lazy blogger.... I mean BUSY lazy blogger...

LOTS happening in my life......L O T S.

*have been making lovely new friends.....
*getting involved in the community....my hometown is not that bad! I actually like this place!
*starting school in 2 months....for the next 3-6 years
*kids on their first summer break from school in 2 1/2 years.
*enjoying the fact that you can love life/yourself, even when really hard challenges jump out at you
*ALSO love how unpredictable and unexpected life can be.....

So that's all about my perspective.
Kids are hanging in there as usual, enjoying my mom-dances, frustrated with mom room-cleaning nags, still missing Utah but getting used to this place, and LOVING their lazy summer.

As usual, not many pictures....

Josh enjoying clay.....it's in his blood....
A short visit from Bill

Jade's science camp trip to Albian, she fell in love and wants to move there.....
I will try to be better at taking pictures.......try ;)

kid stuff

Jade's recent dragon sketch
Eddie's favorite snack, pb & banana

Beckie's son, Zane, came to hang out with us for an afternoon. Cousins are fun!

Wish I had taken some pics at Earth day festival. I'll try for the next one. k, gotta get back to being busy busy!

CAFE is OPEN!

The Cafe By The Spa, in Thorton Village, Stockton, is OPEN!

I have been helping with design/color/remodeling in exchange for a place to sell my art. I posted the bookmarks I have for sale so far. I hope to have pottery ready by the end of the month.
If you live in Stockton, go check it out sometime! I love how it looks so far, still a little construction and decorating to do, but it's a great little cafe!

Pictures of my bookmarks are posted HERE.

way behind, busy woman!

We spent 9 days in Utah for Spring Break.
NOT ONE PICTURE!
I'm horrible!
Here is a sum-up.....
*kids stayed with Bill the first weekend, giving me my FIRST weekend break in 8 months! (thank you Jodi for letting me have a retreat at your beautiful home!) YAY!!! (can I say I was feeling desperate?) (and technically, it was my first weekend away from the kids in like....years)
*I made a bunch of bookmarks, sold them all....another "YAY"
*had 2 "GNO" at Red Kiln pottery studio in Sugarhouse with some of my favorite people/artists, I made a pitiful collection of 3 bowls to contribute to Empty Bowls project. As well as a perfect saturday pottery workshop by artist Brian Jenson
*Thank you De, Dennis, and Cheyenne for wonderful "neighbor" mornings
*Jade had a few sleepovers with her best friend Natalie
*I spent the week helping Bill move into his new, super cool, (and now super organized), condo in SLC. Kids enjoyed the rooftop hot tub and access to the city.
*Jade enjoyed a gorgeous-ly snowing ski day
*kids were sick half the time
*I got sick saturday and drove home.


I am almost unpacked, house is nearly back in order, and I have some pictures of the bookmarks and "wine theme" earrings I made for my best friend's bachelorette weekend.

Her "party" is a weekend of wine-tasting and tours in Sonoma, which is why all the bookmark backgrounds have wine in them, and the earrings are the colors of red and white wines. :) I'm just waiting for the final selection and then gift packaging starts!

Eddie has been on a scooter since he was about 20 mo old. The kid has great balance. This doesn't really do his skills any justice, but it's all I have.

And he is all about dressing himself these days.....it's not my fault.

Happy BD Eddie!

My baby, my last born, (EVER), turned 3 last friday. We celebrated a little birthday party at my parent's house tonight. It was tiny, really tiny. Kind of sad actually, but I don't think he noticed. :)

I made gluten-free pasta, and a gluten/dairy/egg-free cake. It was interesting.

But it was HIS "special" cake, and he loved it.

His one and only BD present came from Uncle Ira. He saved the day. Although it was a gift kind of for all of us.....sort of. He wrapped up some "pet treats" for Chewie and Potter, in a "Mario Bros" game box. :) I love my brother so much, he is certainly one-of-a-kind.

This is a gorgeous painting by the most adorable local artist.......Jade.

I just had to throw some bragging pics of Jade's art. She is amazing for a 12 yr old getting professional art lessons for the first time. :)

I know, I know, I shouldn't show-off, but this is also my "mom journal", and I can put whatever I want to keep as a memory, right? :)

Eddie, and Jade's first dinner/dance

Eddie takes his art very seriously. (and he likes to work next to me when I'm on the computer)
Jade went with a friend to a church "etiquette dinner/dance" She looked SO cute...... SO "Jade"!

Her faithful companion.....

The BEST birthday of my life!

