Just having a little picnik fun this Friday evening... :)

Nature study: Snails plus children equals love.

Oh my, this afternoon was the greatest. We had a fun play session with friends in our "new" playroom I set up in our (unfinished) basement (more on that soon). Then I took the babes for a trip to the pet store because we missed a reptile show at the library due to long naps. We used to frequent the pet store and the nature area next to it frequently when we lived in our old neighborhood but haven't been back in a while. Sam was running around the store everywhere saying, "Look Mama!! Fish! Frogs! A sea turtle! Hamsters! Look! They are so cute!" It was awesome. Then we went for a walk down to the water in "Hidden Hollow" next to it, and that's where the real fun began! Literally, snails were everywhere. Sam went into his zen nature mode and held handfuls of snails for the longest time. Amelia was hysterical and kept exclaiming, "They like me, they like me!" I think she must have heard me telling Sam how much snails like him. They always come out of their shells when he picks them up, like they know he is a gentle soul. On the other hand, they usually stay deep inside when Amelia is holding them, which is probably a very good thing! Today though, several of hers came out and she is much improved in her gentleness from when they would play with them in our old backyard. Anyway, they were just so fun and in their element down there by the stream.

I love, love, love watching my children play and especially when they are playing in nature. They are there truest, purest selves when we are there it seems, and it is just a joy to watch.
That's all for now,
Jen

A breath of fresh air...

Mountain air that is:) We are up at our friends cabin again--just for a night, but oh is it wonderful. On the drive up I always feel like bursting out with, "The hills are alive with the sound of muuuuusic!" That's how I feel inside. Yes, these days the song would sometimes be sung over whining, weepy voices in the back seat...but that's okay. All the whininess and overtired weepiness falls away when I see my little guy fishing for the first time or saying, "I'm hikin Mama, do you want to come with me? Be careful not to get a boo boo! Watch out for these stickers! Listen to the noises. Watch for animals. What was that?!" I tell you, that little boy just melts my heart when he is in nature...he is at his best for sure. Kinda like his daddy I guess:) As we were driving through the mountains Sammy said, "Aren't these mountains beautiful daddy? They are magic." We just wanted to gobble him up.

Anyway, I'm so thankful for this little getaway. I think it inspires us all.
Jen

Story time: Part two.

So, we arrived in Austin and proceeded straight to a favorite BBQ place in New Braunfels, Rudy's. Mmmmmmmmmmm. We took and home to Bub and Robin's house and finally laid eyes on the reason for our trip--Lucy Faye! Oh my. I can't even describe the joy of meeting this little niece of mine and in seeing my brother and my sis-in-luv as parents. A privilege; that's what it was to see this new little family bonding and loving each other. They are a family that loves each other well.
We also got to see my little brother and Tara and my other cute as a button niece, Echo. My heart just swells watching the three older cousins playing with each other, giving spontaneous hugs, having such precious conversations and just looking plain adorable together.





All for now...more sweet memories soon! Jen

Story time...

So, we are back from our two week trip to Texas. It is always a whirlwind trip and I long for the day when spending time with family is not logistically and emotionally exhausting ( for example, wanting children to be at their best during limited time with family and that usually not happening--it's stressful for all). Anyway, even though it is tiring it is also wonderful and there were lots and lots of sweet moments that I want to remember.

First off, the trip there. My mom was with us so it was easy peasy for the most part, though we did have a crazy delay in the air at the end of our second flight and then we landed to find that poor Robin was at the San Antonio airport to pick us up and we were in Austin! The babes were troopers, though, and those little glitches were soon forgotten.

My favorite memory of the trip down was this. When we walked onto the plane, Sammy turned left towards the cockpit instead of right. The co-pilot (?) was sitting in his chair and invited Sam to come into the cockpit with him! Sammy hopped right into the captain's seat at his invitation and was able to push buttons, pull levers, etc. I don't think he knew quite what was going on, but he liked it! When he was done I lifted him down to the floor and handed him his blankey and headed back to our seat. Then, oh then, Sam started to march. Standing tall and proud and holding his silky blanket, he marched all the way to the back of the plane. I have never ever seen him spontaneously march and I almost cried it was so cute. Oh Sam, I want to remember that moment forever.


More stories to come! Jen

Breathing in that fresh mountain air...

A morning adventure to close out my mama's time with us here in Utah...now it's on to Texas! Jen

Tour de coop...

So, we kinda want chickens. We aren't sure yet and so we went on the city's "tour de coop", a day where you can tour urban homesteaders' backyards. We only made it to three homes, but they were amazing. Huge gardens, bees, chickens, a sun oven cooking a quiche...it was all very inspiring. It made me want to simplify, spend more time at home, work harder, slow down. Amelia kept proclaiming her love for chickens and that she is SO EXCITING about getting some. Sam, though less exclamatory, is probably the one that would spend the most time helping mama and daddy care for them. So, we shall see but either way it was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
All for now,
Jen

Beautiful boy.

