A blah day – all over the place in my head. Just one of those down days. In the kitchen making dinner and I look up, and there is the sunset. As much as I envy those folks in the hills that get to see the entire expanse of the sunset every night, I wouldn’t trade my little view for anything. I am blessed to get the glimpse I get and it makes me so very happy.

I stopped many times this evening trying to capture the beauty in front of me. I can’t explain how it fills me. It requires nothing of me, but to be in the moment drinking in the visual goodness. The clouds dance and takes so many forms – some days looking like artists strokes – sometimes long, somtimes curved, some days cotton balls, some days wisps, some days a mix of it all. I bask in the gorgeous glow of the sun and for that fleeting moment all is right with me, all is right with the world.

Tonight, the sunset was the friend knocking on my window asking “why so glum?” and got me out of my head for a while. And if that wasn’t cool enough, on one trip out to take another picture, I look up and there is the moon looking down at me! And it was like “hi”!…it is a party. :-p

And so I share some of the scenery with you tonight. Maybe your day wasn’t that hot either and you could use the visual distraction.

And it is over…thanks for dropping by!

Had a good Valentine’s Day! The kids each received one of those Bilbio toys. Activity toys – all about activity toys for my active two.

These things are pretty great. They can sit and spin around in them which I have a movie of them doing that somewhere. They can turn them over and stand on them. They have been hats. Not surprisingly, Quinn is using it as a place to put things. Tyler nn is spinning bear and lobster in his. We brought them with us for sliding down hills in the snow. Pretty fantastic thingamabobber!!

Speaking of love, this dog loves Chris. Sadly Daddy is very busy and so Chase doesn’t get all the Daddy time he would like. But when he does, oh this dog is in completely heaven. I love this picture….

Life has been insane lately to the point of almost being ridiculous. I realized that since we returned from Red River January 3rd, life has been constantly busy. One thing after another after another.

And while they are all good things – it is just all happening so close together. I sometimes feel like my kids lose out. I am feeling the need for the three of us to get out in the world and simply be together.

Chris and I were blessed to have two little adventurers just like us and I love that. Today after school, the kids and i picked up a snack and went to Town Lake Park.

Yeah, we just had an hour, but we needed to soak up some sun and it was good. As Quinn as I are holding hands heading into the store to grab our snack, she kisses my hand. My son hugs me and kisses my shoulder out at the park and says, “I love you.” They miss this me – the one who is relaxed and who is available and who doesn’t always have something to do.

I feel the shift of the seasons approaching and I know my life will slow down too. I am already planning outings for us and a few family projects. We will be outside a good bit which will be awesome. When we are outside we seem to always be in the now, always in the moment, together.

And if there is any question it makes them happy – Tyler is upstairs building with legos and singing while Quinny is on the floor next to me doing puzzles and also singing.

Tyler had the very good luck a few weeks ago to find a heart rock at Zilker Park. He was very proud of his find. He brought it to me to put in a safe place and said, “Momma, I want to put this heart rock in Daddy’s heart for Valentine’s Day.”

This boy loves and adores his Daddy so much..I think more than his Daddy realizes.

Our dear friend, “Aunt Katherine”, has the sweetest baby girl, Avery. And little Avery was the inspiration for much crafting around here these last few weeks. On my Mom’s surgery day, I got the kids started making some felt blocks. Tyler was especially excited to be making a toy for someone!

Over the weeks we found windows for them to add a square. While Grandma was here, she added to the exitement by suggesting we make some designs on the felt! Quinn wanted a sun and a butterfly which I cut out and Grandma embroidered. Tyler wanted a moon and cut out his own moon and then wanted an apple and a worm which I sewed in for him.

They kids stuffed the blocks and I sewed up the remaining sides. I think they camme out great! I am really proud of their stitching…not easy for little hands. Tyler did a great job with the blanket stitch and Quinn rocked her wrap stitch! The kids were very proud and were especially excited to present their creations to Baby Avery!

I hope this is the beginning of our crafting for others journey – it was a lot of fun and I would love to find more projects we can do together!

But the crafting didn’t stop there! Tyler brought home a pumpkin he made at school a while back and decided he wanted to gift that to Avery as well. And then a week ago the kids were drawing and painting up a storm for Avery. Quinn was into the watercolors and Tyler was drawing many pictures for her.

A Bee, Beehive, a Frog and the blue is the “water ocean” for the frog.	Ladybug and designs
She cut around the edges – I think it looks cool!	Watercolor and glitter glue
Tyler’s pumpkin made at school	We think she like out creations!

One can never question the tenderness between father and daughter. The way he immediately softens when she needs him, when she comes in dressed up or giving him something she made leaves no room for doubt that he adores her.

She comes to snuggle in the middle of the night after a bad dream. He lifts up the blankets and they snuggle close and sleep tight.

She will sit quietly in his lap while he works. And this mellowness that she exhibits, different from her spirited older brother, means that he is happy to have her there in his lap content with the company.

It is sweet and I love seeing him be such a softie. He always wanted a son, but he never knew how much this little girl would steal his heart.

Friday started off lazy, got busy when we visited Pop’s place and then Grandma’s house, but I liked how it ended. In fact, after this I spent a lovely evening wearing my new gloves out with good friends. A good day indeed!

Sitting out front knitting while the kids play. I adore this image of the ditched bikes and the kids off in the distance checking out something in the grass. There is something so typically childhood about it to me.

Ah, knitting goodness, especially knitting just for me. There is nothing like a quick knitted gift for myself while the weather is still chilly! Happy afternoon, indeed!