A bit of a ramble.....

9.29.2007

As you may have noticed my posting has been rather sparse lately. Settling into our new school routine has taken a little while and my usual ability to steal a few minutes in the morning while the girls played together has been replaced by Maddie needing me to be her playmate. Having Annie off to school reminded me how fast this time goes so I usually drop whatever I am doing an join Maddie in whatever she asks. The laundry may be piling up and the beds not made but I am having so much fun with my sweet little Maddie.
My other time for posting was usually during rest time but now that is time I get to spend with Annie or catch up on things I need to do or you know, rest. I also would post late at night after work but lately all I want to do is curl up on the couch and watch a tv or read a book.
The truth is I write a blog post everyday. I take pictures and as I drive I write a post in my head. I really think about the special moments in each day and what it has meant to me. I think of all of you that check-in and hope to find something interesting or inspiring to share. It's all there in my head, lately it's just getting it on the computer that is a challenge.
When I first started the blog I was inspired by all the crafty blogs out there and thought to do the same. As time has gone on I have done much less crafting and definitly less crafty blogging. I started the blog to record the accomplishments I had in the day, to look at all those little moments and realize it's not all about the laundry and dishes. It has been amazing to me how not only do I reflect back on those moments at the end of the day but having the blog has made me make different choices. I know where my and my childrens happiness comes from during the day, I know what I take pictures of and write about and it is definitly not the my sparkly kitchen floor.
So my posting may be a sparse but there are so many wonderful moments happening around here just not enough always to share them.

I really want to thank all of you who visit and comment. Your comments mean the world to me. I am amazed at the diversity of those that read and comment and of the kindness you all share for a family you only know virtually. I try to visit all of you and check-in but I have been really bad about that lately. Many of you send comments with no-reply so I can't email you back. I would love to send a note of thanks to those of you with an email address. (I am currently being distracted by Maddie who just brought in a haul from the garden and is feeding me fresh tomatoes)

Apparently that's my cue to wrap up this rambling little post. I'm off the check out our pumpkins and and play with my little pumpkins.

Any excuse for cake....

9.17.2007

On friday Maddie asked me to dress her stuffed animals for a party. I got to work dressing 30 or so animals and she informed me that it was her stuffed kitties birthday. That sounded like a perfect excuse to bake a cake and have a party.



Everyone arrived in their finest attire.



The cake was decorated.



Presents were wrapped.



Everyone waited patiently for the guest of honor.



Kitty was so surprised and pleased.



She especially loved her new necklace and newspaper.

I love, love, love 3.

9.03.2007

For the last five years this little hand has rested inside of mine. I waited for nine months to feel those fingers curl around my finger. I held tight as she learned to stand and walk and I learned to grab tight as she tried to run away in stores and parking lots. I have held her hand as we skipped and sang in the rain and as her little toes felt the first waves of the ocean. Holding that little hand has become a part of my life.



Last Friday I let go of that little hand and watched my Annie board the bus for her first day of Kindergarden. It was very difficult for me to let her go. She has been my consant companion for so long. She did go to preschool, but there I was able to walk into her classroom each day and see what she was up to. I could talk to the teachers every morning. I didn't have to let go of her hand quite so soon. Kindergarden is whole different game. She will ride the bus and all I get to know of her day is what she chooses to tell me.



When you have a baby everyone tells you how quickly the days will go, wow, are they right. Thankfully kindergarden here is only half a day and I can still sit and have lunch with my little girl each day. I will so miss having her as my companion. She never left me with a dull moment and challenged every ounce of patience I had but in that I grew to be a better mother, wife and friend. I hope that I held her hand enough and that as we held hands and chatted she learned the important things, be respectful, be a kind person, a good friend and enjoy every moment of your life. I can't wait to watch her learn and grow as the year goes by and I am so glad I have Maddie's little hand to hold onto even tighter.
Happy back to school.

We like paint

8.18.2007

Apparently a body full of paint transforms Annie into Super Girl and Maddie into Purple Girl.
I feel some halloween inspiration coming on.

