tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51307759136943204782024-03-13T09:06:14.729-05:00The Minnesota WestonsOur little family's journey from small town Michigan to the big city of Minneapolis, MN. Family life, homeschooling, working at home, grad school, photography, marriage, the home and design topics are covered.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-71695783145903801932016-09-14T12:04:00.001-05:002016-09-14T12:26:10.859-05:00I Stole This Pen: The Story of my Miscarriage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I stole the
pen that I am writing this with on the day that they confirmed that I had lost my
third child. Yes, I stole it. And one more.
It seemed like the only reasonable thing to do. I sat in the doctor’s office waiting for my
doctor to arrive and saw it sitting there.
And I knew, that is what would help in that one painful instant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H_pkVMZs8vc/V9mHrsX6rJI/AAAAAAAAEvY/v4OJ07EPu10aS01545ivbpJ1oPJmZ5XmgCLcB/s1600/I%2BSTOLE%2BTHIS%2BPEN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H_pkVMZs8vc/V9mHrsX6rJI/AAAAAAAAEvY/v4OJ07EPu10aS01545ivbpJ1oPJmZ5XmgCLcB/s320/I%2BSTOLE%2BTHIS%2BPEN.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My doctor
was late. She wasn’t even really my
doctor. My typical doctor, who I like, was out of town when I began spotting
and so I had been dealing with a perky little doctor who had told me that she
was “cautiously optimistic” even after spotting and poor HCG numbers that
barely rose because we had seen my little Baby Three still had a heartbeat and
was measuring right on schedule at 6 weeks.
I’d had to wait quite a while for her since she was late for our
appointment due to being at lunch. I was
so thankful that my little one still had a heartbeat, and was busy calling my
husband that I didn’t really think about her being late. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A week later
I sat in her office once again, again waiting for her to come in for our 11 am
appointment. I had come from the
facility across the street where they had confirmed my worst fears, and what I
already knew after a week of pain and loss like we had never known before. I already knew that my little one was gone,
that Baby Boy Three had left me. They
really only needed to tell me how long until I would be stuck in the dreaded
limbo of losing him slowly, over several weeks until I had the small hope of at
least feeling normal a few minutes of the day.
I was hopeful that it would be over soon, and that I could maybe forget
for a few minutes that I had survived something so horrible I couldn’t think of
it, even as it was all that I could think of from waking to fitful sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">She was over
20 minutes late this time. My wonderful
neighbor Karen was watching my boys for me, and I longed to get back to them,
to my wonderful sons who were so full of life, and she was late yet again, for
what? They had been dealing with this too, although they didn't know I was pregnant at the time. I had so many blood tests that even Judah at two would point at the hospital as we approach and say, "Mom, Boo Boo," and will sometimes point at my arm where I was often bruised and say the same. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I sat in that tiny, impersonal room hot with rage that I
was not being given this small dignity, longing for someone, something to blame
when I saw it. I think I wanted them to suffer in some small manner, not for my
pain, but for not seeming to understand that when a woman sat there vulnerable
and bleeding, the least that you could do was be on time to tell her that her
baby was dead and gone. Someone had died, but they were treating it like any other appointment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I had been
so inconvenienced in what seemed like a cruel way, that I wanted her to be
inconvenienced as well. I eyed the small
victory I could have once again. <i>Then, if she needs to write something down
she won’t have a pen. </i>Somehow in my grief
this made sense, although it roundly ignored that there were plenty of other
pens around in the facility, probably in her own pocket. It also ignored that a poor nurse would probably
be blamed for the lack of writing utensil in the room as a way that she had not
kept things equipped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I reached
for the Papermate and quickly stuffed it in the front zipper pocket of my
purse. I looked at the desk and realized
there was another pen there, and I grabbed it as well and snugged it next to
the other. <i>Now all they have in this room
is a highlighter. </i>I looked at the clock one more time and saw that it was
now after 11:30 and I had enough. I
didn’t believe that there was anything new that they could tell me. I already knew, my little bean was gone. I walked into the hallway, planning on
telling a nurse that I was leaving when of course, there was my doctor, leaning
casually against a wall and chatting with someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">"Oh, I am just about to come in and talk with you, Carrie." I gave her a look that communicated some of my doubt and then I returned to my room to talk to her. She didn't need to use a pen during our brief conversation in which we discussed what had happened and the need for still more blood tests and an instruction that maybe we would need to schedule a D&C (we didn't) but that this would all help me "Put this behind me." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 19.9733px;">A month and a half or so has passed since I physically got back to normal, but I don't think I will ever go back to being the person that I was. I kept thinking through all of this that I wanted to come away from this more loving, more compassionate, and more of the person who deserves to be a mom to my wonderful boys, here and in heaven. And my baby wouldn't want me to live my life continually in mourning. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 19.9733px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 19.9733px;">I also kept praying for my friends who have been though similar situations, those I know of, and those I don't know yet. So many of my friends have miscarried further along, too many have had stillborn little ones, or babies that have lived far to brief on this earth. Over the past year I have been praying for the ability to love the women around me better, and to really care for friends of mine both near and far. I just never thought that this was the way that it would happen. Although I knew with PCOS I would perhaps have to deal with this someday, I never guessed that it would be the thing that would help me to understand them better, and give me more insight and opportunity to love them more, to love all of you more. I think that is the best way that I can honor my little Baby Three. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-30527987135079152802013-05-16T12:37:00.000-05:002013-05-16T12:40:57.284-05:00The "Dark Stuff."<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I love my little son so much, and I am continually amazed at what he has learned and does, but one speech pattern he has been doing has amused me more than usual. Noah will often ask me for a snack and it seems like he is always eating. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sUEAlpv1eIc/UZUY6G_XCII/AAAAAAAADYs/2EcsuOFSKZI/s1600/DSC04399b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sUEAlpv1eIc/UZUY6G_XCII/AAAAAAAADYs/2EcsuOFSKZI/s320/DSC04399b.jpg" width="212" /></a>We have started a shelf for him on the bottom of the pantry that contains snacks that he can access himself and eat when he gets hungry while mom is busy cleaning/studying/writing etc. He is usually pretty happy with the granola bars, raisins, fruit cups (he even goes to get a spoon and brings me one upstairs too) and other snacks. He also knows where yogurts are in the freezer and cheese and baby carrots in the fridge However, there are times where the kid wants something a bit sweeter to whet his whistle and he has found a new way to try to get me to give him all sort of treats. <br />
<br />
"Mommie, I'm hungry." I tell him he can go pick something out. "Maaayyybe, something round?" He motions like a circle.<br />
<br />
"Like a carrot chip?" I ask, knowing what item in the pantry he wants.<br />
<br />
"No, something rounder? And big?"<br />
<br />
"Oh- you mean a cookie?"<br />
<br />
"Yeah, a cookie. That's good." This isn't the first time that he has been able to use his words to verbally trap us. When he used to be less adept at articulating words he would ask for something he knew we wouldn't normally be about to do, and then we would repeat it to clarify that we were hearing it correctly. <br />
<br />
"A movie?" <br />
<br />
"Okay." As if were the ones who had thought of it. No Buddy, we were just clarifying, not offering. <br />
<br />
Now, he has gone a step further and is using adjectives to try to get his point across. He just walked up to me a few minutes ago and asked of the double chocolate cookie dough I made a couple days ago, but haven't quite made it to the oven, and which I was sampling a little while ago. "What did you do with the dark stuff?"<br />
<br />
