School's Out for Summer!

The girls finished preschool this week. Esther, of course, will return again in the Fall...not to repeat it of course..she is brilliant...but because she is only 3, and can't start Kindergarten yet.

Eloise, will move on to Kindergarten...YAY!!!

The preschool we attend doesn't have a graduation(thank goodness) - that is a bit too corny/strange in my book..our school has an annual art show. It was completely amazing. They decorated the whole school with ALL of the kid's creations from the past year. I can't begin to tell you how proud these kids were to see their numerous, award winning works of art displayed so professionally. It was a very special night.

I wasn't able to take many pictures as it was SOOOO crowded...but please note that all of these pictures were taken inside without flash at ISO 1600 with my 50mm lens - I just had to add that in to let you know I am still practicing my photog skills! Carry on...

Ready to show..

Look Mom, Stars...

The girls are wearing Matilda Jane in case you were wondering at this point...

Eloise with her BFF(best friend forever)...

Lovely flowers...

Eloise with her favorite teacher..

Our family - note that Eloise DID draw her curly hair...

Eloise with her future husband...

So, that cute guy she is standing with - what you don't see if that they are holding hands...and just look at the smiles on their faces. Eloise tells me that they are getting married soon. She has fallen madly in love with him this year...mainly because he wear pink shirts and plays house with the girls and doesn't like to wrestle like the other boys do....but also because when she walks in the room, he yells her name like it's been 10 years since they've seen each other, gives her a HUGE smile, hug, and holds her hand while she walks away from me.

The problem is, he has also committed to marry 2 other girls in the class. Eloise has told me she is okay with this though - that he can marry all 3 of them, and that they each are going to have 10 babies named Jack, Bob, Annie, Anna and Lizzie only..and that all of them will live together in the same house. Sounds like a plan! I can't wait to see what Kindergarten will bring.

The many faces of Esther...

Esther is the comedic relief in our household. The rest of us are more of a serious bunch...but Esther 'lives' to the beat of her own drummer. Since she was a baby, she just likes to sit around and try to make you smile and laugh. She sits at the table making faces at us until we are just rolling in laughter.

Sometimes as she is doing this, I worry about the notes for detention that she will one day bring home from school...and all of the phone calls from teachers that I may receive...but again, I am more in the serious bunch...so I tend to worry about these things.

While she is just 3 though..I am just going to continue to let her crack me up.

The Lawn Chair Gardener gets off her Arse...

First of all, so sorry to disappoint yesterday by not posting. My word, I appreciate the MANY personal notes from people who were worried that perhaps my ugly plant in the backyard ate me up or something as I didn't post for a day. If I had known the night before that I was going to go out for so late, or partake in so much wine, I would've scheduled a meaningless post to be published in my morning, sleeping-in absence. Your friendly concerns made my day! xoxo

So, I got busy this past weekend and did me some planting! Believe it or not - I actually planted it ALL by myself too! Window boxes and planters I can handle...as I believe the worm factor is low.

So, now we are enjoying some lovely window boxes! Can I say, I love it and it makes me smile...but can I also say, that now I've got to water the suckers. They are so darn demanding sometimes.

You can't Always Get what you Want..

a.k.a The grass is always greener, life sucks and then you die, I don't like being different...

...The Girl with the Curl...

Last week, I was downloading some pictures of the girls(shocking news) with Eloise on my lap to help, and as the pictures came on my screen...Eloise just started crying. When I asked her what was wrong...she said.."just look at those pictures and all of the curls in my hair. They are everywhere and make my hair look like such a mess and just crazy everywhere."

But Eloise, I said...your curls are beautiful and you are so blessed to have curly hair. Her response to me was that ONLY she had curly hair...mommy, daddy and Esther all have straight hair and she hated looking so different from us. I pointed out that Esther has blue eyes and blond hair...while the rest of us have dark hair and dark eyes..so she looks different too...but that didn't matter...Eloise doesn't want to have curly hair her whole life.

