crazy hair day

The last month of school is full of fun activities at our sweet Montessori school. Mia recently had 'Crazy Hair Day' and this is what we came up with. Even her brother got in on the action and had the idea of putting a barrette in each of her five ponytails. So fun! Can I have a crazy hair day too?

my sweetest angel

I am still somewhat new to blogging, and am trying to navigate what I want to put out there and what I'd like to keep closer to home. When I have these conversations in my head, what I always come back to is this: put out there what is truly in your heart. You can never go wrong with that, can you? So here goes. We are in the midst of an extremely stressful time. Many, many things lie uncertain and as much as I try to hold onto those things in my life that I am grateful for (& there are many!), I do have my days. Yesterday morning was a particularly upsetting time, and I just started to cry. My daughter came in our room and saw me, and I bent down to tell her I was okay, and she just wrapped her arms around me and hugged me... and didn't let go for what seemed like forever. Well this made me cry even harder. She knew, at 3-1/2, exactly what I needed. How does she know? How does this little three year old already know how to comfort her mother in a way like no one else does? And why am I so lucky to be her mom? Oh I do hope that I can always know what her little soul needs and be able comfort her in the way she does me. I will hold onto that hug and that memory forever, and can barely write this without tears brimming in my eyes. The lyrics to this song so beautifully tell her what she means to me. It's by the wonderful Jonatha Brooke called Sweetest Angel:

Every night about eight o'clock
I wind the stem of my little clock
And when I look in the crystal glass
I see a lot of faces pass
Of those I knew
And those I know
And you now coming
And you to go

Here's a word I'd like to whisper
And I'd like to have you listen

All this world is made of love
You are fresh from heaven above
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel

When I hold you by your hand
I'm in my happy promised land
When I kiss you in the dark
I'm just happy as a lark
So let me come as close as I can
And lay me down beside you

Here's a word I'd like to whisper
And I'd like to have you listen

All this world is made of love
You are fresh from heaven above
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel

So let me come as close as I can
Let me bring my scattered pages
Let me lay down here beside you
Tonight, and I will whisper

All this world is made of love
You are fresh from heaven above
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel

art in underwear

We just had spring break and on our last day, I asked the kids what they wanted to do ~ a picnic at the park, an adventurous bike ride, bake something special? Well none of the above was the answer, and all they really wanted to do was stay home - in their underwear - and do art (and dance a bit too!). I learn more & more that it really is the simplest, sweetest little things in life that bring the most joy. Oh my kiddos are the BEST reminder of this every single day. Just the greatest blessing of all. Here's to having an art in underwear day too!

my flower girl

We received the flower girl dress for my sister-in-law's wedding this summer in the mail over the weekend, and my girl twirled and twirled when she tried it on. She loves it and it looks really precious on her. I love this photo because it is so ethereal and angelic... and so many thoughts come to mind when I look at this picture. Children are so pure, so honest, so genuine, truly carefree and know how to just be in the moment... without trying at all. It just comes so naturally to them and that is the gift of children we all try and capture, and why we want to rediscover the world through their eyes all over again. Oh to be a child again ~ to be carefree, free from worries, to have no preconceived ideas about anything and to be so easily forgiving. I wish we could bottle this magic up and hand it out. Imagine how this would change our world...

where i've been...

:: riding trains at the zoo

:: taking the kids to & from school & activities

:: having lots of snuggle time (my favorite place in the world to be)

:: learning about the healing power of food

:: being so thankful I feel like myself again!

:: making bread dough (that can be used for so many cool things other than bread)

:: going to bed very early

:: researching summer activities for o & m

:: planning & making dinners

:: finding a dance class for mia (her first one!)

:: hiking with dear friends

:: planning baby & bridal showers

:: celebrating my cousin's birthday at an awesome restaurant root down

:: starting at-home date nights with my husband

:: feeling my energy return

:: researching a csa to join (I think we'll join this one)

:: enrolling o for kindergarten (yikes!!!!)