It is so interesting to hear how his language is developing, and that he is seeing these words as alternative ways to describe something that he wants, or one reason that he likes the object of his desire. Yes, the cookie dough is dark and chocolatey and yummy, and he knows somehow if he appeals to that aspect of the object, he just might have a better chance of getting it. I'm curious if he is showing this because he is taking after mom in writing, or if he is taking after daddy in his ability to sell. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-81578854750786481292013-05-06T09:31:00.000-05:002013-05-06T09:31:18.623-05:00Social Media Planning: Editorial Calendar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As anyone who has read this blog knows that i love me a good printable. In fact, by far my most popular <a href="http://pinterest.com/carrie_h_weston/boards/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> Board is dedicated to <a href="http://pinterest.com/carrie_h_weston/digital-freebies/" target="_blank">Digital Freebies</a> that have made my life easier, or are just something enjoyable. <br />
<br />
Recently, I have been scouring the web for an editorial calendar for my blogs and social media. I have used an social media calendar int eh past, but never found one that worked well enough for me to stick with it. Until <a href="http://www.ekcetera.com/designstudio/2011/social-media-planning-editorial-calendar-template/" target="_blank">now</a>. One of the best parts of my discovery is that the graphic designer that created the blogging calendar is a fellow Minneapolis resident. I always love to send a little linkage to a fellow Minnesotan.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ekcetera.com/" target="_blank">Ekcetera Design Studio</a> is a local graphic designer and creative and she is offering not only a free social media planning calendar <a href="http://www.ekcetera.com/designstudio/2011/social-media-planning-editorial-calendar-template/" target="_blank">template</a>, but she also has a free e-book as well as some great simple tutorials for small businesses and social media for those of you who are newbies to the whole social media management game.<br />
<br />
I've changed a few of the fields in my version of the template since I don't particularly use YouTube all that much (hopefully in the future.) I also prefer to have a printed version of the calendar to work with and scribble on and cross out, so I had to scoot a few things in order to make it all fit on one standard sheet. For the most part though, the logic of the organization for this social media calendar trumps by far what I was using in the past. Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.ekcetera.com/" target="_blank">Ekcetera Design</a> and let her know that I sent you. ;)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-42537850605934908452013-03-08T11:49:00.003-06:002013-03-08T11:51:24.690-06:00New School, New Home...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
The catchphrase for this blog used to be something like "New State, New Marriage, New Job, New Home." Now, once again we have added in a few new "news" into our life. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The Minnesota Westons have been on the move once again. We have moved out of our little bedroom community and into a suburb of Minneapolis that reminds us more of our life in MI, and gives us many of the amenities and the lower crime rate that we need in a home. Now, our old place wasn't a horrible city to live in, but I think that our part of town was a little less nice than others. Most of us on our street had been robbed at some point-- thankfully just stuff from our cars and yards, although one of the neighbors did lose 2 snowmobiles. The thieves drove right up into their yard and hooked the trailer to their truck and drove off. <br />
<br />
A train derailment happened about a 1/4 of a mile away- thankfully carrying corn and not anything flamable. Our place was tiny, had termites and after we left we found out that it was near 7 Superfund sites. As you can probably guess, we are very happy and blessed to be in our new home and adjusting to having more space and have happily cozied up for the winter. We are still getting settled, but I am going to try to post a small house tour on here soon. <br />
<br />
Noah has a few new things as well, he has started "School" as much as we are doing it. He is actually at his local Co-Op right now, which is wonderful because it gives me some time every other week to run errands or have appointments that would otherwise be difficult with him along. Or just to sit and study in the lobby of the church that hosts us. At first he wanted to know that I was in the building with him, but now he barely blinks when I leave and is planning on being a "Daddy" with one of his little girlfriends there.<br />
<br />
One further new is for me: I entered Grad School a little more than a year ago. At first I was reluctant to talk about it because quite honestly, I wasn't sure if I would be able to cut it and to make it through with Noah and moving and all of the other stuff going on in my life, but now I am looking at the home stretch and I have less than a year and my thesis to complete! Strategic Communication Management is an intriguing field right now as we make the move in online communication from using social media as fun to using in a more deliberate way to enhance our business and social lives. I am hoping once I am done to get back into teaching at the Community College level, and to continue to consult with businesses regarding their content marketing needs.<br />
<br />
After all of those changes it is nice to finally be getting established in our new routine, and thankfully, the new routines are proving to be more enjoyable, productive and meaningful than anything before. <br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Minnesota, USA46.729553 -94.68589980000001641.125118 -105.01304830000001 52.333988000000005 -84.358751300000023tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-86858869038626393392012-07-09T12:45:00.000-05:002012-07-09T13:05:39.593-05:00Bucket of Balls Preschool Homeschool Activity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Activity:</b> Shape Sorting of Different "B" items into buckets.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Goal: </b>To learn more about the letter "B" as well as to differentiate between different shapes and items. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Cost:</b>
Plastic Bin- $1 from Target, Balls- $2.72 from Target, but you can use
any balls you happen to have on hand, Blocks-$1.00 Once Upon a Child.
Total: $4.72 </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Creating Your Own:</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So simple- I just selected small, yet baby safe items from around the house and a few newly purchased. <a href="http://noahday.blogspot.com/p/learning.html">March's</a>
letter of the month is "B" so I chose buckets, balls, blocks, a box
(the ring box from my engagement ring) and we have also had a boat and a
few other things in it during the month. </span></div>
<div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Playing with Your Little One:</b></span></div>
<div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I
purposely chose to include small tin buckets that I had previously
bought from the Target dollar spot near the door so that Noah can
practice sorting like objects into the buckets. Typically I begin
playing with him by putting a ball in one bucket and a block in the
other and asking him, "Where are all the balls?" </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tell
your little one the name of each item, making sure to pronounce the
first letter of the word, usually I say something like, "B-bu-bu, ball.
B-bu-bu, block. They both start with the letter "B." </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9sVz429o4o8/T_sYL2eiiVI/AAAAAAAACt4/ZxvEO5H9RMc/s1600/DSC01212DSC01212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="homeschooling preschool activity" border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9sVz429o4o8/T_sYL2eiiVI/AAAAAAAACt4/ZxvEO5H9RMc/s200/DSC01212DSC01212.JPG" title="Bucket of balls homeschooling preschool activity" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Noah
will also play independantly by filling the buckets and practice his
fine motor skills with pouring the balls from one bucket to another or
bouncing the balls, as well as stacking the blocks.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Adaptions for Different Ages:</span></b></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Under One Year: </i>What child
doesn't love playing with a ball at any age? At this point, you can
still be introducing letters and tell your children the names of objects
in their box, but obviously, not much else will be done aside from
gnawing on the toys, which is just what should be happening.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>One to Three Years: </i>My
current goal for Noah is to increase his awareness of letters and not
necessarily to learn to read. I don't subscribe to the whole, "Your
Baby Can Read" system, although they do get a few things right, like the
intentional play and the making learning a part of life. That is why I
am taking a whole month on one letter, and discussing letters in
general, teaching him spelling of his name (which he is currently one
letter away from doing!)</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>Older Kids:</i>
