every friday...

play group
ahh
play group
it is a wonder
& an essential part of mommy sanity!
(for me at least)

i mean it's not like it's the only day of the
week we leave the house or anything
but it is the only day of the week where we leave the house &
are going someplace
just to
play
& socialize
(i suppose technically any place my kids are
is to play & sociallize

why didn't i appreciate that more when i was three?)
so for ME it is the only time
set asside for playing & socializing
(are you tired of those two words yet?
me too)
today we were at my friend jessica's house
jessica & i have been friends since the 7th grade
(with a few esstranged years in there for good measure)

& she is one of the funniest people you will ever meet
so witty
& kind
& smart
(yes you!)
& now i can add
the greatest yard in the county to have playgroup in
to the list of her attributes...

it was so fun
kids running
& jumping
& yelling
& singing
& fighting
& blowing bubbles
& hammocking
& riding
& digging
yes
& playing & socializing


i love to take pictures at play group
i have known so many of these kid for years
& some even since they were born
(4 whole years in some cases!
:)
they are my kid's friends
& my friend's kids
(& yes, there will be a scrapbook page forthcoming:)

& i love them!
& the sun was shining
(overhead, which is not so good
for picture taking
but that's what photoshop is for right?)
& it was just lovely!

i have included a little selection here
but if you would like to see the whole set
let me know
& i will email you the snapfish linky thing

summer afternoon
summer afternoon
no two better words together
(that is completely ripped off from someone
& not even exactly right
i need to google it...)

& speaking of google....
if you are wondering what kind of a day
yesterday was
around here
(as opposed to the 16 other days i was gone from the blogosphere)
i had to google:
"getting crayon out of carpet"
delightful
:)

i whine & then i play...

*ranting shall commence*
first off i would like to say that i love my blog
i love to blog
maybe is the better thing to say
either which way
blogging is great
however
sometimes my pictures don't show up
then i don't like my blog
but then people comment & say sweet things about the pictures
so some people can see them & some can't
this makes me angry
i know it has to do with server shmerver something or other
but i still don't like it
everyone should get to see
including me!
*rant has thus ended*

anyway
we have been painting & arting up a storm round here...

i had some square canvases that i bought long ago
just knowing that i would need them someday
(story break!
when i lived on the farm
next door to my grandparents (hi grandma!)
i needed some shelving options
i had this cool little box
that could be turned on it's side
& then used as a shelf
but i needed more
or something like it
so i went up to see my grandpa & ask him if he had any ideas
he said 'how many do you need?'
we climbed up a ladder above his wood shop
& there were about 10 of the exact same boxes!
after we got them down i said
'i'm so glad you had those!'
& he said
'i knew that some day i would have a grand daughter who needed them'
i love that story!
plus
it gives me an idea of where i got this from...
the idea that if i save something long enough
it will be of use to someone
i am actually trying to curb that need lately
but that's another post....)

so i had a brainstrom
i love how they come out of nowhere
& just hit!
so
i had Q color on three of the canvases
& then i framed them
check it...



oh i love crayons!
one time i injested a substance which i will not specify here
but it made me very focused
& i spent a good hour melting crayons over a candle...
good info on me.
yes.

i have the perfect spot for these
& when i get them up i will show you
it is that perfect...

oh & yes
as he was creating these masterpieces
he told me what they were called
'this is 'the rains'
'this is 'the other rains'
those could really be names of art pieces!
he has it in him i tell you what...
seriously
this kid
he just makes me grin...

also
a few weeks ago for moms night we went to brushfire
to paint our own pottery
& i made a 'mom says' vase...



all around the inside it says
'mom says. mom says'
& then on the outside i listed things
that i think are good to practice
such as
dream big dreams
don't be afraid to mess up (it's ok)
just be you...you are great
have fun...lots of fun
be kind to everyone
love with all you've got

i'm happy with it
& that's a good thing too
:)

ps i sure miss my grandpa
he was quite a man:)

dial uppers...give it a minute or 8...

so i guess this is just how it is...
no post for a week
& then two in one day
yep.
that's how i roll
or something like that...

it started out as an ordinary day
friday morning
play group
out to the henderson farm
i knew that we would be outside
but i didn't know
that i would get some of my favorite pictures...

you know how you take a picture sometimes
& you think
oh this is going to be great
you can just see it in your mind
& then you get it printed
& you are not happy
it looks nothing like what you saw...

these look just like what i saw
& i am a happy mama...

her hair was just glowing in the sun...

yep he's a boy
(our friend carson)

& he's got a brother
(Q's favorite boy-friend emmett)


& i could take pictures of this little cutie for days
mr. noah...

