kidding around

Recently, I’ve heard Ellie and Simon’s coversations listing all the projects they want to do over the summer. Of course one of them will have to remind the other that “we’ve got all summer, we don’t need to do it all today!” How nice to have a break and the excitement of summer days!

Today was our last day of school and I did not let the kids get in the car without our traditional school photo. Maybe some of you remember this post way back in August…can you believe how time flies?!

Ellie is now in 5th grade…her last year before middle school! She still is an avid reader (just finished the Hobbit) and is planning many sleepovers with friends.

Simon will be my 2nd grader and is quite a talented artist. His simple line drawings amaze Nathan and me. We are anxious to see what is in his future! He’s excited to go on more bike rides…do you know that he effortlessly goes on 15 mile bike rides?!

Peppy is still my Preschooler- thank goodness. We are still one another’s “bests” (a phrase she likes to use with me!). She is beginning to write her name and loves to be read to many times during the day.

I love these clowns and hope to spend some great times with them this summer. I’m not to sure what I will be doing in this corner of the blog world, but I do intend for my days to be a lot less focused and just let it unfold. You can be sure I will still post, but if you tire looking at my kids or garden than I may disappoint!

Happy Weekend!

Last night, we had our official “spring thunderstorm”. Complete with a scary sky, thunder, lightning, high winds and a rainbow popping up in the eastern sky!

Our house is also seeing some cute rainbow shorts I made Ellie. Here’s the low down: I spent about $1.50 for the fabric… they are not too short…they are cute…and they didn’t cost $20…I love it!

Our house has also discovered a graffiti artist. Penny came forward to confess such offenses. She is well aware that houses are not paper and that writing “No Ellie or Simon” in her language is not cool for family relations.

You can be sure I have more shorts cut out for this girl! I’m so happy that she accepts my homemade endeavors!

By the way, school will be out very soon. Any book recommendations for kid crafts, projects, gardening? I’m getting ready to plan my summer activities and knew I could ask a few of you for some help!

don’t you just love giving a gift that you wished was your very own?

that’s how I feel about this year’s mother’s day gift for my mom. i selfishly want it all for ME because i know i won’t take the time to make it myself. it’s completely practical, but totally fun and summery…her own set of napkins with a cultlery caddy and reusable flatware…

i’m pretty sure she will be thrilled, if not, i can always steal it!

happy mother’s day! i’m not sure why, but this year my mind has been focused on how much i am not a great mother. i hope that this year some of my faults will soon be battles i have won and i will truly feel pride next mother’s day.

My sister asked me a few weeks ago to make a “table dot” for a birthday gift. So last week I decided to get my act together and start making at least one for her…The shop update needs to happen, I know. But let’s enjoy the flowers, shall we?

I used a swiss dot fabric as my base. I love it, but it made me fearful of it getting dirty that I’m not sure I will use it again. Especially since “the dots” aren’t exactly machine washable. I did do a bit of a spot treatment and thankfully the white is looking fresh.

I was totally inspired by one of my favorite flowers- the geranium. To me, this flower is summer and flower boxes and planters…and a totally distinct earthy fragrance.

What’s next on the sewing table? A Mother’s Day gift and shorts for my 9 year old…what’s up with the ultra-short shorts? Yuck.

Yep, Nathan and I were able to celebrate his birthday this past Saturday. We took the train in to Chicago and ate at Frontera. And were lucky enough to get tickets to the Edward Hopper/Winslow Homer show at the Art Institute.

So we started off our celebration with margaritas, Mexican beer and ceviche…perfect. And then our brunch was so tasty that I forgot to photograph it, but I can assure you it was great! The dessert was lovely too…honey/mango flan. I was so sad that our meal ended so soon. The temptation to just sit and eat was very strong. I suppose the wait staff would have stopped being so nice.

We strolled around the city and paid homage to the Apple store and even saw the Ellen show being shot on Michigan Ave. The Hopper show was even more than I anticipated. We decided to use the audio tour and moved ourselves slowly around the packed galleries. Seeing art in person really does not compare with books- the paintings were stunning…almost glowing. I love Hopper, so I felt slightly guilty as I whisked through the Homer show. Obviously it was impressive, but you know…

So that’s it…something crazy is going on with my comments and I have not had any responses for the past 3 posts. Unfortunately I have no clue what to do and my “support staff” is busy with their own lives and it’s not a huge big deal for me anyway. If you want to shoot me an e-mail, here you go! carolshack(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Hurrah! Comments are now working and we are back to business!

Quandary: a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.

The above definition is definitely the feeling I have had over the past month or so…we are seriously considering homeschooling for our children. This is nothing new to our family. My husband, along with his 6 siblings were homeschooled and we homeschooled Ellie for one year (kindergarten, yes, I know not entirely a challenge). I have made pros and cons lists…visited a co-op, chatted with homeschoolers, fantasized, idealized, researched and I am still stumped.

What’s wrong with me? And yes, my kids are pretty much on board with it. And no, there is not a dramatic reason why we have started thinking about it.

I feel consumed and paralyzed and guilty…

Okay, I’m glad I got this off my mind and shared with you all. That’s it!

happy birthday nathan!

life is good because your in it…

now enjoy your strawberry/rhubarb pie, sorry I am working!

The past 5 days have been full in anticipating Pascha. We are all a little bleary-eyed, but content and joyful. The above image is the procession right before Midnight on Saturday night. The whole congregation walk around the church with candles, icons, and banners. Everyone is full of excitement.

Our small family are Orthodox Christians and nothing compares to our time we spent together.

We left home Saturday night at 10pm, with all the kids in tow…making sure our Pascha basket was full of cheese, chocolate, beer, sweets for the kids, and homemade bread. We came home at 4am hearing the birds singing and tired… happy to crawl into bed. You would think the kids would sleep past 10, right? Nope, Penny and Simon were up at 8 ready to go!

These are just a few of the images we took during Holy Week. I’d like to share more, but they are all divided amongst the many cameras we had with us…including video footage. You get the idea.

Happy Monday everyone. And a Joyful Pascha to all my Orthodox friends.

Here is the latest skirt for Miss Peppy’s wardrobe. We are all about the skirt. Yesterday, Peppy stared at me and declared, “Mama, you look so fancy today!”. To say I was surprised by this is an understatement. You see, I had my muddy Crocs on (just came in from the yard) and a skirt that is definitely the “working in the yard and threw it on kind”! Anyway, I came up with this skirt for my fancy girl.

The “twirlability” is obvious and so much fun.

When asked if she liked her new skirt she was enthusiastic, but quickly added, “Where are the pockets?”. Come on now!!

I think I will give my skirt/shirt making a rest and begin work on some more table dots and picnic blankets. Look for a shop update soon!

My life has been basically consumed with yard work and sewing. I like it.

The whole family was out today trimming bushes, raking, making fairy soup, and lots of teasing done by dear Simon.

I had to show this cute skirt I made out of a vintage tablecloth. (Hillary, do you recognize it?) No pattern needed, just used a basic shape of one of Pep’s dresses and added elastic. I think I may need to make more! Oh, and yes perhaps she is due for some new t-shirts. Looks like little Miss has grown!

Thanks for all of your supportive comments on my last post. I knew I am in company with those that have been through it or are dealing with it now. It’s nice to have a place to speak your mind. Thanks for listening. My biggest lesson I am trying to teach Ellie is to confront those that are being mean. To get enough courage and plainly ask “Why are you ________?” I think this combats bullying and knocks their socks off! And of course just loving her.