Welcome Fall

Finally you are here....

Loving cooler days,

mosquito free gardening,

tall boots and sweaters.

Please stay for a long time....

-julie

Keep Calm and Carry On- My Version

If you look closely,

you can see the words floating around in the soup bowl.

In third grade, Linnea came home and shared a coping technique

from her "Health and Wellness" class at school.

It's become one of our family's inside jokes.

Almost once a day, you'll see at least one of us carrying an imaginary soup bowl.

The idea is when you're stressed,

imagine you're carrying a soup bowl.

To calm yourself down,

imagine there is steam wafting from the bowl.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Feel better?

So I painted a little picture for the family.

Just a little reminder.

Makes us all chuckle...

and keep calm!

-julie

Double Trouble

Since they were this little,

These two have been getting into trouble.

Sometimes alone,

But often together.

There was the day they toddled out of the house and out of the court.

They were Fourteen and fifteen months old.

I was a wreck.

Thank goodness for bright red clothes that day...

Most of the time these days they are just silly,

and pretty cute too.
Yesterday they decided they'd be "sick" together.

Turns out if you put hot water on each other's temples,

and hold it there for a bit with a washcloth,

You do look a little feverish.

But the thermometer and mommy knew the truth.

They couldn't believe their little trick didn't work!

-julie

Happy Gotcha Day Izzy!

Six years ago,

in a civil affairs office in Chongqing, China,

you were placed in our arms.

From the first day in our hotel,

you filled our hearts with joy...

Look at those smiles on your siblings faces....

from the first meeting at the airport right here,

they were soooo happy to have you home!

Thank you for filling our lives with joy,

and sharing your zest for life with so many people.

We treasure your "Izzyisms"

and love watching you care for others and put a smile on even the face of strangers.

You are an amazing gift from above,

and we love you so very much.

Today we celebrate YOU!

Chinese food tonight baby! :)

-Your Mom

Sending

A little bluebird of happiness your way....

Having fun playing with my new paints and tabletop easel.

Thank you Mark for a fun birthday lunch date and shopping trip for supplies!

Any tips for someone new to acrylics?

Thanks for all of the coffee tips.

I haven't made a pot since I'm enjoying a clean kitchen.

I truly make that much of a mess.

Between piano lesson and soccer practice drop-offs I'm checking out some new options!

-julie

Really

I can't make coffee....I try.

Almost every other day.

I always miss a step.

I'm always thinking about something else.

Tomorrow, I'm really going to try and make a decent pot of coffee.

Any tips?

-julie

Yesterday I Slept Through India

Today I tried one of these at my Yoga Power class...

It's a standing split.

I didn't look anything like this chic.

Perhaps it's because I'm not a "young fit woman."

That's what the image caption said.

Oh well.

I'll be happy if I can get out of bed in the morning.

So yesterday I slept through India....

and I highly recommend it.

"Eat, Pray, Love" that is.

I've decided I'm not truly relaxed while viewing a movie unless I fall asleep.

India was a little boring.

Italy and Bali were eye candy.

Loved it.

Sitting in a movie all by myself with some popcorn and peanut m & ms.

I'd fantasized about it since July.

A few hours seeing a movie,

all by myself,

while all the kids were in school full-day.

Topped it off with some good garage sale finds from Kasey.

Of Lola B fame.

Some ruffled jeans for Izzy,

a little cuff and bird plate for me,

and a few other things for the girls.

I was a pretty happy camper.

Back to cleaning dust bunnies in the upper level.

Oy.

They always come back.

Enjoy your weekend!

-julie

Morning Runs

...alone on the pathalways make me feel better....

Ok, not quite alone....

Pictures are taken on my iphone,

running to "I Gotta Feeling" radio station on Pandora,

and using imapmyrun app to track my route and pace.

Gotta love technology! :)

Great start to the day.

Enjoy yours,

-julie

Am I really...

...this old?

39?

Really?

Thank goodness my girls treated me to cake a few days ago.

Check these out.

No calories.

And each one is even sweeter.

The day is not going quite as I had planned.

I woke up at 5.

Did some laundry.

Cleaned things up.

Made a breakfast casserole for everyone.

Drove the boy to his 7 a.m. Jazz session.

Came back home to a sick little girl.

So....

I'm not home alone.

So I'll be here.

Won't be taking the intense sports drill class at the gym with a friend.

Won't be heading to Geneva to window shop.

Won't be seeing "Eat, Pray, Love" all by myself as planned.

I know it sounds really weird,

But I was really looking forward to seeing a movie all by myself!

Oh well.

I can do all those things another day.

Instead,

I did buy myself a good coffee.

I'm enjoying some sunflowers on the counter.

I'll be productive around the house.

I'll get some time in the art studio,

and maybe watch a movie with my little girl.

When you're a mom,

it's really just another day!

-julie

Doggy Dates

With everyone in school and Mark at work,

I'm left with two active dogs.

Meet Madison.

Chocolate Lab,

age 4,

crazy about tennis balls.

Loves to ride in the car with me.

Especially when I bring her here.

The dog park.

Three miles from home, and we're in the country.

Park.

Hike a bit.

Enter the dog park.

Bliss for Madison.

Bliss for me.

Camera bag.

Pandora station set on "Lenka" on the iphone.

A pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks.

Book to read.

The only problem?

The weasel likes to come along too.

Meet Dakota, or Cody.

No, she's not a weasel, she's a Brittany Spaniel.

Age 3.

The breed I vowed I'd never let into our home again.

But in a weak moment in the middle of South Dakota,

I found myself looking at a litter of Brittany pups.

She came home with us.

Our last Brittany was nuts too.

She ate my tangle-free diamond necklace.

It was in a box, inside of my jewelry box.

The chain lived up to its motto...

and came out tangle-free.

I didn't look for it.

Mark did.

Funny, I don't wear that necklace very often.

Even 16 or so years later.

Back to Cody.

I'm forever losing her in the tall grass.

Might not be a bad idea....

I think we'll keep heading to the dog park.

It wears her out.

-julie

Update from Yesterday's Post

More tears yesterday.

More tears last night.

More tears this morning.

No tears walking to school.

No tears lining up.

I even caught a giggle with a friend.

Phew.

Today is a new day.

I felt better yesterday after making this.

Just a little painting,

Sofi loves butterflies, and backpacking,

so I set a heart in her desk with butterfly wings.

a little modge podge,

an old 1800's hymn thrown in with some sweet words,

a little piece of an old measuring tape,

and oddly enough,

I felt better.

Thank goodness for the creative process.

-julie

I left my heart at few blocks away

Day 6 of first grade for Izzy and Sofi.

Lots of tears last night from Sofi.

More this morning.

"It's too long Mommy."

"I want to be home with you."

"You're home all day by yourself. I could stay with you."

"I don't want to go to gym class."

"I have to sit out in gym and everyone looks at me."

It's 10:15 a.m., and I feel like I've been through the wringer.

I'm emotionally drained.

Absolutely exhausted,

and praying that she doesn't cry through the day of school.

She did yesterday.

Hopefully this silly face will be back soon.

Just tried to make myself a cup of coffee.

Tasted horrible.

Forgot to put the grounds in.

I think I need to take a personal day.

This too shall pass.

Right?

-julie