Heavenly Scent

Karen stopped by a few days ago and dropped off these amazing peonies to thank me for baking all of those cookies.  The scent from these blooms is absolutely amazing!  I have them in the front hallway, and can literally smell them all over the house.  It is heavenly.

At times I think it would be wonderful to have peony bushes in the garden because I love the way they look and smell so much.  But then I remember the ones my Leicht Oma had, and how they were highways for ants.  I may have to just enjoy the ones from other people's gardens!

Paloma and Pup

This is Pup, Paloma's new best buddy.  When we woke up today, Paloma told me that it was Pup's birthday!  We dressed Pup up in her favorite clothes and got ready for her party.

Since a party isn't complete without a yummy treat, we whipped up Pup's favorite - Banana Chocolate Chip muffins.  And they sure were yummy!  Since it's not even noon yet, I wonder what the rest of the day will bring for Paloma and Pup.  

blueberries

I bought a blueberry bush a loooooong time ago this past spring, when I had full intentions of getting a raised garden started full of vegetables, some fruits, and a cutting garden.  How did the time go by so quickly?  I haven't even begun to start the garden, and my blueberries are already turning blue!  I am promising myself to visit the garden center tomorrow to check out what I need to get and what to do, and then I am going to get planting.  

Stencil Crazy

 

Yesterday I had all day to play with more freezer paper stencils.  I just can't get over how easy and satisfying it is to make a custom graphic for our shirts!

This is the only one for me so far.  I am realizing how I have a very plain style - there hasn't been an image that has tempted me so far.  I did really like this silhouette of me and the kids, but notice how it's tiny and at the bottom.  I guess I don't like to be noticed much.  

I did a really great one of Lio and Paloma holding hands for one of John's shirts.  It was supposed to be for Father's Day, but he did some internet snooping (ok - he was trying to be helpful and research for me) and happened to see the idea I was going for.  But it did turn out really great and he loves it!  (For some reason the blog keeps rotating the picture I took of it, so I will try again another time to show it.)

More birds for Paloma.

A stencil made from Paloma's kitty cat drawing.

And of course, the different dragon varieties for Lio.  This one took forever, but he's all excited to wear it to school tomorrow.  I want to make more for him, but he's being a dud about it and said he doesn't want anymore.  Doesn't he realize how great they are?!  Obviously not.  But not caring what I lay out for him to wear, he won't even notice when I do all of the t-shirts he owns!

Did lots more.  Will post another time! 

Ribbit Ribbit

Our Memorial Day weekend has really felt like the beginning of summer!  The weather got really hot and humid, and we saw the first mosquitos of the season (boo hoo!)  We have still yet to join the pool, and we are all really looking forward to swimming all summer long.

The beginning of summer also brings the sounds of the frogs mating.  Sometimes it's hard to sleep with the windows open because they are so loud!!!

Lio and John caught this cute little guy in our yard.  I was surprised and happy that Lio was so comfortable holding him.  He's been into learning all about frogs and toads, but hasn't been too into holding them.  Until now.  Maybe this is the beginning of frogs and worms and all kinds of critters hiding in pockets and finding their way into the house!

Bring it on!  Along with the lazy and hot days of summer!

sample

It's 11 p.m. and I just finished frosting the flower cookies for tomorrow's graduation party.  Each cookie is different, and here's just a little sample of how they turned out.  Whew!  150!  

150

Whew!  Today was a baking day.  I baked 150 flowers and centers for my friend Karen's party this weekend, honoring the graduation of her daughter, Alex.  Tonight I will frost with the royal icing, and tomorrow add patterns and details to the centers with butter cream frosting and attach together.  Whew! 

zoo trip

Today I got to go along with Lio's class on a field trip to the zoo.  I had this group of little guys, and they were all pretty great.  I was a little afraid when I learned that the hyper kid had Mountain Dew and candy packed as his lunch - but he was the one who kept our group together and even insisted on holding hands most of the time!  Of course there was a totally different flow to our trip than when I'm with just Lio and Paloma.  I must have said one million times "use your walking feet", "stay with our group", but it was much better than I expected, and gave me such an appreciation for what a great kid Lio is.  The other two guys weren't really interested in learning little facts about the animals like my kids usually are.  At one point, one of the boys said, "Lio, you are so smart about animals!"  That made me really proud of him.  It was also nice to see him around other kids, just being himself.  At lunch one of the kids offered him a piece of candy (yes, the Mountain Dew kid), and Lio then offered him a cookie.  Such a simple thing, but really nice to see.
My favorite part of the day was feeding the giraffes!  We have been trying for a year to do this, and finally timed it right.  We purchased some crackers and the giraffes came right up to the fence to eat them.  Those kids have no idea how lucky they are.  I didn't even see a giraffe until I was in college, and still haven't had a chance to feed one!

