Dipy Thursday – Week #8

I don’t know if it is the time change or what, but I’m stumbling through this week just a bit. Having a few issues here and there and feeling a little brain dead. Yes, let’s blame the time change, shall we?

So Kimberly chose Grids/Squares this week. Again, seemed totally easy and do-able last week when she suggested it. Last week. Fast forward to Wednesday, the day I am to supposed to get her something. I was frantically roaming around outside trying to see something that would fit into our theme. I have hopscotch grids, patio tile grids, a bunch of flower shots (totally don’t fit into the Grid theme, but everything is so blooming and lovely right now I couldn’t resist) but nothing that really excited me.

And then while I was doing dishes, (in my freshly painted kitchen, thank you very much!) I just happened to look over and see the lovely sun streaming through my basket next to my sink making a magnificent shadow of…a grid of squares on my grid of tile!

Done and done. I do love how this challenge makes me see everyday objects through new eyes.

Now I’ve been trying for a very long time to figure out Kimberly’s. I’m thinking it is a screen door? Whatever it is…it is c-o-o-l! Pop over to her place to see what it is for sure. The rainbow effect is doubly awesome, and I’m thinking it might have been left by her little leprechaun helper yesterday – she is such an awesome Mom! I mean…er…awesome Mom for letting the little leprechaun into her house, of course.

Dipy Week #8 - Grids

And make sure to stop by to see what others have been seeing this week, too.

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Hosted by Megan and Hip Momma

All creatures great and small…

Despite the time change and a very tired crew, we made it to the tidepools yesterday.

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And it was a success. We actually lucked into a guided tidepool walk and were treated to a whole bunch of useful information on finding and naming tidepool creatures. Em is officially ready to tackle her diorama now.

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I love that photo above of her cradling the hermit crab, but I had to crop in on the incredible little crab…can you see his eyes and the dash of color on his little stripey legs? So cool!

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There is indeed nothing like a day at the ocean to chase all of your worries and cares away – no matter how great or small they might be.

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Finally Friday.

It has been a long week.

No really. A loooooong, never-ending, why-isn’t-it-just-Saturday-already kind of week.

I guess it technically isn’t even Friday yet – still Thursday night, but after I magically post-publish this, fall into bed and get a good night o’ sleep, it will indeed finally be Friday.

I mercifully just shut my oven off. It had been on and baking away for nearly 3 hours and now we have over 7 dozen cookies (three different types) for the Pajama Party at Em’s school tomorrow night. I thought how nice it would be to bake them afterschool tomorrow so that they would be fresh and gooey for the party, but it just isn’t going to happen. For as crazy as the past four days have been – tomorrow is even worse.

Em had a lot – A. LOT. – of work to do this week. Just normal homework, a special little book club, the first part of their habitat diorama project, and her showtime are all due tomorrow. (Yes, this is first grade, folks!)

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Granted, we have known about her “showtime,” since last week. And I was very worried and kept suggesting ideas for her, for they are supposed to take 5 minutes and teach the class how to do something.

“How about doing some ballet?”
“No. I don’t want to dance.”
“How about doing some magic tricks?”
“No. I don’t want to. Eric already did one.”
“How about how to draw an animal?”
“NO! Mom! I’ll think of something. Don’t worry.”

Ahem. Ok, then. Of course I did still worry, but then she decided she was going to talk about why plants are important and show the class how to pot a plant. Nice! I can help with that! We can make posters and visual aids and plant some flowers!

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Now, while I am very, very good under pressure. When I have a time crunch or a lot of things on my plate, I can shine. I can pull it all out and make it look relatively easy.

Emma? Not so much. She has not yet learned the tricks of the trade, multi-tasking shortcuts and such. In fact, when she has a lot of things to do, she actually moves slower. Like snail pace. I have been Nelly the Nag all week long and it is exhausting.

