ooooowwie! a fun contest

i love contests, and i love these camera bags!

if i win, i promise to use the camera bag and take even more photos with a new camera! but honestly, i love my camera and would rather have the camera bag

it reminds me of when my mom, the self-appointed compulsive contestant, entered to win free groceries for a year and won the big screen television. my family has never had a television, and mom sold it.

tropical vacation

a friend gave the kids some mangoes so we decided to have a visit to the tropics today. the kids built a fort and imagined they were at the beach while we listened to Bob Marley.
for breakfast we had mango and banana sprinkled with coconut along with a little leftover baked oatmealthen we went for a walk, searching for signs of the tropics.
this required some big imagination since it is barely spring here in minnesota. in fact, we couldn't find a single flower. not one.
as for tropical animals, we just saw our neighborhood "moose under the spruce" who guards a beautiful garden, not yet emerged.
we remained hopeful,we did glimpse a tropical looking deck, one that appeared perfect for viewing wildlife
and tried again to spy some color. just green shoots, which are by no means "just", but GREEN SHOOTS!!!
the last minute discovery was a pink feather, which we were sure was from a flamingo who remained hidden. a coin, a plain old grey feather, a large rock and a collection of sturdy sticks

when we were tourists

my sister came to town for a visit, so we pretended we were tourists and saw a few things we have never seen.
like the Mall of America's Underwater World.
just knowing that more people come to the MOA each year than Disney world, Disneyland and Graceland COMBINED is reason enough to avoid this tourist magnet, and save it for such a time as this.
tho i expected a little more, it was amazing to see underwater creatures so close. the shark tunnel was the favorite for all but claire, who clung to my neck each time the shark swam by.

those teeth!!!

a jellyfish exhibit opens this april and the teasers tanks were really impressive! floor to ceiling tube shaped tanks with colored lights in the bottom each held a different jellyfish. the fish would blob down towards the light, roll around, then float back up, as if they were showing off for us. their movements were so, well, fluid. beautiful, like a dance.

i WON!

i recently was reacquainted with an old family friend, nicole, who blogs over at deliajude
simply creative crafty mama! i am really enjoying her blog, which is chuck full of craft, food, joys in daily life, and inspiring photography! last week she had a little giveaway and I WON!! the package arrived this week, very delightful! jackson was almost as excited as i was to open the pretty packages.
he loved the lavender tape with gold dots, and salvaged it to tape twine (from the wrapping) to make a clothesline in his bedroom where he can hang some special pictures

included were

• three spools of colorful twine, (which you can find over at her etsy shop)
• a vial of wishes
  
• chocolate bar (which i am eating right now with my afternoon cup of tea)
  
• a book So Few of Me, by Peter Reynolds (seems to have been written for my husband!)
  
• a little blank book
• a charming garland (she is the creator of the garland-of-the-month club) made from vintage sheet music

"it's like christmas for you mom!" jackson exclaimed, sincerely excited for a gift for me!
my mom, the compulsive contestant, will be thrilled!
thank you nicole!

the muffin man

our little guy is growing up. right in front of me it is happening! i'm in the midst, and i am completely aware, rather than looking back and seeing the growth! it is awesome. he is more controlled, more responsible, able to do so much!
like making muffins. he wanted to make them, all by himself. it was all i could do to keep my hands from helping a little here and there, but i did it and so did he! made muffins all on his own. i read the instructions and helped a little bit deciphering between 1/2 and 1/4, but he measured, mixed and poured! he even used the back of a knife to level off the top of the flour! the spillage was minimal and the muffins were terrific!

multiple times he told me, "i am so tempted to lick my finger!", but he patiently waited until all the batter was gone before he finished off every little bit left on the spatula and bowl
you can make these tasty muffins too! we used the basic recipe, but made a few adjustments. we soaked the oats in buttermilk, added an extra egg, and used only whole wheat flour. jackson made these for a tea party for the grandmas, and i am embarrassed to say that i didn't get a photo of the three of them! but here is the table and the menu he chose; muffins, popcorn, cashews and a little ginger chew for each person.


jackson likes the little gold teacup that i got from my grandmother and i love that he put the nuts in the saucer.

when will it end?

this weekend i was nearly attacked. by my husband.

it is hard to walk out the door, leaving my babe crying, "mamaaaaaa", but i feel okay since i am leaving her with her favorite parent. when i got to the car and realized i forgot two things in the house, i dreaded that leaving thing again. unsuccessful at calling hubby to leave the items on the porch, i tip-toed in the back door in hopes of sneaking in and out without the kiddos noticing.
how could i have forgotten that the residual affect from our break-in would not allow that? i almost made it out when the door flung open, my hubby ready to attack. i'm not sure what he thought he would do with claire under one arm.
we both collapsed, relieved, but really shook up and spent the next hour or more recovering; heart racing, mid fluttering with the what-if's, then remembering again that horrible night.

it is amazing how the trauma can remain, and really affects us multiple times a week, when there has been so much resolution and healing surrounding that initial event.
just before christmas, we were able to go to the sentencing for our case. brian was there, and we were able to share how his choices have affected us, our family and our community. he heard us, expressed regret for his actions, and accepted his consequences quietly. we were encouraged to see repentance and a desire to make changes; he had already enrolled himself in a treatment program. hearing more about his story and the pieces leading up to that night made me understand (tho not excuse) his actions. part of me even wanted to invite him to our home for a meal, or help with his children.

we are thankful for so much healing.
yet the ripple affect of one poor choice continues.