& my favorite series...
CAUTION: grandma, you will not like the 3rd picture...
you have been warned...
'hey that looks fun'

'maybe not so fun'

'this is so not fun'

'back to fun'

& she was relatively happy after that
didn't go near the puddles again
but was happy
going topless
on the farm...
:)

*love this*

Let it go,
Let it roll right off your shoulder
Don't you know
The hardest part is over
Let it in,
Let your clarity define you
In the end
We will only just remember how it feels

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain

Let it slide,
Let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine
Until you feel it all around you
And i don't mind
If it's me you need to turn to
We'll get by,
It's the heart that really matters in the end

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain

All of my regret
Will wash away some how
But i can not forget
The way i feel right now

In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists & turns of fate
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away but these small hours
These small hours, still remain,
Still remain
These little wonders
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These little wonders still remain
~rob thomas


there's a scrapbook page in there somewhere...
stay tuned....
:)

:)

kind
funny
beautiful
sweet
honest
sassy
loving
strong
friendly
generous
real
caring
outgoing
creative
brave
& much much more
oh & did i mention today is her birthday?

happy happy birthday grandma!
i love you!
:)

matchy matchy...

before b & i got married
i bought these dinner plates
& salad plates
& bowls
four colors
two of each color

they have been so wonderful!
(am i coocoo for saying my dinner plates have been wonderful?
maybe...but you are here reading so i'll just keep going...)
but
for some reason we go through pasta bowls
like we will be arrested if we are found
with more than three in our cupboard...
might be our after pasta tradition of saying
'that was delish!'
& throwing the bowl on the floor just to watch it shatter...
hmmm might have to rethink that one...
anyway
we have gone through a bunch
thankfully those four colors
are super easy to match
& so i have been able to find fun patterns...

so i went to someone's house one time
i suspect it was my sister
(of course i have been to her house more than once
but this was a specific instance)
& she had these great, big, deep bowls
i think they would be called cereal bowls
but giant
like those little individual bowls of sugar snaps
would not even fill it up halfway
(by the way WHO among you has ever eaten sugar sanps?
those were the ones that always stuck around our cupboard...
cereal with a frog on it...
for some reason i just couldn't do it
plus in the picture they look like corn nuts
corn nuts with milk?
no thank you.)
sooooo.....
i alway thought that those bowls were neat
but i never dreamed that i could have them
(exciting dream life i have...)
i mean really
we have
shallow soup bowls
pasta bowls
cereal bowls
(that my bridesmaids painted at a little party we had before our wedding
there are 3 left
angie
wendy
christine
sniff)

do we really need more bowls?

God said yes.
as i walked through the dollar tree
he said yes.
he said here are some big deep
cereal bowls fit for a giant.
& he said $1 each for you, emily ruth.

& check it....

they match almost exactly
the blue & green are a little off
but i'm not complaining
no i'm not, God you did not hear any complaint from me...
sometimes little things working out
gets you through the day....
(thanks, God)
:)

additional coocoo:
when we are home watching UO duck games
i always make sure that we are using the green & yellow together
& i always make sure to say
'did you notice the colors of the plates?'
& he always says
'oh yeah, that's cool!'
:)

today my favorite...

picture of Q...


(& that 'mom rules' shirt is my favorite right now too)

upbeat song...
The Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani
'I must apologize for acting, stinking, treating you this way
Cause I've been acting like sour milk fell on the floor
& it's your fault you didn't shut the refridgerator
Maybe that's the reason I've been acting so cold'
just go download it...

weather pattern rolling through eugene oregon...
sunny with bright white silver lining clouds

picture of miss one year old...

love the crazy hair

relaxing sweet song...
Ordinary Miracle by Sarah McLachlan

magazine quote about 'the biggest decorating mistake people make'...
'Not connectiong their heart & their life to their home.
It needs to feel & look like them, not someone else's idea of cool or pretty'
amen.

old song that i loved in my 20's & have decided to bring it along into the next decade...
Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel

radio show pod cast archives to listen to while updating go-mom-go.com...
this american life

movie to see half of on a saturday at the dollar-fifty because we forgot that one year olds only sit through as much of the movie as their snack & cup of milk will allow...
charlotte's web
(half the movie...still cried at the end...
just for the record)

daddy daughter picture...


love that they are reading 'daddy & me'
& that she has on summer jammies
(has only worn those one night so far)

quote from 'the office'...
Michael Scott: Would I rather be feared or loved? Um... Easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.

:)

scrambled words with a side of kevin bacon...

(Q & simon...lunchtime movie)

so i know most of you read my friend ali's blog
& that is why i haven't mentioned this earlier
but for those of you who aren't on the ali edwards train
(departures at 7, 10 & 3
to eugene, anywhere scrapbokking is taking place
& corners of your brain that hold creativity, memories & good fun)
i want to mention
at the total last minute
that she is part of this awesome fundraising effort...
six degrees
(http://www.sixdegrees.org/Top.aspx)
it's headed up by none other than kevin bacon
& it's way cool...
people choose a cause
& encourage others to donate to it
ali's is autism speaks
her son simon has autism
ali is passionate about finding the cause
& the cure & ways to help people living with it
& to help people who live with the people who are diagnosed...
you can donate as little as $10
which is what i have done
twice:)
& in the end kevin himself matches up to $10,000
of what is earned...
stinking cool!
so check out the site
& check out ali's site
& see if you might like to help out
it's a great cause
& a great kid
& a great mom...
plus kevin bacon
& who can say no to extra bacon?

