Spiked Piñatas of Doom

Raúl the Third's books are a visual treat with action and humor galore.  This is one of my favorite spreads.  I look at it often and laugh every time I see it.

river rafting and napping

I left Robert alone last Sunday morning and naturally, since he was left unsupervised, he bought a river raft.  A thousand pound river raft to be exact.

Our lovely ladies weigh about 80 pounds or so and there have been moments that one completely disappears in the raft.  

I asked Robert if we're going to get rid of one of the other dog beds so we can still walk through the living room.  He looked at me like he was questioning our entire 18+ years together.  

The next day I came home and nearly tripped over a dog bed at the bottom of the stairs.  So now we can walk through the living room but have to squeeze past the dog bed to get into the house.  All you hot lava fans, it's official.  Our house is now the easiest place to play the hot lava game.  You wouldn't even need to jump most of the time.  You could just take a leisurely stroll on dog beds as you laughed at the slivers of hot lava and shouted, "Take that, hot lava!"  

Needless to say, the girls have been very relaxed.  It's exhausting choosing a dog bed.  They have also been handling the hullabaloo that comes with holidays and the end of the year shenanigans the same way they always handle it.  By sleeping and basking in our adoration.  They know that the greatest gift they can give is themselves.  Unless we can't find them because they've disappeared into the mighty river raft.

self-love, feelings galore, and pool floaties

Who I Am by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (Picture Book)

A beautiful, self-affirming book that encourages us to stand up to the sometimes unkind voice in our heads. It's slightly wordy, but written as straightforward as possible with little fluff to clutter up the important message. The cover radiates such warmth and self-love, you won't be able to resist peeking at all the illustrations before you even read the book.

Sometimes I Cry by Jess Townes and illustrated by Daniel Miyares (Picture Book)

Wow, what an outstanding way to talk about feelings and acceptance of feelings. The illustrations are soulful, earnest, and tender. The details of the child's life are rich and complex, and the tears don't always solely belong to him but are sometimes shared with his loved ones. And the language is simple and poetic: "Sometimes my feelings fill me up like a water balloon that stretches and stretches and stretches until I think I might burst but when I let my tears out my feelings fit perfectly inside my body all my feelings together and I know it's okay that sometimes I cry."

Pool Party by Amy Duchêne and illustrated by Elisa Parhad (Picture Book)

It's November in Kansas, so naturally I find the perfect summer storytime book! The rhyming text is a blast to read and there's just the right amount of it. You can feel the sunshine and smell the chorine radiating from the exuberant and beautiful illustrations. And there are pool floaties galore! This book invites so many fun conversations - what makes the best floatie? What's your favorite floatie in this book? What's your favorite pool activity? 

Cuddles

I had a calm and relaxing birthday.  Robert made lots of fuss - pancakes for breakfast, homework help, giving the girls a really long walk so I could play tennis.  There were two nights of games with Robert and his mom, Audrey, and some much-needed reading and loafing.

The best present came from the dogs, however.  Rose and Ella, our furry loves of the past, cuddled all the time.  They flopped all over each other, snuggled, and smooshed themselves together in some pretty small places just so they could be as close to each other as possible.

Margo and Josie do not cuddle.  I think Josie would cuddle anything with a heartbeat, but Margo gets up the moment Josie gets close.  Margo appreciates the pets and will tuck herself into my legs when I'm sleeping at night, but that is the extent of her cuddles.  

Until the night before my birthday.

Robert takes care of the evening dog duties - letting them out and brushing their teeth.  Then it's a race to get to the favorite pillow.  Whoever loses ends up getting in bed with Robert and I.  We have the second favorite bed.  The fact that our bodies are in it is just a minor inconvenience. 

The favorite pillow battle started a few years ago when Robert noticed Josie was sleeping right next to his side of the bed.  First, he added a pillow, which she was very thankful for.  Next, he added a blanket because she's one of those dogs that likes to make a nest.  Margo eventually realized Josie had the best spot, and it's been a nightly contest ever since.  

The night before my birthday Margo claimed the favorite bed first.  Then Josie did something we've never seen her do before.  She climbed into bed next to Margo, and neither dog moved.  They stayed that way until after Robert and I fell asleep.  Perhaps Josie finally had enough of Margo taking her bed.  Perhaps Margo refused to move no matter how much cuddling she had to endure.  It was a battle of two stubborn dogs, but it didn't matter.  Robert and I reveled in the cuteness, and I saw it for what it truly was.  A birthday present that couldn't be topped.  I also didn't have to fight fur and elbows for a place to sleep that night.

life-changing potties and other adventures: NM & AZ Part 2

After we left White Sands, we raced to Tucson for more adventures.

Thursday, as we all know, was Thanksgiving, and my brother invited us to his home for a feast.

We started out the day with a beautiful walk to the nearby playground.  My brother and his family have their in-laws' home, Autumn's school, and a fantastic playground all within two miles of their home.  We stopped for a quick hello to Kristin's parents, Jeff and Debbie, saw Autumn's school, and had so much fun at the playground Scott and Kristin almost forgot they were hosting Thanksgiving!

Autumn became instant buddies with both dogs, but Margo called dibs on Autumn most of the trip.  Both dogs were so thrilled to have someone so enthusiastic and fun to play with.

There were too many good things to eat to even name here.  The food was excellent and the company even better!

I got to sit next to Autumn. 💛  Mostly because Margo wasn't allowed to sit at the table.  

I know I've said it before, but it's something I don't take for granted, so I'll keep saying it.  I won the brother lottery.  I am so proud of all of them.  