Obviously, older kids will be able to handle increasingly complicated
sorting of objects, and providing them with manipulatives that can be
categorized in more than one way is a great idea. They can sort objects
by color and by shape-- such as providing blue and yellow blocks and
balls. Then they can decide which attribute to categorize the objects
under.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-18493642968236709032011-12-21T09:56:00.000-06:002011-12-21T10:15:37.302-06:00Free Christmas Card Templates<br />
I have been working on my design skills in Photoshop, and while experimenting I created these two simple Christmas Card templates that I am happy to offer free to my readers. These templates are in psd format and can be used by anyone with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003B32B2I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theminnwest-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003B32B2I">Adobe Photoshop CS5</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theminnwest-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B003B32B2I" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005MMMT6E/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theminnwest-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005MMMT6E">PSE</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theminnwest-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005MMMT6E" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.<br />
<br />
To use the templates, users will need to be able to use clipping masks. The best tutorial I have found for beginning users is from <a href="http://www.thecoffeeshopblog.com/2009/05/clipping-masks-unmasked-and-free.html">The CoffeeShop Blog</a>. Rita, the author also has a ton of other wonderful tutorials, Actions, templates and other digital design freebies. She is one of the first and best sources I have found when I first started using Photoshop, and wonderfully a lot of her stuff works or can be adapted for PSE users. <br />
<br />
<br />
These templates are free for anyone for personal usage, but not for use in commercial ventures, be it selling these templates as your own, using them for photography clients, or using the images in these samples. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
To download Template #1 click<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?gwi7qk0d2wwiy70"> here</a> then right click on the file and select "Extract All." <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1K71lEMkdC0/TvH_6Ygp-8I/AAAAAAAABPU/UntW7B00_So/s1600/CWC+Christmas+Card+template+1+sample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1K71lEMkdC0/TvH_6Ygp-8I/AAAAAAAABPU/UntW7B00_So/s400/CWC+Christmas+Card+template+1+sample.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image Credit: Carrie Weston Photography</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To download Template #2 click <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?w7a5hihy6rt0sts">here</a> then right click on the file and select "Extract All."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-WL9LO6TDY/TvH_8M4NA7I/AAAAAAAABPc/cuXoA1-rA70/s1600/CWC+Christmas+Card+template+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-WL9LO6TDY/TvH_8M4NA7I/AAAAAAAABPc/cuXoA1-rA70/s400/CWC+Christmas+Card+template+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-53324490240298502882011-10-26T16:17:00.000-05:002012-07-09T14:14:51.367-05:00Apples-- Week 2 and the Resistance of Overplanning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just a few scant weeks into the beginning of Mommie School/ Pre-Homeschooling Noah I came to a realization. I was waaay too overplanned for what I was wanting to do with him. Worked into my schedule were two week and one week themes, which made sense during the planning phase of summer. I wanted to have one theme per alphabet letter and follow a lot of the Tot School and other online curriculum for toddlers was guiding me to.<br />
<br />
However, with only one child and the abundance of activities and games available out there, I was finding it hard to print it all, ready it all and to keep Noah's attention to simple do the number of good activities out there during our daily time down in the family room. So my choice was to either forget some activities or forget some themes: I opted for the latter.<br />
<br />
Not that the information out there on Tot School and other sites is bad, but for us I really wanted to opt for a more relaxed plan for this special time. I want Noah to know that the time I spend teaching him is, from the beginning, a time for him to explore and have fun, and that I am willing to learn at his pace and in the way that suits us best. I want to be spending more time with him and less time planning and cutting and laminating (although I do love my laminator that the Hubs got me for my birthday a ridiculous amount.)<br />
<br />
So we found ourselves with a second week of Apples in my revised plan, and we had a wonderful time outside playing in the apples at <a href="http://www.minnetonkaorchards.com/">Minnetonka Orchards</a> with a great group I am involved with from Meetup.com. It is a haul from up here in the north metro of the Twin Cities, but it was a wonderful getaway from our daily routine and Noah loved the trees, the train play-structure as well as the animals in the small farm area. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6GTDyFj9kXA/TqhqbL-saaI/AAAAAAAABJY/xYglkatV-Cc/s1600/DSC02434075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6GTDyFj9kXA/TqhqbL-saaI/AAAAAAAABJY/xYglkatV-Cc/s400/DSC02434075.JPG" width="250" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hdEt4aSAzxI/Tqhrx_5ml4I/AAAAAAAABKI/RowqnfE7-wc/s1600/DSC02468084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hdEt4aSAzxI/Tqhrx_5ml4I/AAAAAAAABKI/RowqnfE7-wc/s400/DSC02468084.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kJ2uASxu1oA/TqhqgMYZgJI/AAAAAAAABJo/--AcK5AQ8CU/s1600/DSC02447080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kJ2uASxu1oA/TqhqgMYZgJI/AAAAAAAABJo/--AcK5AQ8CU/s400/DSC02447080.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sotFkObFPG4/TqhqcuPkHpI/AAAAAAAABJg/9v4eizAaNyw/s1600/DSC02445078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sotFkObFPG4/TqhqcuPkHpI/AAAAAAAABJg/9v4eizAaNyw/s640/DSC02445078.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jAX2i0St_Ew/TqhrvFeVpcI/AAAAAAAABKA/dM8kOXBwInw/s1600/DSC02466083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jAX2i0St_Ew/TqhrvFeVpcI/AAAAAAAABKA/dM8kOXBwInw/s400/DSC02466083.JPG" width="267" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hPIWIaR25fk/Tqhqh43z7-I/AAAAAAAABJw/HaX_5jxNj8M/s1600/DSC02453081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hPIWIaR25fk/Tqhqh43z7-I/AAAAAAAABJw/HaX_5jxNj8M/s400/DSC02453081.JPG" width="267" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gVnCBOEJpyE/Tqhrr7j1YrI/AAAAAAAABJ4/M9ewz9jL2GA/s1600/DSC02455082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gVnCBOEJpyE/Tqhrr7j1YrI/AAAAAAAABJ4/M9ewz9jL2GA/s640/DSC02455082.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We rounded out our week's activities with one of the classic preschool apple activities- apple painting. Noah used the halved apples for stamping, but actually enjoyed using a brush to paint the apples themselves more than anything. Noah is still somewhat phobic when it comes to getting his hands sticky, so I like to allow him the freedom to use a brush or use his hands when it is time to get messy. <br />
<br />
(This is also one of the last activities we did on our old breakfast table that we recently replaced. Chair recovering and table refinishing posts coming soon!) :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MdifS09BETI/Tqh09mmb1PI/AAAAAAAABKo/RsWWZtv8u04/s1600/DSC02476088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MdifS09BETI/Tqh09mmb1PI/AAAAAAAABKo/RsWWZtv8u04/s320/DSC02476088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qx5ZHSmvVlM/Tqh05aOZP3I/AAAAAAAABKQ/hqJZA-qU_TM/s1600/DSC02479A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qx5ZHSmvVlM/Tqh05aOZP3I/AAAAAAAABKQ/hqJZA-qU_TM/s320/DSC02479A.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sjiOoU4ZPlg/Tqh07misRWI/AAAAAAAABKY/0u3GD11loDg/s1600/DSC02481A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sjiOoU4ZPlg/Tqh07misRWI/AAAAAAAABKY/0u3GD11loDg/s320/DSC02481A.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7IzuX71Q7Vk/Tqh08tydfGI/AAAAAAAABKg/YBsjtZZGzfI/s1600/DSC02486A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7IzuX71Q7Vk/Tqh08tydfGI/AAAAAAAABKg/YBsjtZZGzfI/s320/DSC02486A.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-50629180923654386682011-09-30T15:44:00.001-05:002011-09-30T15:49:51.472-05:00Friday Photo Bliss-- Fire Safety Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bsM6mftCzN4/ToYojJ31QMI/AAAAAAAABJQ/enA4cYvFdBo/s1600/noahfirestation001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bsM6mftCzN4/ToYojJ31QMI/AAAAAAAABJQ/enA4cYvFdBo/s640/noahfirestation001.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