:)

ps it ends saturday night
so if you want to donate
get movin'...
:)

it's official!

she is one!
we had a fun little party for miss m on sunday
& let me tell you
she destroyed that cake...
i was so proud:)

i love this picture
love how you can tell that she was waving:)

happy birthday miss m
you have added so much joy to our family
i love how you wave to me & say 'hi'
even if it has only been 2 seconds since you saw me...
i love how you have figured out
that if you point at something & yell loud enough you will get it
(fyi: this will not always work, my dear:)...
i love how you love your blankie
& don't want anyone (epecially Q) to hold it...
i love your bottom teeth
& that when you smile you open your mouth wide to show them...
i love that when you are hurt you look for me & say
'mamamamama'...
i love how Q makes you laugh the most of anyone...
i love how when we are in the car
& you want a snack
you just lift your open hand up over your head
so that when i look in the mirror
i just see your sweet little hand stricking up over your seat...
(fyi: your seat will be turned around now so i get to see your sweet face:)
i love how you love your daddy
& how when you give him hugs he gets tears in his eyes
almost every time...
i just love you miss m
you are the sweetest girlie girl i know...

:)

101 & counting...

oh you thought i had cursed myself didn't you?
that re running that post about starting a blog
& then not actually starting it until 6 months later
had come back to haunt me!
but no!
i am stronger than that!
i can not be held down by something that happened 2 years ago!
& now i will stop talking about it
so as not to invite bad luck...
:)


texties....
okay so i am a text messager
i am.
& to tell you the truth
i think that brian & i having cel phones has improved our marriage
really.
i could never call him at work
like other wives can
(whether their husbands like it or not
so i hear:)
because i would be interupting math or earth science
or something 'important' like that...
but with the text...
he texts me during his break
& i text back at my leisure
(you know i have oodles of leisure time...)
& we just do that all day
it is fab
it really is...
so anyway
for you non texters
when you do it
you use the letters on each number
to spell your words
& you hit the number 1,2,3 or 4 times depending on what letter you want
okay everybody get out your phones...
so for a c you hit 2 three times
for m you hit 6 one time
& so on
so as i have been doing it so much
(by the way my whole family is so into it
my step kmom tam texts everyone on every leg of her flights
'in honalulu i love you'
'just landed in chicago. i love you'
'plane just rerouted because there is a crazy woman on board. i love you'
that last one is true by the way...)
anyway
i have taken to noticing when a word is spelled by hitting different buttons
the same amount of times
for example
the word FOR
you hit 3-6 & 7 each 3 times to spell it...
i call them texties
also BE 2&3 two times each
the best one i figured out so far is COLOR
26567 three times each
yes.
this is a real blog
i have just spent 32 lines explaining this.
life is good:)



Q&M...

i love this age for both of them together
they can play
& they laugh at each other so much
oh i love it!
this sin't the best picture
but i love how you can tell they are interacting
(& yes they are playing with a piece of curly ribbon
that they found on a gym floor
not the most educational toy i agree
but they were playing with it together
& if it had wrapped around one of their fingers & cut off the circulation
yes that would have been sad
but they would have done it TOGETHER:)
(that last bit was a little too doocish, wasn't it rach?)

saving you some money...
my friend tiffany has this great blog
where she tells you all about which coupons to clip
& how to save jillions of dollars
really
she was telling me about this one coupon where you buy 2 bottles of gasX
& then you get free salad in a bag & free dressing
who would know this?
tiffany knows!
so go check it out...
http://momsequipped.blogspot.com/
i for one am very excited to buy 2, 4 or 6 bottles of gasX
you just can't ever get too many strange looks from a grocery checker...

have a lovely day...
:)

i am 100 going on 101....

