the toymaker has come to our house

We have just discovered The Toymaker at our house, thanks to a post at DesignMom. The Toymaker has free paper toys that you can print out and make yourself - or more importantly, the kids can make themselves (very kid friendly). I helped out a little with the more intricate cutting, but only because I'm a perfectionist. We tried a biplane, two magic fairy wands, penny butterflies, and a koala-go-round. All of them were so beautifully designed, and the kids had great fun putting them together. Quiet fun. Quiet fun that lasted a long time. Quiet. Fun. What more can a busy mom ask for? All great, and all free.

The toymaker, alias Marilyn Scott-Waters, also has a few books, with the same great look as her toys. I got a sneek peek on Amazon of this one that she illustrated; Search For Vile Things: Volume One and it looks like something Johnny would just have to have. Described as, "Imagine the Addams Family riding on The Magic School Bus." Scientific and icky, just what all little boys need.

She also has a book called, what else, The Toymaker, on amazon here, filled with even more ideas from her website, plus. I am just loving the cover and I haven't even peeked inside yet.

in love with method

I have to post about my hand soap. I know, who falls in love with a soap dispenser? Me. We went to the store to get a cheap gallon refill jug of hand soap, and there on the shelf was the cutest little bottle I had ever seen. I had to have it. See below. Every time I look at it on the edge of my sink, it makes me smile. As an added bonus, it smells lovely, but I would have bought it even if it smelled horrible and didn't work at all.

I decided to look method up online, and see if they had any other products, and were they as good-looking as my soap? (How could they possibly be?) Oh my gosh. They have an entire line of very stylish home products, and they are super eco-friendly. These are a few of my favorites.

method is also very pro-active about being environmentally responsible. They have met with the new Obama administration on a committee to help determine environmental goals, received awards for being super-green, and even have a blog, people against dirty. They list all product ingredients on their site, and have everything from air fresheners to baby wipes, and all good for the environment. It's probably a little more than I would normally spend, but for looks and social responsiblity, why the heck not?

I am starting to sound like a commercial, but I just can't get enough of these cute products. Don't bottles like these make you want to clean? I wouldn't be afraid to look under my kitchen sink anymore. Heaven.

can i afford to be stylish?

I just found a small site I fell in love with - jaturon. They have such beautiful products with simple, clean lines. I imagine that if only I had these lovelies, my life would be that simple & clean. These are a few of my favorites. More to see here.

happy inauguration day

I don't know whether I am an Obama fan, or not, he hasn't done anything yet. But I do love our system of government, and the seamless way we transition power. It is graceful and dignified, like all the parties involved.

I love that Michelle Obama brought Laura Bush a hostess gift. Even when you are moving into the White House, on the day when you might most be forgiven for being stressed or otherwise involved, she doesn't forget good manners. That's one classy lady.

What would you get for a two-term first lady, anyway? Change of address cards? Thank you notes?

Photos from PinkCupcakeVintage and {frolic!}

noah and ella's room

We are in the middle of decorating all the kid's rooms, hopefully for the last time. At least until they decide to switch around again, and nothing matches.

Right now, Ella is wanting to share a room with baby Noah, and since she likes the colors I want to use on his baby quilt, I was okay with that. (Quite a rigorous screening process, yes?)

We have used the Land of Nod (LoN) for our inspiration, and brainstorming sessions. Many pages have been ripped out of that beloved magazine, yet I will proabably never be able to afford to order anything from those lovely people.

We are doing a lovely dusky, yellow-green for the walls, and a fun blue, green, white and yellow color scheme. I have been having so much fun, designing Noah Ben's quilt, planning what to put on the walls, helping Ella arrange her furniture.

We made a fun garland (very circus-y, or used-car-lot), much like the top picture from LoN, and made Ella's and Noah's names in cardstock to match. The kids cut out all the triangles, and helped me sew them on the machine. We had fun doing the project together, then seeing it put up.

I am going to try to find or paint a picture like this for the wall.

This is my inspiration for Noah's crib bedding. I haven't pieced together a quilt before, so I am starting with the smallest person to get my feet wet. We'll see how it goes....

youth basketball

I am turning into a sidelines mom. Not sitting on the sidelines, so much as yelling from the sidelines. It wasn't quite so noticeable when the kids were playing soccer...big outdoor field, lots of team parents, sometimes bad weather. People wouldn't pay so much attention to what some crazy girl was yelling down the line. Basketball, however, is totally different. This is our first year, because until 3rd grade, all the games and practices were on Sundays, so Johnny had to wait. Now it's indoors, half-court games, not-so-many team parents to hide among (not so many team members on a basketball team, I guess), and no weather to blame it on.

Here I am, the only parent among...dozens, well, two dozen, maybe, cheering like mad. I was so proud of them their first game. In the first half, they scored 30 points, and the other team scored 4. We spent the last few minutes of the first half really pulling for those other boys to score at all. The second half they slowed down a bit, and only scored 10 more, but with a final score of 40 - 16, I think they did pretty good. It was probably my moral support that won the day. So, the rest of you sedate parents, ignore the crazy girl - she is part of a winning strategy.

Here is a pic of the first game, Olivia took it - remember, she's 4.

That's him out front, numero uno, makin' the fast break. Not the one with the ball, the one who looks like he is a world-class sprinter. That's my boy.

baby mobiles

I have been looking at baby mobiles for a while. Noah is just starting to sleep in his crib, and still doesn't spend much awake time there, but I would like to get one up soon. I think that I would enjoy making my own, and these are some of the ideas I have been looking at.

