Thursday, June 30, 2011

End of June::Flowers Fruit & Veggies

summer garden

Zinnias...LOVE them! They're in full swing right now. I've got shades of coral and lime this year and I love how the corals are playing with the purple clematis next to it, and the fuschia dahlias next to those.

summer garden

My favorite Simpson's episode was one where they ended up on the old family farm by making a wrong turn. The tractor continually falls over on Homer, they grow a crazy nuclear infused crop they call tomacco (tomato+tobacco) which every one (including a sheep) who eats it gets addicted to. And they mention corn growing to the height of an elephant's eye. Well, this is just about there eh? Uh-mazing!

summer garden

Another huge favorite of mine - dahlias. The more the merrier.

summer garden

This says luscious salad to me. Basil, sugar snap peas, and pineapple sage. That plus the mint behind them would also make quite the mojito (maybe minus the peas).

And some sweet pics to share...Gigi with Bird & Griffy.

Gigi & Grandpa visit

Gigi & Grandpa visit

Alright...Griffin's trying to eat my pen and the dryer full of clothes is calling. Enjoy this last day of June :o)

Devon

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Mater was telling the truth

This is a post just for Jared (so he'll stop bugging me)...

lightning mcqueen

"Mater was telling the truth!" That's what Bird's Lightning McQueen toy says among other slightly annoying but sorta cute sayings. But Jared pointed out that there isn't any scene in the Cars movie in which Mater would be telling the truth or not. So apparently this is a spoiler eh? In the new Cars movie there must be a situation with Mater being hung out to dry, where no one believes him. But now folks, a little toy car tells you the truth - that Mater was indeed telling the truth.

lightning mcqueen

There ya go babe ;o)

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Stripey siblings sing about spiders

stripey siblings

It's finally summer here and we have great light again - yay! It's been fun to take pics of the kids together :o)

"The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout..."
stripey siblings

"Down came the rain and washed the spider out..."
stripey siblings

"No Mommy, no sing it!"
stripey siblings

"Out came the sun and dried up all the rain and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again."
stripey siblings

stripey siblings


Hugs, Devon

Bird's Birthday Party

Bird's 3rd birthday party

We threw a party for Bird's 3rd birthday this past Sunday. The photo above is the "after" - I love it :o) She had just gotten up from her nap and was a crankypants (as usual after nap) but happened to throw a yawn in there in between whiny cries and I managed to catch it. I think it's my favorite shot from the day because it's pretty much how we all felt - bone tired but surrounded by all this fun party stuff so still feeling a bit of a high from it all.

Bird's 3rd birthday party

I made a "vintage" birthday cake from a clipping in an old cookbook we had from my family. I had this cake as a kid too :o) This is in process, right before the buttercream frosting and the coconut. The cake recipe was a cross between a funfetti and strawberry cake. We used fabulous organic strawberries from our farm. So delicious.

Bird's 3rd birthday party

In order to entertain 12+ kids without exhausting ourselves (and maybe to limit the amount of screaming and squabbles?) we called on Happily Ever Laughter and they sent over Faerie Violet who was an absolute doll and VERY much captured the attention of the kids, and all of us (including Phylo who thought her dog puppet was REAL and became a ball of excitement sniffing and nipping at it until we dragged him away - one of my favorite moments of the party...). Violet put on a cute interactive magic show then made balloon animals & flowers, then spent the rest of the party painting faces and arms - she was uber talented. Yay for faeries!

Bird's 3rd birthday party

I sewed Bird a simple "3" shirt which she was so proud to wear :o)

Bird's 3rd birthday party

Griffy has been on a difficult sleep streak...he's sleeping right now which is a relief. Too much excitement + a little cold + moving past 3mths and changing habits = tough times for sleep. I'm trying to figure this one out so we can have less drama during the day.

Bird's 3rd birthday party

I had too much fun decorating the backyard. It was so so so cute. We're leaving up a few things from the party because they look so fun. I'm somewhat concerned about leaving the sofa outside but will worry about that later.

Bird's 3rd birthday party

Indulgence. Cute shot of Griffy.

Bird's 3rd birthday party

Faerie Violet turning one of our guests into a dragon.

Bird's 3rd birthday party

Bird's bunny, with a carrot of course.

Bird's 3rd birthday party

The bunny cake!

Bird's 3rd birthday party

Can I tell you how happy Bird was to have so many people sing her happy birthday? It's like her favorite song, haha, and loves to have me sing it to her. At random times.

Bird's 3rd birthday party

I discovered the fun of mylar balloons - especially when they come in giant number form. I picked them up a few days ahead of time so Bird could play with them in the house. In fact, we tied them to one of our umbrellas and they're still floating.

