Perspective

Definition of PERSPECTIVE:

a : the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed <places the issues in proper perspective>; also : point of view

b : the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance <trying to maintain my perspective>

So I've been in this funk for the last few weeks.  In fact, I just typed out this big ol' long post about it and then gave up. 

Squish's teeth are having an all out war on his gums and my poor lil' guy can't handle it.  He threw in the towel on Tuesday and he's been planted firmly on my hip since then. 

Bug....we'll he is just more stubborn and determined then ever so those battles have been raging on.

Tonight I have finally secured an hour away.  An hour of me time and I am finally feeling some healthy, raw emotion and creativity flowing in me. 

I pulled up the on going letter I've been writting to the boys and I started writting. 
 I also managed to pull up the 2011 photo book to pour some more love and effort into it. 

I am feeling a bit alive so I've returned to this blog post again. 

Instead of carrying on about my funk I want to share with you happier moments in our lives...

Bug's first time in the snow.  He loved the sledding. 

  Our before Christmas trip to Mt. Lemmon

This little guy is starting to walk--unassisted! 

 Found and much needed love notes...

 Bug just adores his much older cousins.

I am back to more "me" time....

Enjoy!

This

THIS....

Using the word "this", to me, is open ended.  

Right now, "this" for me means...

Fulfilled wants

The future

The dreams

The plans being made

The memories

The conversations

The guests

Our current family

For the little one or ones that are not here yet

And the list can go on.

I presented an idea to Daddy.  Something new was needed to help define our homestead.  A visit to Ana White's website was called for. 

After much thought, planning, buying, building the dream and vision came alive.

The photo below shows our current dinning room.  I often feel that many spaces in our home are just rooms in houses and nothing that feels like home.  Our dining room was one of those places to me. 

 We needed a table that could fit a family.  Guests.  Our future.

That table was crafted. 

That table was built by hand.

That table was built, to house our dreams, by daddy.

I know all you see is a table but this is my "this."

::This table will be filled by our family

::This table will be the starting place for house plans

::This table will be the foundation for our future homestead

::This table will house many conversations about future off-spring

::This table will be enjoyed by our guests

::This will be the setting for many talks about life

::This table will be used for car races and lego building

::This table will house our current life and have plenty of room for our future life.

I hope to one day share a spot at this table with you. 

I married a man who is a crafter.

Who is a dreamer

Who is a can-do'er

Who is stubborn determined

I married a great man.

(I will rent him out to the highest bidder)



can I please have a moment of your time....

So here I am down with a cold.  Squish came down first, then Daddy and now finally the last two hold outs....Bug and I. 

I've been spending this down time along with lots of other time I really don't have searching the Internet high and low and then again through the various stores trying to find the "right" gift for Squish's first Christmas.   Let's face it----having a brother exactly 25 months older doesn't really make things easy in trying to buy something new and different for him that I don't already have saved from Bug.  Plus, I am super-duper conscious about what I buy for my kids.  We aren't the type to throw money or possessions at our kids for the sake of fulfilling some need within ourselves. 

Tonight, my plan was to sit here and complain up the wazoo about how our kids are being poisoned in the name of cheap plastic toys which really are not as cheap as they should be considering the mass amounts of lead, BPA, PVC, Phthalates, and Fire-retardants that are in them.  But as I sat down to log into Blogger tonight an image of a baby girl all snuggled up came into my mind.  It is an image that I think about often.  It is an image that I wanted to share with you tonight...

http://aniandmatttaylor.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-sunshine.html

After you read the above post I suggest you click on their family photo at the top---that will take you to the "home" page of this blog and then you can start reading all of the posts from most recent back to the beginning. 

It's humbling...very humbling! 

 I hope this post that I am writing will land on your computer desktop before the midnight rush of Black Friday starts. 

Yes, we all want the great deals. 

Yes, I really want to buy good healthy toys for my boys.

But do you know what? 

 I have two happy and healthy (and sometimes one is a little too rambunctious) boys here with me tonight.  After I "hit" the publish key I'm going to drink one more cup of hot tea and then I am going to crawl into bed where Squish will nuzzle right up against my body and Bug will only be a reach away.  

I don't want to call anyone out here tonight but I do have a few friends that are finding themselves in some tough situations and try as I might to convince them that the good will prevail they can't hear it and I am holding back in vain to not send them the above blog.  When I need to check things I think about Ruby.  I think about my own Squish who is slightly younger then Ruby. 

I hope you'll spend some time thinking about Ruby, too!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. via soulemama

right now

 right now:: 

I am still enjoying the memories from Bug's first time trick or treating.  I can't believe my little guy is getting so big and a little old. 

Here is Squish as The Hulk

 right now:: 

We are enjoying the cool air from fall nights as we step outside after dinner and go on a walk.

 right now:: 

I am enjoying all the life, fantasies, music and mud pies that are being created in our back yard.

 right now:: 

I am eagerly awaiting for fresh juice, black eye peas, and butternut squash.

 right now:: 

I am trying to find the perfect recipe for pumpkin pie tarts.

 right now:: 

I am enjoying the sound of little raspberries and clapping hands on the tile.

  right now:: 

 I am enjoying watching Bug do something he is so proud of and loves very much!

 right now:: 

 I am very thankful that last weeks trip to the park didn't end in the E.R.

What are you doing right now?

Pumpkin Picking

A few weeks ago we went pumpkin picking.  I must confess that I think this years pumpkin festival at Marana's Post Farms is by far the best in Southern Arizona.  I've been to Buckelew and Apple Annie's and price wise they are all the same but Post Farms seems to be more about the kids.  They had a huge jumping pillow.  A large sand hill with lots of tractors and toys  peddle tractors.  A riding tractor train ride and the classic petting zoo. 

We met up with my folks and my two sisters and their families for the fun filled morning.

 The jumping pillow

Proof I was there...

 The tractor train

 Is just me or do my kids take great close ups?

I think I know what Daddy Bug wants for Christmas!

 Pumpkin Picking time!

I believe we will be back there again next year!