minute of silence

we have been gathering together, usually before we all go our different ways (before school, work, ect), to have a moment of silence together. holding hands (feeling the hand within my hand), breathing (listening to all the different breaths), for as long as the kids can do this. we started at being able to maintain silence for 5 seconds, now we're up to like 20. it's a great way to feel connected, and continue feeling connected even though we are not with each other all day. i tell the kids that we can give each other strength, to get through the challenges of the day, knowing that right now, in this room, this is our family. we will love each other unconditionally, for the rest of our lives......and that gives us all the courage we need, to try new things, stand up for ourselves, to go out into this world and be who we want to be!

ps. oh, shit...we totally didn't have our minute of silence before school!! we'll have to do it this afternoon. well, it's a really great message to keep telling my kids, even if we forget to do this everyday!!

sunday walks

i find that our family does so much better when we enjoy some fresh air together. so we decided to walk/bike to the grocery store to get ingredients for dinner. we also stopped and got a snack (fruit), chocolates (we all got to pick one piece from the chocolate shoppe), and latte's (well, because it's sunday afternoon and we just love our afternoon coffee), then walked/biked home.

this is quinn riding ryder's bike. she's getting pretty good at it, and the seat is up super high. we're thinking she'll be riding that thing this summer, for sure!

ryder is sitting in the jogging stroller, taking the picture:)

chazen art museum

ryder went to the chazen art museum a few weeks ago, with his school, for an art class field trip! after his field trip he came back with lots of information, and we all wanted to check it out, so we asked him to bring us there. he was pretty excited to show us around:) as we were walking towards the museum, i said "ryder, so you will have to be our leader, you can show us different pieces of art, and tell us what you know about them." ryder then replies, "yeah mom, i'll be your docent." jesse and i looked at eachother and smiled. again, he amazes us!!

his class was learning about 'calder' and all his mobiles. so here is ryder showing quinn some of calder's work. they were so cute together, holding hands, talking about art....

yellow floor. ryder's feet

yellow floor. quinn's feet

laundry detergent

we've been making our own laundry detergent for the past few months now, and we just love it! the kids help out, we save tons of money, it's better for our sensitive skin, and it's so easy!!

i told my mom about this and she said "oh, you remind me of aunt june". i was a bit caught off guard by this statement, because in my mind aunt june is nothing like me...she would be at my grandmas', playing cards, smoking cigs, drinking a cocktail (or was she the one that always ate prunes....can't remember, and i was little), but i never saw myself similar to my aunt june. then my mother told me about how she rendered deer fat (we come from a whole lineage of true hunters), and would make all her cleaning supplies from it....she would use up that entire deer, nothing got wasted. after hearing that story i felt a couple different things, 1)holy shit, aunt june was a super cool chic, and totally my kind of homemaker 2)i really wish i could have gotten to know her better!

valentine crafts

we were all so very crafty for this special holiday.....so here are a few things that we created! i loved how the chalkboard paint heart turned out, so cute!! and the pillow heart (on the right) was for quinn's classroom, it hung from a beam. first time sewing onto paper....LOVED IT!! and then heart on the left is for me, from my loving husband, jesse. although he totally procrastinated (which is so his style), he is luckily talented enough, to make someone (me) feel really special, and really loved!!

i "heart" you!

these kids make me do such crazy things.....just so i can see them smile! i decorated the house, made everyone homemade valentines, made the kids a special valentine's garment (second year doing that....so much fun!!), and we even ate heart shaped ravioli for dinner....ha ha!!!

quinny and her homemade valentine skirt. she wore that thing 3 days in a row...mission accomplished:)

kids before school on valentines. chocolate roses, and valentine shirt and skirt. sweeet!!!

twister with my sister

friday night-game night:)