miss madeira's first birthday

Well. She's one now. Such a little sweet pea.

I actually had fun making this birthday cake (not so much Riv's cake last year).  It didn't turn out quite like the picture I pinned but hey, it was close. Ish.
Kenny's birthday is the day before Mad's so we had a "combined" party. I say that pretty loosely since it was definitely a little girl's party - all pink and ruffly and stuff. I don't think he noticed - gotta love that big cheesy grin of his!
We skyped Jenna that night so she could join the chaos - definite chaos! We're all going to have to get used to the idea of her absence for parties and fun get togethers. :(
And we're not quite done celebrating - another party later this week with the Leman's!

mini vacation

 It must be the season to travel - any time I get on facebook anymore, I read about people going to Australia, Aruba, Hawaii, Israel, etc.
Well la dee dah, folks. I got to go to the Wisconsin Dells. (Yes, that was a lot of sarcasm.)
Actually, in spite of not being a very exotic destination, it was quite relaxing. One day, as I was floating along the lazy river on a tube with my little girl snuggled on my lap, watching fat, lazy snow drift down out of the windows, I truly felt like I was on vacation.
I also have an imagination (unlike some on the trip with us) so while it was snowing so beautifully, and I was relaxing inside my rustic lodge, I imagined I was in Aspen. It worked.
Madeira enjoyed the little water fountains in the pool. I was somewhat sad to see how old she looks in these pictures, all chubby and sweet in her cute little swimming suit.
River was too small to go down very many slides by himself. I wish I could have gotten pictures of his face on the ones he went down with us, rigid with terror. Poor kid, he seemed to do well with all of it.

 The Sealtite crew and families. :) It was a stressful picture taking experience.

 

we continue working on our house of dreams...

It's a good thing my husband enjoys spending time in his dad's work shop. As soon as he finishes one wood project, there's another thing for him to do. :) Ah, the joys of being married to me!
This wood shelf has been talked about since we moved into our house (over 4 years ago!) and let me tell you how awesome it is finding a home for the books that lined the wall in my studio upstairs for quite some time.
As for the shelves, this was to give us a little more room in the downstairs bathroom without cramming it full of cabinetry.
I am particularly pleased with that glass terrarium thing. I had just looked at it in the West Elm catalog and then found mine the next day at Target for a fraction of the cost. Ah, I love you, Target! Only problem with a planter is that I don't have a green thumb. It would be easier for me if my plants just died so I could throw them away but no. They limp along, clinging desperately to life. They never thrive, they never die. It's quite frustrating.

With these two, I hear a lot of fighting. I also hear a lot of play, mostly hide and seek. They give new meaning to the word "munchkins", eating everything in sight.
They are entirely sweet though.
As for me, I'm busy with Sharemy Sales, wedding plans, being the world's best mother (!), and putting Martha Stewart to shame.

Farming Tribute, courtesy of Ram

A couple of my facebook friends shared this ad and then I just had to share it.
Yes, it brought tears to my eyes, thinking about my dad and how hard he worked. About how lucky I am to have him in my lineage.
I am proud of him. I always thought it was so cool that he loved what he did for a living. I was dying to find something that I loved just as much. (Parenting?...Sometimes!)
And now just think, Al, what you get to pass along to your kids. :)
Enjoy.

Finding Balance

She hasn't taken off yet but she's trying.
Has anyone else done the one little word thing for a new year? I decided my word for the year is balance. Just like Mad is working at finding her balance, I'm going to find my balance this year too. I'm going to find the balance in my life - spiritual, marriage, parenthood, social, personal.
It sounds like a lot of work - it sometimes feels like I can't do it all. At least not like I want to.
Maybe my expectations are too high...but I don't think so.
River is working on going consistently in the toilet. It works best if he doesn't have a pull up or underwear on. Such fun!

We enjoyed a little getaway the other weekend with the Eisenmann family to the Old School Center in Farmington, IL. I kinda wanted to steal these sweet stools in our suite.

I'm in the process of some minor redecorating in Madeira's new room. Jeremy will be thrilled to hear my repainting plans. :) I hate painting and am no good at it, but it's a fast and cheap way to make a huge change.
This thrilling update is for you, Jen!

little things

It feels like time to reevaluate.
I've canceled 2 play dates in the last week because of sick kids. I sent Jeremy off Sunday night and stayed home with the kids because of suspected sickness...groan.
Last week I was feeling pretty mean, what with cleaning up too much puke, too much laundry and scrubbing and unhappy children and not enough sleep.
So I was feeling the need to pause and find something to not whine about.

Thank you Method and Target and Orla Kiely for finding a way to make a boring and everyday activity (mostly dish washing and a little hand washing) more thrilling. Pretty bottles and prettier smells - pear ginger and vanilla chai.
Sometimes it really is the little things.

What are little girls made of?

In a casual conversation with someone without little girls the other day, she mentioned that the thing she missed about having no girls was the cute clothes. I agreed slowly.
I've been guilty of saying the same thing about clothes, reducing my children to nothing more than mannequins to dress up and show off and perhaps make a statement about myself.
Now that I have a little girl, I confess, the clothes are fun.
But Madeira is obviously so much more than what she wears.
She is sweet. She is clever.
She can be a princess. She can be tough. She can be funny or whiny or longsuffering.
She is a little mongoose, eaten up from nose to tail with curiosity.
She will have what you're having at the table, thankyouverymuch.
She is not a great napper, an OK sleeper. She is a decent napper, a great sleeper.
She has a trademark expression. (Yes, I would like a dollar for every time someone has commented that "she looks so concerned...")

She is a one toothed wonder.
She is a miracle, a blessing, a gift.

But one thing is certain: she has her mama right where she wants her. I would do anything for this little lady.