Homemade Face & Body Paint

2 tsp Cornstarch

1 tsp cold cream

1 tsp. water

3-4 drops food coloring.

Mix together in an egg carton or muffin tin, apply with paintbrushes.

Laugh hysterically as you make your Mom look like a deranged clown.

Fun times.

We went to the Doll Buggy Parade tonight. Apparently “doll buggy” is code for “bike” or “wagon” in Racine? After sending Maren to her playground program today with a decorated DOLL STROLLER I quickly realized I didn’t get the memo. We ripped the decorations off the stroller and put them on the bike in preparation for the big parade tonight.

Non-natives learn something new every day.

The local newspaper reports that over 500 kids and adults walked the short parade route. I love things like this. Racine, you are cool. Even if you pick incorrect and misleading names for parades.

So here we now head into the 4th of July weekend. My parents are coming to town, we’re going to do some bike riding around town on local trails, some campfires, farmer’s markets, maybe play some cards. No backyard fireworks. I’m not down with explosives. I was once told in high school by a popular (but really, really dumb) boy that I had the ugliest hands he’d ever seen on a girl.  If you stare at my hands next time I see you I’ll totally notice. They may be ugly but I have all 10 fingers and I’d like to keep it that way.

Hope you have a splendid Independence Day Weekend as well. God Bless America.

(I’d double God Bless America if we could just like Jacko die already. Ahem.)

My Birthday

I am not much for Birthdays. Everyone has them, so I don’t find them to be so exciting.

But I cannot help but admit that having a whole day of doing what I wanted to do with Jim home was awesome. Facebook also does wonders for giving you a fake sense of popularity on your Birthday. I woke up to 30 updates wishing me a Happy Birthday today. I hesitate to admit that I rather liked it.

I  got called for Jury Duty this week. I was rather annoyed that I might have to spend my 29th (Golden) Birthday in a court room, but figured I wouldn’t otherwise miss out on much so what the heck. When I called last night to find out that they didn’t need me, I was lucky enough to still get to keep Jim home since he took off work thinking he would watch the kids.

We went to Milwaukee today and battles Summerfest traffic to rent a surrey along the Lake Michigan bike path. It was so fun! And holy hell, a workout. The kids sit there like dead weight and you can just feel your legs getting skinnier and skinner as you peddle your brains out.

We went over to the Milwaukee Public Market for an early dinner. I had sushi (since it was my birthday and I didn’t have to make anyone else happy.)

We had T-ball tonight, then went to Mel and Steve’s for Beergaritas and Danish Layer Cake that Jim and Maren bought me. It even had my name on it.  (The cake, not the drinks.)

It was a super day.

Thanks Jim, Maren and Violet. You make a Mom feel special.

Hi again. How’s it going? It’s the end of June already?? I started this post a few weeks ago, and just finished it down. So if it seems to not make sense…

My garden hasn’t done anything super impressive because of the lack of sun, but my cold weather crops are kicking ass. This just proves that if you let kids grow it, they will eat it. Both girls help cut lettuce and spinach out of the garden and eat plates of it at dinner. It’s a miracle. Maren has discovered sunflower sprouts and eats them by the bowlful. It about makes my head spin. Violet likes Ranch Dressing more than the green stuff.

I am not a Master Gardener by any  means, but next Spring I hope to be able to help some parents start a garden who might otherwise feel overwhelmed with how to begin. It’s exciting to see some of my friends and acquaintances try Square Foot Gardening, and if I can give a few more people the push to start growing their own food, I’d love to help.

Slugs have done a number on my green beans, and the rabbits must have had an all-you-can-eat buffet this weekend while we were gone. Many of my perennials were chewed to the bit, my brussel sprouts are all but gone….

It’s been a busy summer. We’ve been gone every weekend for 3 weekends in a row. I’ve been really busy with Eat Right Racine and another project I am working on, a 6 week  Neighborhood Walk program . Weddings, graduations, etc. We try to cram it all in during the summer– it’s how it is if you live in Wisconsin.