Everybody is different. We've read the books, we've seen tv shows, we've talked about it...different skin, different hair, different languages, different abilities...but we are all just people, and so much the same. It's okay to be different.

...but when it is YOU who feels you are different, that is a whole different story.

It doesn't matter what I tell her - "how lucky she is to have curly hair, how beautiful curly hair it, how she will feel different about it when she is older and feel blessed to have it..." because, I hate my hair too - it's thin, limp and blah..always has been..always will be...I've accepted that fact and live with that fact, and I guess I am okay with that fact...but I still hate it...so how can I really tell my daughters and convince my daughters that everything about them is simply perfect..and to live their lives with the knowledge that people are perfect, no matter of their differences and be happy with who you are and what you have?

Why I love being a Woman..

We can multi-task, always...enough said.

Things that make you go hhhmmm...

...when you pick your child up from school and they look like this...

(first you check their clothing for any dirt or damage) then you ask them what happened, how in the world did their face end up looking like that...and take them to see themselves in the mirror.

The response..."I have no idea, but it looks very pretty...can I leave it on."

Tips from the Lawn Chair Gardener...

Memorial Day Weekend is almost here! I am sure many of you are all ready to spend some quality time in your gardens this weekend! I probably won't post much this weekend, as I will be enjoying some quality time with my girlies(NOT in my garden)..so I thought I would throw some tips up here to motivate YOU to garden...or perhaps to come over to my house and garden so that I can watch you and sip my spiked iced tea whilst you sweat. Sound good?

Gardening Tip #3.

When my window box still looks like this...

...and my neighbors planters look like this...

It is a good indication to BUY FLOWERS!!! (gosh, I am helpful...)

Gardening Tip #4

...hhhmmmm, something is missing in this picture...

...oh yes, BUY TOMATOES to actually put in the wire thingys that I left up all Winter. Currently I am just using them as lawn ornaments. ( and yes those are weeds around it - I will cover that in another segment.)

Enjoy your long and lovely weekend - and remember to come on over to my house and garden all you wish.
xoxo...

Oh, P.S...here is that evil, ugly plant again...it's taunting me now when I am playing with the girls in the backyard. Someone please come take it away...for good...please, pretty please...

This is...American IDOL, Part Deux...

The final episode was last night...here's the set-up in case you didn't watch...shame, shame, shame on you...

The Location: My family room, the couch

The Participants: Me, Myself and I(Jed is away on business, kids are in bed..)

The Wardrobe: Garnet Hill Pj's, Fleece robe, glasses, bare feet, sexy...

The Props: A nice Italian Red Wine, the remote, the WIFI Laptop, and the Donut Cat on my lap

The Show: One Hour and 58 minutes of blah, blah, blah...hey, I don't want to see those other 10 people singing..you already lost...I'm here to see the Davids(well one David) only...get off the stage and get to the point already.

The Conclusion: Your 2008 Season 7 American Idol is...DAVID COOK(Took?) - WOOHOO! He won, he won!

The Embarrassment: Yes, that was me, all by me myself and I in my jammies/robe/glasses, enjoying my wine...jumping up and down in my family room clapping and crying for David Cook.

The End.

A Whale of a Tale...

Okay, more clothing talk...but I like to talk about what I know and love...and well, that is clothing for my girls.

Last week on our one very nice day, Esther wore her new Whale Dress from Misha Lulu. What I love about Misha Lulu is it just a small, couple run USA business that uses organic cottons, natural materials and fun designs for your little one. I buy our ML from Robyn(she is amazing...a shop owner, a mom to 2 gorgeous girls, a runner and just seriously one of the nicest ladies on the planet!) Robyn should have her Fall catalog up at the beginning of June. Shop early as this stuff FLIES off of the shelves...seriously!

Esther was the cutest darn thing in her Whale dress - and it also has matching gingham ruffle bum bloomers underneath. This is probably the last Summer for Bloomers on my baby...so I went a bit bloomer crazy. :-)

Enjoy...

