When Summer's Beginning To Give Up Her Fight

It happens every year and I always think next year will be different. Summer is ending and I've forgotten to savor every minute of it before the nasty winter comes barreling in. We got so caught up in getting ready for school and not having enough work and repainting our kitchen cupboards (still not done) that summer has sailed right passed us. We didn't get to go camping this summer and we got such a huge, lovely tent last year. Totally missed the state fair. Couldn't quite fit in that trip to Michigan to visit relatives, and watch the wonder on Willow's face when we cross state lines, because it's more magical there. But there isn't time to mourn the death of summer because there are school field trips, birthday parties to plan, and a million other things I need to do this fall. But before it's too late, maybe we can squeeze in a couple of more nights catching lightning bugs, or go see daddy's band play one more time.

Walmart Lovelies

I just can't stop looking. This website makes me simultaneously want to spend all my free time at Walmart and never go there again.

Really?

So, Willow was playing with her cousin recently and he was telling her about bad guys, the bad guys that his dad catches at work (he's a cop) and Willow says "Bad guys? I thought God washed all the bad guys away! Are they coming here?!!"

Really?

Hyperventilating

Comfest starts in seven days. I need at least three weeks of preparation. Shit.

Ribbit

My husband found some wee baby frogs at a job site this week and they have now taken up residence in my living room in a HUGE aquarium. It started off as one tiny frog (think the size of a nickel) and he thought it was just SO cute that he had to bring it home. So we made a little habitat for it in a five gallon bucket and it really is just so cute. The next day he brings home two more. "They were right by my truck. I didn't want to run them over, so I brought them home." So the next day here he comes with a giant plastic container with FIVE, count 'em, five more frogs. We had to borrow a large aquarium and make them a little frog jungle. They really are very cute and the kids are getting quite good at bug catching to feed the frogs. But seriously, one more frog and it's either them or him. Anyone want a frog?

Strawberry Fields Forever

Last night Willow had her second sleepover with her best bud Finn. This time around we let them do all sorts of magical grown up things that she had been asking to do, like go to the park after dark and catch lightening bugs, have cookies and milk right before bed, and watch a movie AFTER bedtime. Well, you will be glad to know it was all a smashing success. We caught thirty lightening bugs with the help of the neighborhood kids. They learned about dunking cookies in milk, after which I heard, "Mom, why didn't you ever tell me about this? Do you keep ALL the good secrets?" And three Scooby Doo videos later when I had to tell them that, seriously, it is time for bed, all I
could think was, you guys were so much cuter

last year when your little four year old brains couldn't stay up past ten. It was MIDNIGHT! My five year old can now stay up until midnight. It's all down hill from here.

p.s. we let all of the lightening bugs go, except for the one that got smushed in the lid. oops!

Fancy Pants Recycled Crayons

We have added something new to our etsy shop that I'm really excited about. We had a bunch of old broken crayons and turned them into new fun crayons! What a fantastic idea! I know other people have done this too but I love them none the less. They are the perfect thing to pull out of your purse with some blank paper while you are waiting with your kids somewhere or running errands or whatever. My daughter thought I was magic when I showed them to her. And who wants to throw crayons away? So far we have transportation, sports, flowers, cat and mouse, and hearts. Come check them out!