Whew-- I haven't posted one of these in a long time, but I am so over the blogger guilt for not posting, when really I am writing this blog as a creative outlet and a way to share our life with family and friends we are far from. No blog boss is going to come along and chastise me for not posting.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, I am trying to get back into sharing these, because Noah really is too gorgeous not to share. ;) After the photos I've shared recently though it is beginning to look to you all like Noah is a silly, clumsy little boy who is constantly<a href="http://minnesotawestons.blogspot.com/2011/07/friday-photo-fun.html"> sticking things in his ears</a>, when really he is pretty coordinated and a pretty good little dancer to boot.<br />
<br />
Buddy, next week's photo will show what a suave, cool dude you are-- Mommie promises! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-16460410370693822612011-09-17T15:24:00.000-05:002011-09-17T15:24:39.259-05:00Fall Decorations- Halloween Bats and SilhouettesConfession time: I am one of <i>those people.</i> You know-- the type that gets their fall decorations and holiday goodies out way too soon. I listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, and as soon as August ended, I opened up my <a href="http://pinterest.com/carrie_h_weston/fall-decor/">Pinterest board </a>full of fall digital freebies and got to work in our living room.<br />
<br />
<br />
It has been a mission of mine to actually use the wonderful tutorials and freebies that I spend hours looking over and downloading from that very addictive site, and I have loved all of the inspiration that Pinterest has given me, as well as being a great way to find money saving ideas for decorating my home for the holidays. One of the first things I have done is decorate a pair of display shelves in the living room where I regularly rotate out seasonal decor. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-illPusbwDog/TnT2Wh9SOzI/AAAAAAAABJM/SghjK2g0qjg/s1600/blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-illPusbwDog/TnT2Wh9SOzI/AAAAAAAABJM/SghjK2g0qjg/s640/blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I created the Frankenstein's Monster and Witch silhouettes using these printable and free spooky <a href="http://www.bhg.com/halloween/crafts/unique-halloween-craft-ideas/">templates</a> from BHG. I simply downloaded and printed the outlines, and used them as stencils on two Halloween-ey scrapbook papers that I picked up in the Dollar Spot at Target on clearance last year after the holiday. Using inexpensive frames I already had on hand (in fact one of these is usually up there with another image in it) I was able to further increase my savings and decrease the amount of seasonal decor. I have to store. <br />
<br />
I am also adorning my living room with a flock (is that the right word?) of spooky black bats using<a href="http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/halloween-templates-1009?click=main_sr"> this template</a> from Country Living. These easy to make bats are created by borrowing a few pieces of my son's construction paper (or scrapbook paper) and folding, tracing and cutting. I then used some painter's tape to fasten the creepy things to the walls. <br />
<br />
I admit, this is a bit early to begin decorating for Halloween, even for our holiday- happy family like ours, but due to a lot of schedule shuffling and a crazy work schedule for the Hubs, we are going to be in and out of town so much this autumn that I need to enjoy it while I can. And I am also adding more to the decorations that won't have to come down once November hits. <br />
<br />
Back to crafting!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-6827745993120328512011-09-14T12:20:00.001-05:002012-07-09T14:15:26.999-05:00A is for Apple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This week marks the first full week of my pre-homeschooling Noah. I have struggled with what to even call it, because obviously he is too young for traditional school, but he is to the point of loving more structured play and games. <br />
<br />
We began last week with calendar, stories and games. I am keeping it simple and only working with Noah for as long as he is interested in the activities I have planned. I have been pleasantly surprised with how much he seems to look forward to these times, and with how he is always excited whenever I say, "Noah, should we go downstairs and play some games?" <br />
<br />
"Okay!" (For some reason this is how he always answers when we ask him if he wants to do something. We're working on a more polite version, but this is so cute I'm not trying too hard.)<br />
<br />
We are beginning with the classic preschool first theme of <b>Apples</b>, and doing apple crafts, counting apples and most of all-- eating apples. There have been several activities that just haven't happened, either because of Noah's 2 year old attention span, or because he happens to be teething and just wants a, "Cu-ddle," which is the main thing he needs at his age. <br />
<br />
Typically we do an extremely simple calendar, where he puts the number on the calendar, we sing the days of the week, a few other songs and read a few stories. Then we play a few games which transitions into working in the rest of the room. <br />
<br />
One of Noah's favorite activities is looking in his nature bowl. We put things that he has collected on recent walks in the bowl along with some magnifying glasses and a couple paint brush. You wouldn't believe how dirty those stones seem to be and how much cleaning they need. :) I will be occasionally adding water to this to add another sensory element and let him brush the rocks, twigs etc. and notice the changes in color and feel. <br />
<br />
One word of caution-- be sure that the acorns, rocks etc. have no bugs or other things growing on them or you could have quite a mess. Sadly in a few short weeks we will not have to worry as much as temperatures drop and the world outside begins to hibernate. A nature table or bowl is a great way to avoid having anything hatch in your little one's room and confine the collecting to a reasonable amount. As a child I was always known for gathering a bit too many rocks and things from the outdoors. I soon had to keep my collection under the deck of my parent's home, where many of my former treasures remain to this day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e8PUCKlRFw8/TnDN363fUpI/AAAAAAAABI4/nOddZiw3EJg/s1600/DSC02382020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e8PUCKlRFw8/TnDN363fUpI/AAAAAAAABI4/nOddZiw3EJg/s640/DSC02382020.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7FEwpNfQpEM/TnDN8ZardiI/AAAAAAAABI8/7hW978RNdxQ/s1600/DSC02391024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7FEwpNfQpEM/TnDN8ZardiI/AAAAAAAABI8/7hW978RNdxQ/s640/DSC02391024.JPG" width="446" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For out thematic elements we are using some of the thematic elements from<a href="http://totallytots.blogspot.com/2009/09/once-upon-book-apples-apples.html"> Totally Tots</a> as well as their simple <a href="http://totallytots.homestead.com/InMyHeart2.html">verse and printables</a> for this theme. Obviously, Noah is too young for verse memorization on a meaningful level, but I believe in introducing the Word of God at an early age and hiding it in his heart for as long as he can remember. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For the simple thematic art project pictured below I simply gave Noah a paper plate with an uppercase <b>A </b>printed on the back. Then I gave him glue, paper to rip, and as many other red art supplies as I could get my hands on and let him glue and create. Admittedly, I did guide him with the pipe cleaner stem and leaf, but I work really hard to let him enjoy the process of creation without putting my idea of what he should create. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFTsqEi7fv4/TnDS6EkOMoI/AAAAAAAABJE/NU3A8xmhgKE/s1600/apple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFTsqEi7fv4/TnDS6EkOMoI/AAAAAAAABJE/NU3A8xmhgKE/s640/apple.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-47492047541793537432011-09-13T22:51:00.000-05:002011-09-13T22:51:18.362-05:00State FairSadly, I am so backed up with work and home that I have been negelcting you, my few readers, lately. I have been so busy with doing the photo editing I have to do, that I haven't had much time for the posting the photos of things I simply have wanted to be doing.<br />
<br />
I am going to endeavor to catch up over the next few days, but I feel in saying that that I am committing one of the blogging deadly sins. It seems like every time I read a blog that hasn't been updated recently the last post is filled with exhortations of how they pledge to keep up better with posting and how they have so much to write about in the next months.<br />
<br />
