home again!

hi there! steve and i had a three night get-away to seattle over the weekend. our first time away from the boys for more than one night.

it was wonderful!

i had planned to post while we were away, but the internet connection was too slow to upload pics. the weather got really warm over the weekend--up to about 100, but we still took it all in. we brunched at the space needle...

shopped around pike's place...


and enjoyed the fresh fish. we didn't buy any from the market, but we ate our share at the local restaurants!

here we are at the top of the space needle.


we took a ferry to bainbridge island and got coffee and cookies at the blackbird bakery-darling card!! yummy cookie, too!

it's great to be home. we pulled into the driveway at 1am-so i am exhausted. they boys did so great with their aunties. *thanks sue and el--you guys rock!!* i missed the boys the entire time, but i was able to relax and not worry about them. what a gift! more pics tomorrow.

taking time to take time.

matty has been frustrated lately. he gets angry quickly, then is quick to apologize. his fuse is short and his coping is limited.

it's not all his fault. life has been busy. work, school, weekend trips, time with friends...it starts to feel like our days are packed from sunrise to twilight.

we've been working on using gentle words and a gentle touch. we've been praying for a tender heart that loves others and desires to be obedient. we've been trying to be more consistent with consequences and making time to focus, and play and snuggle. so, in the busyness of life matty is reminding us to take time to take time.

what do you need to take time for today?

fitting it all in.

If I have a clean house, we'll probably be ordering pizza for dinner. If there are groceries in the cupboard, the laundry probably isn't done. If I am all caught up on emails then there are probably toys all over the floor. It seems like there is too much to fit into each day. I am trying to let it be imperfect without feeling like a failure. I want to let our lives be a bit chaotic without going crazy myself. How do you fit it all in?

visiting.

Nana and Papa are staying in Morro Bay. Walks on the beach, playing with Toby (the dog), burgers with Papa--good stuff!
My sister's family is up the coast a bit. The cousins have been having so much fun together...

despite the occasional tantrum here and there.

Time with my sis is always good.

And after work, Steve joins in on the fun. Our days have been busy and fun.
Today I must make time for grocery shopping and laundry or we'll really be in trouble tomorrow. Can't play all the time!

bluebird.

Both of the boys needed haircuts which is one of my least favorite activities. The only thing that makes it bearable, is the salon we take them to. Bluebird. It is absolutely darling! I am inspired every time we go. I've taken friends by just so they can see how cute it.

Love their mismatched letters with a hot pink chandelier.

Umbrellas hung on the back patio. Way, way too cute.


Here is Matty during his haircut. He was a trooper. Of course it was all about the lollipop he wanted to earn afterward.


And here is David post-haircut. The process is awful, about a half hour of fussing and wiggling. But the results are pretty cute!!


And they have a darling birdcage with, what else, a little bluebird.
Now we can wait at least 3 weeks before they need another haircut! Ugh.

afternoon breeze

it's so fun to see david all over the house...exploring from room to room. we crack up as he walks down the hall and heads into the spare bedroom...like he has lots of business to attend to.

yesterday he was playing in the curtains as the afternoon breeze floated in. seemed like a perfect time to grab my camera and capture some of his sweetness. blurry pics, but oh well!


man, i love that kid!

hot sun. cool water.

the sprinklers made for a ton of fun yesterday.
i love hearing their squeals of delight.

we had a tub full of water outside, too. i stuck david in it and he said 'no way!'

the moms sat outside and ate strawberry salad.

so fun. and they went down for their naps without fussing. ahhh...

the real reason

we went to santa barbara was to take david to a new specialist. one of david's biggest challenges is with his GI (gastro-intestinal) system. He has reflux and at three months of age he a malrotation (a twist or block) of the intestine repaired. Since there are no pediatric GI doctors in our area, we have been using our pediatrician as a sounding board. Although he is great, I felt like we needed to build a relationship with a specialist who can follow David and get to know him. I really liked the doctor. He took a lot of time to get to know David and asked a lot of questions. He has seen children with the same syndrome which is nice. He had a couple of great suggestions, too. So it a very profitable trip!
And letting the kids be together made it even better!

I am working on a couple silk knot necklaces that will be ready in the next week or so! Yay!!

run. twirl. chase. wait. play.

run.

twirl.


chase.


wait.


play.

hello monday!

hydrangeas about to bloom and no more school for the summer. feels good! off to see my sweet nieces and maybe hit the zoo. more pics tomorrow!!

happy father's day

You are strong and patient
and playful and silly

and gentle and loving

but most of all you show our boys how to be a man of integrity.
i love you, babe!

inspired.

today i'm feeling inspired by...

little boys who carry yellow plastic baskets with racecars
our local mexican restaurant with aqua walls and hanging glassware


fresh blueberries at the farmer's market


the idea of a getaway, even it means a cheap motel


little shoes on a sun-bleached mat
what's inspiring you today??

get to know me...

a little bit more at creative construction: life and art.

learning something new.

I've been learning how to knot silk cord...and having so much fun! I love a new project idea. It feels so good to use my fingers in a new and different way.This one has sage pearls on brown knotted silk with a heart and key. Sweet and delicate.


Cream pearls between knotted brown silk thread with a sterling flower. Love.


I made this one mine. Bronze pearls between knotted pink cord with a hammered heart inside a circle. It makes me happy.


Here i am, happy with my new necklace :)

I am putting together a few designs that will be available on the website in the next couple weeks. If one of the pieces calls to you, let me know!