A Boy and His Dog

This is our pug puppy, Penny. She was a sweet girl but we could not keep her because she kept peeing in the house. We worked at it for nine months and in the end had to say good-bye. I hope she and her new owner are very happy. We'll really miss her sweet face. <3

This Moment

I can't make this a weekly thing, though I do like to try, because I seem to fail miserably at doing something regularly! However, this is inspired by one of my favorite bloggers: SouleMama

Also, I really struggle with no words. I need to write something! So, here is my photo of Miss Marah who thought it would be ridiculously clever to dress up as Daddy for the evening. :)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Make each day count!

Bye-Bye March!

We spent the last day of March getting some fresh air followed by some warm baths, cozy jammies, and hot cocoa. While I realize that this weather would not be considered pleasant to many of you, trust me when I say that we have been very excited about the winter thaw and I was so happy about the 40 degree temps today that I actually ventured outside twice!

This morning I took Alex out in the wagon and handed Jenna my old camera and started out into the neighborhood for a little exploring, snow bank climbing, ice cracking, photography learning, and chatting. I have decided that, instead of selling it for 1/6 of what it cost, I will pass down my trusty ol' Canon Powershot G6 to Jenna and teach her some photography tips and also just let her enjoy taking pictures. I remember when my parents gave me my first camera and how grown up I felt taking my own pictures and thinking I was some amazing photographer! I should share some of those photos in a future post. :P

This was my favorite shot that Jenna caught today. It actually had a part of my shoe and a wagon wheel behind Alex's head which I edited out (not perfectly, I realize), but overall I thought she did a great job! :)

Later this evening, after I was all cozied up in my pajamas and had no intention of venturing back outside, it began to snow. The snow was big and fat and wet and wonderful and I just thought it was the perfect opportunity for Alex to play (I have hardly let him play outside this winter because it has just been too miserable for me) in some snowfall. So I told the girls to get dressed for outside and they squealed and ran around frantically scrounging up socks and boots and jackets then ran outside while I got Alex ready and put on a sweatshirt and grabbed my camera. They had so much fun! I'm so glad I took Alex out there. He was just in heaven. It was adorable.

It's still so funny to me and I wonder if it will ever cease to amaze me at how accustomed to this weather we become. It's crazy how our bodies can acclimate to this insanely cold climate so that 40 degrees feels almost warm and I start wearing flip flops as soon as the snow doesn't cover my feet! Granted, I'm a little weird about my flip flops... but still, I grew up in California. We thought we were freezing to death on the playground when it was 60! And here we are, playing outside in the snow with no mittens or hats or scarves... not even a coat for Jenna or myself! Just hoodies. LOL We crazy!

Make each day count!

How to Make a Fancy Nancy

Marah poses as Fancy Nancy with her little "boyfriend" Jack

March is National Reading Awareness month and so Marah's school has been doing several fun activities throughout the month in order to increase literacy and a love of books. If you know me very well at all you will know that I LOVE books and am a strong believer in the importance of instilling a love of literature in my children.

Last Friday the school held a "dress as your favorite storybook character" day and I was so pleased when Marah announced that she wanted to dress up as Fancy Nancy. My mom has bought Marah two Fancy Nancy books and we love them for a few reasons: the illustrations are adorable, there are many fun, interesting, new words like exquisite, extraordinary, ecstatic, iridescent, as well as a few French words, plus... she likes to be fancy. What girl wouldn't love that?!

So here is where my love for crafting comes in quite handy! Everything I desired to make this costume was already in my home. I didn't have to trek to the store or spend any extra money! To start, we raided the dress up bin and found a lacy, pink, vintage prom dress that I wouldn't have a problem fancy-ing up and got going.

Marah and I collaborated on this costume. She gave me ideas for where to put jewels, what color ribbons to use, how to decorate the headband and shoes, and I helped her with her hair and (of course) did all the hot gluing to complete the ensemble. We had a great time working together and we were both so proud of the finished product!

Not only did Marah feel beautiful and get LOTS of compliments on her costume (it was really one of the best in the school), but now we have a costume ready for Halloween! Score! Here are some photos of the process as well as the actual event:

Marah lined up a pattern of jewels for her head piece.

Ribbons MUST go in rainbow order, don't you know?

Hair pulled in to a high ponytail and rolled up with sponge curlers for the night.

Isn't she fancy?

I added beads to the ends of her rainbow ribbons, pink bows and jewels to her shoes, and feathers and jewels to her headband. The striped socks were the perfect accessory to pull this look together :)

Parading her fancy self through the gym.

Even the boys came along!

Marah with all the girls in her class.

Ancient Egypt

This year we are studying Ancient History and we are in the middle of Egyptian history at the moment. Yesterday we learned about The Great Pyramid and the Sphinx that "guards" it. Jenna's assignment was to create a pyramid out of lego squares and so we worked on that together. Then, completely on her own, she surprised me by creating a model of the Sphinx! I thought it was so clever and she was very pleased with her efforts.

Today we're starting on some science experiments that involve making bread. That should be fun AND delicious!

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Another Sick Day

My little girl. She's been sick so many times this year. Is it because she's in school instead of at home? I don't like it. She was just sick last week with a stomach bug and then, early this morning, she comes into my room with desperation in her voice "Mommy! I'm going to fro-up!"

Quick rush to the bathroom, hold her sweet hair back from her face and watch as she heaves over the toilet. I have never felt sick to my stomach while watching my kids puking... until now. I thought I was going to lose it! Then, when I thought the worst was over, she sobs "I pooped!" and I look down and see it on the bathroom mat and wonder how the dog managed to do that without me noticing. That's when I see it showing through her pajama pants and I feel so badly for her.

I had to wake Eric up and he helped me get her cleaned up while I started laundry. It was right after he started her bath and laid back down that Alex woke up screaming because he had fallen out of bed. Then the dog started whining to go out. It was a fun morning. sigh.

Marah was in a great mood today, despite the troubles of the morning and so the day ended up being far more easy-going than I had first anticipated.

Alex is not used to having a puppy running around the house. He is okay with her when she is at a distance or just sitting/laying around, but when she starts trotting after him he screams and runs away. He'll come around, right? It's kind of funny. This evening, she was sleeping on the floor and Alex called to me, "Mama? Pemmy." Then he got down on the floor next to her and started poking her belly and calling out to her "Pemmy! Wake up!" and she just slept through it. It was pretty cute :)

Well, besides a few photos, I don't have much else to share. Plus it's late and the laundry just finished up so it's time to switch it to the dryer, load the washer back up, take the dog out, and go to bed!

She doesn't look sick, does she?

I see you!!

Aw... puppy love.

Lady Penelope :P

Make each day count!

Happy Hearts Day!

It's been a totally easy-going, no pressure, no expectations kind of day today and I really quite like it. We just bought a puppy so there was no buying presents this year and I really am happy having no worries about the day. I do love Valentine's day and I have gone all out before with fun things for the kids and what-not, but they don't seem to mind that there were no gifts today. We just enjoyed relaxing today and being in each other's company!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Penny

This little sweetie joined our family last night and we are very happy. The kids love her, we love her, she seems to love us, and she's peed/pooped outside more than inside so far and so things are going well.