Finally– friends Cody and Hailey with Maren. We made these balloon yo-yos one day a few weeks ago. Seriously the easiest thing ever to make and it provided them all with about 30 minutes of fun. Fill up a water balloon. Cut a strong, big rubber band so you have one long piece. Tie to the end of the balloong. Ta-da!

Scamp to Camp

A few weeks ago a friend mentioned her desire to purchase a camper and the instant gratification desire she had to get it NOW.

I have now fallen down that same dangerous path.

For years I have periodically searched ebay and Craigslist for a used vintage Airstream. When I realized we’d have to sell a vehicle and upgrade to a pick up truck to pull it, I abandoned the idea. When I realized the really cute vintage ones in good condition cost more than my college education, I really abandoned the idea.

But then I discovered the cute, addicting world of fiberglass trailers. And I want one. Bad. Here is the cute little Scamp. Remove that dorky family with ours and here is what you get….

Light enough to pull with a standard vehicle, many come with toilets and showers. They are low-maintenance, easy to pull and require hardly any set up. We’ve outgrown the tent and to be honest, being in a tent with Violet is eerily similar to being trapped in a Porta-Potty with a swarm of hornets.

Did I mention I want one? Badly. Never mind we’d have to rip out the back fence in order to park it in the yard.(We have no driveway.)

So now I begin trying to craft a story that will convince Maren that the money we have been saving for months to go to Disney would be better spent on a camper. I’m pretty sure that isn’t going to go over super-awesome.  I can tell her about all my childhood camping stories, the promises of hikes, s’mores, State and National Parks, bird watching, Pudgie Pies and flashlight tag, but I know she’ll say something like “Is Micky Mouse at the campgrounds?”

Realistically I won’t have enough cash to purchase even a 20 year old model for another few years. But in the meantime, I can buy the fabric that I’ll make the patchwork curtains and throw pillows out of and I can talk about it incessantly and possibly wear Jim down and get him to contribute to the Scamp Fund. Wish me luck.

Hi

Hi blog.

Wow. I have neglected you. Don’t feel bad. You can hang out with the interior of the house which has been equally neglected. In fact, there’s a pile of un-swept dirt under my feet which would love to spend time with you.

Anyway. Sigh. I’m really just distracted right now. I’ve got a lot of things going on that are really time consuming but very rewarding and exciting. I love community service– it really motivates me  and gives me a lot of fulfillment, but I’m having a hard time finding  balance right now. The kids are used to art projects, side trips, and lots and lots of attention, but haven’t been getting that in the last month. So in exchange I have 2 whiny, easily upset children who just want things back to how they were. I wish I knew how to have and do it all.

So without further ado, here is casa De Sonia. My amazing, young, hard-working parents spent their Memorial Day weekend helping us paint our house. I love them. A lot.  Jim has worked non stop this weekend as well, and while he announced tonight, “I think I’m good until the fall,” I have asked that the patio be ripped out and re-done. Oh, and all the trim and windows need to be painted yet too. I wish the market was better, I’d slap a For Sale sign on the house and we’d try to move to our house on 5 acres that is waiting for us.

Before

PS While are perennials so damn expensive? Oh, and can I dig them up and take them with me when we move someday? Is that legal?

After

It’s May

You’d think with my lack of posting I’d have a lot to talk about.

Lots of random things. I said random, not enthralling.

I’m feeling a bit unsettled right now. Routines are changing. Maren finished school this week. This was her last year at this preschool. Next year (she misses the Kindergarten cut-off date by about 3 weeks) she’ll go to a private preschool on the other side of town, and then the year after we’ll hope to get into a Magnet school here in town.

This was her last day of school program. Last year she mumbled the songs and looked a little uncomfortable. This year I could actually hear her voice! It’s amazing how much kids change in one year.

My seedlings are growing like crazy. We’re “yard sharing” this year with the oldest resident on our block. She’s got 2 lots and is willing to let my friend Tom and I plant in her yard. So we’ll do more of everything, plus an extra Square Foot Box in our own yard this year.   I need to remember to take a photo when the garden is in its prime.

This kids have been happy to be outdoors, but this is the first year I have felt really let down by city life, and especially city life in these mega-super small yards. There are no hiding spots for hide and seek. No trees to climb. No green space large enough to kick a ball around.  If the market was better I’m fairly certain this would be the year that we decided to make a change.

