Everyday Things

favorite things....

The girls pick out their own clothes every day and pretty much refuse to wear anything that I set out for them. I've had to do some major thinning of their wardrobe so at least what they do pick has already been pre-approved by me (Mom = 1) of course the combinations they choose leave something to be desired but whatever....express yourself in whatever means you have, right.

Adia is predictable. She always picks pink. If the entire outfit isn't pink it's mostly pink. She puts her clothes on and almost every day after she's dressed declares her love of pink, "I looooooove PINK!"

I hate pink. Go figure (Mom = 1 Girls = 1)

Rasa has this (*!&^$@&) puppy shirt that she has a deep love for. She cries when I have to wash it and will ask repeatedly while it's in the wash if it's dry yet. I usually wash and dry it at night and leave it out for her on the couch because when she wakes up if it's not ready for her she will wake us up by crying, screaming and or whining "WHERE IS MY PUPPY SHIRT?!!!" She must wear her puppy shirt every single day at least once, or twice a day. When we persuade her to try a different shirt she will, but minutes or hours later will resort back to that ugly puppy. It doesn't match anything that she has. It's got a huge poodle on it (I also hate poodles). I don't get it. I hope it gets lost in the move.....too bad I fear for our lives if it does. She will never let it go!
Here it is worn with pride....ugh



Royce and I have developed a deep hatred of the puppy shirt as it has robbed us of many peaceful mornings. I'm not blaming anyone, even though technically my Mom bought her the shirt.....and Rasa knows that.....so every time I tell her no she can't wear the puppy shirt she cries, "but Nanna bought this for me!!" Clearly that overrides anything I have (Mom = 1 Girls = 2). I lose.

Everyday Things

my love of color

I can't stop making these little wooden people. I love the bright colors, the shiny shellac and how natural they feel to hold in your hands. They are totally non-toxic all the way down to the glue that holds the heads on and I love that too. Last night I was painting them while Royce I were talking after the girls were asleep. He was probably slightly annoyed (although hid it well) because every time I'd do a new little head I've make him look at how adorable it was. The girls have twenty or so of these little folks and they love them. I need to start gifting them again before my house is taken over by wooden dolls! The little boy and the Dad I've promise to a friend. I just need to whip up a super funky Momma to complete their family :)

We had a great time at the little's book club this morning with the cousins. We're going to put off the zoo for another day (tomorrow maybe?) and the girls are heading over to Nana's when they wake from naps so I can get some shopping done. Being sick the later part of the weekend put a crimp in my grocery shopping/meal planning.

The sun is shining bright today and ice is melting into puddles. What a beautiful day!

Random ramblings you should only read if you are seriously bored out of your mind......

Above are my little wooden toy making supplies that I refuse to pack up until the day we move out of here. I can't put it away because I'm too afraid I'll need it....and I probably would.

Creating art with 3 year olds is a little easier than creating art with 2 year olds but it's still a disaster mess. I hate that I feel that way but truth be told every time the girls pull out the art bins they want to either glue or paint and both end up in a sticky disaster! Sure we have markers, crayons, color pencils, and a whole bin of non-disaster making materials but they want to paint, almost every day.

Today, like most days, I let it go, let them pour their own paints (3 year olds must do EVERYTHING themselves!) and let them have at it. It took me an hour to clean up but it was a good reminder watching them create what a magic process art is. Kids need to get their hands in it, feel it, smell it, squeeze it and experiment. They do it with such joy and energy!

I should understand this more than most. I NEED to create nearly everyday and usually every night after the girls are in bed I'm in my own art bin (or camera bag and editing software). It's relaxing for me, exciting and therapeutic. I need art like I need food. I always have. I find it in many ways; baking, painting, photography, sewing, toy making.

I need a shift in my priorities to make a space and time for the girls to have the opportunity to do this more. Maybe for them a few times a week isn't enough. They need a place where the mess doesn't matter (a tarp on the floor?), their supplies are accessible and they are free to do what they need to do......

Rasa has been begging me to let her sew. I seriously think sewing is above her ability level so I'm trying to think of a project she can "help" me with. She wants to do another set of ABC's but I'm thinking maybe a set of RASA pillows or something she can stuff filling into and help me that way.

Adia has no interest in watching me sew. She likes to play with the pins because the colored balls on the tops enamor her. She also loves my vintage buttons but she throws them around along with the pins when she gets bored. I remember when I was little my Mom would sew a lot and I would sit in her sewing room and while Chrissy always wanted to sew I was happy playing with the pins and tomato shaped pin cushion :)

I'm struggling with staying fresh on the home based mom job thing. Spring, summer and fall are so easy. We spend most of the day outside in the water or exploring and the girls are happy and worn out at the end of the day. Winter is brutal. I'm tired, burnt out and don't like the cold and while I make myself take them out when it's not bitter cold, I'm not happy out there!

Tomorrow is a new day! We have book club with the cousins and the zoo. It will be a nice refresher to an otherwise rhymic week.

the things they say...

When we picked up the girls from my parents after an evening out Royce asked Rasa if she had fun to which she replied, "I had fun because my papa came and picked me up" I said, well I came too and she said, "yes but my Papa came back for me!"
Clearly a daddy's girl!

Royce asked Adia if she missed him and she replied, "NO! I missed Momma!"
YES! One point for the momma ;)

Yesterday Rasa was hanging over the loft railing with a thermometer in her hand yelling, "Momma! Momma! Can we stick this in Adia's butt right now?!"

Rasa was dancing naked in front of the mirror. She turns around and shakes her booty at me while saying, "I have a big butt!". I said, "no you sure don't have a big butt!" and she turns around points to her front side and says, "Yes I do! This is my little butt and (while turning back around pointing to her back side) this is my big butt!"
Gotcha!

weekend wrap....

I just realized I still have a live Christmas tree up in my living room. How bad is that? I took off the decorations the day after Christmas and it just sort of blends in. Hmmm can't believe I forgot about it. Should probably remove it from the house, or burn it in a bonfire or something!

Anyway, Momma and Pappa got to go out on the town last night! It was actually a belated birthday celebration, I'm not at all picky about when it happens.....it just needs to happen! We don't get out, the two of us, more than a couple times a year so it's always SO much fun and SO special. I love that guy! He's fun and sweet and it's great to be the two of us, separate from the four of us. We had dinner at Bulldog in Northeast Minneapolis and then stopped off at Keegan's for a beer. We picked up cupcakes for Nana and Poppa and the girls and even had enough time to swing into the grocery store and pick up a few things for the week (yes we're
old....we grocery shop on date night).


Thanks to my parents for babysitting!

We had a fun Saturday morning. Our neighbors came over for a photo session and I really enjoyed it. I LOVE taking pictures of people I know and love and they are a super cute, super sweet little family. Rasa was my "helper" except instead of helping me out she was trying to snuggle with me while I was taking pics.

We spend a good portion of the rest of our day in Richfield, at the new house and out to lunch. The girls are pretty excited! They loved checking the place out and exploring. Their bedroom has two windows that face the backyard. There's a big tree right out the window that doesn't have any leaves on it now but I imagine in the summer it will be full and green. I used to have a tree outside my window when I was little and I loved looking out and dreaming about climbing way up to the top of it. Royce and I are really excited. We can see ourselves and our things in this house. We can imagine our routine and our little girls running up and down the hallway with the old wood floors creaking underneath them. It's a super sweet little place that's about to be filled up with magic that small children bring into every room.

Happy Monday! Time to get to work!