Grateful

Today my heart is filled with gratitude for my miraculous body and for answered prayers.

On Friday, I was chasing a certain someone at the park and he happened to run down a steep hill. (Without falling I might add.)

As I chased him down, a painful memory came to mind. I thought of myself only a 18 months ago unable to walk down a slight slope to participate in a post-soccer-season-pizza-party with my sweeties because my knee was to painful. I remember sitting on the top of that hill watching the festivities and crying because I felt so scared and so helpless.

As I continued to chase Quinn over a pile of rocks, (he's pretty stinking fast) I remembered that only a year ago I was terrified to walk on uneven ground and that I had to leave a Valentine's Day celebration at C's preschool because of my debilitating fear.

Today, as I kneeled at the side of the bathtub scrubbing little heads, little toes and little pits, I remembered that only 6 months ago, I couldn't kneel and I didn't believe that I'd ever be able to kneel again.

And here I am...running down hills, walking over rocks and kneeling. I'm so happy. And so proud of the progress that I've made. But most of all...

I am so grateful. So very very grateful. For the ability to heal. For the power of prayer. And for my miraculous body.

xoxo
Bethany

Interesting Philosophy

Last Sunday, while I was cutting a pan of brownies a certain young man asked me the following question...

 

Mom, are brownies just dirt that tastes good?

 

I love how his brain works. By the way, this superhero pose while standing on a slide was entirely his concoction. He is such a daredevil...(giggle.)

Meeting the Dragon and the Rays

As you know, a few weeks ago, I took the sweeties to the zoo to meet the Komodo Dragons. It is amazing how big they are!

The red on his back is from a heat lamp. The day we went was cold and rainy. (I know, I'm crazy to go to a zoo in the rain, but we did.) This was the only picture that turned out because I was shooting through thick glass.

There were a lot of excited little people with me.

We decided to pet the stingrays just before leaving.

It was an amazing experience. I was like a kid with my tummy pressed against the wall, my entire arm submerged. It was really fun. They felt a little slimy and very soft.

D, Z, and C were almost as excited about it as I was.

This cute face will fool you into thinking that she is actually happy about the stingray that splashed her. Two seconds before I took out the camera, she was sobbing hysterically. Her sobs set off Q who also decided to chime in. We made quite a scene, that's for sure.

 

This little guy had no interest whatsoever in the stingrays, but found great interest in trying to escape into the machinery behind the scenes while I tried endlessly to get a good pic of each child touching a moving target. Little stinker.

When we were done, everyone was pretty wet and cold. However, this pose is especially dramatic.

I love going to the zoo!

Happy New Year!

Hello everyone! I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year's Celebration!

We counted down last night at 7 PM as it was midnight in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When the new year came we jumped 7 times and threw (Prima) flowers. (According to my Brazilian source (aka google.com) it is a tradition there.) I'm pretty sure that Prima never thought of that use for their flowers! (giggle...) The kids enjoyed jumping and tossing flowers so much that we ended up doing it about 10 times. This may become our new tradition.

As it is the new year, I've thought a lot about 2009. It was a challenging year for my extended family and I and honestly, I'm really glad that 2009 is over.

In 2009, I injured my knee resulting in a 2 months of pain, surgery and 5 more months of beastly physical therapy. (Not fun.) I'm just now using it normally-ish again.

My mom injured her same knee. (Apparently, knee injuries are contagious.)

My grandmother-in-law broke her hip. (Ack!)

My mother-in-law fell and broke her leg twice. (Double Ouch. She wins the award for worst injury. Congratulations K!)

I'd say we've contributed enough to the orthopaedic surgeon fund. What do you think?

On a happy note...because aside from the challenges, we were also very blessed in 2009.

My brother had his first baby giving me my first nephew that lives near me. I love seeing Nate as a daddy.

My other brother got engaged to a wonderful woman. I can't wait to get to know her more!

The kids and I spent a fun-filled week in Cape Cod with my family.

The entire family had a lovely trip to Utah to see Todd's family.

We got a backyard.

All the kids are healthy and happy and doing well in school and life.

Todd has a wonderful job and because of that I'm able to stay home to raise the sweeties.

I feel that my art continues to improve and I'm pleased with the path my design career has taken.

