HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!! YEY 2009!

Livingston...Sparkling Apple Cider

ROAR!

Bathwater

Remember when playing in the tub was exciting adventure? Now I'm lucky to get a 1o minute shower without someone busting into the bathroom (ok, mostly Livingston, but that's because Beckham doesn't walk yet) letting all that hot built up steam out and allowing the blast cold air from the hallway in. I have to admit, growing up, we were a bunch of shower-ers (is that how you'd put it?) get in, suds up, rinse off, get out. In order for my sister or myself to soak in the tub, we would need to scrub the tub (because my parents were clean freaks) then we could fill it up to get it. For us, getting to play in the bathtub was a special treat, like going to Chuck E Cheese or a pizza buffet. I remember dragging all of my Barbies and two Ken's into the tub with me, the Barbies would have bathing suits (I especially loved my Malibu Barbie with the tan lines) and my two Ken dolls would just wear their creepy flesh colored built in underwear.

And the bubbles...oh the bubbles! I didn't get to play in the bubbles as much as I would've liked because growing up I had sensitive skin. But when I did get to dump half the bottle of Mr. Bubble in, man oh man...there was a party tonight!

Now a days Livingston showers daily and gets the treat of a soaking bath once in a while...but way more often than I did growing up. I have to say, Beckham, that boy loves his bathtime. I think he could be totally pruney and still not want to get out. He just sits there yet he is probably having the best time he has had all day.

I feel like I need to just soak and relax sometimes but always feel like I can justify it. I always end up winding my brain around something and telling myself I have no time. I think if I could knit or crochet in the tub, I would find more time to do so. I guess even when I try to relax, I'm still trying to multi-task my favorite relaxation activities. They'll need to make waterproof scrapbooking a cardmaking supplies so that I can stamp and glitter out birthday cards while Calgon is taking me away. But as awesome as a handmade card is, would it really be as great if you knew it was made while a person was bathing? It makes me think of that Seinfield episode, the one where Kramer was multi-tasking and made salad while he was bathing. Everyone thought the salad was fantastic...until they found out that he made it in the shower. Yeah, even I'm not that weird. If you ever get a handmade card from me and it has a watermark on it, trust me, it was a spilled drink, not bathwater.

Falling Embers

This evening the boys and I enjoyed dining with nature. Walt and Livingston headed down to the firepit to start the fire, while Beckham and I went to the store to get hot dog buns and beer. Upon my arrival back home, I tried to quickly change Beckham's diaper then pack up only the essentials, plus the kitchen sink:

the hot dogs (7 dogs!)
hot dog buns
mustard
beer
marshmallows
potato chips
3 bottles of beer
a wine cooler
water
paper towels
knit hats for L and B (previously mentioned in my last post)
Campfire retractable roasting sticks
paper plates
paper towels
a diaper
wet wipes
blankets
two hooded jackets for L and B
bug spray
and a Beckham

and can you believe, it all fit in the stroller???

Aaaahhh...the tender crackling of the fire, the flames lapping up the wood and the smell of a campfire, something I didn't really experience as a child but at least my boys will. No, as a child my parents would take us camping at the beach in NC, where my most favorite time of the day was breakfast. That sound of my mother cooking over the pop-up propane stove. Getting dressed without falling down in the tent or camper, while hoping last night's sand wasn't trekked into the sleeping area. I was always amazed at how my mother was able to get up earlier than we did to prepare such a breakfast. Not that we're early risers, my mother always beat us at getting up, but we were on vacation and camping no less so it seemed like there was so much more for her to have to prepare and do for us all. Ah yes, the smell of the crackling bacon and eggs sunny side up with white bread all soft and fresh. At home we usually had to eat wheat bread because it was better for us, so this was a treat...White Wonderbread. Oh...and the butter...the real, no margarine, butter. Full on! Those were the days... I love the sound of our metal spoons and forks on the paper plates and how we would have to anchor down the paper napkins, with OJ that had pulp to my sister's chagrin, to keep them from flying away since we were eating outside. Honestly, I really don't like camping but I have to say that breakfast was always fantastic. Thanks Ma.

