Nature. Stunning nature. (also our gratitude theme for April)

So I cut my hair. This is a bad photo but I wanted a record. I will try to get a better one this week. It will look cuter when my hair is natural (which is wavy.)

here’s Nathaniel coming to say hi while I work on the couch.

here he is asking for some milk.

here he is getting mad for not instantly getting what he wants.

yeah it’s fun. not.

but i love him so!

I am still feeling exhausted. I did a lot of work and cleaning up today since my parents were in the city. The house is looking much better between my mom, the cleaning lady and me. Oh and I finally got a coffee machine. A dinky little one but still….let’s see how it works.

Note to Self:
Tomorrow David goes on vacation for about 10 days. I want to make sure that we spend some of this time together doing things that we don’t normally get to do. I also have summer break coming up and there, too. It’s hard to juggle it all together but in a few months he starts kindergarten and then he’ll be in school all day long. I will miss having him around so much. He’s such a low maintenance and wonderfully helpful little boy.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a more relaxing week this week. One that I hope to spend productively.
2. I am grateful that two books I am looking forward to and have preordered are coming out next week.
3. I am grateful that I signed up for a new workshop with Carla Sonheim and it starts in two days!

Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. Daddy bought him squeezable yogurt treats
2. Getting to watch some TV with mommy (while mommy folded laundry!)

More happy nature.

Here’s the little boy, whom I saw so very little today. I was out running errands all day and he spent most of the day with his Daddy and grandpa.

And David spent his day playing the Wii and running around and playing with my Dad. One lucky, lucky boy.

Great, productive day today. I got my hair dyed and cut. We went clothes shopping. We hung all the little frames in the living room. (and it looks great!) And then I went out to dinner with my parents. They’ve been here for 3 days and my mom and I already have done 90% of what I had on my list. It’s amazing. All things I’ve been putting off for months and months. I am so thrilled to finally be doing all these.

Note to Self:
So my plan for the things I mentioned yesterday has begun. It’s a major self improvement project (not on the inside but outside this time.) It started with cutting my hair, and getting new clothes. There are a few more major steps. I will write about it at length once my parents have left and I have some consistent chunks of free time.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. My hair, hair, hair. I was so looking forward to cutting it and I love it!
2. Some new, delicious tops from the always unusual anthropologie.
3. All the frames on my wall. This little project was 3-4 months in the making and it turned out beautifully. I am so grateful.

Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. Playing wii! (shocker, right??)
2. Playing with with opapa (my dad)

Nothing like nature. Peaceful and beautiful.

Little boy’s ears are all clear! Woohoo! He’s still taking medicine for another day but he’s much better and I am so so thankful.

I caught David doing math today while he was working on a workbook my sister sent. He was so focused that he didn’t even hear me take the photos (and my camera is loud!) I am so proud of him and the person that he is. Beyond words.

And here’s one more of the little one.

I am glad this week is over. It was stressful and not productive in many ways. Now it’s weekend and I can focus on being with my parents. More pictures to hang. Furniture to arrange. Clothes to buy! You’ve all been quiet, too. I hope it’s cause you’re out doing really productive things and not cause you’re tired or overwhelmed.

Happy weekend everyone!

Note to Self:
Tomorrow I plan to start something I’ve been planning for a while. I will write about it at length over the next few weeks, I promise.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. My mom and how easily decorating the house comes to her. She has such natural talent and I am so grateful.
2. How wonderful and sweet Nathaniel was today when I grabbed him right after his nap and dragged him to IKEA for hours without food. He didn’t make a peep. Love that boy.
3. I am grateful to be resting a bit now. I feel incredibly tired. Grateful that it’s the weekend.

Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. Playing police with opapa (my dad)
2. The new didj game he got (spelling and car racing.)

Trying something new. I found this beautiful frame here.

My mom and dad are here. It’s so great to see them and see how excited David was to see them. Nathaniel is still having attachment issues so he doesn’t like being with anyone but me.

Today was a stressful but also great day. For the next few days while my family is here, I expect the updates to be lighter than usual. Because if I’m not spending time with them, I’m spending time with my husband while they babysit so I am not home much. I’m sure to go back to my ordinary life when they’re gone.

Note to Self:
My mom and I finally put up some of the art and paintings I had lying around and my living room looks so much better now. My house actually has a personality. It’s quite amazing the difference it made. I plan to do more for the playroom tomorrow and also my bedroom and the kids’ rooms and I am really excited. I’ve been waiting almost a year for this and am so glad it’s coming together as I’d hoped. Tomorrow’s project is a bit bigger and more daunting but my mom is a master at this so I am not worried.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. Hanging up the living room art.
2. Going to the movies with my awesome hubby.
3. Seeing David so excited to see all his presents and seeing him be so well behaved when opening them. Seeing the kids with my parents is such a joy.

Two Things David’s Grateful For:
1. Awesome awesome presents he got from my parents and my sister.
2. Playing with my dad for such a long time right around bedtime.