:: spending time with my mom

:: making plans with friends

:: starting a knitting group

:: getting back into our family rhythm

...what a blessing in disguise to appreciate all of these beautiful little things again!

silliness

This is how I found my Mia a few weeks ago right before dinner time... she was such a big girl taking her 'own' bath with hand soap in our pedestal sink. The entire bathroom was a huge mess - water everywhere, soap all over the mirror, and all I could do was laugh. This little girl certainly keeps me on my toes, and ALWAYS makes me smile. Hope this makes you smile too!

i'm back!

Hip Hip Hooray! I'm so happy to be back here! What we thought was the flu was actually a pretty bad case of pneumonia that landed me in the hospital for 6 days! WHEW - what was a crazy, scary ride this was, but I'm on the mend and feeling stronger everyday. I have felt so unbelievably blessed by my beautiful family and friends that have been so caring, loving and supportive through this, and continue to be. My mom (who flew into town at the drop of a hat)... well she deserves an entire post all to herself which I will write about a little later, but let's just say she took the most exquisite, tender care of me and I just don't know what in the world I would do without her. Thank you mom from the bottom of my heart mom for absolutely EVERYTHING and for being my hero. And Emily, my cousin who is like a sister, came to visit me in the hospital and brought me the sweetest care packages, called every single day to check in and and almost had O & M spend the night at her house on her birthday, when all she had wanted was to have a quiet birthday dinner with her sweet boys. And her dad, my Uncle Mark, picked the kids up from school and had a whole afternoon playdate that included playing at the park, ice cream and a movie! It was so special for the three of them to have that time together that they would probably never would have had the chance to have. A little blessing for being sick! I am just beyond touched by the generosity of everyone... gorgeous flowers...



the sweetest cards... yummy treats... and my cheery kids' artwork...



and if you're going to be in the hospital, Boulder, Colorado is not too shabby of a place to be. I mean take a look at these views...





A most heartfelt thank you to ALL of my family and friends for all of your sweet love!

a little break

I have been bitten by a nasty flu bug and will be back as soon as I feel human again!

candlelight

There is something about candlelight that is mesmerizing, relaxing and calming all at the same time. My son loves candlelight, so we've been having candlelight dinners and candlelight baths and it's quickly becoming part of our every day routine. Not too shabby of a habit to add to our lives, and even sweeter when it comes from a five year old! Owen apparently is into candlelight sleeping in the hallway too - battery powered that is! : )

magic

This little girl of mine... she is an old soul. I just can't explain it, but she just gets it, and I feel like she's been here before. At the ripe old age of three, my Mia just knows. I was having a 'what am I going to do with my life' kind of day... and while I was snuggling with her at nap time, she started brushing my hair out of my eyes. It was such a tender, sweet moment. I think that in her own special little way, she was telling me everything was going to be okay. I am just amazed by her, not only in these precious moments, but by her thoughtfulness in the every day. She never accepts just one sticker offer at the grocery store, but always makes sure to ask for one for her brother. How in the world am I so blessed to be her mom? She is truly my magic little Mia...

p.s. This wonderful photo was taken by our resident in-house photograher... my mom! She is the most beautiful photographer and we are so lucky to have her documenting our lives. Her photographs adorn our walls at home!

introducing...

the little loves of my life. My creative, energetic Owen is five, and my silly, sweet, thoughtful Mia is a bit over three. They light up my world in countless ways! If ever there is a day that just doesn't feel right, all I have to do is snuggle up to these two little miracles at bedtime and the world stops and I don't want to be anywhere else... and then the world seems right again.

the beginning

I really did it. I really started a blog! I can't believe it. My name is Ali and I love everything handmade, homemade, little and cozy. I love being a mom to my two little ones and it is by far, the best, most amazing and hardest job I'll ever have. I'm inspired by oh so many things, and I can't wait to share them with you. I love reading the countless beautiful blogs I've discovered and admire the courage and openess of what people share in them. I love passionate people who follow their dreams. I want to be one of them.