Master S likes soccer ... I don't think he loves it ... but he likes it enough and I think that's good. At this point, we'll see if he wants to play again next year. He just loves to be with friends and have an organized game of some sort to play - he thrives on it! It is so interesting to me that as a mom I can tell when something is part of what my kids are, when it's 'in their blood'. Like miracle grow for flowers, it just makes them bloom and glow with happiness! Master S loves any kind of sport and being with friends is just an added bonus - I love the middle picture because it totally describes him -- just happy to be playing and having fun. It could be the worst day in the world for him, and then he goes out and plays any kind of sport for an hour and he is his delightful self again! Love it! Basketball sign ups were last week, and I'm really torn, because I know he loves that kind of thing, but I need a break. Life is really crazy trying to fit in practices, homework and time with the family. Maybe next year we'll try basketball instead of soccer. He gets to play with a couple boys from church, so it has been a lot of fun to have time to hang out with them. He doesn't go to the same school with them. The fields are located in a placed tucked in by the woods and it is gorgeous! Miss Lilly and Big D love to go and watch and run around the empty fields and play with the other kids and I love to just sit and watch Master S play, have fun with the camera and enjoy the beautiful scenery - the leaves are just starting to turn and the wind picked up last night ... I woke up to it whipping around the house ... reminds me of winter in Indiana ... must mean fall is here!

Speaking of miracle grow, the impatients around here are bushes in the fall - literally.

I know I only planted a 6 pack of those little starter impatients, but I have never seen them bloom like this in ID or UT ... just incredible and I love it!!! And there is another bush on the right that you can't see!

Two down, one to go ... making do with free!

I've caught a bug ... not H1N1, although I have my suspicions that we've had it at our house already ... its a reclaiming furniture bug, and ohhhh, its a nasty one! It occupies my time, my energy, my thoughts and I'm finding myself getting totally distracted while running errands, following garage sale signs in hopes of finding more great finds ... I just might not ever buy a new piece of furniture ever again!


What I really want in the living room are two fancy upholstered chairs, with curved legs and cushy backs, but these chairs are from the set my mother-in-law found for us when we got married. They are still in great condition, they just needed a little TLC and I think its going to work ... for now :)


This table was a great find - out on the curb for the garbage truck. I was walking with my neighbor on our morning power walk and needless to say we turned around and quickly walked home so I could load it into my car. A good sanding with the power sander, some black spray paint and ... it turned out awesome! I love it in black! Still can't believe someone was going to throw it away!
This is the current free project ... a friend was moving and didn't want to move this - it had been sitting in her garage for several years intending to get a make-over, so she offered it to me, to sit in my garage with the same intentions, but I'm determined to get this in my house before the snow flies! There were some pretty fancy mouldings & hardware on the front and it needs a shelf or two inside the cupboard part, but it is wired for light, and has some great glass shelves and glass for the doors. At this point I just need to do A LOT of sanding and filling and sanding and de-spidering, and sanding some more. Any suggestions on color? I'm thinking maybe a very deep sage-ish green for my kitchen/family room. My walking friend suggested white, but I think it might be too stark with the cherry cabinets ... all suggestions welcome!

Fall Films ...

Miss Lilly is learning some great songs at preschool --

Leaves are twirling, leaves are twirling, all around, all around, now they are resting, now they are resting, on the ground, on the ground.

Way up high, in the apple tree, two little apples smiling down at me. I shook that tree as hard as I could, down came the apples ... yum, they were good!

Big D is talking more ... just some cute things he is saying now ...

1st Day of Preschool!!!

It finally came! She didn't think it would ever get here ... she has been looking forward to this since the day she was born (well, almost) ... she was there for 2 1/2 hours which wasn't nearly long enough for her ... she is asking when she gets to go back ... she was made for school and ... she LOVES IT! Isn't she darling?!

Big D came with to drop Miss Lilly off at school. Miss Lilly walked right in and went to check out the toys and centers set up. I might have been a little sad, but she has been looking forward to this for so long! I watched for a minute, then called her over to give her a hug and remind her to be nice, listen and share. She waved goodbye and Big D also waved goodbye, walking toward the toys with Miss Lilly ... he was so unhappy when he realized he was leaving with me. Why can't he do that at the babysitters? On the way to pick her up, he kept saying, 'HAY-WEE, Hi!' and 'WEEEEE' (he loves to ride in the car when there are trees on both sides and roads that have hills and curves). He was so excited when she got in the car! I guess mom just doesn't fill Miss Lilly's shoes when she isn't around to play with ...

Miss Lilly's new back to school apple dress - only $2!

Crazy Life?

So, I love Michael Buble - or as my husband and children endearingly call him, the 'Bubble Man'. And there is one song in particular that I really like, and amazingly enough my children have the words memorized (imagine that - 'cause it's not like we listen to it over and over again, ha, ha!)and they sing along when we are in the car, or the store, or at home when we hear it - or so I thought. Even Big D smiles big and dances when we hear it. For weeks Miss Lilly has been asking for the 'Crane is a lied' song - what song?!?! And she would patiently reply, 'you know mommy - the crane is a lied song'. Well I didn't know and I continued to pacify her by disracting her with children's music that I had in the car until one day the song, 'Everything' by Michael Buble came on (this is the one that I really like - mostly because it seems to define life for me and J.D. right now ... crazy, but crazy good!) and suddenly Miss Lilly was 'going crazy' in the backseat -- "this is it mommy, the crane is a lide song!" Light bulb moment, 'crane is a lide' is Miss Lilly for, 'in this crazy life' -- so much for thinking they know the lyrics!