I almost lost track of why I was posting, ha ha ha... Back to the firepit "of doom" as we call it. After we ate we enjoyed closing our eyes and listening to "nature". There were sounds of crickets chirping, toads croaking and various other bugs that made buzzy-creeky sounds. We even got to hear the crazy sounding chatter of our local foxes, that surprisingly sounded like owls with a large vocabulary, that were on the other side of the creek. It sounded like this, "Whooo! Whooo! Whooo! Haaa-whooo!!!!" So ofcourse I had to mimic them...loudly. Livingston said that I sounded like an owl or a gorilla, except that gorillas said it with a deeper voice. I would call out to them and a minute later they chattered back, or at least, I would like to think they did. Walt thinks that they noticed the fire, wasn't too keen about it, made sure their buddies knew about it, and kept talking about it as they headed away.

As loud as it can be with all the bugs and animals, crackling fire and trickling creek, it felt more peaceful than a quiet house. All was right in the world, all was at peace. (except for my gorilla-owl howl ofcourse)

Brainfarts of Craft Ideas

Oh my goodness...where do I begin? It's been a few weeks since I've blogged last, I've been checking out a lot of blogs of other people and the craft bug has bit me full force. My sister introduced me to a few fantastic popular blogs and I've been addicted to reading their posts as well as becoming "re-inspired" to craft even more so than I usually do. We, my sister and I, want to test the waters in handbag making as well as apron making, and after seeing all those creative and cute handbags/totes and aprons, it gets me just overwhelmingly giddy. I had just started picking up knitting/crocheting again, I am totally a seasonal crafter. Usually my yearly routine of crafting/creating is somewhat like this (I'm quite the dabbler when it comes to DIY...crafting...not home improvement, I leave that to my hubby):

Winter: Knit/Crochet (random stuff...once I knit a sweater for my sister's bird, when we put it on him, he rolled right off her hand and into her lap because he was too top heavy...it was funny and not, at the same time), Breadmaking, Baking goodies (cookies/candies)

Spring: Begin to look and start for sewing projects for my boys to wear in the summer, Card making, Jewelry Making

Summer: Card making, Rubber stamping, Scrapbooking

Fall: Knit/Crochet (mostly hats, scarves for the winter or Xmas gifts), light sewing or knitting of handmade stuffed toys, making lip balms, soaps and such (for gifts for Xmas also), Breadmaking, Jewelry Making

Year Round: Photography

I can't wait to start making what I'm going to call my "Stuffies", stuffed animals and the like, in the past I've knit and crochet little animals for Livingston as well as sewn a few crazy looking stuffed "beings" for him. He loves each of them because he knows that I made them for him. This year I'll get to work on some for Beckham as well... I think I may have Livingston draw up either creatures or animals and I can see if I can translate them into fabric stuffies. Should be fun! I've already knitted matching winter hats for the boys, I've even seen Walt wearing Livingston's hat around the house, I think I have to knit him one too. It appears that he wants one. When I do, I'll be sure to take a photo of all the boys and post it.

There are so many amazing crafters out there that do such fantastic work, I'm so happy that my sister sent their blogs my way (also checking out etsy.com, tons of inspiration there) because now I want to explore new territories! This week especially, I've been dizzy with ideas. I have to get stuff on paper so I don't forget them for later!

"S"

Comment and I'll give you a letter; then you have to list ten things you LOVE that begin with that letter. Afterward, post this in your journal and give out some letters of your own. My sister gave me the letter "S":

Saturdays
Sons (my two boys!)
Sleeping In
Swimming
Strawberries
Sushi
Super Target (does that count? hahahha)
Sunset
Sisters
Snow Sledding (but not walking back up the hill)

Do I Need A Bigger House???

Here is a question that I had to ask myself recently when I was daydreaming of a bigger house, "Do I need a bigger house with more bedrooms when everyone ends up in my room by morning?" Hahahah...It's true...When Walt goes to work, he leaves me with all the space in the world to sleep on in that king sized bed. I can sleep sideways, diagonal, making snow angels... Sounds comfy right? But then why do I get up anywhere between 5 and 6am to bring Beckham to my room when he stirs or welcome Livingston at 7 or 8am when he wakes up and I hear the tapping of his feet from his room to mine? Purely because I love to have them there with me. I may complain about being the uncomfortable and trapped sandwich meat between the two slices of bread, but secretly I wouldn't trade it for the world. What do we do when Daddy's home and everyone joins in the morning ritual? We just shift over.