Childhood Rites of Passage

8.13.2007

This summer Annie learned how to swing. Weeeeeeeeeeeee.......

A Family Garden Trellis Project

8.12.2007

While visiting our local arboretum we came across gourd trellises that were made from saw horses. Dan and I both thought these were a great, cheap little garden idea. Part of our yard was planted with fall gourds and they were beginning to take over so I headed to Home Depot to rummage through the scrap bin for as many 2x4's as I could find (they are 85% in the scrap bin) and we were on our way. Want to learn how to make one?

Note the little hands assisting in the project. They did most of the work, so you really can do this.




Materials:

A set of sawhorse brackets.

Screweyes

32' of 2X4's (our dimensions were 6'Hx8'W)

Twine or a trellis netting

2-8' 1x1's for the bottom support

1. Measure out the 4 legs to 6' and mark. (we opted for 6' so it is tall enough for the girls to climb in and my scrap wood was 12' long, make it as tall as you like)

2. Cut the 4 legs to desired length.

3. Add one bracket to each end of the 8' 2X4 and then slide legs into slots.

4. Set-up like a swingset.

5. Screw deck screws into brackets to stabalize.

6. Lay 1x1 pieces along bottom or a few inches up from ground. Screw into the legs.

7. Measure from end every 12" and mark for the screweyes. We marked the header piece and the 2-1x1 pieces, then the 4 legs from top edge down.

8. Drill small pilot hole for the screweyes and screw them in. Annie used the pliers and the old twisting the screwdriver trick.

9. Begin to string. I left the roll of twine on the ground and pulled the other end through the eyes, cutting and tying off the spool side last.

10. Run the twine from bottom to top and then from side to side to make a grid.

Here is the finished trellis just with the gourds starting to grow on them. The other side may need some sugar snap peas and I think we'll put it up a bit earlier next year. It cost us less than $20 to build and only took an hour or so, with the girls helping. Hope this little tutorial helped. Thanks to the Morton Arboretum for such a great idea. And to Annie and Maddie and Dan for being such good workers.

Naming the Kitty

8.10.2007

A big thanks to everyone who voted to name our new little kitty. She is very sweet and is settling right in to the family. Although, Tink was the official blog poll winner we have not picked a name. Want to see why?

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting(The 2 girls may look like my children but these are not really my children, my children never ever behave this way)
It seems like the kittys name will be THAT CAT.

It's Laundry Day....

8.09.2007

Loading up the washing machine. (the sink of our play kitchen)



Hanging the laundry on the clothes line.



Ready for the ironing.



Maddie's favorite chore (vintage ironing board from a garage sale)



After the laundry was done we used the clothes line for a little sock fun...



What's My Pattern and One of these things is not like the other one...One of these things doesn't belong...

Nothing like a piece of string to encourage some fun time together.

Adventures in the city...

8.07.2007

Last week we headed into the city for a day full of city adventures. Our group of 11..

4-30-something adults

3-9 year old boys

2-22 year olds visiting from Ireland

1-5 year old

1-3 year old


I wondered how the fair city of ours was going to deliver a memorable day filled with adventure for such a varied group of visitors. Not only did the city deliver but not a single moment of whining was heard from anyone for 10 hours.

We chose to ride the train into the city. Each group was able to get on at their own station and the boys and Annie staked out prime seats on the second level. I was so impressed with the boys for taking Annie under their wing and playing along with her as the train made imaginary stops in China, Africa and Brookfield. This was the first train trip for the girls and it was really a great. As Annie ticked off stops Maddie watched as the stations whizzed by.







Once we were downtown we headed for the free trolley that runs to all the major attractions in the city. It is a bit slower than paying for a bus or cab but such a nice way to see the city. Our first stop was Navy Pier. This is the most touristy of all the places in the city but it's always fun if a bit expensive. Most of the group wanted to ride the Ferris Wheel, even Madison who scoffed at Mommies thought that we should skip it. So up 8 of us went and I was a bit nervous but the view of the city is amazing and seeing my very adventurous girls with eyes lit up with the thrill of the city was well worth the $18.