Despite all of the bodily injuries, the year was a success. However, I'm still glad it is over. I'm very excited to start afresh.

Speaking of starting afresh, I've got a few goals this year that can be shared without too much personal embarrassment...

1. Decrease the gap between project-start-date and project-completion date. In December 2009, I finally completed a few projects that I started in January 2009. I've got to do better with that.

2. Organize my life. We moved into our current home in March 2008. I had baby Quinn in October and hurt my knee January 2009. With all of these major events, the house and my studio have suffered greatly. It's time that I take control of my environment. On the same note, I'd like to beautify my surroundings. I'll be spending a lot of time on home decor projects this year.

3. Find my place in the art world. I've been bouncing around a lot and I'd like to focus more and take on projects that bring me happiness and personal fulfillment.

So here's to a New Year!

To all of you sweet readers...thank you for visiting my blog this year. I'm really honored that you would take the time to read my ramblings. It has been really fun getting to know all of you and reading about your projects and thoughts. I know this is a little sappy, but it is quite fulfilling to "meet" other women with the same interests, goals and sometimes the same challenges. All of you are amazing, amazing people and I just love having you come visit me.

Have a wonderful New Year!

xoxo

Bethany

Happy Laundry

With 5 active children, I do a lot of laundry. I'd say I spend at least 5 hours in my laundry room each week. For some reason, some of my worst attitude moments are spent in this busy room. Perhaps it is due to my dislike of folding. Perhaps it is due to the fact that 5/6 of the people that I wash, dry and fold for do not thank me for my efforts. (The one that thanks me is my sweet husband, Todd.) In fact, some of those 5 people actually moan and groan when I give them a basket filled with clean clothes freshly folded for them to put away. Yes, it is true. I know you can't believe it.

When I was a child, I never moaned and groaned when I found a pile of clean clothes on my bed. And I never, ever was so lazy that I just dumped that pile on the floor for a few days then swept it up and put it into the dirty clothes pile again. Never. I was a perfect child. When I found a pile of beautiful laundry on my bed, I would first put it carefully away making sure not to ruin any of the folding that took my mother so long to do. Then I would run to her joyfully singing her praises. I would make her a cup of tea and massage her feet as she rested from her labors. Yes, that is what I would do. My mother might have a different memory of my childhood laundry escapades, but since she isn't writing this post, we'll just stick with my version, okay?

Back to my laundry room...because I have some seriously ugly thoughts in that room, I knew that I needed something happy to spruce it up. I needed a reminder of how laundry is a way for a momma to show her devotion for her family despite their protests. It is an act of love that goes unnoticed (that is until it doesn't get done because that momma is sicker than a dog or tending to a newbie.) It is really part of a higher calling and I'm grateful for that.

I made this Oh Happy Day! banner to hang over the window in my laundry room. I love the bright colors and cherries. They just make me happy even when I'm crabbily folding and folding and folding.



Materials: Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker papers, brads, stamps, breadless tags, mini-album and craft flags; acrylic paint; ribbon from Michaels and Target; American Crafts pen; Harmonie buttons; DMC floss

Believe it or not, C's jubilant smile in the picture was completely unplanned. He just happened to be in the area when I was taking pictures and asked me to take a picture of him. Sometimes the best things are totally serendipitous. In my opinion, he totally makes the project shine.

Here are close-ups of each flag.

I did this project for a review on The Scrap Review of Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker products. Boy, it was fun to work with her stuff! I love her sense of humor.

I spent the entire day Saturday at a paperclay class and had a wonderful time. As soon as I finish my Santa, I'll post more about that lovely day. In the meantime, I'm on ScrapScene again with my glitter ornament project and I just found out that I'm going to be published in Scrapbook Trends in May! Yeah!

It really is a happy day! Now, off to fold and fold and fold...

xoxo

Bethany

Getting Grass

Last week was very exciting as we finally got grass in our backyard!


The men had quite a few little helpers.


Serious work going on here.


Even the babe caught onto the excitement. Those jammies only lasted a few more seconds as he discovered the dog water a few minutes after this picture was taken.


Cam became very good amigos with the men. He helped for hours.


So excited.




Hooray for a new backyard!

