Helping out

Last night while folding laundry, I got Charlie to help me fold the wash cloths. It was a slow process, but after awhile she finally got the hang of it.



But then, she didn't stop. Even when the towels were gone.

She just kept going.
Looking for bins of wash cloths.
Bibs.
Anything that she could unfold in order to fold again.



And she put everything away.
Well, sort of.
She put it all in the kitchen where we had put the original set of towels.



So now there are clothes, bibs, blankets, burp rags, bath towels all in our kitchen cabinet.
Stacked all the way to the top.



Too cute.
But then I'm her Mom.

(any ideas on how long she will find folding laundry fun and when it will turn into work that she refuses to do?)

xoxo—Lori

Did you miss me?

Ok, ok. So it's been awhile. Well, forever in blog land. But I have pictures. Oh, do I have pictures. So many in fact that I have no idea where to start. Hmm. . .



Well, we spent all last week at Table Rock Lake in the Shell Knob, Missouri area at my Aunt & Uncle's lake house.



Growing up, my family spent a lot of time at Table Rock so I love taking my family. It is so beautiful and peaceful there. Plus, it was a great way to meet up with my parents, aunt & uncle and my cousin and her family. We don't get to see everyone enough, so it's a joy when we can make our paths cross.



Plus, Charlie made a new friend—her cousin Taryn. They were often holding hands and though they didn't "play" together much, they were very concerned for where the other was. Big improvement from their very first encounter 2 Christmases ago. Charlie was 9 months old and Taryn was about 5. Charlie made an exuberant squeal and Taryn started crying.




I love big family meals outside. Not sure what it is, but they're so much more fun! We always wind up staying out way past when the sun goes down just talking to the sound of crickets.





I'll leave it at that for today as I don't want to overwhelm!!

(and Kelsey, we missed you!!)

xoxo—Lori

Headed to the Lake!

My family and I are headed to the lake this evening!!! We'll swim, boat, ski, hang out with much missed family and maybe do a little bit of nothing—if time allows of course.

I will return in about a week with lots and lots of pictures!!!

straight from the tree!

If you can't have a plum tree of your own, you really ought to have a neighbor with one, if you can at all help it.



Yummy!

Smells & Memories

So my last post has gotten me thinking. There are a few smells that automatically take me back to a specific place, just like the cut lumber. For example, one particular lotion I used to use while in college. I had never used it before or after until a few months ago. As soon as I opened that new bottle, I might as well have been back in my college dorm room!

Am I the only one? Does anyone have any Smell/Memory combos out there in blog land? I'd love to hear about them!

new (almost completed) deck

When I got home last night, Nate had gotten pretty far on the deck. It's so exciting to see things come together around our house and especially when they come together so quickly!



I helped Nate a little (ie. I went to the store to get some QuickCrete) and passed over the deck to get back into the house. As I crossed over, I caught a whiff of the new lumber and sawdust and was instantaneously taken back to my childhood. The smell was subtle, but the memory was very strong. It was the fragrance that was part of my daily life.



My Dad, along with the help of my Mom and any other relative or friend that was willing, built our house from the ground up almost entirely by himself (ie. no proffessional help). He started when I was 5 years old and we moved into the basement when I was 6. I remember the late nights that my parents spent working deep into the night with the help of can lights while my brother and I slept in sleeping bags as they framed in the house. Taking baths in a rubbermaid tub. Picking up nails for a penny a piece to help out my Dad. Climbing ladders and wearing my own tool belt complete with a hammer and nails. Roller skating around the newly enclosed interior of the house.



It's so funny how such a simple smell can bring back so many memories. My childhood was very atypical— That house wasn't finished until after I graduated from highschool—and things were a bit chaotic and stressful at times as a result. But I have so many REALLY great memories from it that honestly, I can't wish that it had been any different. Every day was an adventure and we were allowed to explore, and create, and enjoy the whole process right there with my parents and family. Of those early years, I have nothing but warm, fond memories.



So, I look forward to going home again tonight and seeing what Nate accomplished with Charlie by his side. I know that she's pretty young, but I hope that some day she'll pass some newly cut lumber and be taken back to the time she spent with her Daddy as his side kick.

xoxo—Lori

Behind!!!

So sorry for the lack of posts! I have been very busy doing and haven't been at a computer much the last couple of weeks. I have however been to Hobby Lobby everyday. EVERY day. We've been spiffing up the office at work for the arrival of some important buyers, who happen to be cloistered in the main conference room as we speak. That meant much framing of artwork that I did for a previous event and as things never go quite as planned and new needs come up each day, I spent a lot of time at the craft store buying things not for myself. So glad it's (almost) over!!!


(from Father's Day—notice the tie that Charlie made & her home-made popsicle)

At home we (mostly Nate) are working on a bunch of projects. Nate just finished an enclosure for all his tools and just had all the lumber delivered for a deck yesterday! As a bonus for us, Nate had asked for 10 foot lumber and they sent all 12 foot, which means our deck just grew 2 feet!!! It's nice having a husband in the construction industry who knows people.

I'm dabbling with a bit of sewing, tracing patterns and coming up with a few ideas of my own—now if I'd ever have time to actually complete anything in that realm, I'd be doing good!



A larger project that I'm working on is that I'm refinishing a pair of dressers for the girls. From the story I'm getting, they were Nate's as he was growing up, so they've been beat up pretty well. I'm using this dresser ( in blue) as inspiration for how I'd like them to end up. Cross you're fingers!!

I promise to have photos of all the projects soon!!

xoxo—Lori