Lula Belle

Our week

It's been an interesting week around here.  I have had a cold.  So I've been doing a lot of tea drinking and knitting.  I've knocked out 2 Christmas gifts and have made some major progress on my February Lady sweater.  I started it last spring, set it down and just now picked it back up.  I actually started all over again since I was having some math issues the first time.  I've almost completed the body!!!

 

We went to see Ponyo on Saturday afternoon.  It was super cute.  Afterwards we stopped by the pet store and out of nowhere we fell in love.  We made the impulse buy of the year!!  

Meet Corinna our sweet friendly little tabby.  Carmen doesn't care for her that much, but in time, I'm sure that they'll get used to each other!!!  The kids are stoked to have a cat that will actually let you pet it.  I am quite fond of her too!  When all is quiet in the house she finds a good spot and cuddles up with me.  This is what I had in mind when we got a cat.  We still love Carmen, just from a distance, because that's how she likes it!!

This fall has been amazing!!!  In a quick blaze of glory everything changed at once.  We had a great time collecting leaves and walking in the wonderland of color all around us.  All it took was a good rain and all of the leaves fell.  So of course it's leaf jumping time!!!!

Now I must go carve some pumpkins and get some kiddos ready to trick or treat tonight!!!!

Old Friends, New Friends

I am so far behind in this space!!!  So much has been going on lately that I haven't had any time to keep up here.  It looks like I am going to have to do a week in review!

Some very dear friends from Washington came to see us last week!  We haven't seen them in 7 years so it was a real treat.  Our children had never met so it was a fun reunion for us and so neat to watch the new friendships forming between our children.

 

We went up to the lake for a couple of nights.  Its such a great place to relax and just hang out.  We played lots of games and did some reading and ate lots of food.  The kids got to feed the ducks and drive the boat.  It was mighty chilly on the boat ride, but no one seemed to really mind.  We made pillow forts and built fires and made smores.  It was a very nice time.

Skating Party

Tommy had a skate party for school this week.  It was so funny walking into a skate rink again.  It has been so many years!!!  The smell hit me as soon as I walked in.  All skate rinks have the same strange smell.  I can't put my finger on what it is, but it was very nostalgic!  I was almost expecting to hear some 80's hair band songs.  Sadly, I am in no condition to skate, so I had to sit and watch.  It was super cute!!  Both of the kids have ice skated and skate in the street, but the wonderful buttery smoothness of the rink was a brand new experience for them.  It took some getting used to, but they got the hang of it in no time.  Daddy did good too.  He's not much of a skater!

 

It looks like we'll be going roller skating again soon!!!

This and That

Sunday marked our 6th wedding anniversary.  Since it was a busy day with soccer and hockey, we decided to go out on Saturday night.  It has been way too long since we have been out on a real date!  It was so very nice to get to spend some time alone together. Thanks for a lovely evening and 8 wonderful years together honey! 

We had a surprise visitor on Sunday!  Grandma drove up to see us!!!  When we woke in the morning she was here!  The kids were more than excited.  She hasn't been up to our house since Katie was a baby, so they had LOTS to show her.  She got to come along to see Tommy play hockey and soccer too.  He was so proud to have her at his games.  

In the afternoon we built a fire and the kids caught a mouse in the back yard.  We put the little guy in an old fish tank so we could look at him for awhile.  The kids picked berries and scavenged for food that they thought he might like.  He did eat a couple of berries before he took a flying leap out of the tank and ran to the safety of his own home.  For living in the city, we sure find lots of fun critters in our back yard!

 

We were all sad when she left in the evening to head back home.  It was a short visit, but very nice.  Thanks Grandma!!!

The Tooth Fairy

I got a call from the school nurse yesterday morning.  She started with "Don't worry no big deal, but Tommy fell on the playground and knocked one of his tooth loose."  I knew right away that after the initial pain and embarrassment of falling passed that he would be super excited.  He has been waiting to lose a tooth for awhile now, but they've all been holding on tight.  When he got home he denied that the accident ever happened, but said that his tooth just started wiggling on the way to lunch!  So when he was brushing his teeth for bed last night, it fell out.  There was lots of excitement and talk of the tooth fairy.  Katie kept telling Tommy how proud she was of him and they placed the tiny bottom baby tooth under his pillow carefully.  When Tommy woke up today he found money where his tooth had been!!  She had come!!!!  More buzz this morning and oatmeal for breakfast since Tommy is unsure about how to eat without it just yet.  

