lemonade.

we recently picked quite a few lemons from my parents tree. 

nobody seemed interested, and oh how i do love lemons. 

so ruby and dec helped me squeeze and pour juice, 

then we shook up some rather delicious fresh lemonade

one afternoon last week. i really want to try it with honey 

next time. 

best part was ruby's hard working facial expressions

 as she pulled down the lever and said gleefully:

'this is so much fun, i just love this'.

i think the flowery vintage apron made 

it all the more exciting.

on the list this week is maybe some lemon curd with all 

the extra juice. i saw some pretty awesome lemon

meringue cupcakes on pinterest involving lemon curd

and toasty 7 min frosting i'd love to try. 

super heroes.

 some pretty fancy stuff going on here. 

let me tell you.

ruby was overlooking my martha stewart 

magazine and spotted these super heroes

for halloween, which led to some spontaneous

capes, and many a damsel in distress being 

rescued by some very cute little heroes.

 some intense consulting going on here.

little nook.

{bench side table for coloring,

or holding my coffee}

rearranged again. not a lot i promise.

ruby and i were playing 'princess fort'

the other day and scooted this bed into

the little nook by our kitchen

and thus it stuck.

i kinda like the cozy spot.

except it ensues a feeling of well deserved

nap throughout the day...a position mr. declan

is never too enthused with.

if he could speak i know he'd be saying

'get up and play ball right now mom,

i'll have none of this laying around baloney.'

yet instead he just looks at me in pain

and grunts 'ehhhhhh'.

ok, fine, you're rediculously cute. i'm up.

errrrhhrhhrrrrrrgrh

the sound our cd player makes now when you turn

on or off the car. and no, it is not currently taking

cd's either, so no more juno soundtrack for us i'm

afraid. its only been in there for about a year now.

ed said to me: 'maybe we should stop letting

them play in the car.'

but who does'nt love to catch up on some reading

or sewing on the front porch and listen to the ruby

commentary:

'im just going on a trip mom to a snowy place...

i just need to go to the store for snacks first

and then for gas cus the car does'nt works'

oh, ok.

and i have no idea why the air makes this

crazy clicking sound when turning from

cold to warm, or vice versa.

i guess the car is old.

who knows why they find playing in the car

so terribly entertaining.

i'm probably the only crazy mom

who lets her kids do this.

just add that to the list of things

i probably should'nt let them do but do anyhow.

tee pee

so i had been planning for about a month now

i guess on making a tee pee

for the kids with some bamboo from my parents,

and using a tutorial out of a kids craft book.
finally

i actually finished it a week or so ago,

and while dec was napping ruby and i had a lovely picnic

(indoors...boo hoo)

of cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches...carrots and grapes.

it was quite lovely...but i kinda wish it was a bit bigger.

maybe we'll construct a family size one

now that the weather is actually turning?
can it be...fall weather is really upon us?

cheers to the beginnings of nicer weather fellow phonecians!

lemme take a picture

photos by ruby.
she just loves taking pictures.
i tried to explain that you have to point at
something you actually like
as opposed to the floor, table, or wall.

we're learning.
and hey, it was post baths,
so that explains the naked baby.
not that it would'nt be easier to just let him go naked.
he probably changes clothes 2-3 times a day,
oh, boys.

home ec

what to do stuck indoors so much...what to do....

just keep making new little spaces with stuff you already have

so you feel happy with the new and different space

right?

i made a cozy little corner and arranged it oh so nicely

to add on to the little kitchen set up we already had going.

ruby was super excited when i showed her

and now continually throughout the day

tells me she is going off to cook

in 'my restaurant'

which usually involves her pretending to make something

and then throwing that pretend 'cake' or 'soup'

across the room at me.

what service.

im pretty sure i dont throw the toast across the room

for breakfast so im not sure where this

lacidasical attitude on manners and service came from.

you should see the number little dec can do on this

set up in no time.

you want what with that?
no substitutions.
period.
and cash only please.

and then you can make your way into our real kitchen
where the new 'shuguh' bowl
recently became a water vessel.
i decided why fight it
and so i gave her a straw.
classy....but at leasy no boogies.

hissyfits

looking for a good place to find some sweet goods

for the stylin kids in your life?

or for that matter mothers?

this place rocks.

its consignment, so you hand over your old goods

in exchange for something else.

not all used either.
some new and some hand crafted.

beyond clothes, there are great shoes,

accessories,

maternity,

furniture, and you name it.

best idea ever.

and, i have heard they have a sweet craft fair.

its always a good time shopping

when you dont have to spend any money...technically.

it used to be buffalo exchange for me...back in the day.

now that im a mom, this hits the spot.

hope your have a lovely week!

justing playin

she is 'justing' doin a lot of things lately.

some sweet.

some not.

if only she knew i was polishing off the ice cream

right now, she'd attack me.

i just heard..."dada...me awake"

oh really?

didnt you just go to bed about five minutes ago?

let it also be known that 'bobby' was prayed for tonight.

that is 'jack n lucy bobby'. oh, ok. of course.

just wait until both of them are talking.

then i am really in trouble.

i have a feeling those two are going to do a number on me,

or will i have renewed stamina and energy as they get older?

eh, probably not.

oh no. who dat cryin?

paper hats

oh trader joes grocery bags, you make fine hats indeed. this was the craze before the super craze of running around, chasing, laughing and screaming that led into dinner.

highlights from today:

laughing too loud in the kitchen this morning...

seeing the 'jellyfish' in the sky downtown on a walk after work and soaking in the bubble fountain...

maybe slightly falling asleep while overhearing ed teach ruby how to hop on one foot and 'hop scotch'

declan's squatty tiny little legs...just looking at them while he stands on things makes me want to chomp on him....

having a salsa 'thrown down' bobby flay style at work this morning...ending in delicious eggs for breakfast...

making myself on a bed on the ground after dinner when i was sure declan was ready for bed, but was indeed not, and dozing off while the kids ran around and laughed really hard...ruby tried on all her shoes and was having so much fun she had an accident...

ed coming home from work. goodnight.

little things

its those little things...

that make me happy

like cleaning off my back porch

with my homemade cleaning solution:

warm water. fresh mint. half a lemon

because it smells so lovely

cutting fresh flowers

and putting them here there and everywhere

...

yet no longer outside for now with the gush of summer heat

finding $3 chairs for the kids

at the local ranch market

in rediculous bright colors like turquoise and orange

some peaceful coloring and conversation

with my little girl

while the wild man takes a snooze

...

most esp. the never ending new vocabulary:

'look mom' 'grass'

'look mom' 'circles'

'oh woooow mom'

...

it is those little moments

that i would like to pause and hold on to for just a bit longer,

for they fly away really too quickly.