend in Canada that inspired me to put my letters together. I took these two years ago, and filed them away. Back in the day when car rides would put my kiddo to sleep. This was our car ride letter adventure. He, at that time, knew the alphabet song, and it isn't until now we are using these every day.

So, this is for my baby. For his room. To help. To spark creative juices. Because I love him so.

Song: Alphabet Song:Vivaremi

Times Two

The mama of this baby has been through an amazing yet trying time. It has been a road of happiness and hiccups. One that I can't even imagine walking down.

But she gets to see these eyes every day.

And these.

And this look.

And those pursed lips.

And those.

And share a part in this bond every. single. day.

Song: If you were here, Thompson Twins