May Day Baskets

For as long as I can remember I've wanted to make May Day baskets, but I never followed through with it.  This year I decided to make it happen by keeping things simple and starting out small.  The May Day basket tradition is to leave baskets of flowers at your neighbors door.  This year I left a basket of flowers at our door, waiting for each of the girls when they got home from school. I think this got the girls excited about the tradition and next year we can all work together to deliver baskets. 

I found the little pots in the dollar spot at Target, 8 for a dollar, they are small and super cute. I only used two of the pots, leaving six for us to give to our neighbors next year (planning ahead!).   

I didn't have any fresh flowers on hand, so I decided to make a flower garland and tie it up to look like a colorful bouquet of flowers.  The garland was so easy to make, tutorial found here.  The yellow yarn came from Anthropologie at Christmas time.

Next year, we may purchase fresh flowers or make our own again...that all depends on the status of our bank account.   Last year, I had high hopes of delivering Christmas cookies to our neighbors but with Jeremy's finals and traveling, it was hard to make it happen and this Christmas will probably be the same.  A May basket might be a nice alternative for our family.  Plus, making our own flowers would allow me to plan ahead and have things ready to go months ahead of time.  Will someone please hold me accountable to this?  

Happy May!

Friday

It's almost time to flip to April! This morning, as we were walking out the door for school, Emma and Stella were dreaming up some secret April Fools pranks.  I don't know if they will actually follow through with the plans they were making, but it's fun that they are thinking about it.

This weekend I plan to finalize everything for Easter. I found some vintage dresses for the girls at a thrift store, and hope they fit.  Next on the list is finding shoes.  Lincoln will be included in the planning too-I'm just not sure what I want him to wear.  

Jeremy and I also have a date night tonight and it's perfect weather for eating outside. Brisket tacos are what I'm craving!  

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Saturday + Sunday

Evidence that the kids were here: cars, drawings and origami

Evidence of yummy white chili: red pot hand washed by Jeremy

Evidence of the Super Bowl: Lincoln waiting for all the yummy snacky food

Evidence of Sunday afternoon routines: girls on the macs playing PBS kids

We have a busy week ahead. It includes a trip to the symphony (me and Emma), a promotional video filming at our apartment (which means I need to clean clean clean) and whole lot of other to-do's as well.  Hopefully, I can grab a cup of coffee and spend some time catching up on my favorite blogs too.  

What are your plans for the week?

-Diane

tuesday

We woke up around 3 am this morning to the sounds of tornado sirens, hail and rain. Thankfully it was a false alarm for us and after a little while we were able to get back into our warm cozy beds.  This morning, we all overslept and have been walking around blurry eyed and in need of a constant cup of coffee in hand to help us get through the day.  It's the perfect day for staying in pj's and coloring on the floor if that's what suits you, and for Lincoln it seems too.

I am so tired and at the same time I feel so energized, like a creative surge has come over me. I think it's because for the first time in my life I have a studio (and its finally set up!) and because I got to spend two nights in a row talking with another momma and creative soul.  Times like that are so good for my soul;  I need them and I am learning to savor them and run with the energy I gain from those opportunities.

all in a weekend

Learned that Lincoln can climb out of his crib all by himself...oh boy.

Put some sunny tulips on our dining table.

Made an inspiration board for my studio.

Took my first mini-instax photo ever-so very cute in it's mini-size!

Made one of our favorite meals, garlic chicken farfalle-Yum.

Ate dinner with the Denbow's two nights in a row!

Watched a quail feather and origami penquin turn into weapons during a friendly game of chase between two sweet kiddos

Officially joined our church in St. Louis

Drank LOTS of coffee and chai latte's

Started a wreath for our front door inspired by one of my pins

Downloaded pictures from my camera for the first time since October

and just now, took a much needed nap on the couch.

September

our new place

September you hold some very exciting moments in your 30 days.  Packing up moving boxes is not so exciting but moving into the city is!  Our whole family is anxiously awaiting the end of the month to get settled in the new place with all of it's natural light, beautiful character and city sounds.  Yesterday, we went to measure the space so I can draw it on graph paper and imagine where everything will go. It was beautiful outside and we opened up the windows to let in the cool breeze along with all the sounds of the city street below. I felt so happy being there.

September is not just full of packing boxes and moving. We have Stella's birthday -(a Unicorn theme), a field trip to an apple orchard, a trip to Chicago (next weekend-yippie!) and Jeremy's sister's wedding in Oklahoma.  We are so happy for his sister. She is one amazing girl and currently has one of the best job combinations ever: art and theater teacher at a private Christian school by day and liquor store employee by night.  ;)

Such a full and exciting month for sure! 

