Creative stream of consiousness (and paper scraps)

Motherhood is filled with lots of reason and very little possibility to keep your sanity tightly in hand. One way I manage the craziness and keep it at bay is through creative inspiration and outlet. The biggest problem with this picture isn't the inspiration or the ability... it's the time.

For every minute I spend soaking up great ideas, coming up with my own versions and breaking them out into reality... that's a minute I wasn't doing laundry, wasn't chasing the toddler around the yard in the sun, wasn't changing sheets or helping with homework. So a lot of the time those creative minutes just don't happen.

Because there are just not enough minutes for everything.

But lately I've been really feeling the need to do some basking in my creative zone.

I've been making myself take the time.

Been trying to organize all those other things a little better so there is a minute here and there if not to spare then to steal without too much damage.

At 2:45 each week day you will find me parked in my usual sunny spot in front of our elementary school. There is a stack of magazines on the passenger side floorboards of our suburban. I'm a magazine junkie and lately I just put them right in the suburban as I take them from the mail box.

So in my sunny spot I sit, flipping through my magazines. Tearing a page here and there because of something I want to remember or recreate. It's 30 minutes of blissful awareness that there is still a spark of creative joy in my soul that burns through the dust of diapers, dirty socks and dog duty.

I dream of gorgeous wedding photographs I may take someday...

I dream of dragging designer luggage down a gravel road...

My list of home projects and 'to-look-for' items grows into a many rooted tree, each branch displaying bits of my personal style...

Then the school doors open and the afternoon routine begins.

As I walk in my front door to the next part of my to-do list, I drop the finished magazines into the recycling bin and add the reaped pages and bits of articles to my stack of ideas to be pinned at a later moment to my Pinterest boards or added to my inspiration binder.

 And if I'm lucky, just maybe I might even have a plan concerning supper.

Love,

Raimie Lu

The Prince and the Pea

Our dog is sulking. 

I understand the feeling.

It's not really about a pea under your stack of mattresses.

It's more of a small stone in the pit of your stomach that reminds your that your beloved is not home.

It makes your sleep less comfortable.

We've been coping pretty well with Mr. Loggerhead traveling so much for work.

Most days are pretty decent.

But sometimes we sulk.

That's what makes us true princesses...err... prince in our dog's case.

Love,

The Prairie Hen

Spring Break with Jax

My brother was here for about 10 days over his spring break. It was so fun to have him around. He somehow changes the dynamic of our house.



A Walmart trip took a fantastical turn when I relinquished the control of the cart to my little brother. He hasn't crossed the line in my brain to the "big kid" side but has somehow grown up enough to handle the cart and not run into ceiling-high displays or other frantic shoppers.

I can only imagine how strange it will be someday to let him drive my car...

UUUURCH!!!

Can. Not. Let. Brain. Go. There.

My children are as split on Jackson's age as I am...

Sometimes he seems like a sibling to them, bickering, racing around, much closer to their own age than he really is.

Other times he acts like the uncle he is, taking responsibility, giving sage advice, surprising me with the relatively mature things he says.

Somehow those two opposing forces fit together in an effortless way that I love. I am pretty fond of every bit of that boy. Well, maybe not the smelly, boy feet part.

We went to The Lorax at our little, funky local theater.

It was a blast. I have to say that I was impressed... even Pip sat riveted the whole time, 3-D glasses and all.

We really did love having my baby brother around.

We love you Jax!

Love,

Raimie

Our happy weirdness

 Dear Friends,

A day spent mulling over Dr. Seuss (whose birthday is today) = Seussing musing.

My two little Suess-muses came home toting Seuss-spired crafts and stripey head-gear similar to that worn by that oh-so-clever feline we all know. All day my Facebook feed has been plastered by quotes by The Seuss-sayer himself.

Turns out the Dr. was pretty smart. His words cure about anything... especially boredom.

 

That is my favorite Seuss-ful quote.

I'm all about weird.

I have all kinds of weirdness in my life...

Our daughter asks to pet the lobsters every time we go to Red lobster. She lets it grab her crayons. She gasps when the lobster flicks her with it's wet and slimy antennae. She tentatively touches the wriggly guy on his claws and belly.

Forty-five minutes later she sighs with delight as her freshly cooked lobster tail is brought to the table and she digs in with gusto.

Petting your food before you eat it...

Weird.

Our son (on his 6th birthday) eats copious amounts of his favorite food, shrimp, and then announces, "I'm so full that I'm sea-sick!" . This sparks a lively, if not a bit disgusting, conversation focused on liking SEE-food (gross), SEE-food diets and the ineptly named,  jumbo shrimp.

Word-play by a six year old...

Weird.

And there's the weird of my life sitting right across the table from me.

We daily embrace the oddity of an incessant camera-slinger being married to the most intentionally unphotogenic man ever and somehow come out alright.

You could call it...

Phot-hog + Cam-ham = 2 pigs clicking together

We just call it love.

Weird.

Love,

R

Today is T-boy's

Dear Friends,

I woke him up this morning with a very loud and silly rendition of "Happy Birthday to youuuuuu!". T-boy is so excited to be six. That's not too surprising since he started asking about his next birthday about 3 weeks after he turned five last year. He kept exclaiming he'd been five for "A WEEK" (his version of forever) and it was time to be six. And in a funny way, I partially agree, it does feel like a week since his last birthday... but unlike my son, that week went way too fast.

Felicity's first words this morning were, "Mom! He's catching up!" and with that they were both standing on my bed back to back to see if he had grown taller in the night. Surely that new and amazing title SIX YEAR OLD came with a few extra inches, right?! But alas, he is still a few inches shorter and still 20 months younger than her!

I hope that is his only disappointment on his special day.

A few weeks ago, T-boy's teacher asked all her student's parents to write their kids a love note for Valentine's Day and send it to school to be shared in class. I love how kindergartners are good with their parents showing mushy-gushy affection for them in front of their friends when in a few years... not so much!

(Here's the little mint box I covered, filled with little heart-buttons and a love letter written on quilling paper.)

I'll share what I wrote in honor of my middle baby's birthday...

My dear sweet T-boy,

You are intense in all you do... intense in play, intensely sweet.

I love how I hear you singing and repeating things your daddy says as you play.

I love how you are nice enough to play games with your sister that wouldn't be your first choice.

I love your laugh.

You are so good with your baby brother - teaching him and letting him play too.

I giggle when you get excited about something and your face lights up like a Christmas tree.

When you cuddle with me and say you love me, it puts me in a good mood no matter what.

I am so proud of all you have learned and how you try to be a gentleman.

You are an amazing boy and I love you truly.

Happy Valentine's Day Happy Birthday to my bestest oldest boy.

Thank you for helping and loving and trying and doing your best

Love always,

Mommy

xoxo