But I must say she has practiced her show a few times for me, once for Addie, and even once over Skype for Daddy (traveling again – yes, over the weekend! Boo.) and she has it down. She is pretty darn good. I’m excited to see how she pulls it off tomorrow. Oh, yes…I will be videoing it.

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And at the other school, we have a Pancake Breakfast fundraiser on Saturday morning that I was “helping” with, but have kind of ended up co-chairing, I guess. I love Addie’s school and think it is a very worthwhile cause, but there is always something to be done. I can’t wait til Spring Break when the somethings are all done!

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I am actually working on a website for our friend and realtor. So that really hasn’t left much *free* time for doing things like, oh, say…laundry? I used to have this great schedule and by Thursday all of the laundry would be done. But these days it seems to just be on a continual cycle. Literally. Our washing machine is constantly on. Or has clothes in it to be moved over. Or clothes on top of it to be put in. It is never-ending.

If we can get through the busy-ness of tomorrow (today) and get through the Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, I have promised the girls some beach time on Sunday afternoon. So we’ll more than likely see you back here on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Dipy Thursday – Week #7

Wow! We are on week 7 already? I should hardly be surprised as quickly as our days, weeks, months fly by around here lately.

But it is Team-Up Thursday time again and my turn to choose. I chose Friends. Thought I might be able to catch a few shots since we had Addie’s friend staying with us last week. I failed miserably on that front. But then I realized that I could just swing a camera around in any room in my house and be able to capture the sweetest image of friends.

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And I figure most of you have been around here enough to know that I’m on the bottom and the deliciously dynamic other half of the duo, Kimberly, is on top.

Can you see the cool texture her photo has? I love that our shots are so similar and work well together – but they have just little glimpses of contrast. We both have two subjects, but she has boys, I have girls. Clearly chilly sweater-type weather and shot outdoors, but hers has definitely a darker, “boy” colored tone to it, and mine is like a rainbow exploded all over. Her guys are off in their own little world, my girls are looking directly at the camera. This is all really fascinating to me. And a very fun exercise even if I always leave it to the very last possible second. (Sorry K.!)

Check out what others are up to over at –

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Hosted by Megan and Hip Momma

Crafty Tuesday

And a very happy Tuesday to you all!

Hope you all got some time last week to get your craftiness on.

I had a tiny little bit of time, and made a ruffled skirt for Addie.

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And I “fixed” one of Addie’s stained shirts, too. I did it after she went to bed, so she was pretty excited when she came down.

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The ruffles are still a little bit off, lengthwise, but it sure is fun to guinea-pig on the girls.

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And over the weekend we trekked to the flea market where I hit the mother lode at my linen lady’s booth. Look at all the lovely pillowcases I ran off with…

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I will have dresses in the etsy shop soon! (I hope.)

AND, then…I also got some great vintage aprons from the same lady. She gave me a great deal on them…

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And I have a great idea for them. We’ll see if it works out. Look at the sweet detail on the aprons…

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Just imagine cute sundress-y sort of goodness from these. I’ll keep you posted.

How about it, my crafty friends? Have anything good to show today?

Kindergarten Bound.

Our little birdy is ready for kindergarten.

Not that we needed a preschool conference to tell us this, but they did indeed verify that we have another little miss smartypants on our hands. And…she is most definitely ready for kinder in the fall.

Her teachers also said she is a “pure joy to have in class” and they have apparently never experienced a classic Addie complete meltdown.

Uh huh.

At any rate, Addie was most excited to tell any, and every one on Friday, “Miss Jayne said I can go to kindergarten now!” Guess who was most excited for her? Yep, Emmy Gracie.

Yesterday I snuck in and grabbed this photo while big sister was coaching her baby sis. Em was helping Addie with her k-garten workbook. Reading the directions to her. Applauding her when she figured out the right answer.

This was my most favorite moment of the weekend. I also decided in that moment I experienced one of the “top five” feelings a mom can experience. Pure pride at having not one, but two, fantastic, smart and caring girls.

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