today is my 100th post!
crazy!
although i'm feeling like it's cheating a little
considering that my very first post was:

yo VIP let's kick it...
that's what i say sometimes when we are getting ready to go
(it's from "ice ice baby" for you non vanilla ice fans)
& oh boy! brian hates it
so he says
"let's hit it, run"
from a run DMC song
oh the romantic utterings going on at our house:)

so this is pretty much a trial run
(again with the run)
& i think i may be crazy because life is pretty full right now
but what the hey
let's give it a try...

~~~~~~~~~~~~
that was september 13, 2005...
my next post was april 26, 2006

yeah. let's give it a try...
:)

i can think of no better way to celebrate this birthday
than by introducing you to the birth of a new blog
& what is sure to become
my favorite blog to read
(& i won't be surprised if it becomes yours too)
without further ado....
http://darlinggrandma-thisandthat.blogspot.com/
authored by none other than my darling grandma!

right now she is solliciting subject matter
& let me tell you
she knows about just about anything you can think of
so go on over there
& giver her an idea...

& to all of you my sweet readers
commenters & noncommenters alike
i just want to say thanks for hanging around
& ignoring my many typos
(except the booby pins
thanks for pointing that one out, jmb mommy:)

i love the whole blog thing
how else would i know
what my dear idahoian, kel thinks about hair products
or that the famous jamie from CT
had been thinking the same song lyrics i was on the same day?
these are not things you discuss
when you talk on the phone once every 2 years
okay, jamie once every 8 years
(i still want to talk, jamie, really i do!)
that is what i love
& on that same note
how would i know what any of you think about those booby pins?
for some reason that subject doesn't come up
even with rach who i see at least 2 times a week...
who would have ever thought that typing alone in my room during nap time
(& occassionally at 3am)
would bring me closer to my friends?
it really is too cool...

so
happy birthday to me
& happy BIRTHday to grandma
oh heck
happy blogday to us all......

:)

The Luckiest
Ben Folds

I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here

And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on a street where you lived?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?

And in a white sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you

Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away

I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong
That I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
no occasion
no date
no reason
except
happy.
just happy....

:)

for the love of booby pins...

if you already read the hair product post from wednesday
then this will be fun for you...
if you haven't, go read it (or at least the bobby pins part, scroll down it's in there)
& the comments & come back...

an email from grandma...

Regardless of what your friends say, they really are booby pins.
When I was a teenager and a few years beyond, we put our hair
up in pin curls (have you heard of them?) anchored with 2 booby
pins to make our hair pretty.
Then we put a net over them and slept with the things. Talk about
being poked and stuck in the head. Now you can't be more of a
booby than to do that.
So let's hear it for the booby pin women's helper in times of need.
Have a good day,
Love, Grandma

okay friends
these are the kinds of great emails i get from my grandma
she reads all of my blogs
& all of the comments
& emails me
her comments...
& i say
'grandma you should post in the comments'
& she says
'oh no one wants to read what i have to say'
so...
let's take a survey...
do you want to read what my darling grandma has to say?

:)

things i could live without...but don't really ever want to...

hair products edition...

as the title suggests i could live without these
& in fact i did live without them before i found them
because unfortunately they did not give them
to my mom at the hospital when i was born...
'oh mrs. b, this one looks like she'll have thick curly hair
here's a lifetime supply of frizz reducing serum & a hat...
she will definitaly need both'

anyway
here are the hair products
that bring me joy...

Burt's Bees...Feelin' Flaky? Herbal Treatment Shampoo
i have dandruff, okay?
i feel it's best just to admit it
& not have to explain
to the ever changing array of people roaming through my bathroom
that i just 'like the smell of it'.
though i do just like the smell of it too.
but what i like most
is that it keeps the 'snow' from my shoulders...
i tried lots of things before dr. burt
lots of things that shall remain nameless
lots of things that claim to work
lots of things that start with 'head &.....'
lots of things that still caused my sister
the only girl taller than me who would look closely at my head
to say 'hmmmm, yeah....we need to find you some thing'
so i'm feelin' flakey but because of it
i am NOT feelin' flaky
& that feels good...

John Frieda...Curl Around Style Starting Conditioner
again with my sister
but seriously
those who know her know
she is in the know
she knows the best stuff for hair & face & make-up tips
& she is just a fount of knowledge on all things above the neck...
anyway
this stuff is just the thickest most luxerious stuff to put on your hair
& it smells good
& it's like a gillion little elves are in it powering through your tangles
