The unexpected day

It's been getting pretty warm here during the day. Low 80s. Goodbye cool weather! I am sad to see you go (because I know what summer brings around here...). And my air conditioner is not currently working. I have a landlord who is rather blasé about the whole thing. "Oh, we'll fix it when it gets warm." Ahem. It's warm. Please come fix it. "Are you sure it's not frozen over?" Frozen over? I haven't used it all winter!! I imagine it's nice and warmed up for cooling off my 85 degree living room. Nope. Still not working.

So this morning I woke up to a gorgeous chilly morning. (A morning I would have been getting ready to go to the airport to visit even chillier weather).) I opened all of the windows and turned on the fans to encourage as much cool air to come in and mingle with us as possible. My plan was to shut all the windows and blinds at 10 to trap it in. Mwahahahaha. That's my evil plan, chilly air! But. (Dun dun dun) I heard the pull of a lawn mower starting up, and before I knew it, it was 9:15 and the entire front half of my small home was filled with fumes burning the back of my throat. Gross. So I raced trough the house shutting windows, lighting a candle to replace the fumes with coconut cream pie goodness (find it HERE). We'll see how long I can trap in the coolness.

No matter how much we plan things to happen, they will decidedly throw us a curve ball now and then. And I am getting better at looking back and admiring the handiwork that is not of my own design, that recreates an even better situation than I could have done myself.

So come back tonight, and I will be posting the second half of this unexpected, undetermined day. I hope it does not include the lines "and we suffered through a stuffy afternoon in our 85 degree living room." Now I am off to pick up the whirlwind of packing/unpacking mess, and save Maya from a morning of eating goldfish off of the floor beneath her highchair.

Updates

This is kind of a business-ish post, but it was easier than calling or e-mailing a bunch of people. So I was all set to leave town tomorrow afternoon on a flight to Texas for a few weeks. Because of a last minute change of plans, I won't be leaving until the 27th or 28th. Here are the details:

• We've been sick. I am over it. But Finn and Maya are still wrapping things up. Their runny noses are hanging in there, but they seem to feel fine otherwise. Burbank crowd, I am here for another week and a half. Let's play (as soon as we're back to 100% in a few days).

• Mesa crowd, I will be in Mesa from the 28th-2nd. I would love to have a park play date while I am there so that I can see you!! We'll be in touch.

• I'll be in Texas until April 21st. Granbury crowd, well, you generously arranged all of this, and therefore know all the details.

• I have my computer back. That's right! It's back. I am still not doing any custom design work. Please don't e-mail me asking me to redesign your blog as a totally custom creation, or to look just like Stephanie Nielson's blog, or Angela Henrie's blog, or something new of your own imaginings. I know. I am such a meanie (did I just lose a follower?). As much as I LOVE comments and e-mails, and as much as I LOVE designing, I just can't take on ANY design work right now. I have an unbelievably busy husband who is literally in school 14+ hours every single day of every single week (he is even giving up his well-earned Spring Break to take on a photo job to help pay for this crazy-busy-but-totally-worth-it school of his). So you see, I just have no spare hours in the day to do any custom design work (among other things). BUT! You can visit Beautify My Blog to freshen up your blog with ready made designs. I added new seasonal designs, too. AND! We have a new shop called Beautify My Life with designs and products inspired by our blog designs. So check it out! See some of the items we offer, below. Click on the logo to visit the shop:




OK. I'm off to unpack. HA! (Well, my cool weather clothes, at least...)

Bookish

There is nothing so delightful as a good page turn—whether fast or slow.
The flutter of the page. The drag of the paper's subtle tooth against my fingertips.
How alive a book is. And how alive it makes me.

I've been doing a lot of research lately on various things. And while it's satisfying in one way, it leaves something to be desired in another. I am not lost in anyone else's literary world created just for me. My bedside table is too small to hold the stacks of non fiction library books piled next to my bed. I kind of miss a single story resting within arms reach.

This series is one of my favorites, and I think it will be my next re-read (if I can ever find my copy of the first book in the series). Griffin and Sabine is truly an extraordinary correspondence. Click on the image to learn more about this amazing series with fantastic illustrations, pieces that you can actually pull out and discover, and a unique love story:

What's on your bedside table?

iPhone Archive

Being without my laptop makes me a lazy photographer, since I can't edit or upload them. So I've been iPhone-ing it. Here's what I found when I went through the "iPhone Archives." A little bit of the Birthday Girl and her sweet gifts. And, of course, some Finn Fun.

Finn and the Zoo Seal.

Swashbucklers.

Tuckered out after church.

Birthday Bliss.

Cute suit via Aunt Tiff.

And a big thanks to Wes for continuing to let me camp out at his computer for these past couple of weeks!!

Maya turns 1!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful little angel! I can't believe she's a whole entire year old. Her little baby days are gone, with toddlerhood waiting in the wings! It's bittersweet isn't it? Poor girl had to have shots on her birthday, but she is wearing a cupcake shirt and sparkly necklace to make up for it. I love you, baby girl!

Finn and Maya on the go!

Repairs

My poor little lappy (read: MacBook Pro) is back in the shop again! So I am without a computer once more. And I just got done documenting some ruffly additions to Maya's jeans. So that will have to wait. Until then, I'll be browsing all of your blogs via the itsy bitsy iPod screen. Booooo....

