Just a Few Favorite Spots of Home...

Well, as much as I've been wanting to move for years now, I find myself feeling rather nostalgic about this dwelling we've called home for the last decade. It's the first home my husband ever owned. It's where I came to live after marrying him. We welcomed our children into this home after they were born. This carpet has cushioned the first tentative steps of our babies, and then the pounding and stomping of those babies-turned-toddlers. This house has seen gatherings formal and not, of family and friends, for holidays, birthdays, and game nights. We've dreamed here, cried here, laughed (a lot!) here. This home has sheltered us and been good to us. We will miss it and remember it always. But, it's time to move forward and set roots down in an entirely new place. Exciting, yes. But daunting too. Change is always hard for me, even when that change is necessary and for the better. I snapped just a few shots while packing things up this week:

I painted those plates and hung them up there to help fill that blank wall space. But, looking at the photo, the plates just seem to attract attention to that awful "popcorn" ceiling! Definitely won't be missing that.

I love the fabric hoops because it's so easy to change them out according to season or just because I've got some new fabric I want to look at more often!

This piece (fabric covered canvas) is called "In Full Bloom." It represents our family, the four of us, growing together. I made it just after our youngest was born.

The rose in that glass dome is from the first bouquet my husband ever sent me (12 years ago). The sweetest part about it is that he secretly swiped that rose from my bouquet after visiting me at my apartment. I didn't even notice that he did it. The next day he went to the hobby store and bought all the necessary items to preserve it and present it so beautifully! I've had it prominently displayed ever since.

I'm going to miss my daughter's bed being just a hop, skip, and jump away from our bed. She's been within arm's reach of me every night since she was born. I'm going to miss being able to just lift my head to check on her. And listen to her breathing. And...well, I'm going to miss us all sleeping in the same room. It always felt so comforting, a little like Little House, being in close quarters like that.

I'm going to miss the great tree out back that has been home for so many birds and squirrels (and once, an owl!).

The squirrels have provided much entertainment to my little ones looking out the glass door every morning: burying treats under the leaves and carefully covering them up!

Doing acrobatics while eating from the corn cob feeder:

And trying to outwit the squirrel-proof bird feeders:

This great tree of ours is like a sensory, 3-D calendar of the seasonal changes: from rustling golden autumn, to bare stick-like figures of winter, to the fragrant white blooms of spring, and then the lush, green canopy of summer.

I will be away from this space for a while, as tomorrow is Moving Day. Internet availability is sketchy at best where we are headed. It will take a bit of time to work out the kinks and settle back into blogging. Of course, there's all that moving in and settling in to do, as well! That probably should take precedence :) But please continue to check back now and then, as I plan on returning to posting here as soon as I am able. Until then, wishing you happy days and peaceful nights!

A Bit of a Blogging Break...

I've been away from this blog for almost a week, but it feels like a lot longer! I really enjoy the creative outlet for writing about how we spend our days. And, this little break from blogging only cements the fact that I do like this new "hobby." :) In fact, I started feeling a little "twitchy" to post something (anything!) after only a couple of days off!

But, some other things have needed my attention lately. Some are minor and inconsequential (but nonetheless, demanding that I take action) and other things are of much significance and require all my energy, focus, and time.

I'm finding it a little challenging to be fully present in my daily life and then not spend too much of my day writing about our day. Obviously, real life takes precedence over blog life, but I can't ignore the desire to document some of our life with words and pictures too. But, I don't want blogging to overshadow actually living the life I blog about living. Ugh! I know I'm rambling. I hope that makes as much sense in print as it does in my head. Anyway, it's a tough balance to strike (for me, that is).

Anyway, I plan to be gone from this little space for a few more days at least. Then, hopefully, return fresh and clear-headed. :)

Introducing...

Since I will be filling the pages of this blog with stories about our family and the way we spend our days, I thought it would be helpful to give you a little background information on who we are!

Ce: Let's start with me. I am in my mid-thirties and have always felt like I was born a few decades too late. Minus the freshly pressed dress and the high heels, I am a housewife of the 50's. Although, I prefer the term "homemaker" rather than "housewife." Because everything I do is geared toward making our house a home. The "make" part is very important. A home that is a haven doesn't just happen. It has to be made. Although a dated concept to some, I love the idea of being the keeper of the home. Taking care of my husband and my children makes me happy. I have never been career-driven. Rather, I am a homebody who strives to make our home peaceful, cozy, clutter-free (but lived in), and a feast for the senses: good smells coming from the kitchen, soft sheets on the beds, laughter lilting through the air, fresh artwork on the walls (some created by the kids, some by me, and some picked up along the way), warm arms wrapped around the ones you love. Homemaking is my career.

While I may be old-fashioned when it comes to my home, I'm more modern when it pertains to my children. Some would go as far as to say that I'm a little "granola" or unconventional. I'm not sure what "label" fits me, so I don't really use one. I just do what feels right in my heart. So far, that has meant: drug-free childbirth with a midwife, co-sleeping, cloth diapering, extended breastfeeding, attachment parenting, and homeschooling. Basically, if my child cries (assuming I'm not right there, which I usually am), I go to her/him and pick them up. Instead of TV, we read and focus on imaginative play or art. I don't believe we have to physically dominate our children in order to get the behavior we desire from them (and who says that our desires are more valid than their wants and needs anyway? I'm certainly not a doormat when it comes to my children, but I think it's a question worth throwing out there). Basically, I try to put myself in the shoes of my children on a daily basis. This is especially important on "those days" -- the whiny, difficult, tantrum-filled days. If the roles were reversed and I was the child, how would I want the adults in my life to respond to me right now? Once I get my answer, I try to do exactly that for my children (if possible).