Happy Birthday Quinny!

It is hard to believe that just one year ago, this little man entered our lives. He fills my heart each day.


Even on those days when he throws Elyssa's beautiful bead necklace into the toilet.

Even on those days when he dumps the dog water for the third time and dumps the entire box of corn flakes on the floor.

But especially on those days when he drunk-baby-monkey walks into my arms. And on those days when he sucks his thumb and rubs his special pink, yes pink, blanket before he falls asleep in my arms.

Yes, my heart is continually filled.

I love you to bits Quinny.

Random Questions

I have a very curious little person that lives with me.


He asks random questions all day long especially while we are driving. Some of these questions are about superheros: who is bigger, who is tougher, who can jump higher. Those types of things. On those questions, I do my best and if I don't know the answer we call Todd, superhero expert.

Some of these questions are about animals. If a crocodile can beat a horse, if a T. Rex bigger than a hump back whale, if a shark or a whale lives deeper in the ocean. You know. On these questions, I'm better. I know a lot about animals. But if I'm stumped, we call Uncle Ian, animal expert.

Some of these questions are about life. Why is that building so tall? Why doesn't our car have dark window's like everyone else's car? Why do trees grow? Very important ideas are discussed. The answers to these questions are usually that's just the way it is. I'm afraid Cam finds these answers the most frustrating.

I field so many questions in a day that I've almost gone on automatic.

Question. Answer.

Question. Answer.

Question. Answer.

But yesterday, Cam asked a question that made me pull the car over and write it down. I'm not a betting type of girl, but I'm willing to bet that this question has NEVER been asked in the history of questions. NEVER. It was so crazy that I really wish I could jump into his head, just for a minute, to see its origination.

Mom, if we were little guys and we were in a giant's mouth, would it be dark?

Yes, I believe it would, Cam.

Sometimes

Sometimes a girl just needs a little peace while cleaning and organizing her studio.

So she bribes the crowd with popsicles and drives them outside for a few minutes.

Then this pathetic scene appears at the door.


Please Mom? Please can we come in? Please?

Poor poor children....

Dinner Last Night

I'd say the boy likes tostadas...


Whatcha think?

She Can See Clearly Now

Last week, this sweet girl learned that the world isn't as blurry and as confusing as she had previously thought.


That's a smile of a girl who is seeing life for the first time. She's got new eyes.


It is a beautiful thing.

First Day of Preschool

Last Tuesday was a certain young man's first day of preschool. He was so excited that he was up, dressed and chatting with me at 6 AM that morning. It was tough to wait until 9:20. In fact, someone whose name starts with a C, fiddled with the clock to make time go a little faster. He denied it completely, but the stool under the clock gave him away.


Of course, we took a few fake-smile pictures. It is difficult for a 4 year old boy to smile without crinkling his nose and closing his eyes. (At least for this four year old boy.) I insisted on open-eyed photos.


It will take a little more practice, but we'll get it eventually.

Baptism Day

After weeks of preparation, last Saturday was Danika's baptism day. It was a lovely day spent with family and friends.

I don't have any big group pictures yet, so here's one of me, Todd and Dani. For some reason, it looks like he and I are holding her down for the picture, but really we aren't. I promise. We are all feeling so connected that it was hard not to hold each other.


Danika and her good friend who attended. She's wearing one of the dresses that I made. (I made two: one for the baptism and the other for the confirmation.)


Yes, the kitchen table became a makeshift sewing center for a few weeks as I sewed my little heart out. There was one sleeve that almost made me throw the entire project into the garbagio, but thankfully, I went to bed and life was brighter in the morning.


My favorite part was hand-stitching the hems and the linings on this chair in my bedroom. It was just so peaceful. I felt as if love flowed from my heart into the dresses with each small stitch. It was really satisfying even though it took me way longer than it was supposed to.


When I finished, we set up a mini photoshoot outside. It started with some awkwardness. A little stiffness...ummm...how should I smile again?


A curtsy loosened up the model a little.


Of course, I had to get a picture of the bow in the back.


Then the stiffness went away and the real smile lit up the world.


Adorable new shoes...I wish they came in mongo size.


A Sound of Music move.


The hills are alive...


Yes, it was all worth it. Just for that happy face.

