table for two

with M in school, C and i have been doing some special things. for example this day we had our breakfast at the coffee table. C usually sits in his high chair and he thought this was pretty cool. he keeps asking for his big brother and is so excited when we go to pick him up at school. i also miss M when he's at school but am enjoying the one on one time with C until he goes to preschool next year. oh how i wish they could just stay babies forever.

first day of school

every year, on the first day of school, we take a photo in front of our house. it's fun to see how big he's grown and how the landscape has grown. last year M did half day kindergarten and this year he'll be in school all day. i can't believe i have a first grader on my hands! ;) he went until 12:30pm last thursday and friday and today he bounced out of bed and said "first day of all day school!" last week he told me that "first grade is awesome!" and he was excited to have music and gym class today. i still have C at home with me, but the house sure seems a little quiet today. C and i have been on our morning walk, chatted with neighbors, played outside and i even made 3 of the 4 calls i needed to make today. i feel like i've gotten so much done this morning, including a couple loads of laundry....and it's just 11:24am. C will take an afternoon nap so i'll have until 3pm to "work". i've committed myself to getting to work on trays for the upcoming (November) gift gallery. it will be here before i know it. for all of you with kiddos in school i hope your first day was a good one.

turning two

mr. C recently turned two. and he's reminding us daily that he is by saying things like "i do it" and "i two, i a big boy". and with a big brother to mimic it sure seems like he grew up a lot faster. he is so not a baby any more and tries to do everything that big brother does. i thought it would be fun to have a little photo shoot with him. the second shot is a result of me saying "hold your number up". he was flailing it around and when i said hold it up, he literally held it up ....up high. too funny. his party will be this weekend, i will take and post photos of that later. all he wanted for his birthday was cupcakes and balloons....so happy with just the simplest of things. happy birthday C....XOXO

for the love of trains

we recently took a trip to Iowa to visit grandparents and go to the state fair. i left my camera in the car so i didn't get any photos at the fair. before leaving the grandparents house the next day we headed to a local park. upon leaving the park M heard a train whistle and the search was on.
we found the train and got there just in time to watch a few train cars go by. after the train passed i jumped at the opportunity to get some photos of M walking the tracks. He loves trains! he can sit for hours flipping through a train magazine. so once i promised that "we'd know if another train was coming and i'd tell him to get off the track" he decided it was ok to start walking.
after balancing on the rails he said he "couldn't believe that the train wheels could actually fit on that small, skinny rail".

i love when i take a few minutes to experience these opportunities. i love it even more when i have the camera with me! i think he could have hung out here all day. that is until the next train came.

4 days in Guatemala City to pick up the most precious package

i took a little much needed vacation from the computer and i also took a trip. remember the baby shower that i hosted awhile back? it was for my dear friend C who was anxiously awaiting to adopt her daughter from Guatemala. well she finally got the call to go and get her! (i still get chills when I think of her getting that call) and she asked me to come along with her. so with the help of my dear husband, sister and mom my boys were cared for so that i could go on this special trip. we flew into Guatemala City and an hour later C had baby A in her arms. the next few days we had visits with the embassy to wrap up all the legal paperwork. but we also ate at great restaurants and drove to Antigua which is where most of the photos below are from.

Antigua Guatemala may be the most outstanding and best-preserved colonial city in Spanish America. The Spanish Colonial style permeates every part of the town: its houses, churches, squares, parks and ruins, also its traditions and folklore as well. Antigua is a city of charm and color where you can see and buy an overwhelming variety of attractive, handmade products that honor the traditions of generations of artisans.


this was a carving hanging on a wall in a hotel. i loved seeing all the wood furniture and wished i could have come home with some of it.

this was a wall made out of old doors. i loved the idea of it as well as the colors.

a sweet statue out in the garden of a hotel.

the garden was so quiet and serene. and then we saw this splash of color. a small market with locals selling hand crafted items. i love all the color the locals use.

i thought this was the coolest piece of art. the bottom section made out of flat metal strips represents the skirt, and the glass piece on top is the body. what an incredible sculpture, this photo does not do it justice.

the grounds at this hotel were amazing. so tasteful and so simple. like this concrete bowl of water with rose petals floating in it.

walking down the street we saw this school. i peaked in the window and saw these children hard at work. love their wood tables and chairs. some saw me and waved. wish i could have gone in and observed them for a couple of hours.

snapped this photo of a priest walking down the street. i love his attire as well as the contrast of yellow and white on the wall of the building. the cobblestone street also caught my attention.

ruins of an old church. still so beautiful.

this photo came out a little fuzzy (darn it). i liked the colors and natural distressing of the buildings. and look closely, you can see a woman with a basket on her head.

we had local Guatemalan food for lunch. served with rice and vegetables it was really good.

one of my favorite photos. i just love the simplicity of laundry hanging on the line. something, no matter what culture you come from, we all have in common.

and last but certainly not least! the reason for the trip....sweet, darling, oh so adorable baby A. she is such a good girl and i love when she wrinkles her nose up when she smiles at me.

i feel blessed to have C as such a good friend. And now baby A....someone for me to buy pink things for! this was such a fantastic trip. i am so glad that all the stars lined up to make the trip possible and i can't express how happy and proud i am of my friend C. thanks so much for asking me to come with you, it was a trip that i will never forget. congrats on miss A and welcome to the mommy club!

a little time off

i'm taking a little "vacation" from the computer. if you're interested in one of the trays i just put out in the shop just send me an email. i'll be back soon! ;)