In this case I will let my photos do the speaking for me on our trip to the State Fair in all of its Minnesota- wonderfulness.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2WCOsp0Xnn4/TnAjnCayedI/AAAAAAAABIo/hIjwh2k-LEw/s1600/sate+fair1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2WCOsp0Xnn4/TnAjnCayedI/AAAAAAAABIo/hIjwh2k-LEw/s640/sate+fair1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DxmbZC6qucI/TnAjsCW51aI/AAAAAAAABIs/iadtE4O3XIM/s1600/state+fair+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DxmbZC6qucI/TnAjsCW51aI/AAAAAAAABIs/iadtE4O3XIM/s640/state+fair+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dUes_gyhcV8/TnAjzGEzcGI/AAAAAAAABI0/8FEdNEjQyHk/s1600/state+fair+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dUes_gyhcV8/TnAjzGEzcGI/AAAAAAAABI0/8FEdNEjQyHk/s640/state+fair+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kEUfKbV6i-k/TnAjvqsynOI/AAAAAAAABIw/RJCvBCMI2c4/s1600/state+fair+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kEUfKbV6i-k/TnAjvqsynOI/AAAAAAAABIw/RJCvBCMI2c4/s640/state+fair+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"What are the piggie doing Noah?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Nurse!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yup, he still knows him some nursing when he sees it, and is still interested in breasts of any kind. I have only made it through the John Deere and Miracle of Birth Center photos so far, so there may be more coming, but even for that alone I am so thankful that we got to visit the Fair with Grandpa Jerry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-16458363355797857862011-08-26T13:00:00.000-05:002011-08-26T13:00:12.977-05:00Color Inspiration-- Fragile Petals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JT7rsguxpvA/TlfZIiwD21I/AAAAAAAABBQ/ULZSKlUyE3A/s1600/color+swatch+shaw+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JT7rsguxpvA/TlfZIiwD21I/AAAAAAAABBQ/ULZSKlUyE3A/s400/color+swatch+shaw+flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>You know those blogs and people that inspire you? Those that don't just do fun crafts, but those that try to foster a spirit of creativity in their readers? Wish I was more like that. However, Patty Schaffer-- the wonderful blogger of<a href="http://pattyschaffer.typepad.com/capture_the_details/2011/08/color-inspiration-no-2-heirloom-harvest.html"> Capture the Details</a>, who I recently found through <a href="http://pinterest.com/carrie_h_weston/">Pinterest </a>is one of those women. I love her eye for color combinations in general, and when she began creating color swatches based on photos the "details" in life I was really hooked. <br />
<br />
And, of course, I wanted to create one of my own. The photo I chose was from a <a href="http://www.carriewestonphoto.com/2011/08/wisconsin-garden-photography.html">recent landscape photography session</a> I did. This vase was sitting on my client's wonderful long porch-- the kind with rocking chairs an a sweet little table perfect for curling up with tea and a book on a cool summer evening. (Sigh) I wanted to capture the beauty of the flowers, but I am also loving the way that the light green of the stems in the vase seems to be glowing within the darker glass.<br />
<br />
These color explorations can be used in selecting colors in digital scrapbooking and design, choosing the right paint colors for your home, or fabric for quilting or other crafts. Coming soon will be a template so that you can create these yourself, and I am kind of hooked on making these. I am so excited to take these colors and put them into play in other ways!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-17409001307763292932011-08-22T23:41:00.000-05:002012-07-09T14:15:57.911-05:005 In a Row-- Bunnies and Monkeys and Ducks, Oh My!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Over the summer we have been taking it pretty easy-- busy summer schedule or swimming and park visits not included. However, summer is coming to a close and with it Noah and I will be moving into a time of more focused learning and reading. <br />
I won't say that we are homeschooling per-se, but we are at least going to be using this year to pursue the possibility and see how it feels. A part of that is having a greater sense of a theme, and with it thematic books. However, I have been debating how I would like to present these books to Noah. We aren't in a formal classroom, and I don't think that he would flourish under falsely created school-like conditions. Instead I have been looking for a way to make sure that we are really getting to know the stories that we are pulling from our shelves and the library shelves and get to know the characters therein. <br />
<br />
Imagine my delight to come across a recent post at <a href="http://www.theimaginationtree.com/">The Imagination Tree</a> detailing her weekly link party of <a href="http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2011/08/5-day-books-bears.html">5 In a Row Books</a>. As Anna Ranson on Imagination Tree states, <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><i>"The idea is that you choose 5 titles from among your usual books (or from the library) and read them every single day for at least a week....short picture books which feature strong rhythm and/ or repeated refrain so that the children can quickly memorise the words and join in with the story-telling. This empowers them to be able to "read" and re-tell stories from a young age, and also makes them very fluent in a range of text types and literature styles."</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It is great to see other families interested in this and read of their experiences with reading the same books over and over for a week and seeing how their child responds. Now, reading at least 5 a day isn't a problem out here for Momma Weston. Often Noah will move between Jim and I having a book read 2 or three times in a row, and every night he knows he gets 4 books before bed, and catches me on it if I try to skimp. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Some nights when I am exhausted before we go in there to read I wish I had set it up from the beginning as 3 before bed, but most nights I am curious what he will choose and excited as he notices more and more detail in the illustrations. I won't be limiting myself at bedtime to read these selections every day, but it helps to have that built in time to focus on Noah and his burgeoning love of the written word. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Reading 5 a day is no issue, but it will be a challenge to be faithful and read each of these books every day, as Noah is lately scattered in his book choices, where he used to want to read the same books every day several times for months. (I'm a bit happy to have the variety.) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For our first week I am picking books from Noah's regular selections that he has been choosing lately and as we proceed into the month of September I will try to choose books more on theme. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tonight was my second day of reading all 5, and this evening Noah had a minor meltdown at bedtime. His Da is working a show at the Convention Center right now, which means he</span><br />
is up and away before Noah wakes, working the weekend and staying later in the evening, and Noah was enjoying some Da-snuggle time on the couch when it was time to go to bed and he wasn't very happy, but the meltdown showed just how much he needed the sleep. <br />
<br />
But, I digress. I asked him what he wanted to read as his first book; usually something transportation themed wins out, but tonight he sniffed and told me, "Bunny-- flower." It took me a minute, but then I realized he had been speaking of Margaret Wise Brown's adorable book about a Mother Bunny whose son is threatening to run away. In one page her little one tells her that he will hide as a crocus in a hidden garden, and she tells him that if he does that, she will follow and be a gardener. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9nOr9zlmnm8/TlMulQ7WGqI/AAAAAAAABBM/Zgkliau-2l0/s1600/bill+grogan%2527s+goat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9nOr9zlmnm8/TlMulQ7WGqI/AAAAAAAABBM/Zgkliau-2l0/s1600/bill+grogan%2527s+goat.jpg" /></a>Yup, after a meltdown all that would soothe my usual rough and tumble boy is reading about a bunny that turns into a flower-- he even sniffs the pages of books when he sees flowers on them, which is about the most adorably, achingly cute thing ever! <br />
<br />
Our Selections:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060775823/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theminnwest-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0060775823">The Runaway Bunny</a> by Margaret Wise Brown<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003X09Y2Y/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theminnwest-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003X09Y2Y">Curious George and the Bunny</a> by H.A. Rey<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0395900239/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theminnwest-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0395900239">5 Little Monkies Jumping on the Bed</a> by Eileen Christelow<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1558587004/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theminnwest-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1558587004">5 Little Ducks Went Out One Day</a> by Pamela Paparone<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002D6DA6/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theminnwest-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0002D6DA6">Bill Grogan's Goat</a> byMary Ann Hoberman</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-16860229781592879052011-08-18T16:31:00.000-05:002011-08-18T16:31:24.536-05:00Free Printable Verse- Zephaniah 3:14-15<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CJnm5po-rkw/Tk2EC7z1UrI/AAAAAAAABBA/pGAQm4vmJPo/s1600/zephaniah+with+copyright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CJnm5po-rkw/Tk2EC7z1UrI/AAAAAAAABBA/pGAQm4vmJPo/s400/zephaniah+with+copyright.jpg" width="308" /></a>Recently I have had a renewed longing to have the Word of God around me on a daily basis. Before I was a mom, I never had the issue of finding time to set apart for prayers during the day, and now that I am busy with a little one and everything else I find the old adage is true: I really am "too busy not to pray."<br />