I’m thankful to be a home owner and I love our house, our tri-color house, can you see that?— but this isn’t the childhood I envisioned my kids having. Nevertheless, they still find things to do. Today they played with worms (without touching them, both would yell NASTY!) and built the worms a “home.”  Maren insisted on flowers. “Mom, a home has to be beautiful, even if you are a worm!”

A new project

I’d like to share a new project I am proud to be a part of.

Eat Right Racine.

Please come visit.

Thanks.

Product review

A few weeks ago I was tagged by Chasing Cheerios to do a product review.

I’d like to share one of my kids’ most favorite toys. These are two separate products but at our house they go together  so I’ll like to tell you about both of them.

Green Toys Tea Set is made from recycled milk containers.  We’ve had several tea sets here, and most are not safe to drink from because of the paint. Duh. How dumb is that? Of course little kids want to drink from the cups when they play. (Tea parties here always involve water– and always involve water being spilled all over clothing, floors, and rugs. Check out Violet’s leg in the photo.) We love this toy and I highly recommend it. It has no phalates, it’s cute, and perfectly sized for little hands.

The second product that goes hand in hand with the tea set is this adorable little cake and napkin set that Beth from WeePereas made for the girls.(More came with but aren’t pictured here.) They love to serve cakes when they have parties, and these are so well made and adorable to boot. You can find Beth on Etsy here.

I don’t really know who to “tag” to particiape in a review, but if you would like to review anything (it doesn’t have to be a toy) please do and let me know so I can read it!

Violet at 21 months

You had your first real haircut today.

I won’t count the destruction that Lisa left when she cut your hair about a week after she gave birth to Sully.

Here’s a trip down scary memory  lane.

Yikes.  I take the blame for that one. Never let a woman 7 days post partum near a scissors. Even if it’s to cut paper.

_____________________________________________

Something has changed within the last two weeks. You’ve stopped screaming and yelling and barking orders at us. Once in awhile you say please before I give you the Look. You say “thank you!” with no prompting.

You’ll tell everyone. “I wuv you,” and you’re hugging and kissing us now.

A month ago you still threw books while I read to you. Now you bring them to me and say, ‘read books’ and although you still slam some shut when you get bored, you’ll yell ‘AGAIN!’ 10 times when you find one you love.

You call yourself  “Vi-zee.” That’s our fault.

Instead of screaming when you’re frustrated, you’ll often yell “help-help!” in the cutest voice that makes us laugh. So then you say it over and over again, which probably makes the neighbors think we’re torturing you.

You are so reckless and accident prone. This week you dove tummy first down a tube slide at the zoo. Instead of stopping before the end of the slide like last weekend, you came flying out and ate dirt.(See road rash in the photos.) You cry, ask for a kiss, and then get over it. You are not a sissy.

You don’t stop talking. So now we have two girls whose chatter fills the  house. This week you put 4 words together, so you’re able to talk almost in sentences. It’s changed everything. You’re happier. We’re all happier.

Today I was frustrated that you wouldn’t come for a diaper change, so I started to count. I said “ONE!”

You yelled “TWO” from the other room.

I figured it was a fluke… so I said “three”

You came around the corner and hollered “FOUR!”

At that point I figured what the heck. We went back and forth until you finished with “ten!” Then you ran away yelling “Na na na, catch you!” (Na-na-na na, you can’t catch me.)

You are a little shit. But wow, you are fun, smart, and although it’s taken almost 2 years, I’ve fallen head over heels for you and we have officially, totally bonded. I’ve always loved you Violet, but we’ve had it rough, you and I, for 21 months. Just looking at that photo from last year, I can see in your eyes and your skin that you still didn’t feel well.

Our personalities clash and sometimes I just don’t know what to do to make you happy– oftentimes I feel defeated when parenting you. I share this not so that you’ll read it someday and feel like The Bad One, but so that you know that you are special, different, unique, strong-willed, fearless, exciting…and that you push me to find ways to be a better parent to you.

I love you– deeply. All 21 crazy months of you.