you put it in your hair
& then it only takes a few swipes through with your fingers
or a brush if you're into that sort of thing
& all of the tangles are out!
this is amazing for me
usually i'm yanking out chunks as i try to get my fingers through just once
that may be because before this i would buy 99cent suave coconut conditioner
it smelled good too...
bonus testimonial:
my dear friend since the 8th grade, angie,
is the only person i know who has thicker & curlier hair than i do
& she used it when we went to the coast in january
& she used it
& she liked it too...
i have no idea if she would rave about it as i do...
let's see....oh angie! do tell....
(i was rereading this & how i wrote that last bit sounded almost like
angie & i went to the coast to wash our hair in the ocean...
that's funny though it would not actually be fun or good for our hair...)

Bath & Body Works....Hair Towel
yes i realize that you do not have to have a 'hair towel'
that a body towel will suffice
that some people enjoy wrapping it around their head
& yelling 'toga'
not that i know anyone like that...
but i have to tell you
that when you have thick long hair
it is not fun
(cue the violins)
it is uncomfortable
& balancing a giant towel filled with hair
while you are trying to put lotion on your legs
is just painful & not something anyone wants to see
but with this towel...
*sigh*
it is a dream to have wet hair...
you want to run in circles singing
'i am sixteen going on seventeen'
you want to jump & groove like elaine on seinfeld
('a full body dry heave set to music')
it is shaped kind-of funny
like a strange little hat
you put your hair in it
& then twist
& twist
& twist
& THEN
(picture this with me)
there is a loop on the twisty end
& a button on the part of the towel above your forward
& you put the button in the loop
& you are secure
& safe
& happy
& naked...get dressed!

Goody...ouchless hair ties
remember those hair ties that had the metal piece in them?
& how when you took them out of your hair
you would pull out chunks of hair?
i can afford to lose the hair
but there are some people who can not
& the sweet people at goody are looking out for us all
it's just one piece sewn together i guess
whatever it is i am happy
no more ouch...
plus i love that name
goody
& i wish i would remember to say that everytime i used them...
'goody goody!'

Bobby...pins
i don't know the brand but let's give bobby the credit
she's a good lady...
so i use these far more often than i should.
i should
(in my own brain)
do my bangs every morning
using many products & appliances
but often the first time i look at my hair
is after i get the kiddos in the car
& look in the rearview mirror...
(i'm sure that this is a fun thing
for my neighbors to see each morning
wondering exactly where i am going
that let's me in with my mop in all directions)
so out come the pins...
i try to make it look stylish
& that is such an easy thing to do as i am stopped at every stop sign & light
because i would never try to do my hair while the car is in motion
never.
i am telling the truth.
yes i am grandma & angie...
anyway
i like booby pins
PLUS!
when my hair expert sister got married
she hired her hair lady to come & do hair for the bridesmaids
& when she did my hair
she used 53 pins
yes i counted them.
so now i have 53 professional hold hair pins
okay i only have 38 now
but i did have 53...

various brands...headbands
i like head bands
i just do
they are cute
& you can wear them with your hair up or down
clean or dirty
curly or straight
long or short
they are equal opportunity hair helpers
i like them
plus
though i would not take any life advice from nicole richie
(sorry i like to eat & drive the right way on the freeway)
she looks so cute in them
especially the big thick ones...
love them...

Johnson's Buddies...easy comb conditioner
so neither of my children look like me
my mother in law was here the last two days
& she commented on how miss m looks like brian did as a baby
this makes me happy
but only because she did get my hair
'hooray' i thought as during the last 6 months
as it has grown like one of those dolls where you just pull on the hair
& it gets longer & longer
but that was before i started trying to brush it after her bath
oh my goodness
tangle city!
maybe i wish she had brian's hair too:)
but this stuff is great
cuts right through
hopefully we will not have daily crying sessions because of brushing...
i remember those
ugh.
i'm sure my mom wanted to shave my head more than once.
all that said
i am so glad to pass on this hair
it is a good thing.
(i'm reading martha's book right now)

so there you go
my hair happiness...

watch soon for
'things i could live without...but don't really ever want to...'
dinner fork edition
nail clipper edition
vacuum cleaner edition
(oh who am i kidding
i don't use any of those things...)

so ends this edition...
who knew i could write that much on hair stuff...
(i know, kate, you knew)

:)

ps
thank you so so so much
for the sweet comments about go-mom-go
i am really excited!
it is something i've been thinking about for a while
& brian kept syaing 'do it! do it!'
(thanks bri:)
thanks, friends
you are awesome!

& i am so happy to have heard from quite a few people interested in doing it in their city
(7 so far!)
so spread it around...
i'm going to be expanding to other cities soon
if you know any moms who would like to make some extra money