<br />
And to accomplish this I and working to have more verses up around my house that are encouraging reminders of the importance of the joyful spirit I am supposed to have.<br />
<br />
One of my favorite verses of all time was one that I knew I needed up -- Zephaniah 3:14-15. At a very difficult time in my life this verse was very impactful and spoke to me as a young woman. This file contains the verse in the version you see here as well as aversion on white with turquoise accents-- just in case you were looking to save a bit of ink from your printer. :) It is in both jpeg and PDF formats for you to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href='http://www.mediafire.com/?w50a76ay0a89chg'>http://www.mediafire.com/?w50a76ay0a89chg</a>">download</a> for your personal use.<br />
<br />
If you happen to download this image and print it out, I would love to see where you have it displayed, so feel free to leave your link in the comments below!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-64602917450151382512011-08-16T22:42:00.000-05:002012-07-09T14:16:21.084-05:00A Day on the Farm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Noah and I took advantage of the lovely weather we've been having at the end of this summer to full advantage. We have had one of the hottest/coldest/wettest/ most humid summers I've seen and there has always been something interfering with us enjoying ourselves too much. In fact, even tonight it has been storming here in Fridley. <br />
<br />
However, this morning was sunny and beautiful and mercifully in the low 80s for a trip to nearby <a href="http://www.brooklynpark.org/sitepages/pid630.php">Eidem Homestead</a>-- a historical farm of the city of Brooklyn Park that was having a free event. In spite of some serious busyness we couldn't pass up the chance to see real animals.<br />
<br />
After wandering and seeing the sheep, goats, cow, chickens and ducks, we met up with Sharon and her son Matthew, who are members of a Meetup group I am involved in. Our boys hadn't seen each other in quite some time, but in that way that little kids do, they were back to being friends in seconds. Matthew took Noah by the hand and led him to the farm's large sleigh and they spent quite some time figuring out how to best conquer the mountainous wooden seat. There was some unintentional apple eating from one of the apple trees on the property, and our stroller was almost eaten by a goat, but Noah was so brave with touching and feeding the animals and no fingers were eaten, so a wonderful morning was had by all.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgHx4UHY43Q/Tks0oliWJCI/AAAAAAAABAQ/RlIlqo7WKTc/s1600/eidem3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgHx4UHY43Q/Tks0oliWJCI/AAAAAAAABAQ/RlIlqo7WKTc/s640/eidem3.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5bZWwu0IYPE/Tks0v7A7HpI/AAAAAAAABAY/mqiKTnDaaRY/s1600/eidem+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5bZWwu0IYPE/Tks0v7A7HpI/AAAAAAAABAY/mqiKTnDaaRY/s640/eidem+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sbJYFxnsRp0/Tks1G57Eb8I/AAAAAAAABAs/g6NwJm3MCMc/s1600/ediem+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sbJYFxnsRp0/Tks1G57Eb8I/AAAAAAAABAs/g6NwJm3MCMc/s640/ediem+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9N-sAxGO_cY/Tks00Wnxy9I/AAAAAAAABAc/90a-z3vLb1U/s1600/eidem+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9N-sAxGO_cY/Tks00Wnxy9I/AAAAAAAABAc/90a-z3vLb1U/s640/eidem+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--NaUNWl8Kik/Tks09LaKmuI/AAAAAAAABAg/RSvGlBAwtnQ/s1600/eidem+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--NaUNWl8Kik/Tks09LaKmuI/AAAAAAAABAg/RSvGlBAwtnQ/s640/eidem+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2QYb9KJyt7o/Tks1EZHMdaI/AAAAAAAABAo/ylYJq2BgJc4/s1600/ediem+blog+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2QYb9KJyt7o/Tks1EZHMdaI/AAAAAAAABAo/ylYJq2BgJc4/s640/ediem+blog+3.jpg" width="438" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1e6-3DXO1o4/Tks1IlH4ILI/AAAAAAAABAw/nhjiFjwiIRQ/s1600/ediem+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1e6-3DXO1o4/Tks1IlH4ILI/AAAAAAAABAw/nhjiFjwiIRQ/s640/ediem+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-56511515776125759122011-08-12T16:05:00.001-05:002011-08-12T16:06:40.992-05:00Proof That I Eat Cereal The Right WayYup. You read the title right. I eat cereal the correct way, but I have been mocked for it from childhood. Never one to do what everyone else was doing just because they were doing it, I decided pretty early on that I didn't like soggy cereal, but I did like to eat a leisurely speed.<br />
<br />
So for the past 20-25 years or so I have been eating my cereal dry. I fill a nice glass with cold milk to have with my cereal and take a bite from my spoon, take a sip of milk and then have a delicious crispy bite of my Cocoa Krispies each time, while friends and family have laughed at me. Meanwhile, they suffer through soggy bowl after soggy bowl. <br />
<br />
When I became a mom it was actually discussed if Noah would eat cereal like me or "like a normal person." (Incidentally, if I give him dry cereal and cup of milk he almost immediately dumps it in his bowl, but I think that is just toddlerhood.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D5u0pjowedU/TkWUal3dP5I/AAAAAAAABAI/NIJWtArPtCw/s1600/Obol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D5u0pjowedU/TkWUal3dP5I/AAAAAAAABAI/NIJWtArPtCw/s200/Obol.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Imagine my delight to discover proof that I have been right all along. Meet <a href="http://simplemom.net/the-opulent-ability-to-give/">The Obol</a>. A bowl designed with two reservoirs that allows you to sweep each bite of cereal down to the milk and have a crispy bite each time! Love it! See everyone? <br />
<br />
I know, I am bit irrationally pleased with myself, but when faced with proof that people had to invent something to do what I just naturally did as a child is more than a bit pleasing to me. <br />
<br />
Family and friends, you might just see this in your stockings for Christmas so that every time you eat breakfast you have to remember my rightness. :)<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-15574443252637108642011-08-04T22:13:00.000-05:002011-08-04T22:13:04.658-05:00Printable Budget Quick Sheet<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Are there ever small things that you never thought would annoy you, and then this little annoyance becomes a great big pet peeve? </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xeWdB_nF_ns/TjtYp9Hb8-I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/8UAHB4XrftA/s1600/Monthly+Blog+BudgetAugust+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xeWdB_nF_ns/TjtYp9Hb8-I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/8UAHB4XrftA/s200/Monthly+Blog+BudgetAugust+2011.jpg" width="154" /></a>In our home my current annoyance has been the way that bills seem to accumulate and are never where I need them when the time comes to pay. When bills enter our house, they typically go into a folder that hangs on a shelf in our kitchen until they head downstairs to the office to be filed. Some bills we no longer get paper notifications for, and usually get paid as we get the notice in our inboxes. </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, the phone is upstairs, my computer may be up or down, and it all results in bills that have been paid being in the same pile as bills waiting to be paid and much more paperwork than seems reasonable for a small family of three to have to deal with on a regular basis. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">To combat this I made this quick little sheet to help me organize due dates, amounts etc. and not have to wonder if I can carry that stack of papers or if I am forgetting something. Now, when a bill comes into the house, I look at them each day, and write on this sheet the next due date, and when it is due. When I pay a particular bill, I write the actual date it was paid, the amount and confirmation number. This way I don't have to break out my computer or the filing system to know that we're keeping our budget buttoned up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This is not a typical budget spreadsheet as it contains no way to add or subtract and no formulas. I have simply laminated the sheet using my lovely recent birthday gift, and we write in permanent marker as the bills arrive. <strong>Quick tip: </strong>If you run over permanent marker on many laminated or white board surfaces with a white board erasable marker, then the permanent marker will wipe right off. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">You can simply print off one of these sheets for each month as well, if it is easier to do so that way and have a permanent record. Around every payday when we do bills and actually file the bills, I run the sheet downstairs to the office and enter in the info. into our actual budget. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>Download the PDF<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?9lf8pfh0cfiiw6w"> here</a></em><em>.</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>Download the jpg. <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=03fivhtxx0ac3c6&thumb=4">here</a>.