23/52

eloise: I was brushing my teeth in the bathroom and peeked into your room to find you laughing and giggling with your friends, “Bath baby”, “Polar Bear Cub” and “Lambie Pie”. You had gotten them all dressed for the day and placed them in seats while you made them laugh.

(disclaimer: The bedroom blinds string is usually always up away from reach. Jeff had been fixing the window earlier, thus why it’s placed so haphazardly). 😉

-joining Jodi for the 52 project!

It felt strange getting out of the house this weekend. We’ve all been stuck inside for so long with the bug. But, the strangeness wore off and we quickly enjoyed the chance to get out. We didn’t go too far. Stayed local, went to the garden center and worked on our garden and yard. When two-year old’s help you plant vegetables from seed, you end up with boxes full of random things, as you can see. We bought a wagon full of other goodies, more herbs and some milkweed for our front window to hopefully entice the monarchs. We had my parents over for birthday cake and a birthday re-do for Jeff. A nice quiet weekend, resting up and making sure everyone was well.

(I missed the Portrait last week because of illness. So here are 21/52 and 22/52).
21/52

eloise: finally eating again after your first real stomach bug. Fever following by Lots of throwing up and diarrhea. The whole nine yards. It was a miserable two weeks. Thankfully you are feeling much better. Hanging with softie friends, drinking chamomile tea and snacking on apples and leftovers in complete Ana costume. You are back!

22/52

eloise: Her Highness, The Sand Queen. She is fierce, this queen! 😉

-joining Jodi for The 52 Project!

I’m finally back! After a very long time away from this space, it seems. Ellie had the throw up bug and then sadly I got it soon after. It was long and relentless! But, I’m finally feeling back to normal. Poor Jeff spent his birthday evening cleaning up after his two sick gals. Were going to have to make it up to him this weekend. 

We did get to celebrate his birthday the morning of (everyone was feeling relatively okay). 

  
I had painted him a hop yard and home in the woods (something he’s always dreamt of). And Ellie had made him a special card of “Dada out in the garden”. He got some other fun odds and ends and I even managed to get him a cookie and some icecream at the local shop. 

We sang our best happy birthdays to him and he blew out his oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. (Sorry for the iPhone photos… I haven’t picked up my camera in quite some time either). 

So now that were all well, were hoping to get on with summer time! Jeff’s birthday started us off. Next up is mine at the end of the month and then Ellie’s after that in August. It’s going to be a busy summer as usual. 

We’re still fighting the bug around here. Fever is gone but throw up has now entered the equation. This morning, after Ellie had thrown up all over the bed, we were greeted by throw up all over the couch and floor from the dogs as well. Gah! We’ve been doing a lot of resting, too much movie watching and Mama has been doing plenty of laundry and mopping. I thought instead of talking anymore about virus’ and throw up, I’d tell you about last week’s visit to the Botanical Garden. This garden is only a couple of miles away from my parent’s home, but for some reason, none of us had ever been there before. We couldn’t believe we hadn’t either. It was so beautiful! Tucked up behind the hills, a path winds around native plants as well as desert plant life. At the very top of the hill, there is quite a nice view of the Conejo Valley and beyond. A lovely visit. They even have a Kids Adventure Garden. Unfortunately we were there on a day it wasn’t open (I believe its only open on Sundays). We will definitely be back to check it out though.

Memorial Day weekend. It has been kind of a bummer. Friday we got out of the house to the beach for a bike ride and walk. Then that same night, Ellie came down with a fever. We’ve been home-bound ever since. Her fever is finally gone today, but everyone is still very tired from lots of nursing, not much sleep and crabby, sickie kids. I’m not feeling too well myself. Hoping the week turns around though. Looking forward to enjoying the nice weather we are having and preparing for summer time! I can’t believe the solstice it’s only a few weeks away! Wishing you all a wonderful Memorial Day and hoping your weekend was a little more fun than mine. 😉

21/52

eloise: this photo sums up our days to a tea. You, hair disheveled, wearing something pink, scissors in hand, scratched up nose and elbow, sitting ON TOP of the table doing your “work”. Every day is a wild ride with you my dear.

-joining Jodi for the 52 project!

It was a really nice weekend besides a few bumps and bruises along the way. We spent Saturday at Rincon beach, exploring the tide pools and looking for sea glass. We didn’t find much sea glass, but we did find all sorts of neat creatures. Ellie wasn’t too fond of the “sea enemies”. She was afraid they were all over the ocean ready to “squirt her hands” and needed some extra Mama love to feel comfortable walking on the beach again. Oh, that 2-year-old mind.

Then on Sunday we spent a long morning at the Banjo/Fiddle competition and folk festival. It was so much fun! We enjoyed great music and great fun! Ellie loved seeing The Hollow Trees and getting her very own kazoo. We did have a very big fall at the playground though to end the weekend. Poor little girl, scraped up her nose and knees and elbow after tumbling feet over head. She seems to be just fine though. Her same spirited, spunky self. Wishing you a lovely week!!

20/52

eloise: You got yourself a kazoo at the Banjo Festival this weekend. It was the highlight of your weekend. It warmed your Dada’s heart watching you enjoy his favorite kind of music. It warmed my heart watching the two of you enjoy the festival so much.

-joining Jodi in the 52 project!

We’ve had some tough weeks around these parts lately. Almost 3 is challenging. The big emotions, the “whys”, the “no’s”, the tantrums, the meltdowns, the emotional ups and downs throughout the day. It’s hard. It’s hard on Ellie and it’s hard on Mama. It’s funny that my years of working in early childhood  education and my masters degree in ECE, don’t seem to make much difference with my own child. She throws me for a loop most every day. 

Yesterday, we were at the park and I was talking to a new mama friend who really gave me (unknowingly) a great piece of advice . As I was telling her my woes of trying to gently parent a strong willed, very sensitive and smart almost 3 year old, she said,” but doesn’t her strong personality and sensitivity make her just that much more vibrant? She’s really feeling life. The ups and downs. The fact that she’s so sensitive to the world will most likely make her very empathetic to the world later on and how exciting to really FEEL your emotions that strongly whilst walking through life.” 

Exciting? Vibrant? Empathetic? This Mama (who by the way has a young 9 month old who my daughter has frequently yelled at), was finding the joy in her new intense behaviors. Her words have stayed with me and I’m seeing these tantrums and emotions in a different light. An adjusted light, if you will. 

Today we struggled a bit this morning and here and there throughout the day, but I saw the struggles differently. I was able to push past them with relative ease and I think Ellie felt my changed demeanor. We figured things out quicker today. Less tears. We enjoyed each other’s company immensely. We made granola. We laughed. I read a few chapters of Twig aloud (a sweet book i was reading as homework for a custom peg doll and mat order). She kept asking for more. We watched the rain fall and then we went outside and splashed in the puddles. She was excited, vibrant and empathetic today. Traits I myself knew she possessed, but needed to be reminded of. Today was a rather ordinary day. But, I saw it in all it’s joy and splendor. This mama business is tough work, but it’s also the stuff of life. Real, true, challenging, wonderful life.