repurposing...and an announcement

So, a good friend of mine is into all things girly, vintage and fresh. LOVE it. I will admit, I never thought it was for me. BUT, I've found that some of that world meshes wonderfully with my bright and linear world.

Meet a few of my favorite new items that I intend to or have repurposed!

{fun little bowl/dish type things that are holding random, want to be used soon ribbons and will use dirty stamps!}

{the toy cash register and the scale, simply being decorative!}

{What, my friends, shall I do with this??}

Anyway, the second thing to discuss is giveaways. I have BOXES of scrapbook/craft/paper crafting related items that I'm not intending on using. I'd like to purge them and give them to fellow crafters.

So, in order to do that, I'm going to have give aways, right here! Probably a couple a week until I've cleared out the stuff. So, keep checking back!

Until later...

I must share...

I have found my new favorite poem -- completely inspirational and so ME! I absolutely love it. A breath of fresh air. Talk of repurposing and such will wait until tomorrow...

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata

You wanna tussle?

My kids watch a lot of Drake and Josh. They like iCarly too. And Spongebob. They pick up hilarious, and often, inappropriate things from these shows.

Like this...

On a completely different note - wasn't this awesome?! I was completely awestruck by the history, the complete and total ritual of it all and the enormity. I am proud to believe in him and look forward to see what he can accomplish.

a minor delay

I've been trying to upload some shots, since yesterday, of our outdoor adventures at the park and in our driveway. Unfortunately, I've not been successful. Soon, I hope.

Until then, I will continue to be productive at home!

More where this came from

Here's a little picture of the #1 baby. It's been very warm here today - he enjoyed some time sans clothing!

Still not there...

Okay, so i'm still not ready to share from our recent activities, mostly because I still haven't downloaded the pictures. (Where is that shocked smiley when you need it?) I read this quote on Ali Edwards' blog and really liked it. Hopefully, you will too.

Neil Gaiman : I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.

As far as I'm concerned it's always about being kind. A smile, a friendly greeting or a pleasant conversation can really help someone's day. It certainly helps mine. Anyway, kindness is one of the most important lessons I'm hoping to teach my children. Sure it's important to be smart - it's also important to have goals and to reach them. But, I really want them to learn that we're all in this together, lets try and be kind unless it's just not possible.

not even a recap

Well, not yet anyway. right now, just one image because I love it. Then, later, another time, a bit about our holiday and our excursion.

for now, happy and blissful to be home. about ready to rest up for tomorrow!

random

In order to have a post, I will have to make it super random. I'm crunched for time and well, packing at this point is REALLY high on the list. I have, however, started putting the clothes in suitcases, that is HUGE for me. We don't leave for 3 whole days, even!

Okay. So. We've been super busy. We've had parties at school, an evening trip to Disneyland, SNOW, bunco, my aunt and cousins up for an overnight visit and baking day, saw Santa...now we're on winter break. The baby is doing several funny things - including saying OW as he hits you. He knows that is what you're going to say as he inflicts pain. He's also taking a few steps at a time. Let's hear it for my boy! WOOHOO!!

Also, all of my photography sessions are over for the season, I've got to finish up editing and uploading, but other than that I'm set! WOOHOO! I feel so accomplished for all of the hard work and happy families!

{two boys waiting to tell Santa all of their wishes! they really asked for toys}

{The Fam waiting for santa!}

{the boys with the big man!}

{checking out Mrs. Claus}

{it totally, completely, without doubt snowed at our house in southern california, and here's PROOF!}

{The slope in my yard!}

{a love note from my darling husband}

{the next morn'}

{the mountains across the freeway the next morning!}

{getting ready to go to his Polar Express party at school!}

{the kids waiting for the fun to begin!}

{Thursday night Disneyland fun!}

{baking day!}

{andy and his bfff, Charlie!}

This has taken all day!

In honor of Miss Lynda

Today, Sawyer's preschool teacher, Lynda Campbell, is being laid to rest. I know it's sad and some of you are thinking, big deal, she was his preschool teacher, but she was really so very much more. She was kind, thoughful, zany, full of life, energetic, creative, nice, a wonderful teacher, a great friend and she's gone much, much too soon.

One year ago, almost to the day Miss Lynda got sick, very sick. She was later diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma - a form of cancer. Not a day has gone by where I haven't thought of Lynda, wished her well and wondered how she was. She was a blessing to our family and we're much better off for having known her.

Sawyer attended Lynda's school, The Learning Tree, for 1.5 years. The first year he went 2 times a week and the second year he went 4 days a week. She was so good for him, she understood him (which isn't to "get" Sawyer!), taught him, took good care of him, and mostly - she loved him. He loved her and we all loved her.

The tragic thing here is that Lynda was only 51 years old when she died last week - she should have had many years ahead of her with her loving husband and her 5 children. I'm sad she never got to have grandchildren and more sad that her future grandchildren will never got to have known her kind and fun soul.

I will be back to your usual drivel tomorrow. But, today, much love to Lynda Campbell and all that loved her.

Forecast for TONIGHT! In Southern California!!!

Tonight: Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with a mix of rain and snow late. Low 32F. S winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precip 70%. About one inch of snow expected.