[my newest nephew]

babies bring the brightest beauty

  yesterday was the first time since myles was born 
i felt well enough to photograph this little man. 

it's about time!

i've been dying to take his pictures... so when we gathered for a family bbq to celebrate pioneer day, it lent for the perfect mini photo op.

see more here

[paint a pot]

dig, dig, dig

plant, plant, plant

toss, toss, toss

not knowing what i would do with these black plastic shrub and flower planting pots early last month,

i did know there must be something fun to make of them rather than simply throwing them away.

so, much to sam's dismay, i stacked them up in our garage and told him i would use them soon.

 here is our latest diy project:

painted plastic pottery!

perfect for your summertime centerpieces, flower pots, or simple décor

items needed:

• plastic pots of any size or material
• naptha, goo-be-gone, or other solvent to remove stickers
• paint
• sponge brushes
• modge podge (matte finish)
• protective table covering
• labels or other paper pictures (opt)

remove stickers. wash. dry well. place on protected surface. paint horizontally using large sweeping brush strokes. let dry. paint again. rub off edges for distressed look. pick picture or label you'd like to use.  paint the back of label or picture with mod podge.  position on pot. let dry. paint over the picture and rest of pot with mod podge. let dry. fill with your favorite flowers, fruit (like pineapple), office supplies, anything you'd like. 


*take note: this seems super obvious, but just in case... since these particular pots have holes in the bottom, plan to fill another solid container with flowers and water and carefully inserted when used as a vase.

i came across this paper at roberts and fell in love with  cosmo cricket's bright colors and retro designs.

i thought they'd make the perfect addition to summertime art.

this was such a fun project to do with my kids too!  they always love a good painting project, and there's really no way to mess them up.  

this would even be a great project to do near Christmas time.  

fill them with tissue paper and a gift or seasonal fruit and wrap gingerly in cellophane with a cute tag.

oh, you could even place a small pine tree or rosemary plant in one.

the ideas are really flowing here :)

[parent's helper]

this website is my new best friend!  check it out!  super teacher worksheets 

found in amanda's post on bloom (which is excellent btw)

 there are worksheets and games you can print out and do with your kids this summer break!  my friend turned me on to this after she read the post, i apparently didn't read it close enough, but wished i knew about this weeks ago!  oh well, better late than never.

  

my kids have loved all the activities and worksheets and want to do a bunch each day!

i feel good because i know they're keeping their skills up and learning new things :)

do you have any great kid learning/game sites you love and would recommend?

[where oh where?]

okay, sam and i have been racking our brains trying to remember where we ate the most delicious ever coconut shrimp! it's driving us CRAZY!  we've been back tracking - thinking of all the great restaurants we've been to in the last several months and after calling many of them and asking around, we still can't figure it out! 

so, anyone have any suggestions?  

this is really important, i'm craving them big time!

and the sauce they were served with, WOW, it was all SO sensational!

thank you friends!  i'll be anxiously waiting your help!

[cheaters]

a few weeks ago we cheated and bought some beautiful large tomato plants at costco.

we knew we were running out of time this year and figured we'd better start big in order to have a decent crop this season.  

as we were checking out and leaving, many people commented and joked that we'll have tomatoes in no time.

they were right!  we have gorgeous green tomatoes growing already!  who said cheaters never win? 

ooh, their incredible aroma makes my mouth water!  hopefully i'll have an appetite for them...

do you think i have time to hurry and plant some basil?

i would love to make lots of caprese this summer!

isn't this daisy bud awesome?  

i just think these perfectly folded petals tucked tightly are amazing!

here are a few of my favorites from my garden:

mmm, lavender.  enough said.

and who doesn't love geraniums? love you summer!

[absent]

while retrieving my e-mails in bed this morning via phone, i came across a message from melissa asking if i was okay and what was new.  she mentioned she hadn't seen me on the www and thought she'd check in on me.  thank you melissa!  you're too cute!  i replied and explained the reason for my absence is due to the fact that i haven't been able to pull my newly inhabited body out of bed.

i'm pregnant!!!

yes, i'm sure many of you have heard by now, but i thought i'd share our exciting news with all those who haven't!  

this number four little babe is making me so ill!  i've never been this sick before and don't want to do one darn thing!!!

thanks to many friends and family members, i've been given a lot of help over these last couple of weeks.  

thank you • thank you

i'm praying this won't last too much longer.  it will be nice to enjoy drinking even water again.  fruit is saving my bacon... it's pretty much all i can stand to eat. 

however, looking for some sort of brightside to all of this, my bust line is increasing while the rest of my body is shrinking :)


so much for my summer cuisine... i'm not cooking anything!  sorry.   

lulu april 2003

ooh, there's nothing better than kissing all my babies yummy cheeks!

can't wait for the next!