I'm thinking that I am going to have to fashion some sort of tooth holder for under the pillows.  We don't want the poor Tooth Fairy to have to hunt too hard for the tooth and it would keep them nice and safe!

Here are a few facts that the kids told me about the tooth fairy...

• Fairies are about an inch shorter than leprechauns and can fit in your hand.
• The tooth fairy lives really far away.  You have to go down a path, through a maze and find a golden door with a tooth on it.
• She is a very good flier.

The girls

Katie and I had a sleepy morning.  Matt took Tommy to school, so we got to chill out all morning.  It was cold and windy so it was extra nice to stay in.  By lunchtime we were ready to get out though.  So we got ready and headed to our favorite lunch spot.  The boys aren't crazy about the food there so it has become our special place.  I love sitting with her and sharing a burrito and talking about stuff!

 

After lunch we went to the park to play!  It was cool out and some of the trees were glowing bright orange.  It was so quiet and peaceful.  Delanie tried lots of new things by herself while Katie cheered her on and I got a little bit of knitting done.  It was a perfect afternoon!

 

30 Days of Happiness: Day 30

Involved mama day!

Today I volunteered in Tommy's class room.  I am not usually the mom you see on the party planning committee or anything, but I just may be coming around.  He was so proud to have me there and he was sad when it was time for me to leave.  It made me feel very special and it was nice to get a peek at his day even if it was form a spot in the corner sharpening pencils!  I have to savor these moments while I can because I know that they won't last forever.  He is not going to be telling all of his friends that I am HIS mom and waving at me every 30 seconds from across the room.  I love that he is still my baby.

I also made plans to do a craft with Katie's class this month and get this......I went to a PTA meeting!!!!  I don't know what got into me today, but it was strangely satisfying.  "I second the motion to approve Mrs. Smith's request for $350 for internet science programs and rain gauges for her classroom." Teeheeeheee.

This concludes my 30 days of Happiness experiment.  It was quite fun.  It reminded me daily to slow down and enjoy the moments as they came.  It helped me appreciate the little things a little bit more than usual.  It helped me realize that every day has it's wonderful moments, even the days that I would call bad.  This has inspired me to carry the 30 days happiness on as an everyday challenge.  Why not try to find a little magic, a little something special, something that makes you smile everyday and appreciate it?  Thanks Erin!!!!!  

30 Days of Happiness: Day 29

Yesterday we went to a apple cider festival with friends.  It was a lovely fall day to be out on a farm.  The kids went on a hay ride and played games.  They got to check out the old school apple press and pet the pigs.  And there was so much good food!  We all had a great time! 

When we got home we worked on cleaning up the yard.  We collected so many sticks, including last years Christmas tree, that a fire was in order.  It was a perfect evening for it too.  The air was cool and the fire was warm.  While I was sitting there drinking warm cider, eating popcorn, listening to the kids chatter and play and eat way too many s'mores, I had one of those moments.  One of those moments when you realize that everything is perfect, that the world is as it should be and that you are right where you should be.  Pure happiness!

30 Days of Happiness: Day 28

This afternoon the clouds and rain let up and THE SUN CAME OUT!!!  It was a welcome change.  You could instantly see a change in the mood of the house!  The kids began running and playing outside and mama found a new album to listen to!!!!  My favorite Christmas song last year was by Zee Avi.  She didn't have any other music out though.  So I was quite surprised upon googling her today that she had put out a full length record!!!  So, yay for sunshine and new tunes!!!!

30 Days of Happiness: Day 27

Goodness from the kitchen with lots of help.

Katie and I have been enjoying being in the kitchen much more than usual these days.  Having company makes cooking and washing so much more fun!  

For dinner we made Chicken Chili.  It was spicy and delicious!  Katie did all of the adding and stirring.  I just read the recipe and helped chop the onion.  We made one little change to the recipe.  Instead of skinless boneless chicken, we put some bone in chicken in the crock pot so it would shred.  I just like it better that way!  Also next time I might cut the cayenne pepper in half.  It was a little too spicy for some members of our family!

For dessert, and breakfast too, we made Blueberry Boy Bait.

Mmmmmmm!