have them email me...

have a great day!
:)

introducing...

my newest adventure....

go-mom-go.com

for moms & kids
looking for things to do
places to go
memories to make

the site includes
things that are happening...
this week
this month
all year long

things that happen every...
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday

places to find...
where to go when it's rainy
kids clothing
classes for kids
places to have a party

& soon it will have...
where to go when it's sunny
mom owned businesses
places to get out of town
ways to help others
classes for moms
kid friendly restaurants
groups to join
mom's time out
& lots more...

i am starting to sell advertising
& so it is a little business!

i'm so excited
so go check it out!

& if you are interested....
i am going to make a little survey
& have people go through the site
to help make it better
point out things that don't work
things that do work
things that should be changed
so get your opinions ready!
& let me know if you want to do it...

so take a look...
i hope you like it...

:)

& kelly
i got in right under the wire...
love you:)

ps there was the neatest article in the register guard today
about a little school in goshen
(a few miles south of eugene)
the school had empty classrooms
because their enrolement has gone way down
& with that goes the funding for art
so a smart cookie down there had the idea to offer
free studio space to artists
in exchange for them letting kids come
& observe them during the day...
oh how i love this idea!
it just sounded so great
& when in your entire life
would you have the chance to watch an artist at work
& get to ask questions
& get personalized help?
i even teared up a little reading it...
i loved art class
i remember 7th grade art class
when we drew descriptive words
(like the word fluffy was all puffy & well...fluffy)
& high school art with mr. larsen
(sigh)
(you jchs grads know what i'm talking about:)
developing pictures in the dark room
& making things with clay
& he let me paint a little mural on one of the walls
i love art.
yes i do.

:)

am i blue?

oh how i love a good quiz!
i found this one through another blog
which is where i find all of my information these days it seems;)

you answer all of the questions according to how you were as a child
it is very interesting
& i almost cried a couple of times
thinking back to that little girl...
motivating hmmm?
go!
go cry your eyes out!
:)

anyway here's what it said about me
i am a yellow
which coincidently is my favorite color
spooky.

YELLOWS are motivated by FUN. They are inviting and embrace life as a party that they're hosting. They love playful interaction and can be extremely sociable. They are highly persuasive and seek instant gratification. YELLOWS need to be adored and praised. While YELLOWS are carefree, they are sensitive and highly alert to others' agendas to control them. YELLOWS typically carry within themselves the gift of a good heart.

YELLOWS need to look good socially, and friendships command a high priority in their lives. YELLOWS are happy, articulate, engaging of others and crave adventure. Easily distracted, they can never sit still for long. They embrace each day in the "present tense" and choose people who, like themselves, enjoy a curious nature. YELLOWS are charismatic, spontaneous, and positive; but can also be irresponsible, obnoxious, and forgetful. When others interact with you, as a YELLOW you respond to them best if they take a positive, upbeat approach and promote light-hearted, creative, and fun interactions with you.

i think this is a pretty good description of me, actually
but i always wonder if these are like horiscopes...
when i see the horoscope page i do one of three things
1) turn the page
2) read mine & think 'huh. that's good advice'
3) read any other one & think 'huh. that's good advice'

anyway
if you are feeling motivated
go do it
it's interesting
& after you do it
they direct you to a page where you can pay like $168
to find out more about your color
ohhh i'm tempted...

http://www.thecolorcode.com/index.html


have a lovely day
from your irresponsible, obnoxious, and forgetful friend,
emily ruth:)

(do you think it says something about me
that i decided to sign off highlighting the worst traits described in my profile?
hmmmm armchair therapists discuss.....)

there's never been a better time to buy...

does your baby girls hair look like this?

are you tired of people saying
'oh what a cute baby...what's his name?'
do you long for a day when barettes will be a part of your daughters morning routine?
well
look no further
the answer is clear
the answer is
miss m's growgane baby serum
simply rub the serum on your sweet girls head daily
& in 6 short months you can go
from this:


to this:


tons of thick lucious curls
giant chunks of hair
to clip into barettes
hold back with a headband
or twist in to those teeny tiny elastic bands

merra g from eugene oregon tesifies
'da da mummm mumm plllllt pu pu pu'



available in super curly & super straight formulas



miss m's growgane serum:
a little bit of curls
goes a long long way...
:)

hooray for boys!

she holds him
he is hers
& she never knew


a boy
new
& pink
& dear
& fresh
& she never knew

& she never knew
til he came

just met
already bound
in heart

& she never knew

& now
a boy
a dream
a taste
a love

& now
she knows
~~~~~~~~~~~