A few of our companions opted out of the Ferris Wheel in favor of the Swings...(kids happy-check)





The main attraction attended to we cooled off inside the Crystal Garden and sat and enjoyed our prepacked lunches.





After lunch we split up with the Irish heading off to do some shopping (Irish happy-check) and the rest of us checking out the Amazing Chicago Maze. The sign said there were dark areas and loud noises, I asked Maddie if she still wanted to go through, "yeah, mommy let's go". The girls were great and the three boys helped usher us through. While the boys went in the maze a few more times the Moms and Dads (and Annie and Maddie) hit the Billy Goat for a few refreshments. (Moms and Dad happy-check).


On our way to the Museum of Contemporary Art we stopped at the fountain outside Navy Pier and let the kids cool off a bit. (Yep, we had a change of clothes.)





We walked over to the MCA where we found a nice little park across the street. We had a bit of a rest while the kids ran off some steam before heading inside the museum. The boys were a bit concerned about the MCA. "What kinda art will there be? I don't think we'll like it." We'll sitting right out front was this....



Not a bad teaser to get them inside.


Annie ran through looking at everything while Maddie napped.





I think that out of everyone the 3 boys enjoyed the museum the most. There were a few multimedia exhibits that we had to pry them away from. At $6.00 for adults and the kids free not a bad way to spend a few hours.



After all the activity and art it was time for dinner. We headed to the Oak Street Beachstro where we dined outside right on the beach. While the adults finished their Corona's the boys swam in the lake and the girls played in the sand.



We all finished up with a bit of swimming and wading. It was a really lovely spot to finish out our day. A quick cab ride to the train station, the girls first cab ride, and we were on our way home. Annie joined the boys while Maddie sat with me and drew pictures for the entire hour.
I am always amazed by how wonderful Chicago is. Keeping a group of 11 from 3-37 happy for 10 hours in the August heat makes it amazing.

We're building a house

7.31.2007

I picked up this doll house kit for $5.00 at a yard sale. I thought it would be fun to let the girls build their own doll house and decorate it however they wanted.




Silly me thought we would finish the house in one sitting. So far we've only finished the window trim. Oh well, at least we'll have another rainy day project.







I was going to post links to dollhouse kits but it appears I got very lucky with the little one I found. The only matching kit on ebay was $25 and most dollhouse kits are close to $100 and up. I wouldn't spend that much to let the girls paint the walls and windows with glue (Madison) but for the $5.00 they can have at it.

Stay tuned for building updates. And don't forget to vote. We have discovered that little kitty no name is a girl and Dan is quite upset that Scaredy Face is losing so badly.

Life's little surprises.

7.30.2007

Friday morning the girls and I headed out the door to run some errands. As we got into the car we heard a loud "meow, meow, meow, meow" I looked around the front of the house, in the garage, under the van and nothing. We finally decided the noise was coming from inside the hood of Daddy's car. I called Dan down to assist and when he opened the hood this is what he found.



After much coaxing, a bit of chasing and finally a lot of fighting we were able to get the kitty in the house. He/She was amazingly strong and fast for a kitty that can't weigh more than 1 lb. The he/she is there because the kitty is very reluctant to have us touch it. After a few days and bribes with food I finally was able to pet the kitty last night. He/She is most definitely a stray kitty that got separated from it's mommy.
Our first cat came to me at a gas station. While in college Dan and I had a little tiff. I walked up to the gas station and there was this adorable little kitten. A man there said he had found it and that it needed a good home, it was January and freezing, so I went in bought some kitty food, tucked Petey in my coat and told Dan he followed me home.
Our next cat, Dasia, was my sister-in-laws, she asked if we could keep him for awhile while she moved. The first few years I wasn't really attached to him because I felt like we were foster parents. After about 4 years I decided she wasn't going to take him.
After Dasia died we decided to hold off on getting a new kitty for awhile. It seems sometimes you choose to take care of life and sometimes a little life chooses you. I am so pleased that this little one chose us.