</em> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>Download the</em> <em>psd. </em><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?zhkzmuot1x46xk1"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I used this lovely <a href="http://www.lilblueboo.com/2011/07/doodle-overlays-summer-set-free-download.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LilBlueBoo+%28Lil+Blue+Boo%29">airplane doodle</a> from <strong>lil blue boo </strong>and the yellow background fabric is a PS Action from <strong>the Coffee Shop Blog</strong>. All the rest is mine and may be used for personal usage only. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-2852627279720927972011-08-01T10:53:00.002-05:002011-08-01T11:15:22.203-05:00Humid Trip to Minnehaha<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Minnehaha Falls in south Minneapolis is one of our favorite locations, and one of the first that we explored as a married couple when we arrived here, and despite frigid temps and not knowing the area, the falls are still one of our favorite places for a quick getaway while still in town. A museum, a restaurant which has killer fish sanwhiches that even I will eat, as well as the falls and the long secluded and leafy glen below-- the falls always seem to offer something different. Today it was dancers and a rushing torrent down the cliff after all of our recent rain. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We walked further down the creek in the Glen to the wading area carved out near the Deer Pen area, and Noah went for the biggest of the rocks-- of course. It is a wonderful placwe to wade and cool off, but you have to watch your kids carefully so that they don't go where the current is stronger and end up floating downstream. The weather was hot and humid, which explains for the Sprout's wilted expression in a few images. He was so happy to be there though, and it was our first trip where he could say waterfall. He kept exclaiming, "Wa-er-fal! Rocks!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hmUn6dlC4E/Tja2yVCVBdI/AAAAAAAAA8U/HMaqy1mnVG4/s1600/noah+and+mom+at+minnehaha+dancers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hmUn6dlC4E/Tja2yVCVBdI/AAAAAAAAA8U/HMaqy1mnVG4/s400/noah+and+mom+at+minnehaha+dancers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GwtIrhPgZmg/Tja0n1-jWNI/AAAAAAAAA8E/bvwPpeTgLpE/s1600/noah+and+mom+at+minnehaha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GwtIrhPgZmg/Tja0n1-jWNI/AAAAAAAAA8E/bvwPpeTgLpE/s400/noah+and+mom+at+minnehaha.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uoDV-zxwknY/Tja0ruuVXfI/AAAAAAAAA8I/HCqO4sC0Kw8/s1600/noah+and+mom+splash+at+minnehaha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uoDV-zxwknY/Tja0ruuVXfI/AAAAAAAAA8I/HCqO4sC0Kw8/s400/noah+and+mom+splash+at+minnehaha.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E8Ba_UQQR30/Tja0xxix5YI/AAAAAAAAA8M/Exp15Ln3NQ8/s1600/noah+at+minnehaha2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E8Ba_UQQR30/Tja0xxix5YI/AAAAAAAAA8M/Exp15Ln3NQ8/s400/noah+at+minnehaha2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IvHBqkSN9Jc/Tja02Tim8hI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/lNDrszUy3hc/s1600/Untitled-1noah+at+minnehaha3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IvHBqkSN9Jc/Tja02Tim8hI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/lNDrszUy3hc/s400/Untitled-1noah+at+minnehaha3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-33418924149041800102011-07-28T10:33:00.002-05:002011-08-12T15:01:19.138-05:00Have you found Pinterest?Warning: <em><a href="http://pinterest.com/carrie_h_weston/">Pinterest</a> can be extremely addicting and also cause you to run to your nearest craft store and begin 15 projects at once, as is witnessed in my own craft room. </em><br />
<br />
Have you found Pintrest? It is filled with free printables, recipes and home ideas galore, and is an easy way to save information and images you find on the internet so that you can later find that new kitchen faucet that would be just perfect in your home. <br />
<br />
My personal favorite is looking for digital freebies-- printables that can range from digital design elements to a new way to organize your child's daily chore list. I have pinned a wide variety of these to my <a href="http://pinterest.com/carrie_h_weston/digital-freebies/">Digital Freebies</a> board and put some of them into use in my life. Aside from this, they have inspired me to create more digital goodies to share online. <br />
<br />
First I thought I would share with you a few of my personal favorites:<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://www.mariahdemarco.com/justice-league-printables">Justice League Printables</a></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://www.mrprintables.com/printable-vocabulary-flash-cards-earth.html">Earth Vocabulary Flash Cards</a></strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://ahomemadebykiki.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-i-organized-my-schedule.html"><strong>Daily Schedule Organization Cards</strong></a><br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://www.fuzzimo.com/free-hi-res-old-air-mail-envelope-images-1/">High Res Old Air Mail Design Elements</a></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
And share a few of my own that I have previously shared on one of my other blogs:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pi2AUcNfgdU/TjGCEuAUP0I/AAAAAAAAA70/86VS7kMHgKo/s1600/easter+egg+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pi2AUcNfgdU/TjGCEuAUP0I/AAAAAAAAA70/86VS7kMHgKo/s200/easter+egg+logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://cwp-beginnings.blogspot.com/2011/04/digital-easter-eggsphotoshoppse-freebie.html">Digital Easter Eggs Design Elements</a></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://cwp-beginnings.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-first-free-photoshop-action-sharp-as.html">Sharp as a Tack Photoshop Action</a></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?t5ohh5m1tbat0aw">Digital Owls Design Elements</a></strong><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jfHYuAnQ-p8/TjGCHexuQgI/AAAAAAAAA74/BlW84TYYrTw/s1600/owl+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jfHYuAnQ-p8/TjGCHexuQgI/AAAAAAAAA74/BlW84TYYrTw/s200/owl+logo.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
Of course, all of these are for personal use and cannot me resold in their current forms.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-12214890231237548792011-07-18T21:37:00.000-05:002011-07-18T21:37:25.019-05:00{Friday Photo Fun} A few days late.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5hK4BxhfMOE/TiTtpTXvehI/AAAAAAAAA7w/G1EHEpsh3BU/s1600/DSC01718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5hK4BxhfMOE/TiTtpTXvehI/AAAAAAAAA7w/G1EHEpsh3BU/s320/DSC01718.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-44384771658507602302011-07-08T14:54:00.000-05:002012-07-09T14:16:55.828-05:00Photography by Noah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My parents, who never spoil their only grandchild at all. *wink* were kind enough to get him his own little studry camera from <a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000030577467&pid=105501&adurl=http%3A%2F%2Fstore.discovery.com%2Fdetail.php%3Fp%3D105501&usg=AFHzDLv4f3kbezh8FeQufje--7O83TYXjg&pubid=21000000000330195">Discovery Kids</a>. It has <a href="http://starworthcomputers.com/product/2599_Discovery-Kids-Digital-Camera-Blue-01636733.html">rubbery blue sides</a> and it has worked grat for us other than it going through batteries a bit quickly, and the no sound for video. It is so cute to see the videos that Noah has taken-- mostly unconsciously, but he is pretty proficient at taking photos, and scrunches up his face to the eye hole, even though the LCD would tell him what he is photographing. <br />
<br />
<br />
I have heard that the camera has had some bad reviews, but for Noah for whom the camera is mostly just to keep him from trying to get mine, it has been great. He loves paging through the images and especially loves looking at his Da when he is at work. He also enjoys shouting, "Cam-a!" and running around and taking video of us without our knowledge, but we won't show that video here. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm not going to say that they are well taken at this point, or that they are great art or anything, but it does something wonderful for me to be able to see him emulate me taking photographs, and for him to be able to do something that he sees his mommy do so often. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3EiYoT_kZA/Thda3_5-MVI/AAAAAAAAA7E/EZSG23VZr2E/s1600/DSCN0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3EiYoT_kZA/Thda3_5-MVI/AAAAAAAAA7E/EZSG23VZr2E/s200/DSCN0001.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UbnUXGoWocg/Thda4lLc75I/AAAAAAAAA7I/zpib986Yb0k/s1600/DSCN0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UbnUXGoWocg/Thda4lLc75I/AAAAAAAAA7I/zpib986Yb0k/s320/DSCN0002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-liJsD6pH-Kk/Thda5CpfGSI/AAAAAAAAA7M/oK0CihbFOaw/s1600/DSCN0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-liJsD6pH-Kk/Thda5CpfGSI/AAAAAAAAA7M/oK0CihbFOaw/s320/DSCN0003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qg9zBbSbcBI/Thda5-0wyaI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/363f0QXvui0/s1600/DSCN0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qg9zBbSbcBI/Thda5-0wyaI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/363f0QXvui0/s320/DSCN0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-70111347166596941782011-07-08T10:35:00.001-05:002011-07-08T10:36:12.654-05:00{Friday Photo Fun}Taking my cue from Rita over at <a href="http://www.thecoffeeshopblog.com/">The CoffeeShop Blog</a> and many other bloggers out there, I will be showing one image each Friday that inspires me, makes me laugh, or makes me think. It will be just a snapshot of our life out here in Minnesota, and hopefully an expression of who we are. <br />