Bird's 3rd birthday party

I have a good stock of paper lanterns from an art installation I did with a friend a few years ago. Many of them I painted with watercolor because I couldn't find colors I liked. I tied a bunch together and hung them from our avocado tree (well, Jared did - he had to climb the tree to do it). They'll be living there for the summer.

Bird's 3rd birthday party

Please ignore the garish rug under the cute picnic table. This is the table we built from Anna White's site. Jared built it with Bird's help ;o) Saturday morning and I painted it Saturday afternoon. It's a really fast and rewarding project and it's SOOO functional. Three kids can fit on either side, and adults can squeeze into it too. So happy we pulled it off for the party.

Bird's 3rd birthday party

Another "after" shot I love :o)

Bird's 3rd birthday party

I parked myself next to Jared and Griffin on the sofa (Bird was happily playing with her new automoblox) and snapped pictures from that perspective. It was fun to just hang out together and sort of do nothing at all.

Bird's 3rd birthday party

Bird's 3rd birthday party

Grocery list making, laundry washing, dishwasher emptying, paper filing, and dog walking is calling. Have a lovely Thursday!

Hugs, Devon

ps - most of the party pics were taken by my super talented friend Klay - check out her site to see all the neat things she's been up to.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

11 years

I can't let the day slip by without acknowledging Jared's and my anniversary today - it's been 11 years!!

We've been busy all day preparing for Bird's birthday party tomorrow...cleaning, building, painting, planting, playing. I love parties, but all the more so for the motivation we get to pull things together around here. It's really a fun deadline.

picnic table in process

This morning (6:30am) Jared took Bird and Griffin and let me sleep a little longer. He then made cappuccinos, vacuumed (this helps Griffy fall asleep), got Bird breakfast and dressed for the day, then headed outside to start building the picnic table we wanted to have for kid's seating for the party. Is he not the most wonderful guy ever?? I feel so lucky to have found him (as seniors in high school no less), to have shared so many years and all the good & not so good times, and now to have our two beautiful kids together. Jared really is my rock - happy anniversary to you!

And the table is built...I put on two coats of the same yellow on my studio door. It's super lovely and quite happily, we big people fit (just barely) into the picnic table seats too.

Now for some sleep...happy weekend to you!

Hugs, Devon

Friday, June 10, 2011

Happy 6 to Phylo

phylo

Getting the short end of the stick here...running out of time & energy & minutes till needing to get Griffy up for last diaper changing/nursing for the evening (till hopefully 4am).

Our Phylo Bones Twinkletoes is 6 years old today :o) He came into our lives at 8mths old, a Cypriot (he's originally from Cyprus and found his way here with his siblings via some kind Americans).

Phylo

My constant shadow, mind reader when it comes to any inkling of an idea regarding a walk (followed by some extreme harassment on his part), cozy spot seeker, sweet sweet furry boy and very flexible these days with all the new busy-ness in our lives. It's good he bugs me daily for walks - I need them as much as he does.

'Night all...
Devon

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Happy 3 months Griffy

Griffin's one quarter of a year old...he's such a doll, growing way too fast we'd all say. Here he is hanging with dad :o)

Griffin & Jared

Griffin & Jared

Griffin & Jared

hugs, Devon

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Miranda Bird is 3

Happy 3rd birthday to my little Bird!! I am nothing but honest most of the time...it's been a very average day. Challenging, fun, tiring, at times exasperating, at times touching & joyful. Very much a picture of life with Miranda Bird every day :o)

me & bird

Today I lost her at a playground that was just popping with kids & mayhem. It was just too much for me...she doesn't always remember our continual chat about "staying with mommy". I got to the point of near panic when I finally glimpsed her over by the baby swings, waiting for me to magically appear and give her a push (you'd think she'd have tried to find me too, but no...). Two minute time out later (and deep breaths from me) and everything was okay but this 2 kid thing is tough sometimes. Griffy was a spitting fountain and needed clothing changes, diaper changes, and nursing too. Maybe we're just not ready yet for busy places (not without one of those backpack leashes at least?!).

I've been squeezing in bits of baking and decorating all week - too much fun. Lanterns hanging from the trees, big painted "3" waiting to be put under the pergola, cheery red geraniums popping out of planters, and the strawberry "funfetti" cake waiting in the freezer for the big day. We also have someone from here coming for the party. It will probably be as much fun for me as Bird - you already knew that I'm sure ;o)

Tomorrow Griffy is 3 months old. Then Friday our Phylo dog is 6 years old. Then Saturday Jared and I celebrate 11 years of marriage. Sunday is the party - lots of celebrating around here, can't help but smile through the rough patches.

Hugs, Devon

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

The fun stuff

Setting up for Bird's birthday party.





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Friday, June 3, 2011

At Ardenwood Farm

Currently riding the train woo hoo!


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Thursday, June 2, 2011

Heading out with my buddy.


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Location:Recording the normal::Errands

Breakfast

How we start the day...


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