Corners of My House: Eye Spy

This has been the state of the union around here lately. (See what happens when I get my computer back?!) See if you can spot (from the list of clickable links):
• 3 sippy cups
• Dux inkwell pencil sharpener
• Burt's Bees Banana Hand Cream
• 18 colored pencils (give or take)
• Animal Planet Dino-Land How-To page
• A fishy
• A Valentine to Wes from Finn
• A Crystal B. ring
• A helicopter
• Toddler crayons that Maya still tries to eat
• Maya's fave baby food (some stores are discontinuing this...ack!)
• An heirloom (Yes, in fact, it is the bracelet. Click the link to read more about it.)

A little helper, coming right up!

Me: "Finn, could you please grab me Maya's polka dot leggings out of her sock drawer? Her knees look scuffed up. No not that drawer, the one under. Not over, under. Yes! That one. Thank you!"

Finn: "Coming right up!"

Procures 2 purple and green polka dot socks.

Me: "No, I need the leggings—the LONG ones, please. Brown polkadot ones. Close, though!"

Finn: "Brown polkadots. Coming right up!"

Procures brown striped tights.

Me: "That's closer! They are longer, but they have stripes. Look for brown polkadots."

Finn: "Coming right up!"

Me: "PERFECT!!!" :)

How To: Tunnels

**Note: I covered Finn's train table and toy chest with a rug I had from IKEA. My Dad pointed out that the noise Finn made from all of his toy-banging could be muffled if I covered in in carpet. Genius! I cut the rug down to fit both tables. A little Velcro, and I have darling tables that are always ready for cars and trains (and dinosaurs that want to rampage through a small coastal village). And the Velcro makes it possible to revert these pieces of furniture back to their original states at some point, without committing to glue or paint!

Welcome, Spring!

I know the first day of spring isn't until the 20th, but I am celebrating early. Even though it's been nice and cool here (and a little rainy), March the First was brightly shining. So we celebrated with a good day of planting and sand play. See my sunny new shoes? A gift from a friend. Find more like them HERE.


In other news, my computer is home (all fixed, thank goodness). My sis-in-law said I should have Wes photograph the reunion. But honestly, I wasn't too excited to have my laptop back. Of course I missed it. But actually only a little. It's very liberating to not be tied to technology. I was having such a fun time playing, taking the kids on outings, and enjoying a truly clean house and folded laundry. So I have determined to continue to spend as little time working as possible, and see if it continues to make a happy difference. I'm sure it will prove to be a good test of will. Let's see how long it lasts. ;)

More thoughts on motherhood

Today I thought that I might faint from delight when a tiny little head poked its way out from under my ironing board. I was sitting on the couch and the ironing board was set low to the ground (so that I could iron and watch movies on the couch, of course). Maya was crawling all over, trying her hand at cruising and whether or not she wants to give walking a go. Not quite yet. So she poked her way under my ironing board and popped up in my lap. Her wispy bangs were in her eyes, and she beamed up at me as if to say, "You can't keep me out of the loop, Mom! Now pick me up or I'll chew on the iron cord!!" I swear she is absolutely the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I think my children are brilliant sparkling gems sent straight to me so that I can love and care for them. And I often feel unworthy of the gift, I admit. Finn said the other day, "I am so glad you're my Mom!" Woah. That is heavy stuff coming from a 3 year old for the first time! I felt like he had chosen me, and he was letting me know it. I told him, "I'm so glad you're my Finn."

I can't stop thinking about THIS beautiful, touching, and heart-rending post. It's a birth story from another mom (a beautiful and talented photographer). I was locked on the photo of her new baby girl looking at her as if to say, "I chose you." And I thought for an instant that that baby is absolutely the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. Read her story (it's long and you will cry, but it's amazing).

It's a startling thing that takes place the very second you enter into parenthood (and I'm talking as soon as you get pregnant, or even make the serious decision to endeavor to become a parent). You are ushered unknowingly through doors that don't open again behind you. You are subject to all new levels of fear, and pain, and loss, excitement, and love, and complete joy and amazement. It's the most difficult and rewarding thing I will ever commit myself to. I am bound (quite literally sealed) to my children. I have never felt more needed and in need at the same time. What a delicious dichotomy.

And now to keep things totally real, Finn just crumbled 2 mini muffins all over the newly vacuumed rug after I repeatedly instructed him to KEEP THEM ON THE PLATE! He ran in yelling, "I make a mess! I make a muffin mess!" ... right after he pooped in his big boy underwear. Good thing he's the most beautiful boy I have ever seen. Sheesh.

Don't be scared...we're just working on our complexions

Maya thought I was a total crack-up when she came into the bathroom and couldn't "see me." She kept tilting her head trying to see my face behind my mud mask. And she was smiling and giggling and trying to poke at my face. Good to know she still recognizes me even when I look like Swamp Thing!

Try THIS one out. It's worth it!

(Still no computer yet, but Wes is kind enough to lend me his when I HAVE to post things as scary as me in a mud mask.)

I love technology

My computer is SICK. The tech says he's actually never heard of a Mac doing what mine is doing (basically eating $80 chargers for lunch, one at a bank-breaking time). So it's been shipped off to far away lands, where the good people at Apple are *hopefully* fixing it (for a pretty penny, of course). So for the next two-or-so weeks, I won't be posting (or at least posting anything of visual interest). Looks like my trusty iPhone will have to hold down the fort while MacBook Pro is taking a sick day (well, days). Anyone want to donate a new laptop for a good cause? I'll give you a free blog makeover! ;) just kidding

(In the mean time I think I'll be doing a little letterpressing! This arrived a few days ago and I am itching to take it for a spin.)

Back in a jiffy! Fingers double crossed.

Poster Post: A SIMPLE ENDING

I thought I would finish my Poster Post week off with a few simple samples to cleanse the palate.
Thanks for stopping by this week!