This is.....American IDOL!!

Do you watch it? I am slightly obsessed about it. (remember my addiction issues I previously mentioned...well this is one of them.) The world stands still from 7-8pm CST on Tuesday evenings while us girls snuggle up in our jammies and watch Idol. I've watched it for only 3 seasons...as I think before that I had babies and didn't have the energy to focus on it. Now that the girls are older...I decided that they should like it too...I sometimes love the parenting power of persuasion. Good news - they LOVE it. Esther is hilarious and has an opinion on everyone who sings. Unfortunately, she immediately became enamored with David Enchilada(that is Archuleta to you and me...but she can't pronounce that.) Now, David Enchilada is cute and sweet and has a nice voice and all...but he is not a performer in my humble opinion.

...however, David Took(Cook to you and me...Esther likes the name Took instead) is my kind of man. My word that boy can sing, and dance, and rock. Okay, I really really really like him...and so does Eloise..she is more of a pleaser and likes who I like!

I am so glad to share something with my girls that is so current, hip, fun and well, relatively wholesome..This show is all about dreams....and how to make your dreams happen. The kids on this show(geesh, hear me talking like I'm 80..) are very inspirational, driven, focused and kind as they reach for their own stars in life.

We hope you voted for David Took(cook) - but either way, he will always be a star to us. Watch the season finale today at 8/7 central! :-)


...on a totally off topic tangent - after posting yesterday about our Donut Cat...we found out that our good friends beloved Claude cat had disappeared outside and could not be located. Well, good news, that after about 24 hours he has been FOUND and is home SAFE today...this was from the goodness of neighbors who called when the saw the posters all around the neighborhood. It warms my heart to know what good neighbors we have here...and big hugs to you Claude..I am so glad you are home. You are loved.

Duncan's Donut..

Today I am introducing you to my 3rd baby...Donut. We spelled it the easy way so the girls would have an easier time with spelling. Donut is the cutest, sweetest, most loving and trouble making kitten I have ever had. He came into our lives last Fall and we fell in love immediately. He is the perfect cat for kids - he is tolerant, let's them drag him around, he sleeps with them...and basically worships the ground the girls walk upon. He loves them so much and would like them to also get up at 4:45 every morning to play. He, of course, is also very curious and active...he climbs our curtains and blinds, could climb the clothing in our closets if I didn't keep the door closed, hangs upside down from the shower curtain...and basically keeps us on our toes most of the day. I have talked to him and told him about the old saying "curiously killed the cat.." but he just ignores me and goes about his fun-filled day.

Jed would like to make him an outside cat...but I'm not ready..he is my baby and all...and he is still so little..and well, I will admit, perhaps not the smartest cat around. I really worry about him doing well out there in the big world. For now he is an inside kitty and gets a few moments of freedom in the backyard with us. Here is Donut and how many times he moved in the 30 seconds he was outside on Sunday.

..the great hunter...

...hey girls let me out of here...

..I will then kill and eat the bat...

..please don't make me go back in...I will just hide under here..

...aaahhh, a nice sunny spot just for me...

..don't mess with me - I'm just hanging in the sun...

...if I get really low...will you just let me stay outside a bit longer...

...please, Mom...

..Thank you!...

Oh yes, more Matilda Jane...

..since our wardrobes have a "slight" leaning(more like an obsession addiction..) towards being all Matilda Jane this Summer...you will see tons of the girls pics wearing these lovelies this Summer...and layered into the fall.

We took advantage of the 45 degree and sunny morning and went to a local historical park for some pictures. My goal was to take pictures of the girls with the trees in bloom...but they had much more fun in the gazebo and playing near the fountain.

They girls had so much fun - I love how they try to make each other laugh. They are the best of friends and I seriously cry half the time I take their pictures together.

I apologize in advance for the quantity - I had a hard time narrowing it down.

I think my favorite one- it is so Eloise - I love that you can see the water - and little Esther in the background...

..all done...