<br />
For my first selection: Noah and the Pom Pom. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsDLf9EDngM/Thch16fga8I/AAAAAAAAA7A/z5m_h-kKin4/s1600/Noah-+pom+in+ear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsDLf9EDngM/Thch16fga8I/AAAAAAAAA7A/z5m_h-kKin4/s400/Noah-+pom+in+ear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-84845968147615167832011-07-07T15:45:00.002-05:002011-07-08T10:19:34.022-05:00Noah's Big DayOver Memorial Day weekend we travelled back home to MI for a substitute party for Noah, and we had a wonderful, delightful, family filled time. We were having so much fun, and had such a whirlwind trip with driving in Friday, the party Saturday, family time Sunday, and then driving back home Monday in order for Jim to be back to work the next day we didn't have much time for our typical favorite restaurant visits, driving past places we loved growing up in south-west Michigan, or *Gasp* taking very many photos. <br />
<br />
But it was really nice to just get to be there during the party and not worry too much about posing family members, and trying to orchestrate the moment so that it looks good, and thus putting myself out of the moment. <br />
<br />
If there is one thing that this year has taught me so far, it is of the need to really treasure your family, and to make sure that you take the time to just be with them and to simply be. I feel like this party was really a step in me letting go of trying to have too much control over things-- to make Noah's life perfect, when really there is nothing that we can do to perfectly plan everything. And in the few photos that I do have from the party, I don't see any less enjoyment because my party bags were full of leftovers that were only applicable to the Air Zoo venue, or that the cakes didn't have the little plane toppers we were planning on-- I just see Noah trying to boop my cousin's new baby on the nose and the delightful laugh on his face in the next image at the success of his mission.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X26MnWyV_ZA/ThcfRHpsQII/AAAAAAAAA68/POcSzDa6BIs/s1600/Untitled-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X26MnWyV_ZA/ThcfRHpsQII/AAAAAAAAA68/POcSzDa6BIs/s400/Untitled-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2l47l3XAp-w/ThYWYIXDG_I/AAAAAAAAA64/uILJ-tnJDvc/s1600/DSC01693DSC01693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2l47l3XAp-w/ThYWYIXDG_I/AAAAAAAAA64/uILJ-tnJDvc/s640/DSC01693DSC01693.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DWKJ1wU4-sw/ThYWXKgLCRI/AAAAAAAAA60/6x1tCVLVZU8/s1600/DSC01692DSC01692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DWKJ1wU4-sw/ThYWXKgLCRI/AAAAAAAAA60/6x1tCVLVZU8/s640/DSC01692DSC01692.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-24470093327582116542011-06-13T22:43:00.002-05:002011-06-13T22:53:38.626-05:00Our First Park Visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j6YoB7y7Bis/TfbZ7jyl4VI/AAAAAAAAA50/VgesgLVELms/s1600/NMississippi14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j6YoB7y7Bis/TfbZ7jyl4VI/AAAAAAAAA50/VgesgLVELms/s200/NMississippi14.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>For our inaugural visit in our summer mission to visit all of the parks in the Three Rivers Parks District, Noah and I will be visiting the <a href="http://www.threeriversparks.org/parks/north-mississippi-park.aspx">North Mississippi Regional Park</a> and the Carl Kroening Interpretive Center tomorrow- June 14th at 10 am. <br />
<br />
We have been to the center, which is situated right along the west side of the Mississippi, on previous outings when Noah was a bit smaller, but we haven't had the chance yet to play in their splash pool as of yet, and I am really hoping that the weather will behave itself. <br />
<br />
We will be joined by the adventurous Jess B. and her lovely ladies, but she doesn't bite, so if anyone is looking for something to do, come on out and help us fulfill our goal! <br />
<br />
We will be meeting in the Interpretive Center first because: it might rain and this way we can get right to the fun, and B- I have a feeling that even for a nature center my little boy who told me "Swim," in the bathtub tonight, putting his face underwater and holding his breath will have a hard time being taken away from a pool tomorrow until he is absolutely exhausted. Which sounds just lovely to me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5130775913694320478.post-45121113195277157562011-06-13T01:43:00.001-05:002011-06-13T01:48:26.036-05:00Holiday Dissapointment This is the year that I will remember as the year that holidays stunk to high heaven. I am not sure what has happened, but we seem incapable of having a calm holiday, here at home with everyone simply enjoying being around each other. And I am just not sure what to do with all of this holiday disappointment.<br />
<br />
I guess I should revise that-- this is the season that holidays have stunk to high heaven. <br />
<br />
I suppose it started with the passing of my grandmother. This year Noah's birthday was on Easter, something that won't happen again until 2038, and unfortunately her passing mid-April meant that the plans for both of these special days had to be scrapped. We so wanted to take the opportunity to use the holiday weekend to head home, book a <a href="http://www.airzoo.org/">really cool venue</a> and do the obsessive parent party thing, and to get to celebrate Easter with Grandmas, Grandpas and all of the assorted extended family. <br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qmQTD1ljbF4/TfWyjAa2cfI/AAAAAAAAA5s/sEN6VVi-XPM/s1600/DSC01581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qmQTD1ljbF4/TfWyjAa2cfI/AAAAAAAAA5s/sEN6VVi-XPM/s200/DSC01581.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Instead we found ourselves driving 12 hours one way to Arbyrd, MO and back, which was a sad, beautiful, wonderful and terrifying trip (we ended up holed up in a hotel just south of St. Louis the night of their recent tornadoes as we raced back trying to get home so that we wouldn't have to travel Easter morning.)<br />
<br />
Then came Mother's Day, where I got to celebrate a bit the night before, but got to spend the actual day driving Jim to the airport and dealing with a crabby toddler. That day ended with me weeping about my happy holiday after Noah threw a block that hit me in the head. Yeah, happy Mother's Day to me. <br />
<br />
Then, Memorial Day was relatively okay. We drove home to MI for a whirlwind weekend trip since the only family we had seen since Christmas was at the funeral, and we wanted to have some family fun. We got to have a great do-over party for Noah, but once again we managed to bring the tornadoes with us despite oddly chilly weather (we have literally been in three different towns this spring as they have had tornadoes or similar storms touch down) and spent the actual holiday driving home to MN and marvelling at the uncharacteristically nice weather.<br />
<br />
Now comes Father's Day. Poor Jim will not only be working a show at the convention center that day, but also be doing tear down that night, which means that he will get done at about 10 pm that day. I would choose another day that week to celebrate, but Monday is another show's set up, and right now he is in Chicago for some company meetings. <br />
<br />
We have high hopes for Independence Day though. We are all going to be in town, we have a three day weekend, and Jim scored Twins tickets for that weekend from work, so everything is lined up for a relaxing time. Then, shortly after that is my birthday, where my folks will be visiting and hopefully I will even get to have a DATE with my hubby for my birthday! Wonders never cease. <br />
<br />
However, I can't seem to feel excited about those possibilities. I am all set for the eventuality that something will go wrong and we will spend the next holidays fulfilling jury duty, or something just as festive. I suppose it is my faulty, for I always put a lot into holidays and the feelings of holidays-- we were even married on Thanksgiving weekend- one of my favorites. I jokingly told Jim that I am done with holiday planning from here on out, which is usually one of my favorite things to do. <br />
<br />
So what do I do with all of this holiday disappointment? Do I never plan another special day for my family? Do I take it as a sign that I am not meant to celebrate-- which I dearly love? Or do I take it as a challenge and plan the most elaborate 4th of July weekend ever? What was your worst holiday disaster ever?<br />
<br />
<em>(I think I can remember one from my childhood involving chicken pox and the words, "I hate Christmas" coming out of my mouth-- so maybe this trend isn't as recent as I have been thinking it is.)</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0