Good evening everyone! Sooooo, it's been awhile since I blogged, you know, only a year. (give or take)  I was thinking about how my girls might think its neat to read what I was thinking as a mom, when it is their turn for this crazy adventure! 

I will start with the art end of life.  I am slowly getting up and running after we moved into a new home.  I figured that my sanity was important so I took an art break while my house was on the market.  I recently finished a mural that was the largest that I have ever done before.  It was such an honor to take part in the room a wonderful new baby will live in.  While I was painting I had alot of time alone to think.  This is a rare thing.  I had a thought that almost knocked me off of my ladder. "Whatever made me think I could do this?"  I was not doubting my talent, nor taking claim to it. God gave me this talent, it is just my job to figure out what to do with it.  I just wandered where did I ever get the nerve to take a large brush and paint HUGE on someone's wall?  I know President Obama has taken alot of heat for his "you didn't build this" comments lately.  I can see how some people could be offended by that. I am not. My parents told me that I could do anything I wanted to do.  More importantly they told me and showed me that it is not enough to dream big, but you have to work hard to get it.  My parents smiled and kept their mouths shut when I am sure they were wondering what  in blue blazes I was doing.  I can only hope that I can give my girls the huge gift my parents gave me of knowing that life is open to you.  Thank you mom and dad!!!
Another thing that gave me the confidence is shows on PBS. I know that sounds ridiculous but very true. I watched drawing and painting shows and practiced along with them.  We did not have cable as a kid (I know it is a MIRACLE I survived). I was a total PBS nerd. I still am. I love Charlie Rose. LOVE!! comander Mark was my favorite! I love NPR,  love Garrison Keilor, fresh air, and the rest of it. I am letting it be known in writing that instead of flowers at my funeral, I want donations made to PBS. I feel like it really had a huge part in who I am today. 

Next topic. Pinterest.  HELLO?? I can't get enough. I won't lie or pretend, I do and make ALOT of the things I pin.  I don't mention it much because most of them are total flops.  I will help you all from following down the path that I did. Recently we did..... Glow in the dark bubbles=didn't work  Star stencils for the yard using flour= FAIL   Baking soda on a splinter= success!!  We did kind of like the Ivory soap in the microwave. I was going to take pictures of it while we were doing it (like all the cool blog moms do) The girls were fighting over who got the biggest piece then  I looked over to see Libby rubbing her eye, then hitting the ground screaming.  "I have soap in my eye!!!" she laid on the ground and moved her legs like she was running, which made her spin so fast it was  like she was about to take flight.  I stood back for a second drinking my coffee thinking I should take a picture of this,  and say "somtimes this is what the cute, crafty mom days turn into."  I didn't take a picture and  helped her with her eye and we went back to the playing with the soap.  I will continue to enlighten you all on what works and what doesn't on pinterest. yes, you are welcome. (photos may or may not be included)

School is about to start soon.  My oldest is starting a new school and is pretty nervous about it. I know her well enough to know that she will do just fine. As a kid though it is hard to know that until she is there. She is 9 and already starting to give me the "Mom I am pretty sure you have no clue what you are talking about" look.  I know this look will grow in frequency and intensity so I am doing my best to soak up 9!  The youngest is headed to her last year of preschool. Yeah, I said it. I will be a blubbering mess the last day of her class. You have been warned. I love her preschool.  My oldest went there too and I can't imagine not having a kid there.  I am trying to totally enjoy each stage and I know very quickly I will be a mom with 2 kids in school. sigh. 

This blog has been all over the place but I am out of practice, so stick with me and I might get better.