Art camp.

Ofcourse I got some great shots of my kids at Art Camp last week, but check out this eye candy! Don't you want art camp too?

Dog days of summer.

For Seattle, it's been off-the-charts hot outside. While we wait for the sun for about eight months a year, we still get to the point where venues with air conditioning start to sound pretty appealing. We've had a good mix of scheduled outings, like soccer, swimming, and our new love: Hapkido. But we also have a good assortment of impromtu outings to nice, cool places, like Ikea playroom, Seattle Children's Museum, and REI for a smoothie and climbing in the treehouse.

And ofcourse there are many opportunities for downtime, like playgrounds, the beach, and a few more movie nights than during the school year. This has to be my favorite summer yet, since having two kids.

Also, the middle picture is our family enjoying the newly opened lightrail. We rode it from Columbia City on it's opening weekend, and it was a big hit for all of us.

Old standby.

This never gets old.

A little shaving cream, a little food coloring, and a sprinkler. And lots and lots of smiles.

Little harvest.

We began our first garden ever this Spring, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Granted it was the tiniest little plot of land, but I pulled everything out that we'd inherited with the house a couple of years ago, minus this huge rosemary bush that smells oh-so-good, and then tended to the new soil for a couple of weeks before planting our new stash of seeds.

We got a few things from a friend; radishes, carrots, coriander. Then True picked out the seeds that delighted him most at the garden store, including tomatoes, mint, and the beloved green beans. Well over the summer we've added many tiny radishes to our salads, as they grow the fastest, much to our delight. Fresh cilantro graced our Sunday pizzas a few times, and almost daily we were tickled to see another sprout or leaf.

Finally our tiny, little carrots were ready (under three-year-old terms, mind you) and the green beans-True's very favorite food by far- were ready for the picking. I pulled them (whoever heard of a boy who doesn't like dirt?!), True rinsed and scrubbed them, and then we both very carefully and thoughtfully took our first bites.

The verdict? Well, apparently this falls under the "it's the journey, not the destination" category, as they were far too earthy for True's tastes. But I could taste the pride and experience in every crunchy bite.

Sundays

You've gotta love Sundays in Seward park. They close off Lake Washington Boulevard so bikers can enjoy the beautiful view all day long, sans cars.

Ah, Summer!

Who doesn't love the simplicity of summer? Eating outside means no mess, the beach down the street means no running to and fro to entertain the kids, and the bright, cheery sun means no blues!

While You Were Out:

And in case this doesn't say it all...

We had a first ballet recital...

A first smore....

A proud boy that's finished with diapers, and nearly finished with tantrums (Mommy hopes)...

A girl that turned 6...

And graduated from Kindergarten.
Geesh! And it's only July!

Winter Pleasures

The winter feels so long at this point. Sometimes we have to be creative as to how to enjoy the rainy, dark days. Little peeks at the sun through the clouds or mist bring us to the playground, but mostly we stay home and find special things to do with our afternoons. How about a candle-lit picnic? How about yummy chocolate chip muffins with sweet potato puree inside? True's favorite. It's from Deceptively Delicious, but there's nothing secret here as part of the fun is my little chef and enthusiastic dishwasher/water-player helping to bake them.

This week is Spring Break, a mere six weeks after our pull-out-the-stops "Staycation" for Mid-Winter Break. So I felt a little less than enthusiastic about coming up with plans for the week. Plus, last week Carsen was home with a flu & cold mix that sat us in front of the TV way too much, so we all had cabin fever before the break even began.

But as often is the rediscovered truth, the relaxed, unplanned days of this little vacation have been so delightful, with a more natural rythm than our hurried school-mornings,. We delve into a complex art project that busies and inspires us until lunch. The sort that always gets put off during the school week. And let's face it, when Dad's home during the weekend, this SAHM has more interest in scrapbooking, one on one time with the kids, and datenight than art projects. We spend the second half of the day relaxing, watching a movie, going on a nature walk, and cooking together.