P.S. If you came across any cute unicorn ideas let me know!

get up and go

These two had their first day of school last week. It was so fun having them around the house this summer and I can tell Lincoln is learning to adjust to their absence during the day.  He is SO very happy to reunite with them each afternoon.  Their school (which started last year) has doubled in size in it's second year and we are so happy for it's success. 

Something about September makes me want to curl up on the vintage sofa ;) and watch Gilmore Girls.  There hasn't been much time for curling up on the sofa, but Gilmore Girls has been on in the background while I work on projects around the house.  Lincoln seems be quite taken with the show as well and I have found him plopped on the couch with his milk in hand watching the tv a few times this week.  

Jeremy's semester began this week and with all of this getting up early to get the girls school and then study before class we've been needing a bit more coffee in our system while we adjust to the new schedule. We're not morning people over here.

  

the weekend!

This afternoon we are going to a rummage sale with a whole section devoted to vintage. 

And on Sunday, I plan on wearing a beautiful vintage dress that used to belong to my mom, so happy she kept it all these years and that she passed it on to me!

and we get to see some special friends who are town for a few days! I can hardly wait!

What are your plans for the weekend? 

Crafting on the fly with Emma and Stella

This summer I made a loose schedule for me and the kids.  I say loose because I  am not the best at sticking with a schedule, so I need some flexibility.  Part of our routine each week includes a craft time with Emma and Stella, after lunch, while Lincoln is napping.  Sometimes, actually most of the time,  I have no idea what we are going to make until moments before craft time officially begins.  So I quickly look through our stash of supplies hoping for an idea, using things we already have for a craft on the fly.

Craft on the fly: Sticker books

Emma and Stella love stickers and needed a cute place to put them.  First, we cut rectangles for the pages and the cover.  Then I helped the girls bind their books on my sewing machine. They sat in my lap and I showed them which buttons to press, then we pushed the paper through while sewing down the middle of the rectangle.  After the pages were sewn in they decorated the covers.

Then they filled their pages up with stickers.  They LOVE stickers! 

 Craft on the fly: Paper Chains

 I found leftover paper strips from Emma's party in our stash so we made paper chains.

The paper was already cut so that was easy.  We didn't have any scotch tape and rather than messing with a gluestick I found some double-sided adhesive tabs in my scrapbooking stash.

I think part of the excitement with this craft was the presentation. It took me about 5 minutes to set it up, but I think it made the craft time feel more official for Emma and Stella.  I put some strips of paper and a strip of the adhesive tabs in an empty cigar box and set it on the table in front of their chair.  Then I did a little demonstration of how to make the chains and was ready to assist if they needed me. 

What crafts have you made with your kids this summer? I would love some more ideas!

There was a 12 hour window last Friday where the whole house was completely clean. It was the first time since we moved in last August that this little apartment was in ship shape. It felt so good to have the laundry in all of the appropriate places, the beds made with fresh, clean sheets and both the pantry and the fridge full of fresh food.  There is nothing wrong with having or wanting a clean house. But sometimes it feels too important, and I have to remind myself that the messes we make on the table, in the kitchen and on the floor mean that life and love are happening here in our home with the people that I love. Baking cookies, painting pictures or sewing something from pretty fabric are all a mess worth making.

p.s. Most of the time in that twelve hour window when the apartment was clean, Jeremy and I were sleeping! Ha!

a little Old Navy and a lot Little House on the Prairie

We won't have to wake up early on Monday!

This is the last week of school for our girls!

The week began with an art show showcasing their projects from over the year and they did a little performance for the parents. It was so much fun for all of us but I think the part the girls enjoyed the most was getting a balloon afterwards.

We, along with the all the grandparents have been conspiring on an End of the School Year/Welcome Summer surprise for the girls when they get home today.  Jeremy and I made each of the girls this a-frame tents for the girls.  Inside their tents will be some brand new books sent to them from their grandparents. The girls and Lincoln love books and I know they will be so excited to see a fresh stack of new reading material inside.

The weather is supposes to be beautiful this weekend, I can hardly wait!  Maybe we'll take their tents and new books outside and "camp out" there Saturday afternoon.

I'm off to set everything up!  Have a beautiful weekend!

