fish grab

So I was thinking about the 4th of July fish grab today and the sight of a bunch of kids trying to catch slimy fish with their bare hands. It made me smile.

I think we were the only parents that made our kids put the fishys back though. I kind of like them to come already prepared to cook.

Hope you are happier than a kid in a fish grab today.

I'm still learning that you have to pick your battles & so yes I let my girl wear an elf hat to school today (I thought it was cute) and yes her teacher said that she was a very "unique child".  I agree, except maybe teacher & I's definitions of "unique" are a little different.  I just hope she is as confident in high school as she is now and would still wear an elf hat if that's what she felt good about.  Now on to teach her what doing good in life really means.  Motherhood really isn't such a cinchy job after all. 

***Oh and it just dawned on me but I didn't say when I was going to pick a winner.  Hmmm, how about if the name is picked tomorrow afternoon***

{beautiful knots}

So my little girl loves to tie everything in knots.  Last night as I sat in my chair she came over & gave me some love as she caressed my face and told me I was the prettiest mom (they learn early).  When I got up I heard a big rrrriiipp as I couldn't move away from my chair very easily because a tie from my dress was connected to the chair.  "It's those darn knots she ties" I thought.  I really did not have any recollection of her tying me up to the chair.  I was a little perturbed but then the below image came into my mind.

It's all made from knots.  Now if only I could guide all of her knot tying energy to help her to make something beautiful.   Hmmm just maybe I will.  Isn't life just like a bunch of knots anyway and if we can learn to make something beautiful from all of them then we'll be just fine, right?  So today I am celebrating all of the knots life gives me.

If you know anybody who has a knot tying problem or just merely wants to learn how to make a beautiful flower...like, say to embellish things for Christmas stuff, then may I suggest going here. 

Incorporating masculinity into the juxtaposition equation

juxtaposition equation:

feminine + masculine = different

different= good       

 

As my girls watched Bambi for the first time many questions arose like (ok maybe just one question asked over and over), "Why are people trying to kill the animals."  I had a tough time explaining this one to my sensitive four year old as I still remember being in those very same shoes.  Bambi made me cry when I was a little lass (still does) & I could not understand why anybody would hunt.  You can imagine the looks on the girls faces when I finally pronounced, "You know Dad is a hunter".  With looks of horror little "M" said, "He is...my Daddy is a hunter".  I felt kind of bad dropping that bomb on her but that fact of the matter is, well that it was true.  Trust me I was actually in denial the first couple years of our marriage about the hunt.  What made it worse was that I was working for Sundance & helping out with some NFPA (North Fork Preservation Alliance) stuff.  Husband & I had many debates on the hunting subject matter during that time.  Finally one year I decided to be a good little open minded wife & go up on the hunt to see what all of the hype was.  I was the only girl for miles & miles as far as I could see.  I really was hoping to put an end to all of my judgements.  The trip didn't really help me change my mind but after I saw how happy husband was basking in all of his manly glory up in those mountains I called a truce.  I'm not even going to try & figure this one out but just let it be, I told myself.

Well when little "M" came into the kitchen dressed up in the above get up I thought, "Well there's a piece of Sweet Home Alabama".  You see I can relate very well to that movie...well sort of...not really but for the sake of this post just go with it.   You know the part where she wants to be a designer in New York & he is pretty much just a redneck, country bumpkin.  I better add that we all know in the movie he turns out a bit more refined as the lead actor creates works of beauty from glass.  I really like that movie.  

It's hard to believe that 2 people that are so vastly different could stand side by side & go together even with all of their contrasts but in the end if having those contrasts would obtain results like in the above picture then sign me up.  Oh did you know the definition of juxtapose is to place close together or side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast.

I also hope to master that same skill of setting contrasting things side by side & having them mesh as I decorate my home.  Problem is I need to throw in a few more masculine items to set next to the already existing feminine items....or a few more modern pieces to set next to the already existing antiques. 

So here's to masculinity....

{via Nate Berkus}

{vi Nate Berkus}

{via Robert Passal Inc.}

Alright who's embracing the boyfriend blazer?

{via This is Glamorous}

P.S - I really do not think my husband is a redneck but if he were then it's pretty much safe to say I love rednecks.

not of the masses......

   

I have a love/hate relationship with places such as Wal-Mart. They are accomplishing everything they have set out to do which is to monopolize the market. I always say I am not going to shop there for that very reason but then I some how just end up there time and time again. Besides the great prices and being a one stop shopping place, they are open later than anywhere else and that is working for me. I've become a late night shopper since I've acquired a full house. Well today @ the Wal-Mart I found some of the best flip flops ever. They were all yellow & $2.50...."perfect" I thought, they'll even match my new lamp that was not produced for the masses (my brain works by associating colors you know).  Well sure enough when I got home they were the same exact color.  My daughter (oldest "M" by 2 minutes) has been begging to click the camera so we seized the moment.  Besides, the two yellow items in the above pictures had invoked some thoughts that made me associate my other little girl so they would work perfect for the picture.  I set the camera up on a little table told her to hold it very still and then push the button.  It really wasn't that simple because we had to keep doing a re-do but she did an awesome job (refer above).

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My girls have decided to quit napping.  I made a deal with them & said that they at least had to do quiet time.  Right away little "M" asked if I would get her down some books.  I came back to check on her & this is what I found.  She looked so beautiful in the soft light pouring in on her little body.  I thought to myself, "This girl was not produced for the masses, there is only one of her & she is all mine."  I've had to become fine with not having a monopoly on her because I realize that was not part of the "original Plan". After all she is not really all mine because she was just a gift from above that has been loaned out like a book from the library & I signed my name to check her out for our earthly experience.  I am just in charge of helping her write part of her book.  My biggest hope is when I sign my name to check her book back into the library that it will be in the best shape ever & even better.  I also hope I can teach her as much as she has already taught me.  She sure has learned me a lesson a time or two:-)

I'm looking forward to see how her story goes.

P.S. - Little "M" asked for a purple pencil to show me a surprise.  When she brought what she had been working on I couldn't believe my eyes.  There written very clearly was her name.  She still has another year of preschool and she can write her name...I am AMAZED.

I Love yellow today!