Happy Eight, Eight, O'Eight

I'm posting this now so any readers can still have time to try this as well - if you wish. We're leaving tomorrow for Grand Marais so I won't be able to post pics of the day until I get back, but here's what we're doing:
It's a momentous occasion for everyone because we won't have this day again. Tonight, we're all meeting at A&P's to pack the vehicles. The date is 8/8/08 and there are 8 of us going on this trip (how fortuitous!) and we decided to eat at 8:08 tonight and we're serving 8 foods. Honestly? It was sort of hard to come up with 8 different foods without cheating and counting the pickles on the burgers as one of the 8. We didn't cheat and we did try to think of creative foods to make.

Seven plus ice cream is eight!

How To Do It Your Way

This is the proper way to eat a grape. You sit on Grandma's counter as comfortable as can be (really it's so the cat can't get you) and you nibble grapes off the vine....one at a time. And you manage to look very princess-like in the process.

I'm surprised at what a light touch she has when she's drawing. Is this a girl thing or a Miss M thing? I don't know since I didn't raise girls.

Ah, yes, Star Wars, a la the intergalactic material we found for $1 in the clearance bin. I love the sound effects that go with this play. By the way, all these figurines belonged to his Daddy when he was a boy.

Such a Girly Girl!

Miss M? Miss Emmmmm... Miss M!

MISS M H!!

"What? I have to catch this bug......." says she.

The Girl's Got Some Pipes!

If she can do this on her own AND buckle herself in do you think she may have outgrown the baby swing? It's amazing to watch. She straddles the safety guard, grabs the ropes and hauls herself up, spins around in the swing to clip the buckles....and she grins! I grin too.



"Grandma," she says, "push me to the sky....." Her favorite - going as high as you can push her until the ropes go slack. Talk about a good belly laugh!

Put your heart into it!

I was taking pictures (as usual) of Sir S playing in the sprinkler this weekend and I noticed something peculiar. When kids play they put their whole heart and body into it, like when Sir S jumps through the water. The arms are extended, his belly is sucked in and his face is filled with determination when he's going airborne. As a test I tried running and jumping with him and, ya'know, I was far more reserved than he was. It's like I forgot how to have unreserved play. I might have to practice his style more often 'cause it sure looks like fun!




Does he look like he's having fun?

Let me explain the umbrella hat. The whole family is going camping in Grand Marais soon and Sir S's Uncle Dude said, "we have to bring the umbrella hats!" He has fond memories of our many camping trips to the Manistee River as a child and wearing these goofy hats while playing in the woods during the rain. My kids, Uncle Dude is one of them, were not deterred by inclement weather. I'm surprised the hats are in such good condition after all these years and so much use. Ah, yes, another generation to carry on the crazy traditions and forge new memories.

On making lists...or...The List of Three.

Yeah, I know, I've seen. Everyone is making lists. I've thought alot about those that I'm seeing and I've noticed that the majority of them are for big projects or life changing reminders. And, you know, I have those lists too. The back of my kitchen door is covered with those lists and the items are numbered (in pencil, of course) in order of priority so I can keep track of what needs doing next. But those lists don't keep my daily life orderly and I need order so I can function and not feel overwhelmed. So, a few years ago I started my daily List of Three. That's it, 3 items that I really want completed and they're usually mundane tasks that would/could risk getting put off while I'm doing the multitude of other tasks that I notice as I walk through the house. The ordinary gets written on there, like laundry or weeding, and I pencil in my creative outlets, things like sewing or baking or painting. Sometimes I break down projects and write something like "lacquer the watercolor boards". It's a simple idea that helps me to feel good when I've completed my list. And seriously, who doesn't need that sense of accomplishment in their daily life?

For the love of buttons

I made this dress for Miss M. I know, it's cheating since you can buy it practically ready made. I sewed a back seam and added the straps. Her favorite part of the dress? The buttons on the back that make it adjustable so she can wear it next year as well. She says, "it's got buttons!", and proceeds to show everyone she meets. We should all be that easy to please.