P.S. Thanks for all of the kind comments here and on facebook about the Waco house!  I have a few more photos to share, but they are on Jeremy's computer and he is in his summer Hebrew class at the moment.

how we spent our week

In the last three weeks we have had only 4 days with the whole family being healthy, which of course means the rest of the time one of us has been sick.  First is was me, then it was Lincoln and now it's Stella, who I am afraid has the worst case of all of us.  I do pray she will feel better soon.  She has been pricked and swabbed one too many times this week. If you think about it we would appreciate your prayers for her to be well soon.  

In the moments between delivering her homemade apple juice popsicles while she rests on the couch, reading her books and, honestly, just plain old worrying about her, I have been cleaning this place from top to bottom in hopes of keeping this illness from spreading to the rest of our family and our neighbors. 

This illness has made sleeping a challenge for her, and I don't want to do anything to disturb her during those precious few moments of rest. So while she drifts off I sit down and quietly read. A friend of mine recommended Jane Eyre to me. She told me it was riveting and that was all I needed to get started.  

This book has captivated me. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started. The first chapter drew me into Jane's suffering. And that suffering consumed my thoughts. I have felt sorrow for her. I have rejoiced with her.  I have journeyed with her and now there are only 60 pages left on that journey.  Only 60 pages left to immerse myself in the way Charlotte Bronte tells Jane's story.  And quite frankly I am not ready for it to end. 

White Dress and The Civil Wars

The Civil Wars

I am not very good at relaxing...the conditions have to be just right for me to just...sit.  I really wish is wasn't such a challenge for me. My "down" time is usually spent making lists, sorting papers, updating my calendar, flipping through magazines or staring at my surroundings thinking about what I could do to change them-don't I sound like someone you want to hang out with?

White Dress

Jeremy and I had tickets to the White Dress and Civil Wars concert last Saturday. It was not the most practical weekend for a concert between Easter activities and school assignments.  And for some ridiculous reason, during crazy schedules my typical way of relaxing sounds more appealing than tidying up for a sitter, getting the kids ready for the sitter and getting myself ready to go out.  Sad, but true.  Thankfully, I am married to someone who chooses fun over misery.  The venue was great, we were on a date, we were with friends and I have made a mental note to do all of that more often.   And hello!  We were in the presence of extraordinarily gifted musicians that performed songs in a way that came in and spoke to my soul with beauty and charm and creativity.

The Civil Wars

So here's to relaxing, and to great music, and to remembering that concerts with friends are better than sorting papers...and updating calendars...and culling magazines...and rearranging...and...and...and...

have a good weekend!

We love Fridays.  This semester, at Emma's suggestion, Fridays have become our official family movie night.  We make homemade pizza and watch a movie together. Last week we watched Despicable Me. I cried at the end, I can't be the only one who did that now can I?   Such a good movie.  

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

P.S. Thanks for all the love on the my Kitchen DIY. I really appreciate it!

one last peek

I had to take one last peak at this photo, he is wearing one of my favorite of his winter outfits.  Lincoln looked adorable in the grey wool sweater outfit he wore to worship a few Sundays ago. This photo was taken on the sidewalk outside of South City. It was the morning after the time change. Sometimes things are tough after a time change: he had a runny nose, and was a bit cranky, so we kept him out of the nursery. Sitting quietly during the sermon was not part of his morning agenda, so we took him outside for a little walk.

Sometimes you trip and fall after the time change too.

This week we are dreaming of packing up all those winter clothes because after a long winter, we are also finally enjoying beautiful spring weather. It is spring break for my girls and Jeremy which makes this beautiful weather all the more lovely.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We're celebrating with heart-shaped pizzas and homemade Valentines!

Hope you have a lovely day!

just for fun

A recent family photo taken on my birthday in January.

AND

just for fun

some bits and pieces of our life

 via

 Twitter and Instagram

courtesy of Jeremy's Ipod and our twitter feeds

seminaryjeremy Jeremy Reeves 

To Dad: I don't like my sandwich. Emma.

seminaryjeremy Jeremy Reeves

South City

 

dianegreeves diane reeves 

Lincoln just locked himself in our bedroom...he's out now!

dianegreeves diane reeves 

lincoln was drinking a can of coke...that's just great, thankfully it was almost empty

dianegreeves diane reeves 

lincoln just pulled a beer bottle from the trash can, his new favorite place to scavenger, 

and I guess I'm confessing we didn't recycle it

 

seminaryjeremy Jeremy Reeves

Up the school stairs. 

seminaryjeremy Jeremy Reeves 

Lotta walking here.

seminaryjeremy Jeremy Reeves 

That's an igloo, for reals.

P.S. We didn't make that awesome igloo, our super cool neighbors did.