Settling into the Chaos //

 

 

 

As the temperature cools down.

As the days shorten.

As the leaves change color.

I settle into the routine of our days.

 

Wake up

Coffee (lots of it) 

Breakfast

Get Kaleb off to school

 

Then coming back to the studio. Oh, the studio. My special perfect place.

Most days I rush to get everything that I want to completed.

I find that I have no minutes to spare before school is out.

 

The evenings are mostly spent together.

Walking the dogs.

Making dinner.

Catching up with each other's day.

 

I find little time to run errands.

Complete chores.

 

The dishes usually need put away.

I find toys in every room of the house.

We're living out of our laundry baskets.

 

Nothing is perfect. Everything is messy.

 

But I'm happy.

_

 

To me this chaos is a sign that I'm enjoying life. Living it to it's fullest.

 

That I'm not tied down with the minor details. I'm soaking up all the beauty and time life has to offer.

 

I pick up a little here, a little there, but it's never spotless.

 

When friends ask to meet up, I say yes.

When Kaleb wants to cuddle for a few extra minutes, I say yes. 

I'm spend the evenings with my husband instead of answering emails.

 

This is how life is meant to be lived.

 

Learn to the let go of what life should be. Instead embrace what it is.

 

 ♥ Carin

 



BFF Lego Bracelets

 

 

 

 

Why do little kids always have the best ideas? Last week my nephew called from Texas and asked if I would make him and his best friends custom bracelets.

 

OF COURSE I WILL!

 

So how do you impress a 7 year old?

 

 

Step 1: You start by making a Lego inspired shape out of sterling.

Step 2: Stamp the back with BEST FRIENDS FOREVER.

Step 3: Cut your newly created design into 3 puzzle pieces.

Step 4: Attach them to SUPER sturdy rolo chain bracelets (after all they are 7 year old boys)

Step 5: Add a little tag with each of their initials.

Bam, instant favorite auntie coming your way.


Does your 7 year old have an epic idea? Try me! I'm sure I can create just the piece you're hoping for.

 

P.S. I love you Zobee! Hope you like them!

SPRING BREAK 2013

We filled this spring break to the brim with fun adventures.

Left to Right, Top Down:

• Kaleb listening intently to Dave's hiking instructions. Including when and how to use his emergency whistle on his backpack
• Lunch time in the woods at Point Defiance Park
• Kaleb has been asking for Coco Puffs for months now. I always say, "No," but I figured Spring Break would be a great time to have a sugary breakfast treat
• We went to a super secret candy store in Tacoma. We got a slew of awesomely flavored gummy bears including pink grapefruit, and pop rocks dips!
• Studying the fish at the Discovery Pond at Snake Lake
• Pretending to be a Koala Bear
• Showing off the awesome roots and making the silliest picture pose. I couldn't get him to just smile normal
• Dave and Kaleb pretending to punch out Kaleb's missing tooth
• Watching his best toad friend, Froggy. They played for hours together
• Breaking the "Earliest Swim of the Year" record at my parent's lake house... now March 31st
• Studying the Fish at Snake Lake
• Kaleb's starting to be a great iPhone photographer, so we finally have a picture of Dave and I
• Daddy and Boy hiking
• Snack in the woods

• Laughing hysterically at Tom and Jerry. I guess cats chasing mice just never gets old

The Toothless Wonder

Well it's officially happened! He lost his first tooth! 

It's a huge deal around these parts. He got in the car after school yesterday and immediately told me it was wiggly.  He's been saying that for a few weeks now, but about different teeth. I thought he was just anxious to be like the rest of his friends. So yesterday when he said it loose, I was reluctant to believe it.

As soon as I saw it though, I knew it didn't have much time in there. It was SO wiggly!

He couldn't take his mind off of it, and was moving it back and forth the whole night.  He called everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, he knew and told them he had his first loose tooth! He was so excited.

I took one last shot of him with all his baby teeth yesterday evening.

By bath and bedtime I was sure it was coming out last night. I sent him to bed with a paper towel just in case.  He's normally so good about going right to sleep, but last night he kept getting up wanting to check it in the mirror or show Dave and I how wiggly it was.  He let both of us try and pull it briefly, but we didn't want to pull too hard and scare him, so we let him do it in his own time.

When he was watching his morning cartoons he came running over to me with it in his hand. He said that he had bit down on it, and his bottom teeth pushed it out!

He's super excited because now the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny have to come on the same night. He's sure that they've never met each other and they will be thrilled.  I also made the mistake of telling him that when I was a kid the Tooth Fairy brought me a Cabbage Patch Doll, so he's sure he's getting a toy and not just a silly old quarter! These teeth are going to break our bank!

On top of it all, today is class picture day! Such a rush!