Sunday- Monday - happy day (these days are ours)

What goes better with newly rented books? Mommy's home-made chocolate chip cookies. This weeks finds: for pollywog -You See A Circus, I See (she is very much into the circus at the moment and can often be found being, "Sally the Circus Girl") - Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy (our second of the series) - Out and About at the Apple Ochard (seasonal enjoyment) - The Great Blue House - plus an Authur dvd, Eloise dvd and Care Bears dvd for mommy - Year Round Gardening - My Life in Orange (Im excited to get started on this book by Tim Guest) -Simplicity Parenting: Using the Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier and More Secure Kids - Huggable crochet (crocheting animals) - plus the original "Cheaper by the Dozen" dvd and a couple foreign flicks. * It's nice to snuggle up on the cooler evenings and read or watch films. My landlord had provided us with full cable and after a week I unscrewed the box and gave it back. We havent had cable in years and I almost immediately noticed a negative energy permeate the house. So many images and words constantly pouring out and very few offer positive information or happy images. Without it peace and creativity has re-emerged!* ^ *Happy Monday*

:::merci:::

i am thankful

I am thankful for the sunshine that special pockets of magic around my home. I am thankful for the cute pudgy cheeks that dimple when my little one smiles. I am thankful for her smiling face when I pick her up from school, the friendships she has made, the gentle kindness of her teachers, and special days like today when her class makes apple pie! I am thankful to be starting work at her preschool this week. The opportunity to nurture and teach precious little ones, be close to my little one and leave each day together hand and hand with adventures to share. I am thankful for my family. The special relationship my sister and I share that only sisters understand My mom's humor and innocence that brings joy to all those around her. My son's heart that I can see under the pile of teenage agnst. My neice and nephew and their unique personalities that I get to see grow and flourish. (***My nephew being old enough to join the adults at "Taboo" during my sisters party was special to watch and filled me with pride***) Pollywogs imagination, her love for snuggling and her sense of humor. My dad's legacy and the laughter he still provides us. I am thankful for the time I took today to go to spin class. Exercising makes me feel strong both physically and mentally- and - I need to feel strong. I am thankful that organically Monday evenings have become "library day", Wednesdays "swim day" and Fridays "nature adventures". This rhythm is important to Pollywog and therefore me. Also that I have stayed on my weekly dinner meal plan for three weeks now and it has cut down on my grocery budget and made evenings flow nicely. (***tonight is chicken strips (from Saveur magazine) and bake potatoes***) I am thankful for a renewed energy in my creative realm. Painting for my sister got the wheels spinning. I did a painting for my living room and I have big plans for starting my own etsy!!! I am thankful for the hope I have each day when I wake up. Hope that life will keep getting better. That my kids will be okay and happy. That the love, care, sacrifices and guidance I give them and have given them, mean something. Hope that time heals, love is the answer, humility is key, dreams do come true when you keep them in sight and work hard at them and that there is no one way to live so don't judge and don't compare.

I am thankful for the goals big and small I have each and every day. Because goals mean that you are living, moving forward, excited, willing and that there is a whole big world out there -waiting & happening- and that is pretty awesome!!!!

:::weekend:::

:::this weekend was::: yard sale finds with saved change (my little one grabs every penny, nickle and dime she finds) South American wooden sculptures Bearstein Bear lamps Leap Frog fun and a large bin of big legos that Pollywog has been hoping for! -there has been lots of building of things this weekend-

home-made birthday cards and presents a painting for my sis birthday celebration

sunny sunday at the park collecting leaves playing hide&seek behind mighty oaks pushing babies in swings pulling babies in a wagon and carrying one in a sling

the flash went out in my camera so all photos are being altered to b&w

hump day

My camera is not working very well so this post is absent of images from our day. Of course it seemed there were an abundance of, "picture worthy moments", and I often found myself reaching for my camera. Oh how I long for a nice camera, ah someday! It was another sunny day kissed with a hint of autumn. Pollwog was especially excited about this day of school because mommy was going to be there. I volunteer at her school and today was my day to assist with lunches and breaks. Once Pollywog caught a glimpse of me she and her friends began jumping up and down and waving. I too was excited to see her and sneak glimpses of her at play and learning thoughout the day. Later in the afternoon I visited with the director of this wonderful,sweet, small pre-school and we chatted about an employment opportunity for me. I felt tears well in my eyes as I listened to her describe a job I have literally being praying for. With my garden season slowing down Ive been hoping for an opportunity to get back to teaching and have hours around Pollywogs schedule. To be able to do this and it be where Pollywog attends, is a blessing I was overwhelmed by.

::giving thanks:: After school we relaxed and then sat in the sun. Well I sat and Pollywog transformed into "Sally the Circus Girl" and spun a disc and did tricks. This is a new character she has recently come up with. Sally is a circus girl who lives in a fort in the backyard and is allergic to people, although today she overcame this allergy. She performs amazing acts with a hoola hoop sort of disc and tightrope dances. We went out for mexican dinner and Sally and Pollywog took turns joining the meal. Gotta love her imagination!!! After dinner we played in the backyard. I got to work digging out my garden beds so Pollywog and I can start preparing the beds and planting some fall and winter goodies. Pollywog helped me pull and harvest the many tomato plants and found lots of grubs, rolly pollies and worms that she excitedly showed me each time. She was blissed out! I lit the firepit in the lower garden and when the sun set we snuggled by the fire. Me, Pollywog and Peanut all piled onto a lawnchair. Goodness the cute picture opportunities were constant. We decided tonight that we are going to groom Pnut and bring him into our home for the cold months, so Pollywog is gaining a dog. Pollywog LOVES to snuggle this furball and he seems to enjoy it to. Pollywog was in snuggle heaven. So sweet! Now we're cuddled on the couch watching "The Little Mermaid"...her first time seeing it. She has decided she wants to be a mermaid for Halloween so I thought it fitting. ..."Ive got gadgets and gizmos of plenty"...

the garden::part II

Pollywog played hooky from preschool today to play in the garden with mommy! With such blissful weather and opportunities to learn it was an easy choice. She started the morning off with a special smoothie: Coconut milk, almond milk, a banana and a hint of chocolate...yummy.

then we headed out to the garden Pollywog was intrigued by the compost bin. We observed the micro-village inside and she was amazed that it was becoming dirt.

She helped mommy pull weeds and harvest all of the tomatoes (there were alot) and then got busy creating mud pies in the brick oven I made her.

I brought a blanket and a "garden bag" out filled with water, her sketchbook, markers, and her dishes and tea-set.

She spent hours playing,cooking, washing her dishes and even found some leaves that are currently being pressed out there.

It was wonderful being able to look up and see her sweet face and watch her enjoy the fresh air and playing with such joy.

I am loving my sun covered front porch! Right now I see a pink cape flapping behind a little girl, ahem I mean "super girl" I better get off this contraption.