Busy Around the House

I haven't had much time for papercrafting lately because I've been very busy doing other things like...

...decorating the house.

A little beach alcove appeared just outside my bedroom. I didn't realize that I had coordinated the decor until I stepped back. Isn't that funny?

My mom gave all of the girls this candle holder while we were in Cape Cod. I filled it with found shells.



I liked the look so much that I replicated it in a grander scale over on the other side.



Those white branches were on major Christmas clearance at JoAnns four years ago. I think they look like coral when paired with beach shells and rocks.

...and sewing like a crazy woman. Just last night I finished two dresses for D's baptism tomorrow. Note to self...Do Not Wait Until 2 Weeks Before A Big Event to Start Sewing the Dress for Aforementioned Event. Do Not.

The dresses turned out beautifully as long as you don't focus on the hemline or those darn zippers. D thinks they are fabulous which is really all that matters in the long run. I'll post pictures next week.


...and knitting. While traveling home from vacation, I took up knitting again. What a lovely way to pass time on a loooonnnnnngggg car ride! This project has no purpose whatsoever except practice.


Oh, and I want to tell you about the My Mind's Eye giveaway at The Scrap Review! Leave a comment and you could win the collection. It is really great!

On Thumb-Sucking

My dad is a doctor and during my summers in college I would work in his office as a medical assistant. I would bring the patients back to the room and take their blood pressure, find out what medications they took and what ailed them. One day, I was sitting on the stool talking to an old patient (meaning one who had been seeing him for years, not as in elderly, although that would apply too). Suddenly she exclaimed in a very excited tone, "you are Dr. Kolbaba's daughter aren't you?" I assented, a little embarrassed at such a rush of emotion, and asked her how she knew. She said that it was how I sat in the stool. I guess the placement of my feet was identical to my dad. We both sat with our feet behind us, toes on the floor. (Very hard to explain and not really pertinent to the story.) I found it uncanny that unknowingly, I picked up the same habits. I mean, it's not like I ever watched my dad sit in a stool and if I had I certainly didn't study the way he placed his feet. It was something that was done instinctively. A trait that was passed down via that mysterious DNA sequence.

That's why I get such a kick out of my two children who suck their thumbs. It is an instinctive thing. Passed down via my DNA. Now, I know there are a lot of people who worry about thumb-suckers. They worry about their jaws and teeth getting all screwy and various other emotional dependence issues. I'm not one of them. I sucked my thumb as a child for many years. Perhaps longer than I should have. I sucked it so much that I had a perpetual callous. I continued with that habit until I felt that I was done. Then I quit. Like that.

So I don't worry about my sweet thumb-y kids. When they are done, they will be done. As a mother, this lack-of-thumb-sucking-worry allows me to focus on issues that I feel are of greater import. Like teaching them stuff. Stuff like..manners, and honesty, kindness, and how to read. It also allows me to embrace where they are now as little individuals. I love their little quirky habits. Including those thumbs that, in quiet moments, sneak up to their mouths. In a way, it reminds me of...well...me as a child.

I took this picture of Z last summer in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was waiting patiently for her turn to ride a horse (hence the hard helmet.) She just looks so sweet and innocent and so utterly unaware of the world around her that every time I see this photo, I fall in love with her again.

Materials:

Bazzil Cardstock, My Little Shoebox pattern paper, Uniball Signo white pen, Sharpie black pen,

My Acrylic Album heart Ranger alcohol inks, Stickles, My Little Shoebox transparencies,

Making Memories brads; staples, 3L adhesive My Little Shoebox letter stickers; DMC floss

Cosmo Cricket ribbon

I titled this layout, Quiet Moment. My journaling can be found on the green strip and it basically states that every time Z has a quiet moment, her thumb goes into her mouth and her fingers twirl her hair.

Here's the little cluster of goodies in the top left corner.



I did this layout for My Little Shoebox with their new Little Lady line. Oh, how I love that line! I love the yellows and all the cute little girls. Oh, and the ladybugs. When I opened my last MLS package, I couldn't wait for my girls to get home from school so I could show them the utter cuteness that was contained therein. They loved the paper and oohed and ahhed for my benefit. Then they asked for a snack. Oh well.