Sweetness

So, I've been having a rough week. I'll leave it at that!

But there have been some very sweet things happening, that are turning it all around!

Yesterday when I stopped for coffee, I was told it was already paid for.

I received a business card for auto body repair, but it started my day off nicely.

Then Miles brought home a flower from his field trip to the grocery store.

Flowers always make me smile!

I've also had 2 great evenings playing with the kids!

This morning both my boys begged to stay with Mommy! And have been extra cuddly lately! Loving it!

Then after staying late at work, I came home to this!

I know a rug...

But this rug and floor is was covered in muddy shoe and paw prints. In the summer it was sand. A never ending battle! But 3 guys worked hard cleaning it!

And on the table was a perfect fall plant!
Did I mention flowers make me smile??

And finally I found this on the counter!

Pecan pie is my favorite!

So my week is turning around.

I'm working on a better attitude, reevaluating what matters, and trying to focusing on what I love!

Thanks for the pick me up!

Mr. Pumpkin Head

Thought we would try something different with our pumpkins this year!

Just like Mr. Potato Head!

Miles named his pumpkin Casey!

We had extra parts, so some of our pumpkins are 2-faced!

Mine is below!

Here's the other side of mine, Miles helped!

Oh and our scarecrow has a name! Mr. Light!

Fall-la-lall-lall-Fall!

I LOVE fall! Pumpkins, leaves, cool, crisp weather, definitely my favorite!

Miles had a field trip to the preschool directors' farm and made this guy.

Whoa! I just realized we haven't named him yet!

We have decorated the backyard! I know, who's going to see it. We are! There's a nice big bay window in back, so we can see this guy while we're eating. Miles' request. This morning scarecrow guy was covered in snow! WHAT?! As I stated above, "I LOVE fall!" Not winter! But it's all gone now and I am hoping it will stay away for a little while.

Here's a shot of the curtains I made above the sink. I also made some for the bay window in the same fabric, but I can't seem to get a good photo of those. Too much light during the day, and my flash bounces off the window at night. But you can get the idea!

And the sweet Baby just got out of the box! I cannot describe how excited I am about it! And a little nervous! It's like a new car! I want to show it off, but I'm afraid something might happened to it if I take it out too much. AAHHHH! I'm so happy! Can't wait to show you what I do with it! Oh and more project photos to come!

Just a Pinch

Before we went to California and before the cold and rain came... We took a trip out to the apple orchard! Fun, Fun! I tried my hand at homemade applesauce. It was really simple, I only added a pinch of cinnamon! I was a little disappointed with my 6 jars! I stared with a TON of apples!

Miles started preschool! Check out last years photo here. He was just to the bottom of the "R!" This year he is going 3 half days. New teachers, but some of the same friends! But decision at the end of this year to start kindergarten or do another year of preschool. Since he turns 5 in early August he could either way. Any suggestions or advice?

The theme was cowboys and cowgirls! Miles spent quite a bit of time brushing this little pony.

On another note, I plan to post some photos soon of the kitchen curtains I made, and some projects I've been working on. Last week my sewing machine pooped out. So I took my sweet hubby to the fabric store to check out the Baby Locks! He wasn't as excited as I was. But the seed is planted... however I have a sewing weekend coming up in a couple weeks and will need one. Sooo...
In the meantime I have been making baby blankets at church with one of the donation machines. Works well. We donate our blankets, bibs, quilts, and such to local organizations. Helps keep me motivated and gives me a break from whatever I'm working on at home.

So there! Just a pinch of fall so far. Sounds like it may be short, flurries expected in the next couple days! Blah!

California 2009

We had a wonderful time in California! It's good to be home and back into a routine though!

No airplane jitters, even though James looks a bit freaked in this photo!

The ocean was NOT as big as a hit as I thought it would be.
The waves were huge (as you can see there were TONS of surfers out and those not in the water were calling their friends to come out). James was afraid of the waves and quickly became protective of the whole family and would cry if any of us went in the water.

That's as far in as he got... once. Miles on the other hand got knocked down and tumbled around, so his fun ended there. But playing the sand was fun.

And James especially liked to eat the sand! He found a shell and used it to spoon LARGE quantities of it in his mouth. And after 3-4 mouthfuls, which he swallowed, he became angry because I wouldn't take my eyes off him. What is lacking in his diet??

Later that night we took a walk downtown Huntington Beach. Miles was wired!

This was along the beach.

The next day we went to Disneyland!!!!!!!!

Here's the guys in the O of California...

And we quickly ran into Mickey Mouse! James couldn't take his eyes off the characters!

It was Halloween at Disney, and again James couldn't stop staring at Goofy!

We all went to a 3D show. It was a little too scary for the boys so they had their eyes covered for a lot of it.

Great Grandpa and Miles just weren't strong enough to lift these weights!

Seriously, that look is way too guilty!

Finally, he pried his eyes away!

We spent a good chunk of the day in Toon Town.The boys were so excited to go to Pixie Hollow and meet Tinkerbell, but we missed her by 30 minutes! Oh Man!

James eventually was overloaded and crashed in the stroller.

The next day we "relaxed" with a ride on this bike! It was a lot of work and as you can see the boys beat on each other!

Sunday we went to the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Funny to find a bird house there, but we were able to feed them nectar.

The boys were getting pretty wild at this point and James was overdue for a nap so I told them the birds didn't like loud noises and if they screamed they might bite them. Hee hee!

The guys were able to touch manta rays, sting rays, sharks, starfish, sea anemones, and all sort of other little creatures. James frequently touched these things then stuck his fingers in his mouth. Why bother with the wash stations! I'm curious if those poor sea animals caught anything from him!

Outside James there were pigeons everywhere! And James liked to suck on the rails they stood on! Great! So far he hasn't come down with any strange illness. Who knows whats festering though!

Oh and the highlight!! NEMO and DORY!!!

And Monday we went to the La Brea tar pits. They are amazing!

A little over Miles and James' heads, but they seemed to like it... even though Miles is yawning.

All in all we had a fun!

Did I mention we came back to 45 degree weather! Brrrr!

And before our drive home from the airport, James picked a french fry up off the Eden Prairie Center floor and ate it! So, if he can survive this flu year, I think we'll be okay!