Put yourself in a cage!

In a cage?? what?  No, i'm not talking about an extreme form of time out.  I'm talking about PLAY.

The other day while talking to a mom whom I truly admire... I was humbled by the extreme PLAY that goes on at her house.  Humbled because it is She who is joining in.. big time!   I tend to think I'm doing  ok if I get in some good make believe time with the kiddos.. a tea party, helping to build a fort, making train and truck sounds.  You know, the usual.  Usual.  Usual holds nothing to playing "Zoo" and pretending to be an animal in a cage!!  Yep, she did it.  Later I was thinking about it.. and I'm not sure I would have been up for it. I don't know if I would have let myself be completely immersed in the play.  I would play "Zoo,"sure, ... but i kind of think I would volunteer to be the zoo keeper.. to maybe sneak some cleaning of my own  while i cleaned the "cages".  

And there lies the problem. "My Own".  Lately I am so focused on: getting things done, what needs to be done, and what isn't getting done that I end up turning "play time with the kids" into  

"My Own time.. with a side of playing.. till I can sneak away and do My Own thing".

 Does this sound at all familiar?  Please tell me I am not the only one!  Oh sure, it is a good tactic.. sometimes.  Just as (in my opinion) so is an occasional TV show to keep the peace in the dinner making hour.  But i think lately, sometimes has become the new Usual.  I guess with moving and having many many things that need to be done.. this is easy to do.  But I am thankful for this reminder to go ahead and get in a cage!  The work will still be there when the zoo closes!  ;)

I am sure this mom friend had no idea what she sparked in my mind... or how much I learn a lot from her- my little sis! :)  I love my sister and I love going through this mothering journey together.  The ups and downs are plentiful.  The frustrations are understood. The laughs are many.

Thanks Meg for taking "Zoo" to the extreme!  Next time, i will get in a cage!  LOL

here's a few pics of our kiddos this summer... it was a Super reunion!

lots of boys and one princess

my sweet sweet nephew, Reid

My older nephew, Alex, with Addie and Garrett playing with SLIME!

so "cool"

the orange vase

i have missed crafting.  i needed to do something.. even if my house isn't completely done and ready for all the fun accents.

I want to add pops of color in various ways through out the house... one way is to use vases.   I saw some great orange vases at Hobby Lobby the other day.. but even at 50% off i didn't feel like it was a great deal.  I have a bunch of vases at home... they just need color.  I found the paint isle and bam! color :)

i chose this warm orange.  it's called pumpkin :)  perfect for fall.  and grabbed this vase from the plethora of vases i have saved for just this occasion. 

i painted the inside of the vase .. wanting to make it look like colored glass and not painted. this took about 5 minutes.

it dried a few hours and i added another coat.

add some beautiful Hobby Lobby flowers.. 

put it on the lanai.. and smile :)

Fall meets beach.   love.

linking for fun:
Today's Creative Blog
Skip To My Lou 
cherished bliss

beautiful yellow and gray

i couldn't wait to do a room in yellow and gray!  i just love it.  and while it is uber trendy right now.. i don't care.  and even though it's only a small bathroom.. i don't care.  i love it!  

"light french gray" by sherwin williams & check out that trim work.. no tape baby!!

see? no tape! & I am wicked cool with my head lamp on.. i know it.

new curtain and towels.. thank you Kohl's for great sales!

a little yellow and some gray sea shells .. call it accessorized!

so it's my "happy place" since it is Done, Organized, and Pretty.  most everywhere is crazy and a work in progress.. but not this happy bath :)   now.. why can't the rest fall into place like this? oy!

where oh where has my little blog gone??

man, it's pretty much been forever since I last touched base here... it has been B.U.S.Y. to say the least.  Truth be told, I miss my little out let here and have almost daily written *brilliant* posts in my head. Too bad they can't directly be dumped into cyber space!  that would be cool.. and a little creepy too. 

So... we have moved!  and that, my friends, is what has taken away my time, energy, and money!  :)  but it has been fun fun fun!  I'm looking forward to sharing with you some of what we are doing and going to do.  and... i can't wait to get some DIY going on!  so many ideas! 