We love him so.

Retro.

We went to a cute little retro cafe yesterday. The babes were a little fussy from their late night out the night before so we didn't stay long (yes, just long enough to fill them with a little sugar:). It was fun though and the babes thoroughly enjoyed their cupcakes:)






All for now,
Jenn

Chicago!

Admittedly, I don't know much about music. It has just never been a huge part of my life (except for hymns and spiritual songs and songs from Annie and Newsies:) . I love music, but I don't love music--you know? I can only think of a handful of concerts I have been to--Rich Mullins, Jack Johnson, Willie Nelson, and the bands my brothers have worked for (older brother)/played in (younger brother). Just like my relationship with being a sports spectator--I mostly just love it if my brothers are somehow involved:)

However, when my mama said that her friend could possibly get us tickets to Chicago my ears perked up and songs and emotions came rushing forth. Here was my immediate memory upon hearing the word Chicago:

I am in 6th grade. I am at my friend Lesley's house spending the night and we are up late listening to music on headphones. She puts in one called Chicago and I think it may have been her older sisters' music (hi Court and Ashley!:) . I'm not sure if it was because the music belonged to her sisters or because it was all about dramatic break ups and unrequited love, but at that moment I felt so worldly and so...understood! Finally someone was singing about these feelings that my 6th grade hormonal, boy crazy heart was pumping out. I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down as many lyrics as I could. I think I memorized the songs instantly. I may or may not have begun writing letters to my unrequited loves in school, working in some of the lyrics. Oh my.

You see, I don't have many of these musically inspired memories. So, this Chicago memory was fun and I suddenly could not stop singing all of those lyrics that were stained into my heart forever:)

We got to go to the concert and it was so. much. fun. It was a beautiful evening at Red Butte Gardens. The people watching was great (though I am not a "dance your heart out" kinda girl, it is so fun to watch people that are:) and they really did put on a great show. Such a fun memory with my mama and Joel, though mom and I were much more into it. The babes were having a fabulous time at their friend Vera's house (thanks again Anne!) and it was just a great time all the way around.

That's all for now,

Jen

Two babes asleep in their beds, fan whirring and music playing as they sleep. Mammy painting a mural in their bathroom, bold with her decisions of color and space. Mama reading a good book, hungrily turning the pages while the warm summer breeze blows through the window. The cherry tree outside the window. The tree we have watched so closely, waiting and watching as the tree went from bare to blooms to green to red and now it is waiting for us to come and pick it's fruit.

I want to take the time to write about each of these summer scenes as they come, but it is hard to take the time in this season. I want to write about our yard sale finds, our summer salad recipe we can't stop making, our trips to the new community center, seeing Chicago tonight at Red Butte, finally breaking through my adoption paperwork funk, how I am so looking forward to seeing my Texas family in a week, and so much more! Maybe I will get back in a writing rhythm soon, but I won't make any promises:)

All for now,

Jen

Summer love...

Lots of blueberry popsicle, sandbox playing, park going, tree climbing, garden exploring, summer love to you! Jen

Confessions of a yard sale junkie...

What made yard saleing today even more fun than usual? My mama was with me!!!!!!! So, so wonderful. We were up and out the door by 6:45 am and after a quick caffeine stop we were on the way to our first sale.

I walked in (a big church gym) and the first thing I saw was a table with a shoe box on it. I looked in the box and what did I see? About 5 GIANT whales and about 5 small ones. Many of you who read the blog know that these types of animal toys are the babes absolute favorite, and sea creatures are the most beloved these days. Anyway, I was so excited. I got the whole box for $2. :)

We also got some great clothes for Fall.

Onto the next sale where I found 2 brand new stainless steel trash cans for the kitchen ($5 each). Also some dress up clothes and books.

The last sale was tough. We had the babes with us by this time and we found a jack pot of a sale.It was tough to navigate with two hungry, tired children but Mammy saved the day and took them on a walk. Major outdoorsy people with money equals lots of great stuff for our Utah adventures. I got two new, quality sleeping bags for the babes (I paid $20 each-- $99 each in store!), some patagonia shirts for Amelia, some clothes for Joelie, and a new bag for my mom.

Some of the loot.

The babes try out their sleeping bags and Sam tries on a kitty costume. Amelia loved having her own, personal cat and couldn't stop hugging him, petting him and dragging him all over the living room:)
Sammy and Joel sleeping the rainy afternoon away:)

Amelia ready to head out to a tea party with mama.

Amelia trading her HUGE whale for Claire's adorable Peter Rabbit. I think Claire was like, "Um, what is this monstrosity?" :) Happy 1st bday to our adorable little friend.

Reunited after the party. They were SO happy to see each other and played and played until bedtime. A little time apart can work wonders!
Before story time tonight...I just think they look so adorable in their little PJs:)

Lovely day, lovely deals, happy mama.

Jen