newest obsession

There are some pretty amazing blogs out there - full of creative and inspiring ideas that I just can't wait to try out!  My latest find was from designingmoms.blogspot.com (sorry - haven't had time to figure out how to link for you yet!).  After reading their 'how to' on making stencils out of freezer paper, I knew I would be hooked.  I searched out many more sites on freezer paper stencils, and found so many amazing ideas.  The flicker page on freezer paper was especially inspirational! 

So here's my first attempt - a requested bunny from Paloma:  

It turned out pretty cute, and now I am obsessed with covering all of Lio and Paloma's clothes with custom graphics.  And they are so incredibly easy!  The possibilities are endless.

 

We had a plan for John's Father's Day gift - a t-shirt with a silhouette of the kiddos.  He ruined the surprise, though, when searching for ideas for me he came across an example of exactly what we were planning on doing!  We're still gonna do it, though.  And don't be surprised when you get a custom t-shirt on your next special occasion.  I love them!!!  Will post more as we make 'em!

Curb Appeal

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Who could forget the crazy windstorm we had here last fall?!  Our big Bradford Pear tree came down, which was sort of a blessing since it was getting too big and overgrown.  I couldn't make the decision to get it cut down, so Mother Nature took care of the decision for me.  Although I still think it takes away so much privacy from our house, I'm getting used to it not being there.  

With the absence of that big tree, the "wrongness" of the white shutters, white lights and gray door stood out even more.  This past weekend, we finally got the painting of the shutters and door complete.  Now we just need to get those lights changed!  Originally John and I thought we would just paint them black, but something's telling me that it is going to end up a bigger mess and we would be better of buying new ones.  The door color still isn't right, has no presence from the street, kind of just blends in, but will have to do for now since the color I wanted couldn't be color matched exactly.  I wanted a deep olive/moss green - why is that so hard to find in an exterior paint?  

Thanks again goes to Mother Nature for the "wind damage" on the roof, allowing insurance to pay for a new black one.

And I'm loving the landscaping we put in.  It's finally starting to leap a bit and fill in.  If I had to choose plants all over again, I wouldn't change a thing!

Now we just need to get the stump from the tree dug out, and the trench filled in, and I think we are done w/the curb appeal for awhile.  Whew!

Tempting

A few days ago a mama kitten found her way into our neighbor's garage and had 4 kittens!  The cream colored one is named Marshmallow, and it's the one that Lio was instantly drawn to.  He didn't pay too much attention to the others, but kept picking Marshmallow up and snuggled with her.

I have to admit that I am pretty tempted to keep Marshmallow as a pet.  She really is a cutie.  But I won't.  We (meaning John and the kids!) will just have to keep up the weekly visits to the pet store, where the pets can be enjoyed but not be brought home. 

order complete

I did it!  Finished the order, and even made a different, smaller style of the baby blooms in case the ones from the other day were still too big for some.  Next on the list - printing and cutting and adding ribbons to tags.  Delivery tomorrow.  

Astronaut Ice Cream

While we were out and about today, we saw Astronaut Ice Cream.  Have you ever had astronaut food?  It's pretty strange stuff - has the flavor of the real food, but is freeze dried and has a really weird consistency and texture.  After having a sample, Lio decided that he was going to be an astronaut paleontologist when he grows up.  Looking for dino bones on the moon, all so he can enjoy a delicious astronaut treat!  (I thought it was pretty gross.) 