Here are a few pics from the day we closed on the house... our First Real Home!! (.. not renting)
Before it became cluttered with stuff.
Before a can of paint was opened.
Just waiting to be lived in.. don't you agree?

HOME SWEET HOME

I may enjoy cooking now

oh the decorating possibilities

snug  as a bug on a rug

God decorated the beach!

We just got back inside (sadly) from our first Atlantic Ocean beach adventure. My poor memory recall skills are troubled already to remember all of the cute things Addie said while on the beach this morning.  She was literally overcome with awe. She was excited to find shells (west coast beaches lack in that respect).. but i don't think she was expecting so many shells!! She couldn't put them in her bucket fast enough.
"Momma I found another beautiful one!"
  "This is so so wonderful! "
"This is just beautiful."
  "I love the beach. I love the soft sand! I love the beautiful shells!"

It didn't take long for spinning and twirling to begin..
A song about the biggest sea shell was the happy tue for the dance.

Then.. the cutest:
"Momma, God decorated the beach with shells!!"  "That's right, Addie!" (Thinking, wow.. i really like that.)  "And He left them here for me to decorate my new room!!"
How cute is that?!

Micah wasn't too sure about the experience, he stayed in my arms.. which was nice in its own rite.

Garrett, who started the beach morning walking alone finding shells, had a million questions about why shells are here and not in San Diego, about how they are shaped, and the tide. (Oh my!) Finally he couldn't resist the waves and was beckoned in!!

Gosh I enjoyed watching them this morning!

We made it to Florida

So happy to finally say we have arrived in Florida.. our final destination.   The place we will now call home, for a few years anyway.  Thought the "place" has been attained.. our home is still to come.. and i can't wait! We will see it for the first time tomorrow.  More to come...

The kids traveled so well.  I could not have asked for more.  We crossed 8 states. Stayed in hotels, saw friends, and visited family. Then we crossed 5 more states on our final south bound journey.  It has been exactly a month since our belongings were packed up.. it's gone fast and slow at the same time.

We are ready to make Jacksonville our home.

Christmas in July Birthday!

July 30, 2012 ....  Addison Lynn is 5 years old!!

look out kindergarten.. here she comes!

Addie had been planning her "Ohio birthday" for a while.. which consisted of us all being mermaids and having cake with pink icing and strawberries ... Under Water!  So I had not figured out a way to make that happen and I was feeling some major guilt because none of her little friends would be her to celebrate.  ..... Addison however, was not experiencing any of these anxiety filled emotions.  She was ready to turn 5 and to party!!  She changed her mind and decided she wanted to have a Christmas Birthday Party.  I have no clue where she came up with that .. but .. it worked! 

Christmas Birthday in July!

let me just say that this was actually a really great idea.  It was a theme where we had everything already .. so it was so inexpensive.  Everybody got into it.  My sister was visiting and she and my mom drug out a lot of Christmas decor and out did themselves putting it about the outside of the house.  The Christmas flag was hung, garland and a wreath on the front door.. Festive!  The back porch and deck had a few trees, lights, carols... and a birthday banner above a tree waiting for presents! & yes, the presents appeared with Christmas paper.

Addie was very very happy.

"A Christmas Birthday party is the most beautiful party ever." -addison

The guilt I was feeling about her not having friends was erased when we went to pick out some goodies for the party.  It was clear she was having fun and that was all that mattered.  We picked out some red plates and napkins.. and a butterfly pinata (she said that was ok since there were no Christmas ones. lol.)  We got her a big chocolate chip cookie cake, carrots, grapes, and pizza... what a menu she planned! 

Addie and I had a date at Panera together for lunch.  What a sweet time with my girl. 

 It was hard to sit across the table and see a 5 year old girl... and not a little babe any more.  She's growing up.  I pray that she's fed with things to make her grow into a beautiful woman someday.. physically, mentally, and spiritually.   I pray for wisdom to be an example for her to follow and look up to.  I pray for grace for the times I am way less than what I desire for her.  I pray for her energetic spirit and her enthusiastic smile to touch many others.  I am proud of her.  and I love my little princess with all that I am.