Hobbies/Interests: my family, my faith, scrapbooking, sewing, organic foods, alternative medicine, browsing Etsy, visiting bookstores, napping, sipping cocoa, making lists (carrying them out is another matter entirely), collecting recipes (but never trying them), and watching sappy romantic comedies.

So, that's a little bit about me! :)

Mark: My beloved husband of nearly seven years. He is pretty much the yin to my yang. While I am hot-headed, he is nearly always on an even keel. He is respectful, kind, and very funny. His blue eyes and dimples shine every day. I admire him as a person. He has been through some extremely challenging circumstances, yet he still finds reasons aplenty to laugh and enjoy life.

Hobbies/Interests: anything computer-related, remote control cars. Oh, by the way, he's in his mid-thirties too. Lest you think, based on his hobbies/interests, that he's only 18. :)

Roo/Boo: Roo is what I call our daughter. Boo is what my husband calls her. No, we didn't set out to have cutesy, rhyming nicknames for our sweet girl. I'm not even exactly sure how they came about. Maybe the Roo thing is from the baby kangaroo character from Winnie the Pooh. Which is strange because, while I don't have anything against Winnie the Pooh, it is not a beloved story from my youth or even a story or theme we've introduced our daughter to yet. So, hmmm...not sure why I call her Roo. I sort of wish I had an amusing little anecdote regarding her nickname, but I do not. At the very least, I could follow it up with a clever anecdote regarding my husband's fondness for calling her Boo. But, alas, I don't have one for that either. Neither one of us recalls the origins of Boo, but we know it goes way back. Well, as way back as it can go, as she is only 3 1/2 years old! She seems too good to be true. A really cool, creative, compassionate, smart, hilarious kid. She's been the center of my world since the day she arrived. She has to share that center with her brother now, but she does so willingly and with a happy heart!

Additional monikers include: Sweets, Lovebug, Baby girl, Roosie, and My Love. However, for clarity's sake, I will just refer to her by one name: Roo. I wouldn't want any readers out there wondering why a multitude of children keep appearing out of nowhere.

Hobbies/Interests: being read to, helping me in the kitchen, bugs, going to the park (swings are her fave), being dramatic, entertaining her little brother, and building mountains out of couch cushions and throw pillows.

Rascal/Buddy: Our son just turned 9 months old today. He is a big 9 months. Wearing 18 months when it comes to clothes and pushing 24 pounds. His sister didn't reach 24 pounds until she was about 2 years old. His big sister calls him "Mr. Bud." My husband and I both call him Buddy. It isn't a nickname I'm fond of, but it has stuck. I also call him Rascal, as that sounds so much nicer than "Trouble." This boy has never met an outlet, open door, or staircase he didn't like. It is indescribable how different he has been as a baby than his sister was at his age. For one thing, he is just now outgrowing the colic the docs told us would be gone 6 months ago. He can throw an Oscar-worthy tantrum. His cry can be heard within a 6-block radius of our house. He is all or nothing. How goes that old nursery rhyme? "When (s)he was good, (s)he was very very good. And when (s)he was bad, (s)he was horrid." Something like that. But, that being said, you will think God opened up the heavens and shone the brightest light the world has ever seen when this boy smiles! "Lights up a room" comes to mind. When he's happy, he's one of the most jovial people you'll know.

Other monikers: Little Man, Little Boy Blue, Cuddlebug, Moose, Meatball (Roo is long and lean, thus she is the Spaghetti to our roly, poly Meatball). We try to shy away from nicknames referring to his generous size, so Moose and Meatball aren't uttered very often. We certainly don't want to make the fella self-conscious!

Hobbies/Interests: insomnia, finding mischief, knocking down towers built by his sister, chewing and drooling, laughing, and learning to walk.

So, that concludes the introductions. Hopefully you feel like you know us a little bit better as you spend your time here reading about our adventures in daily living! Thank you for stopping by!

And so it begins...

I've finally made the giant leap into the blogging world for myself. I've been a fan of blogging, an inspired, enchanted bystander for some time now. There are many, many blogs that I read voraciously every spare minute I get. I've been toying with the idea of my very own blog for a couple years. But would I have the time to dedicate to it on a regular basis? I feel stretched to my limits just trying to cover the day-to-day basics of my life. How could I sensibly take on blogging too? I love to read other people's thoughts, plans, goals; I find their insights valuable to my own life. But do I have a voice worth sharing with the world? Would anyone find the things that rattle around in my head worth reading? Being exposed, being "out there" is pretty daunting. But...I'm going to take that leap of faith and just jump right in. Because even if my husband and my best friend are the only ones who read this blog, that's okay. I'm excited about having yet another writing outlet. A virtual scrapbook of our life. A way to capture the here and now. That has immeasurable value to me, and that is reason enough to do it. So, here I go!