baby blooms

I have been working on a new order for The Spotted Goose - smaller barrettes for babies seem to be in demand!  I personally love a big bloom on a little girl, but I guess I am not as typical as most when it comes to taste.  I really liked working on the design for the new style.  I get a lot of satisfaction out of coming up with designs and color combinations that I haven't seen before.  I know that felt barrettes are nothing new, but I do try to be original and not take someone else's creativity.  I hope that others will have the same respect for me!  You would think these would take less time, but they really do not - must be the scale and working smaller.  These haven't been completely stitched together yet - hope to finish them up tonight and give them that special touch.  I also have some fruit barrettes, some flat flowers and some ponytail poms to work on this week.  The big incentive to get my order done... new running shoes with my pay!

artworks

Today Lio brought home his artwork for the quarter from his kindergarten art class.  Here's the picture he drew and painted of our house.  It's pretty cute (even after going to the art show and realizing there was a "formula" to follow since everyone's looked just about the same)!

 
This is his self-portrait that was on display at the Amelia library.  Love those thumbs!  (Paloma even commented on how chubby they were!)  Love those ears!  Just a year ago I remember how upset I was when his pre-school teacher said he wasn't drawing stick figures yet.  I knew this wasn't true because he was drawing detailed dinosaurs at home.  

He hasn't sat down to draw in a really long time.  It used to be the first thing he did when he got up in the mornings.  I hope he gets back to it, but lately he says that he isn't good at drawing.  He just wants everything to look realistic and perfect, and gets upset when he can't do it.  I can relate to how he feels, but wish I could help him get over it!  

new shoes

Love these new shoes.  Love the girl who wears them.

Cookie Fiasco

Ok, so the preparations that have kept me busy for the past couple of days involved making Lio's birthday dragon cookies.  It literally took me 2 days to create them, and I have to say that I am disappointed in how they turned out.  I used my new favorite sugar cookie recipe - makes the fluffiest cookies that aren't too sweet.  That was my 1st mistake.  The dragon cookie cutter was so big that the soft cookies couldn't take the pressure.  The 2nd problem was the cookie cutter itself - it didn't lay flat and had so many intricate edges that made the cookies hard to cut out.  Between the cutting out and baking, many many dragons lost wings, tails and heads.  And did I mention that because of the size I could only bake 5 at a time?  

The frosting didn't go much better.  It was late, I was tired, I gave up on going for the detail.

I had to individually wrap cookies for Lio's class.  Yes!  You guessed it - more broken cookies.  

Since Lio doesn't care too much for cake or cupcakes, I feel like I should go all out on his cookies.  I guess next year I should start a week early!  I think he liked them, though.

  

no more

I really did have hopes of posting little glimpses of Lio's birthday today.  We did truly have a wonderful day - a perfect day for him.  It was all about Lio - things he liked to do and see.  But in the midst of his great 6th Birthday, Paloma was sick.  Coughing, stuffy nose, fever, throwing tantrums sick.  So between giving them both the attention they needed, there was time for no more.  Fill you in later!

Birthday Wishes from a Dragon

Today is Lio's 6th Birthday!!!  (Preparations have kept me busy, so that's why no posts for a few days.  Maybe I'll do a few extra today to share the festivities.)  

A few days ago, Lio wrote a letter to a dragon and placed it outside.  Today, of all days, the dragon visited!  How do we know?  We have proof.  There are scorch marks on the letter that Lio left for him, and the dragon decided to leave his own message for Lio on a rock.  It was written in dragon script, of course, so Lio decoded the message right away.

Here is what the message said:

What a magical way to start the day!

1st game - Go Panthers!

Tonight was Lio's 1st T-Ball game!  I was so proud of him.  He didn't seem nervous at all, and once he realized that the big trophy comes at the end of the season, not after the 1st game, we were all good.  The purple Panthers were in the outfield first, and Lio actually stopped a rolling ball and threw it in.  After that, any ball that was in his area he ran after!  It was pretty cute seeing the little purple swarm go after those balls.  When it was his turn to bat, he did a great job and got to run through the bases.  I was pleasantly surprised at the "philosophy" of the T-Ball league - they don't keep track of runs, there are no strikes (if the kids don't hit the ball after 5 or so pitches they bring the T out - this is where Lio is), and they let everyone on the team have a chance at bat before the teams trade spots.  It's not competitive and was just lots of fun.  The other team's coach even helped our guys out when they were up at bat.  I hope Lio has fun, and that we have a great season.  Go Panthers!