One Mans Trash.....

Is another kids treasure.

I've been wanting one of these riding horses for the girls for as long as I can remember. I'm grew up with one. I didn't want a new one & I think that is why I haven't been able to find one yet. I am guessing people hang on to them & pass them down generation to generation. That or they use them until they fall apart. It's been very hard to find one of the vintage variety. You can imagine my surprise & delight when I saw this little guy in a garbage pile while taking Sloan to school one morning. She begged me not to stop until after I'd dropped her off at school. Someday she won't care about finding treasures in other peoples trash but for now I obliged. On our way home I did the slow drive by aka::the I'm checking out your junk to see if I want it before I get out of my car & make a fool of myself drive by. Then the owner of the garbage pile came out of his house. Maybe he thought I was a robber. Who knows. I probably did look a little suspicious. I was so excited when he said yes. He got a twinkle in his eye talking about how all his grand kids had used it. Sadly none of them wanted it for their kids. He was so happy that I had two little ones that would get some more use out of the little horse. I love that it has a history. I love that it was free. If we lived in the Toy Story Movie this little horse was saved from an untimely demise at the landfill. I plan on writing the girls names on his hoof. Now he will enjoy all his cowboy & princess adventures with my kids for years to come. I'm sure he is full of wisdom & bestows it on the other outdoor toys. That's a good thing because they are a rowdy bunch (especially the sandbox toys). Keep em in line Rough Rider, keep em in line.

10 Months

Ten months

Dear Mom,

I tried to call you this morning. I don't know if you got the message but I want you to know you were the first person I thought of when I woke up. I thought you might want to see what a little man Oblio is turning into. He's no longer an infant. I watch him change a little bit every day. I swear he wakes up some mornings and it's as if he grew while the house was quiet & everyone was fast asleep. I've heard it said over & over again that as a mother you wake up one day & your babies are having babies of their own. I now feel I have a small understanding of this concept. 

Little Omri is so smart mom. He's a watcher. I think he's trying to figure it all out. Last night I was getting him out of his booster seat after dinner & he watched me un-click the buckle. Then he grabbed the buckle & tried with all his might to snap it back together. It was fun to watch. I see such determination in his countenance. I'm sure it's something that will come in handy in the years to come. 

He has also started finger foods. Finally! I would have started sooner but he has only recently grown enough teeth to accomplish this newest task of self feeding. Let me tell you, he loves it! He makes the funniest noises as he stuffs green beans & bananas into his mouth. The girls think it hilarious to watch. The only downside to this is the two baths a day & the clean up. It almost looks like there has been a food fight in the dining room when he's done eating. 

I thought a lot today about you. I thought about all the wonderful things you taught me as I was growing up. Things that I now try to teach to my own children. I hope that you know how very much I love you. We can't wait to see you in just a few short weeks. Then you can hold your little grandson & snuggle him up and kiss his cheeks like I do all day long. His cheeks are so very kissable! Four more weeks mom! Four more weeks! Happy Mothers Day. Talk to you soon.

Love-Summie

Popeye

Popeye Pea Pie Pear Mere

I thought I'd share a few of the fun things that are going on in your life right now. Sometimes I just have to write it down in fear that I might forget these sweet little years. I looked at you today & I swear you grew an inch last night in your sleep. Maybe you actually did because you were super grumpy this morning. I have to admit, you are my whiniest kid by far. You whine about everything. We are working on asking things with a normal voice. You don't really enjoy the fact that I won't let you get away with it & that's okay. That's why I'm the mommy & you are the Merris. You try to carry Omri around. It's pretty funny because he's almost as big as you. Your little voice melts my heart. Unless it's whining. I love how you dance & skip & jump everywhere. I've decided that you have happy feet. They don't stop from the moment you hit the floor until you fall asleep at night. We can always tell you are up by the stomp, stomp, stomp of your little feet. And your sweet little voice! You make up the funniest & sweetest songs & sing them all day long. When it is time to for bed, you won't go to sleep unless you have a drink of water and at least 5-7 blankets on you. I tuck you in by saying, "Princess & the pea!" as I put each blanket on you. These are just a few of my favorite things about you right now. I love you my sweet little bugga bugga baby! 

10th & 11th

These are so similar to my 8th & 9th finishes but they have subtle differences. I normally wouldn't make two of the same illustrations but these were donated to a very special cause. They were auctioned off at our annual Reno JDRF Gala. All the money raised is put toward funding research to find a cure for diabetes. They are so close to finding one. Every dollar helps to make this vision a reality. I'm praying that it happens in my Sloan's lifetime.

I have been working on a project for one of my neighbors friend from work. It's almost finished. I'm so excited because that means I'll be pulling out my sewing machine for the next few finishes. How about you, what have you been working on?

10 & 11 down 41 to go

Dear Jeff & Susannah

I thought I'd give you a few reasons why you should consider making Nevada your future home. 

Aside from all the awesome b-b-q dinners, free babysitting, art nights, hikes, snowboarding, river rafting, skiing, punk shows, snow, & beautiful scenery..........we also live super close to some major cities.

Places like San Francisco, Lake Powell, San Diego, Lake Tahoe & oh so many other fun places to visit. 

 I know you'd be leaving relatives behind but we'd be your family out here. Plus who knows, they may even follow.

Would you blame them? I mean seriously, who wouldn't love a sunset like this?

I know it's a long shot but it would be so much fun to live closer together. Seeing each other every other year is the pits. Think about it k? Pretty please? Love you both-Summie