Probably with some blue in it, so it doesn't look too 'girly,' but colorful is great. Or we could go more streamlined and modern, (which is nicer for me to look at), but is it as interesting for the babe? He is going to be looking at it more than I will, after all.

Mobiles in order from top to bottom, from Flensted, Kool Roomz, Flensted, Quiltbaby and frazier & wing.

soup night

Last night we had vegetable beef soup and rolls for dinner. It is one of the few dishes I know how to make that tastes like anything 'down home.' I am particularly proud because Jeremy and I figured out how to do it all by ourselves. We got the basic recipe out of our church ward cookbook, but have made it all our own. All the kids ate some, and we only had to bribe one of them with dessert. Yea for 'down home' cookin!

Soup isn't everyone's favorite, but they all get excited about making it, or helping, so we all look forward to "soup night."

baby shots, again

Can I say, as a mother, I hate immunizations? I do it, and think they are probably good - though I really haven't thought much about it in the general course of things. However, I reexamine my position every time we take one of the kids in for 'baby shots'. Or, as they get older, 'school shots.' We have two Type 1 diabetics in the house, so it's not like I am uncomfortable around needles, but I am uncomfortable around them when they are aimed at a baby's backside. My baby's backside. During and after which, said baby screams like he's been abandoned and has never been loved.

I am too much of a coward to go against the tidal wave of public opinion and exempt my child from the immunizations, because, you know...what if? But now it's Noah Ben's turn with the pokey, and I think I can't go through it again. This is number 5, but in baby shots, that's like 8,000. So, I think, just this once, I'll sit this one out. No reprieve for Noah Ben, I'll just send him with dad. That way, he'll never know I agreed with the whole thing behind his back. 'What's wrong? Dad took you where? They did what? Oh, that's terrible. Here's some kisses on your fat baby cheeks." Problem solved.

sanctuary

I have been dreaming of a sanctuary. If we could steal one of the bedrooms from the kids and turn it into a lovely, cozy little place for people to read, snuggle, and enjoy the peace and quiet. Not that there is much peace and quiet in a house with 5 kids, but this would be a start, right?

We have so many books, it would have to have bookshelves everywhere. Not only for style and convenience, but we functionally need a place to store 2000+ books. We don't have (quite) that many yet, but as all the kids are under 9, I can only imagine that we'll be adding to the library for some time to come.

I am hovering somewhere between this very amazing looking retreat found on design pedia

and this zen-like reading nook

Decisions, decisions.

seven months and counting...

photo courtesy postpunkkitchen




Yesterday, Noah was seven months old. I missed blogging about it, well, because he is seven months old, and my blog is only one day old. Things are going to fall through the cracks occasionally. So here, for all the world to see, is my public acknowledgement of the big day.

Happy Birthday Noah.

birthday bike

Well, birthday number 4 has come and gone for Olivia, and it brought a bike. I would love to say it was classic and stylish, and full of good taste... like this sweet number here.

This is the bike I would have liked to have gotten for her. However, being four, her tastes naturally run to sparkly streamers and princesses. The bike was a treat from Grandma Bev, and being the super-cool grandma that she is, she let Olivia pick. This is the little beauty that we ended up with.

The Sleeping Beauty Deluxorama. And what bike would be complete without a matching purse? You know, for all those pre-schoolers who just have to have their cell phones and wallets with them at all times.

But after watching her ride around the cul-de-sac for an hour, having a ball on her first two-wheeler, and feeling just like a princess herself, I have to say... those streamers are pretty cool.

books we are enjoying today

We are having a wonderful time enjoying our books today... Olivia and Noah and I went to the library, and I am constantly having to bring a stash of heavy duty bags to bring books home in. Some special books we are enjoying today:

I love Mo Willems books, his simple illustrations are so much more effective than a full-page spread would be. His pigeon expressions are priceless. All of his books are great, but this was the first one of his books we read, and it is still my favorite.

And for our nighttime family reading, we found a gem called Frindle. The main character is funny, smart, and what the author likes to call 'very nearly naughty.' Those young boys who are almost always in trouble, but are so well-intentioned that you just have to forgive them. Nick comes up with a new word, and persuades the whole school to use it - despite his English teacher's prohibition. Guess what that new word is... frindle. But Nick can't stop it now, 'frindle' has a life of it's own!

blowing bubbles in winter

We had a sunny day today, and it felt like a sprinkle of summer in the middle of winter. We rode bikes, went on a walk, and best of all, blew bubbles. Bubbles in the sun. We had so much fun watching Baby Noah be surprised and amazed every time one was created out of what looked like nothing. Come to think of it, bubbles are pretty amazing to me, too. I am grateful today for bubbles in winter.

{photo from maiabee on flicker}

beautiful kitchen things

I have noticed the world is full of beautiful kitchen things. Today, I am lost in the absolute plethora of choices that involve purchasing spice jars. Separate, or a self-contained rack? Canisters or shakers? For display or practicality - can it be for both? I was pleasantly surprised at the choices at Walmart, but also love these little Rajtan spice jars from Ikea. How cute lined up on a shelf under the cupboard!

However, I see no 'shaker' ability, and this is a must. I think. They're pretty cute.
Our kitchen is small, and counter space is at a premium, so a shelf might be just the thing. Would you be prone to making things more spicy if you had some of these little beauties to look at all day long? I haven't decided on a set yet, but I can tell you...

...spicy, here I come.