It's not that I did anything extraordinary, it's more I feel so much hope and excitement for my future, it made my 33rd BD (I'm not shy), wonderful.
Surrounded by the most important little people in my life, worried I'm going to mess them up, but confident they will survive me, and excited for the opportunities and challenges in my future that will simply make me a cooler person. ;)

Yeah, it's gonna be a good year.....

Honestly, with the exception of the hair-pulling moments, (or days, or weeks), I really do feel this excited.

AND I'm wearing art from a dear friend in Utah. Dawn is an amazing artist and friend. I'm surrounded by incredible friends! THANK YOU THANK YOU, I couldn't do this without all of you!!!

My life....as of late.

Yes, blogging is "lower" on my list, but still on it. I have few pics, so I'll try to sum up my life lately, and end with my kiddos.

*ANY STOCKTONIANS later this month you all need to head to "Cafe By The Spa" in Thorton Village. I have been helping to design and remodel the cafe in exchange for a space to sell my pottery and handmade gifts. (of which I have been too busy to make....but I will soon)

*I'm turning in the last of my scholarship/financial aid applications today. I'm enrolled in school, just waiting for class lists to come out next month. It takes more than I thought to get all the details done when college has seen a decade absence from you. :) I'm still trying to decide on my career choice too. I'm so grateful I even have a choice!!!

*The major home repairs are all done, with the exception of the entry floors. I am down to only TWO boxes left to organize INSIDE the house. (the garage is a different story, but it's not bad, maybe just a days work)

*with the help of grandpa, Jade made an incredible Science Faire project, which is going to the county competition. Unfortunately, I didn't have my photo card in my camera, so I will need to try and catch pics at the county display.

*Josh was in a class play, and was amazing! He looked like Davey Crockett.

*Eddie continues to challenge me with potty-training. Although somehow the fact that I do not give him attention and forget to take him potty, might have something to do with it. For once, it's not the child who is not ready, it's the mother.

*I still have to figure out how to run this house on a schedule, get exercise and plan menus so I stop gaining weight, organize this family, generate income, put up job/task charts since I'm not a reliable source to remind the kids what they need to do, and REDUCE their fighting, etc, etc, single-mom life, etc. blah, blah, blah.
I guess I should put potty-training back on the list.

Honestly though, with all the stuff I'm trying to figure out, I still feel joy and gratitude for the tremendous blessings all around me. I know it will all work out, in time.....one foot in front of the other.
Even though there are days I want to shave my head and join a monastery.

Here are a few pics of the kids. I can't imagine life without them, they keep me grounded. And insane. :)

Eddie contemplating his hard life......
This is what happens to single-moms.......so I hear. I can't remember how long it's been since i mowed.

It was too much for the mower to handle, but I got most of it done....sort of. The un-mowed section made a very nice "bush" to pee on....according to Eddie.

Eddie also has a new friend. His name is "Free". I don't know why, but that's his name.

Jade practicing her mean sushi-roll skills. Josh made a few rolls himself. It was a fun night. Sushi night is always fun!

That's all for now. I'll take pics of the cafe soon, and Eddie after he gets his hair shaved.

*drum roll*...... Joshua's ROOM! (still unfinished tho)

I'm posting the best pics first. Joshua's reaction to his room.

Now the best auntie in the world!

(Except for my aunt Jodi and Uncle Ric, who came right before this to design my front yard and wire my garage for my kiln. THAT was AWESOME for ME!! but I did not take pics of that :(

But THIS.....THIS is all about Josh.

These first two are "in progress", but I wanted to show some of the funny characters. Sorry it's so dark.......silly window.

And the sad picture.......I didn't put the paints away fast enough. I was able to repaint the blue and touch up over the grey spots. It's alright now. :)

We still have to put a silver-tinted varnish on his bed, touch up a few more places around the room, and add the glow-in-the-dark paint.

I can't believe I ever thought girls were more fun to decorate for. This is the best room in the house!

THANK YOU LINDSAY!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!

cousin fun and science project

This is a taste of what was going on while the AMAZING auntie Lindsay painted.

Apparently, Eddie needed a guitar......that's what he told me. So I made one for him, problem solved, money saved.....and it can be destroyed if desired.
(paint sticks, mat board, rubber bands, markers and glue)
Sneaking up to Lucas.

He is ok with Potter, neither frightened or entertained. Just watchful and curious. Lucas liked to utilize his pointer-finger in feeling Potter's toes and fur. That was about it.

It's not so much that Eddie spend HOURS painting and painting, it's the little "mouse" in the background that cracked me up in these next pics.

Grandpa has been doing his duty, Science Fair Project Guru. All six kids have had the benefit of his experience, now the next generation gets a turn. (*Dad, you are the best!!!)

I love having a civil-engineer for a father. :)