oh how i love to take pictures of babies!
& this guy
whooeee!
he is a sweet one
& angie & ben
glowing
absolutely glowing
i'm so excited for them!


gotta have a yawning shot...
is there anything cuter?
sleepy remy...
oh did i metion his name is remy?
cool cool name
can't wait to get to know this boy:)

congratulations my friends
& to the new sisters
the fun
& laughing
& hugs
& mess
& crazy
& love
& everything
is just beginning
:)

love. love. love.

(heart in the sand & snow...oregon coast 2007january)

there's nothing you can do that can't be done
there's nothing you can sing that can't be sung
there's nothing you can say
but you can learn how to play the game
it's easy
dum dum da da dum da da dum
all you need is love
ba do do do do do
all you need is love
ba do do do do
all you need is love
love
love is all you need

& now that i have hopefully successfully put that into your head for the day....


instructions for kids hand project

~tell 2 year old 'we are going to paint!'
~ after hearing 'when are we going to paint?' 218 times in 5 minutes realize you should have set everything up & then told him
~ start to cover table with newspaper taping it down as you go
~pause to get cracker for baby clinging to your leg
~answer 2 year old 'yes, i'm getting the paint ready' as you are getting cracker
~put baby in high chair
~tell 2 year old to crawl into his chair
~realize that it would be quite smart to have something on the floor under the chairs
~wish you would have thought of that before everyone was in their seats
~take everyone out of their seats
~patiently answer 2 year old 'yes we are going to paint very soon'
~ grab the nearest larger fabric surface which happens to be a queen size blanket from martha stewart's kmart line. acknowledge to yourself that yes it is a favorite but do you really want to go searching for a tarp or sheet with mr. questions & miss leg cling in tow? answer 'no.' martha will have to understand. i'm sure she did this numerous times with alexis...or she directed the nanny to do this many times with alexis...
~get everyone resituated
~hand brush to 2 year old
~get cheerios for baby 'yes we will paint in just a minute'
~put glob of paint on paper plate set out for just this purpose
~direct 2 year old to paint the cute boxes you bought for valentine brownie delivery
~watch as 2 year old does not obey (imagine!) & just sticks his hands in the paint & rubs them around on the newspaper
~decide this is better anyway...you love paint on your hands too
~grab lots of blank paper & ask him to make his hands stretch out really big
~as soon as you see anything resembling stretched out really big thrust his hadn onto the paper
~press each finger down firmly even if he says 'ow that hurts'
~remind him that sometimes you have to suffer for art
~repeat until you get a few great prints
~allow 2 year old to return to his own form of art which now includes dipping his hand in the paint, rubbing it on a body part, then asking for more paint & rubbing it on a different body part
~convince him to paint the boxes for a while
~just paint them yourself in a '2 year old sort of way' no one will ever know!
~turn your attention to the sweet baby
~have box of wipes at the ready
~quickly paint her hand as she stares in amazment at the strange feeling
~tickle the inside of her hand so she spreads in out
~thrust it toward the paper & press firmly on each finger
~hear 2 year old tell her that sometimes you have to suffer for art
~grab wipes just in time to see her put her paint filled hand in her mouth
~stare in horror as she picks up multi colored cheerios & eats them
~recover & pull the tray off of the high chair
~ tell 2 year old that it is bath time
~tell 2 year old to stay on the chair & 'do not touch anything'
~run to the bath tub & start the water
~realize you are not wearing a paint shirt & 2 year old is wearing a body glove of paint
~change into oldish shirt in a flash
~run back & grab 2 year old
~put him in bathtub
~run & get crying baby
~come back to 2 year old out of the tub touching the tiolet & cupboards & telling you that the water is too cold (better than too hot!)
~warm up the tub
~put everyone in
~watch as the water turns a horrbile shade of avacado with floating dry paint pieces
~ rub dried paint off of children
~take them out & drain the tub
~ clean the tub to the sound of chattering teeth
~ refill the tub
~ put children back in
~ collapse by the side of the tub
~greet husband as he comes home from work & finds you in the bathroom
~hear him say 'wow that water is dirty'
~scream until said husband hands you chocolate

oh & one more step
~wish there had been someone taking pictures

happy valentines day, my bloggy friends!
my favorite holiday this is...
love the hearts
& the red
& the love
& the candy
& the friendship
& the love
:)


& & & &!
someone is arriving today...


i will definitly keep you posted...

:)

ps two dear girls have posted that they can't see the pictures
i just tried again
if you are reading this
& feeling generous of heart
will you please let me know if you can see them?
thank you!
:)

bootie details...

so as i was typing the previous post
Q woke up from his nap
& i hate to say
'just a minute buddy
i have to write a little bit more about these crazy felt shoes i made'
so
now i am back
to write about the crazy felt shoes

i got the pattern for the actual shoe part from
this blog:
http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/heather_bailey/
the pattern that you can print at home
is on the right
there's a link...
she also has a flicker group where people who have made the booties
post their pictures of their creations
so you can see all of the interpretations
how they added ribbon
or lace
or little blue flowers of their own design
(hey i did that!)
it's very cool

funny however...
i was so excited about these little shoes
& i hand sewed all of the parts
because i was upstairs with brian
& we were watching something
& i didn't want to go downstairs
all.
by.
my.
self.
(that might be scary
you never know what's down there
oh
yes i do.
dirty dishes
& army men)
so the next day
i tried them on merra
who is almost 12 months
& the shoe pattern was for 3-6 months
& they were huge on her!
& didn't even remotely hug her feet
so loose!
oh it was funny.
i know now that i stitched too close to the edge
& i know now
that when i use the sewing machine
it will take .02 seconds
& maybe they will fit
& even though i liked the green idea
in the glow of our bedroom light
in the light of the morning
they look quite hilarious
brian was so right:)

anyway
these are not my last pair
& you will be subject to viewing the upcoming designs...
yes you will

:)

to theleft...

snuggle down.

today is snuggle down at our house
definition:
no place to go
no one to see
nothing to do
nothing but jammies to wear
no pressure
nothing but fun
& relaxing
another definition of snuggle down:


this is my favorite picture right now
it is so Q
messy face
(messier than usual i feel i must note)
lightening mcqueen shirt
(which he would wear 24-7
but i do wash it every or so
with much protesting by the sweetie
but as we all know
'lightening needs a bath too, buddy')
one of miss m's clips in his hair
because she had one
so he needed one too:)
big giant open mouthed smile
squinty eyes
little corner of his plate...
i seriously love this kiddo.

