The New Stuff

Lots of new stuff over here: Furnace, A/C in the car, dehumidifier, humidifier, swing set (it was FREE, on the curb--thanks to my lovely sister in law, andrea, who found it and snatched it up for us!), masonry work (yeah! the brick has stopped coming apart for now!) & sanity. Yes, that is right, sanity. Perhaps I can regain some now as I step into this last week of summer.

In the past few days I have been engrossed in this ridiculous "Hunger Game" book series. I bought the whole trilogy with all my Barnes and Nobel gift cards. I couldn't stop reading them. I think the main reason was because I just wanted to see if the whole awful situation would indeed be resolved. I am happy to report that can now finally sleep knowing the end of the story. So if you have not read them, be forewarned: once you start, you can't stop.

So this week: back to school, well for me at least. Two long days of inservice (yipeee!) and Sylvia is being a real "mommy's girl" in the last few weeks which doesn't make this transition any easier. Oh well, that is life, right? There are ups and downs and turnarounds.
I for one and excited that this summer is coming to a close. Don't get me wrong, I love summer but this has been one of the more challenging ones of the recent past.

Tonight we took a walk through the neighborhood to the new Kroc Center being built (due to be finished early October!). It is a huge multipurpose facility put up by Ray and Joan Kroc (Mc Donalds) and the Salvation Army. It's purpose is to bring worship, enjoyment and to build community in areas that need some sprucing in cities. It is only the 13th one built nation-wide and kind of a big deal that they decided on Grand Rapids for the site. So, with sylvie in tow, we climbed over the fence and had a look. It is just amazing. Some highlights included seeing the lazy river, gigantic water slide, over sized hot tub, sledding hill, indoor track above basketball and racquetball court gyms, an outdoor amphitheatre complete with turf grass between each level, the huge ArtPrize Table and Chairs piece over top of a huge sandbox for kids, a fish pond/ice skating rink, two beautiful, perfect soccer fields and Randy even found two four-leaf clovers while walking through the grounds.
Even if we don't buy a membership (I hope we do!), it still will only be around 10 bucks to take the family there for fun night/day out. And we can easily walk there, which makes me think I might actually stick to an exercise routine and get to know my neighbors a little better. Well, here's hoping at least!
Anyhow, a new week, a new season around the bend. Out with the old, in with the new. Amen.

Stinkerpants in a New York Minute!

Today we got some ice cream at our local joint just for fun. A grasshopper (oreo+mint) flurry to be exact. You see, I felt it was easily justified to get ice cream just before dinner since there are only so many warm, sunny days left in the summer and next week the calendar tells me it is back to work. It was going to be FU----un!

Not so much. First of all, as soon as little sylv had a taste of this flurry it was all over. "Num num? NUM NUM!!! Nuuuuum num!" was all she would say for the five minute walk to the car and the six minute drive home. Those "num nums" then turned in to whines, then screams then throwing things and trying to undo her car seat buckle. I was filling the spoon in the car when stopped at lights just to get a little reprieve. My blood pressure began to rise. I was flustered, then irritated, but trying to stay calm. Then we got home. I put about 1/4 of the flurry in a ramekin, armed sylvie with a spoon and massive amount of paper towel and set her in view of me in the office to consume this treasured treat. I had to quick reply to a email and no less than 45 seconds later, turned around to this view. [I thought it was pretty quiet....sigh.]

Yep, ground oreo in the carpet; smiling, crazy child. In all honesty, the ice cream came out of the carpet pretty easily but I decided that this getting ice cream escapade caused more frustration than fun today. Grabs for dinner again!

Ravenous

hungry. hungry. hungry. That is what I feel so much lately.
Hungry for change. Hungry for new stuff, for good food, for long conversations with old friends. I am also Hungry for inspiration. Hungry for answers. Hungry to hear from God.

Yesterday I read this book called, "The Hunger Games." It made me hungry for justice.

In the last two weeks I have read two books that have made me think think think. The first one is "Bittersweet" by Shauna Niequist. Perhaps you recall that I recommended "Cold Tangerines" several years back when I started this blog. The second book does not disappoint. I loved it. It was helpful to me. It helped me to see that I am ravenous all the time and I am not alone in my thoughts/struggles of life and of faith. Shauna is comforting, kind, humorous and witty. Read her book.

