this girl.

so, last night after mr. w and i finish working out, we all sit together on the floor for fhe. (this semester it's moved from monday to wednesday...yucky schedule) L hops on mr. w's back and says, "ooh dad, your back's all wet. kinda like it, it's sort of sticky." she cracks me up. it was even better watching my mr. with his face in his hands laughing helplessly. kids are great!

::no pics today. camera is in the shop getting cleaned. $75 later, let's hope the spots go away.

summer love.

I just can't seem to get enough of this summer. I'm loving every moment. The time with Mr. W and my girl, the warm sun on my skin (even if it causes me to have contractions), watching my pumpkins and raspberries grow, having grass in the back yard, feeling patriotic when I see a flag flying, and on and on... 

I love it all!

L had the most amazing teacher in second grade, who still checks on her 2 years later. On Sunday morning she left a book on the front porch (Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell) with a card that said she just knew L would love this book! It just so happens, she was RIGHT! We have read it everyday. We will read over an hour and L will request "please don't stop!" Last night I read to her while she was bathing until she was a prune, then we laid in her bed together and read until almost 10:00. I love it when we find books that I enjoy every bit as much as she does. I love the sweetness I feel between us when we are spending time together cuddled up with a good read. And I love good friends that remember you years after they have taught your daughter in school.

take time to read...

..especially to your kitties! L does 20 minutes of reading each morning. She finds it much more enjoyable when she rounds up the kitties and they have story time in the mud room. This girl loves her cats. 

We did an "extreme makeover" in her room this week. These pictures are now framed and hanging above her bed. Each night we all end up laughing as we kneel to say prayers and look above her bed to see her two cats starring at us!

summer.

Summer is here. And it's wonderful. Each day begins with slowly waking to the sunrise, laying in bed by my sweetheart, and waiting for the sound of little feet walking across the catwalk into our room. Each day L does 2 pages of her workbook, math flash cards, and piano, then the rest of the day is all hers. She's done it everyday, usually before I mention it. Amazingly!

One morning while the three of us were laying in bed, Mr. W and I told her about the card in the spokes trick we used to do when we were kids. She and Mr. W had them on her bike before 8 am! She loves it. (despite the fact that her playmate told her it's a nuisance to the neighborhood) We l.o.v.e. our neighborhood. Everyday the kids are out riding bikes and making some new trail on the dirt hill behind our house. Some of the kids gathered up old fence posts and built a fort. I love seeing kids be kids. I decided this summer would be a summer without lessons (except piano every other week) and schedules. We will fit one session of swimming in, and the little house in the valley day camp. Other than that, I want the days to slowly pass and be exactly what they have been so far.

We did sneak in a trip to Moab and one to Lagoon. Mr. W begins rotations in 2 weeks, so that is probably the extent of vacations this summer. No worries though, we're happy getting our yard in and actually having a garden again after 3 years of moving! I already have spinach for my smoothie each morning, and mixed greens for my salad every evening. It's heaven! And I have pumpkins in their beginning stages! My favorite.

Let's just keep things exactly the way they are...

the best neighbors ever!

this morning our little neighbor brought us some cookies. l and b use symbols for one another when they pass notes. (radio active for b and peace sign for l) this was the best note ever! i was so relieved to know the cookies are cyanide free :)

a little something...

is in the works around here...so far, so GOOD!

this one has taken me awhile to dream up. i knew what i wanted, just not the exact colors, exact widths, exact lengths. so yesterday i gave up on thinking i could plan it all out perfectly in my mind. i pulled out my scraps and started cutting. and drawing while i cut. i think i'm liking it...

for the mr. at school...

because we missed you this morning. but, we are happy with the weekend festivities and celebrations. thank you once again.

 

L was happy this morning. why wouldn't she be. she's worked so hard to prepare all of her 32 valentine's, (combined two of my favorites here and here) and was more excited than ever been to deliver them. of course, she's always happy when i greet her in the morning with, "would you like heart shaped pancakes for breakfast?" 

remember our conversation last night about how giving undivided attention goes a long way? still working! she got dressed with no grumbling, let max out for the morning routine..you know what i mean, thanked me profusely for such a yummy breakfast, rinsed and packed all of her dishes- without being asked, and got all of her valentine's and backpack loaded up...once again without being asked! that makes for a great morning for the mommy too!

wasn't it a great weekend? missing you...

this girl.

so, last night after mr. w and i finish working out, we all sit together on the floor for fhe. (this semester it's moved from monday to wednesday...yucky schedule) L hops on mr. w's back and says, "ooh dad, your back's all wet. kinda like it, it's sort of sticky." she cracks me up. it was even better watching my mr. with his face in his hands laughing helplessly. kids are great!

::no pics today. camera is in the shop getting cleaned. $75 later, let's hope the spots go away.

tooth + sewing again.

yesterday i went to help in L's classroom. she ran up to me with a handmade, folded and taped envelope and said "it's for you." i shoved it in my pocket and asked her to go back to her desk..  her teacher was right in the middle of giving instructions. this little girl is always, and i mean always, doodling something for me. love it. we proceeded to the science experiment, then afterwards she said, "mom, you haven't even looked at the envelope!" i pulled it out of my pocket and she had pulled her tooth out at school! i had checked that tooth a few days ago, and it was NOT that loose. if i had to guess, she was sitting at her desk for an hour or so working that tooth, and not paying the least bit of attention to what was going on around her. i love this girl! that's a talent.. to be able to tune life out and be in your own- i MUST pull this tooth out right this very minute world. yep, i bet she missed the entire reading hour...

:: loved the fabric on the dress so much that i had to make a top out of it too! loving this one as well..

monday..

so, here we go again. monday. even max is feeling it. the heavenly, long awaited weekend has passed. i don't mind really. 5 more days to the next.

monday for me means: cleaning from the unstructured weekend, laundry, picking up the groceries we ran out of over the weekend, and of course, the routine is back in force. there's something comforting about the hum of the dryer in the background, and seeing the floors shine again...  today, a haircut gets thrown in the mix. much, much needed. 

mr. w took L swimming on saturday. which gave me a little time to sneak in some sewing. i'm loving how this one turned out! pizza party with some fam afterwards, and a little playing spot-it. it's our favorite game at the moment.

now, on to another week...