So it's funny to me to remember toddlerhood, when the day felt so long and the summer, insurmountable with two little ones, much as I love them. Now more than ever, I just savor the days. Because as much effort and time as I put into this career of mine as Mama, and the high standards we all place on ourselves, it seems that since my oldest shuffled off to all-day Kindergarten, time feels immensely less tangible than it had. We see so little of each other now, she & I. And my husband even less because now that our kids are relatively easier to manage throughout the day he can focus the kind of hours required to build his own business. I knock on wood as I write this and the phrase "famous last words" ring in my ears. But at this moment I feel good knowing that I have played with my kids today, fed them well, got a good night's sleep, and still have time to read my favorite blogs, actually pick up a novel versus a magazine, and give my husband one of those deep kisses that make you forget the rest of the world. Even as this long, gray winter seems to not be at all interested in evolving into Spring.

Bowling.

We have discovered a classic family favorite: our kids' first bowling night!

Purse Making Party

My friend had a birthday get-together for a few women at a purse design center here in Seattle, and each of us got to pick out the design, fabric, buckles, liners, and buttons for our own purse. It was so fun, I absolutely recommend it! It was a lovely girl-bonding time, and some serious creativity was floating through the air, which is always a good thing! This is my little piece of art and I love it! It's perfect for when I have a date or a girls' night, which is a rarity, and all I have to pack is my wallet & keys! Here's the website for Laura Bee Designs, in which you can find out about their shop, designing your own bag, and online services:

http://www.laurabeedesigns.blogspot.com

Gearing Up for Summer

This week I collected family ideas on what we all want from summer this year. In addition to swim lessons, a couple of warm-n-sunny weekend trips, and just plain outdoor fun, I want to keep our minds stimulated and thoughtful. So here are a few ideas I came up with on the developing minds of our little ones this summer, as well as the deteriorating ones of Mom & Dad:

• We loaded up on library books. We're ready to start our local library's Summer Reading challenge.




• I found a series of short chapter books for Carsen to have read to her, and she's already hooked. Total girly fluff, but you should see the play this inspires! http://rainbowmagiconline.com/uk/index.html




• I started buying inexpensive, paperback non-fiction for True on the subjects he loves. If he won't read anything that doesn't have a truck in it, then by golly we are going to learn about trucks this summer!




• I purchased this eagerly awaited book that shines light on the beautiful combination of kids & the outdoors. Taking the kids out and just meandering isn't my first nature, I usually toss it to Dad. But there are three long months ahead, so this little guide will help me out with ideas- 52 ideas, to be exact, and sorted by season! http://www.jenniferwardbooks.com/




• Above are some daily tools like sketchbooks & workbooks, all sorts of art from the library-system art cupboard in my kitchen (Because who really wants to clean up if you have 4 different media you're working with, and one in a huge pile of glue? Especially if you're two years old.) And we always have art staples at the ready, for whenever inspiration hits, like paint brushes, scissors, and the all important masking tape. Even backpacks prepacked with a sketchbook & pencils for the outdoor inspirations.




• What's on my nightstand? The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule, The Late Bloomers Revolution by Amy Cohen, and Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Myla Kabat-Zinn & John Kabat-Zinn




• I'd post Ethan's stack, but he has a whole slew of great garage sale titles that he's about to receive for Fathers Day!

Garage Sale Goodies!

The weather in Seattle this "Spring" is exceptionally depressing, but the season must go on. So instead of buying sunblock and rolling out the slip-n-slide, we're still pouring into our galoshes for rain walks, making "fuzzy milks" (warm rice milk with vanilla & cinnamon), and having plenty of movie nights.

Luckily, garage sale season is upon us, come rain or shine, and here are my favorite recent treasures. The kids are old enough to get it this year, and they collect their coins and are not at all selective on what makes for a great find. Along with fabric swatches, miscellaneous craft paraphernalia, and dress up, I've managed to score a few vintage items for decor in my art studio (camera, frames, cool photo display for my scrap booking embellishments), the kids got this like-new green bean bag and a Scrabble game for a buck that we use the letters for reading and letter recognition. Additionally I bought some great red Mary-Janes for myself that True swears we bought for him, and this snazzy black trench coat.

Goodies like these help ease the transition from Winter into a second Autumn