The second book, already referenced in this post, is called "The Hunger Games." Have you read it? Riveting. Scary. Fast-paced. Thought-provoking. I am licking my lips to dive into book two of this trilogy. It is not "Harry Potter" but it is no less page-turning and thought provoking.

I know I can't indulge in all that I am hungry for, in fact, many things are out of my control anyway. But I can escape in the form of books. And hey, it is coming real near to the end of summer here. Just thought I would pass these awesome titles along....

Chihuly me baby!

Amazing-ness.

"Don't mess with my Booaut mister!"
Playing with Grandma;-)

She found the kid's door! (in, out, in, out, in, out....)

Today Grandma S, Sylvie and myself enjoyed this AMAZINGLY beautiful day at Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The Chihuly exhibit is going on and it is nothing short of awesome. Really, I have no words. It is just plain candy for the eyes. In combination with the gardens in full bloom it was just perfect.

For the first time, Sylvie was able to play with some of the "stuff" in the children's area. Her favorite was the pool shaped like the Great Lakes where she was able to launch her "booat" and watch it fall into the rapids. I (we) want to go again tomorrow!!!

Eating "Out"

Tonight at dinner we took a jumble of pics; it was such an amazingly beautiful day, and thank the LORD the weather cooled off a bit. We had some silly fun time out on the patio for dinner. As usual, sylvie entertained us with her smiles and antics. She just loves a laugh.

Oh and by the way--she bit it this weekend therefore she is sporting quite a nice bruise on her right cheek. Makes for great pics (sneer)!Here comes the gigantic orange popsicle I will hold myself... Yes! Success! In the mouth, although very cold.

Look at me!!!

Silly daddy...

Crazy girl with a fork!

And again, trying to feed mom her rejected (less favorable!) food.

Hope you had a wonderful Sunday too!

Griping Thankfulness (?)

I am not sure if there is a black cloud over our house, or if we have bad karma or what is going on over here but we've had quite the summer of stuff breaking. From pricey house wood fixes, to masonry work, to a broken furnace, to broken AC in our "newer" vehicle, to a dehumidifier biting the dust to --today--one of the hottest days of the entire year, the AC in our house shutting down, sometimes it is hard to be thankful and cheery and bright about life. Couple that with a less than favorable economy and working part time-- financial strain and stress are a reality for this household! As much as I wish this stuff didn't bother me--uggg--sorry, it does. But then I scan through summer pics of the healthy, sweet little one, the blooming garden representing new life; when I think about the fact that my husband loves me dearly and is so wonderful and my best friend and I can't but help feel blessed. joy. happiness.gratefulness. In short, when I think about my family I feel very grateful and very happy. I realize I don't have anything to complain about....
although I just did, and I probably will again. Somehow it makes me feel a little bit better (less alone?) through this struggle...knowwhatImean??
So, sorry if you catch me and I talk about these stressors.. really, I am trying not to let it take over...but seriously? Everyone said, "oh things come in threes...apparently for us they come in sixes.) grrr. gripe. AHHH!

"Come get me mom! I just climbed the stairs in record time and you couldn't catch me! Ha ha ha!" And how can you not smile with a cutie like this diverting your stress and frustration??!

Sneak Peek

One of the items on the summer bucket list was to get signed up for a craft show/etsy. Well, here is a sneak peek of some the creations being made in this old house. What do you think? Will they sell? Some are hair thing-ys for little ones, some are pins for elder ones, some are adornments for necklaces. They are pretty versatile and fun to make. I am also in the process of making some very cute hats and mittens (with the strings to go through the coat for the wee ones) from recycled materials. I know, nothing entirely original, but it is fun, pretty low cost on materials and gives me that creative release. Oh and hello from my very active toddler. Whew! I get tired just looking at pics of her. She is full full FULL of energy today...

droopy diaper

Today we decided to rock the afternoon in the kiddie pool. After her afternoon nap, (& changing a horrendous poopy diaper thanks to copious amounts of blueberries, bananas and fresh sweet corn) I put on a diaper and her swimmy suit. She trapsed outside and with great happiness and glee and found her way into the pool. Not five minutes later her diaper began to swell. And it kept swelling. And swelling. And it became a gigantic swelled as much as it possibly could swell diaper--somuchso that it visibly affected her ability to walk around. And Randy and I got a huge kick out of this and we laughed and we took pictures. And here they are. I hope you enjoy them.