& my miss m
oh she is such a sweetie
& so funny
& getting such a personality
i love to watch her grow...


speaking of the little munchkins
they are both asleep!
that hasn't happened since....
well, last night
but during the day
mr. Q seems to have decided
that napping is not really him
so quiet time in his room it is...
but the crazy thing that tends to happen
is that when we have snuggle down
he naps.
i always thing on the days when we are running in tweleve different directions
& go to bible study
& the park
& the store
'oh he will conk out for sure'
but
no dice...
but
stay home
in jammers
eat a leasurely lunch
play
& hang out
& he's done in!
i love it
no matter where & when
two sleeping babies is good stuff
:)

a song or two.

beyonce
irreplacable
'to the left to the left'
this song is amazing
just when i think
there will never be a better song than
bootylicious:)
but really
try it
you just might like it...

dixie chicks
godspeed
i had never heard this song before
but it's to her little boy
& it is just the sweetest
plus any song that metions matchbox cars
is on my list

otis redding
try a little tenderness
i had a friend who LOVED otis
don't know where the friend is
but otis was at i-tunes
nice to see you again otis:)
(this is the song on 'pretty in pink'
where duckie slides into the record store
& does a big performance...
so good
if you have no idea what i'm talking about
get thee to a video store!)

hillsong
everyday
this song gets stuck in my head
every sunday that we sing it at church
oh it is so good.

sarah mclachlan
ice cream
classic
your love is better than ice cream.
yes.

nora jones
not too late
i went back & forth
should i buy the whole album?
should i just try one song?
i bought just this song...
i made the wrong choice...
:)

a little tiny something.

i've been perusing crafty blogs
& they are so great
so inspiring
& i will be making a link list soon
soon & very soon.
so i saw these sweet little felt booties
& just had to try them
because i don't have enough
crafty things to do:)



i had fun
i tell you what...
brian said
'she will make such a cute lepricon'
ha!
:)

more to come...

:)

friends.

they are good things.
last night i got to spend time with a few of my favorites
angie.
rachael.
erin.
so much laughing
serious topics
that always turn funny
& good advice
lots of goooood advice

this lovely 3 hour block of time
spent only just
sitting & talking
talking & laughing
was a perfect little post-it
stuck to the giant piece of paper that is my life
i would like that piece of paper to get smaller please.
anyway


if they asked me
i could write a book
about these girls
but sometimes fewer words
are better

thanks a, r & e
fun is much funner with the three of
you...

:)

& because i want to put more pictures
on this here blog
i have included a picture of each of my dear friends...
rachael in a perfect arooette
(i'm guessing)
& erin looking cute on her back porch...


in a disturbing turn of events
i could not find a picture that i have taken of angie in the last year or so
& so instead of going back just a bit farther
why not go back to the very beginning?
a very good place to start
senior pictures
(a few years after the beginning, mind you but who cares?
dorkiness prevails!)
& so as not to make my favorite redhead model alone
i have included one of my own
90's pictures too...
i do believe that giant glasses beat
ballet poses & polo shirts everytime
(& erin,
the only reason the picture of you is normal & lovely
is that i haven't known you long enough...
just wait:)
(& i have no idea why angie's picture is smaller than the others
it is certainly not because
i wanted to make my gynormous glasses gynormouser


:)

so here's your chance
give your favorite friend or two or three
a shout out
right here in the comments
(details gladly accepted)
& then send them an email
or call them
or
send them a real live actual letter
(if you do that please report back
i don't remember how it feels...)
friends are good.

:)

every day.

oh if you only knew how much i wish to post everyday!
& i've been surfing crafty blogs
(i will be creating links soon)
& i love how the super talented
super fun
super inspiring girls
have a picture with every post
so i'm going for that...

love paint
so much more than i can convey in words
& i love the blur of the paint brush
the movement
can't even stay still for a moment.
must dip.
:)

so it's the 2nd
& my surprise still isn't ready
but i'm working on it...
promise!
(please don't be mad at me, kel:)

i'm excited about it
but i think it's a little funny
because of my 8 'known' readers
about 4 of them know the surprise:)
oh well
life is full of sameness...
we all need a surprise every now & then
(& hopefully not of the
'mommy i pooped in the bathtub'
variety
not that that happened to me yesterday morning....)

i'll leave you with one more shot...

i love the movement of this
(a running theme i believe:)
& that they are playing together
(if you define together as 'in the same room')
ps she almost always pulls her foot back before he runs over it
a trait that will serve her well in the future i believe...

love to you all...
soon & very soon
i will post a fun thing...

:)