The girls are over the moon about the new addition to the family and the only debate is the name. Annie wants Tasha. Maddie and Dan are rooting for Scaredy Head -Dad is insisting I edit to show Maddie thought of Scardey Head all by herself because he was so scared when we found him/her. (she's 3 and he wanted to name Annie Tuna), I myself like Ford due to the cat being found in the Ford engine. The only other suggestion is Tink (aka Tinkerbell) and Pickles. I thought it would be fun put the new blogger tool of polls to use and let everyone vote on the name.


The second little surprise around here was marytree being named as a Blog of Note on Blogger. A big thanks to the folks at Blogger for noticing my little world here. Over the past few days thousands of people have come by to check marytree out, many of you have left really great comments. I have been trying to visit all of your blogs and leave comments and reply where I can. Thank you all for the positive words and I can't believe how many of you remember your grandma's button boxes.
I hope all of the new visitors find a little something here to inspire you or remind you of your childhood and for those of you that have been visiting for awhile thank you for your continued visits and comments, they really mean so much. All right, now that I have lapsed into my Oscar moment I will get back to playing with the newest addition to the family and cleaning out the litter box.

PS. Dawn would you please send your email address?

The Button Box Part 2.

7.24.2007

I have my own button box, well, button jar. I pick up buttons at garage sales and the thrift store and toss them in. These are the buttons I use when I sew and when I need a few minutes to myself....







This time I sat with Maddie as she sorted and as she put the blue buttons together she said "Mama, there's lots of different blues, right?" "Yes Maddie, my favorite is the blue of your eyes."



I wonder if the girls will remember my button "box"?

The Button Box Part 1

One of the things I took home when we cleaned out my grandparents house was my Grandma's button box. It is the sweetest little box that was full of all these treasures. There were purple buttons all strung together and lots of pearl buttons that would have come from my grandpas work shirts. Along with all the buttons there were religious medals, thimbles and cardboard rulers. I don't use the buttons from the box very often, I feel as if they are to precious to use. Many of the buttons were cut from dresses, jackets and shirts. As I sift through the box I feel a connection to my grandma. I see how frugal she could be; clipping off hooks from the backs of dresses and how religious with the crosses and Mary pins.

I am named for my Grandma, Margaret, and I look very much like her. Looking through this box I also know that I am very much like her, a saver and a crafter, and although we usually wear plain clothes we both do love a splash of purple.

Playing Hooky with Harry....

7.21.2007

It was Megan, a friend from the museum, that suggested I read Harry Potter. She said "It's a kids book, but I think you will enjoy it." I remember asking my 8 year old niece if she had read it, "Oh yeah, you HAVE to read it." I remember sitting through programs hoping no kids would come so I could keep reading. I was enchanted and reminded of one of my favorite books as a child, A Wrinkle in Time. As each new book came out Dan and I would get one copy and share, he always finished before me.

Friday night was the big Harry Potter party and we debated going. Around 8 I looked at Dan and the girls (who were in their jammies) and said get dressed we're going. The girls are to young to have read the books and Annie only saw the first movie-ahem, at my mom's. Still, it was a great night for all of us. The girls taking in all the fun and and excitement and looking at all the kids and adults dressed in character. There were wands and house elves, Hagrid and moving pictures.

There were thousands of people, teenagers and with parents, toddlers with grandparents and all of them having a wonderful time because of a book. It was really a wonderful experience and I am so glad we adventured out so late. We didn't stick around to buy our book at midnight but we did get to share the evening with our favorite Harry Potter fans.



The rest of the weekend was spent playing hooky with Harry and fighting with Dan over who got the book.


By last night we had both finished and today it's back to business.
Hope you all enjoyed a magical adventure with Harry and the DA.