I definitely won the nieces and nephew lottery too.  Autumn is just as imaginative and fun as ever and so wise and introspective too.  I'm so thrilled to be a part of her growing up.  Though she is growing up a little too fast in my opinion!  Both Autumn and Harper are now getting into makeup!  I digress.  

Debbie took this picture, and it's one of my favorites from the trip.

What's the best thing to do after eating a hearty Thanksgiving meal?  I know 100% of you are thinking, "the trampoline, duh!"  I think Scott jumped the highest, Robert was the best popcorner (it's a wonder that lovely meal wasn't popcorned right out of us), Autumn was the most energetic, and I was just trying to stay alive and not ingest too much of the leftover silly string from Autumn's birthday party.

Thanks to Debbie for this great video!

We ate so much initially there wasn't any room for pie, so we had it for dinner.  Savannah is demonstrating the best and only way to eat pie.

Did I practice the ukulele any during the trip?  Absolutely.  Even after a long day of marathon eating and trampolining.  It's important to stay on top of those Old MacDonald skills, because who wants to listen to a mediocre rendition of Old MacDonald?

There are some of us who don't appreciate music at all though.  Especially when the music is taking up space on their hotel room couch.  But musicians can't please everyone right?

Black Friday arrived crisp and beautiful, a perfect day for a crazy long bike ride.  27 miles!

Life imitating art or art imitating life?  There's no telling.

So many bridges!  If you need a bridge fix, bike the trails in Tucson!  Thanks to Scott for this picture.    

Look how ridiculously pretty it was!  And also, if you look way way in the back of the picture there's me and Robert, who was being a good sport and containing his inner speed demon so I wouldn't feel like such a slowpoke.  

It only took me 12 miles to get up the courage to try out the electric part of the electric bike.  Everyone was way way up ahead, and here I was chugging along, terrified of speed.  Thankfully, I got over my fears and spent the rest of the ride watching everyone as tiny specks on the far horizon, but at least I could see everyone.

Would I do it again?  Absolutely.  Now that I'm comfortable with the electric assist, I would blast past everyone (but maybe not Kristin, who had some kind of hidden jetpack) and laugh manically all the while.  You got another crazy bike ride, Scott?  Bring it on!

On Saturday we drove up to Scottsdale to visit the Butterfly Wonderland and OdySea Aquarium.  The aquarium was a lot of fun, one of the best aquariums I've been to.  The Butterfly Wonderland was out of this world amazing.

The moment I saw the potties I knew it was going to be one of the best moments of my life.

We goofed around for a while at the outdoor mall area where the attractions were.  We witnessed the birth of an Autumnosaur, which was maybe the first of its kind.    

We also observed the double-headed Santa saguaro, the only one believed to be in existence.

The Santa cactus was irresistible.

Also irresistible?  The bubbles of course!

After watching a breathtaking 3D movie about monarch butterfly migration, we opened the doors to the butterfly habitat and entered another world.  

We can't get enough of Savannah's face, that toothy smile of joy.  She knows she's loved.  And she knows she's adorable.  Both shine through in that smile.

Apparently butterflies can't get enough of her either.  But I don't think she was as much a fan of them as they were of her.

The butterflies also loved Robert.  He had three on him at one point.

One even decided he was the perfect place to deliver butterfly babies.  A staff member tried to reassure us it was just poop.  Thanks!

The best part of the butterfly habitat was the butterflies...Or was it?  I'm pretty sure the habitat was so magical because of musician, Aaron White's presence.  He created a healing and peaceful energy that could be felt everywhere.  It was almost as if the butterflies were his music brought to life.  

I'm not sure who took this picture, but way to go!

Robert was a good sport about the butterflies attraction to him, but he was sick with jealousy when this beauty chose me for a quick rest.  A blue morpho?

So what were the dogs doing during all our of gallivanting?  Debbie and Jeff were taking good care of them.  I'm not sure Scott and Kristin's patio will ever be the same.

I can't even talk about the next morning and all the goodbyes.  It never gets any easier to say goodbye.  

So I'll leave the post with this new addition to our picture rail, a birthday present from Scott, Kristin, Autumn, and Savannah.  Can you spot the new treasure?

New Mexico & Arizona Part 1

Robert, Margo, Josie and I just returned from a marvelous, restorative, and comforting trip filled with family, good food, and plenty of laughter.

The week before we left I battled a sinus infection but miraculously kept up with a particularly packed week.

I finished four out of the last five assignments for my two classes, gave three family storytimes, two toddler storytimes, two tween bookclubs, one dentist appointment, and got re-certified for CPR/AED.

Whew!  I was so proud of myself for keeping up with everything while feeling so poorly.  There were even beautiful moments where the world slowed down for just a bit.  Occasionally I get so busy, it's hard to savor all the joy and beautiful moments.  I was sick and busy, but still soaked up the joy.  This must be growth or luck or a little of both.

My coworker, Octavia jumped in to help with my laundry-themed family storytime.  Somehow it completely slipped my mind to do a Thanksgiving storytime.  I plan so far ahead.  No matter!  Octavia suggested I knock on the door to the staff office, which is adjacent to the storytime room, and invite her in when I got to the clothes dryer activities part of the storytime. So, for each storytime I told the kids I thought I had a friend who might like to join us. Then I would open the door and say, “Oh look it’s Octavia! And she brought her clothes dryer from home!” Then she would come in and help the kids match socks. We also sang an adorable clothes dryer song.  It was brilliant and hilarious.  I work with the best of the best.

Needless to say, I was pretty tired and a little concerned my sinus infection was going to get worse.  

But we threw caution to the wind and left after work on Saturday night.  I slept most of the way to Albuquerque.

I'll let the pictures tell the story.  Robert ran around like crazy on Saturday doing all the last minute things to get us ready for the trip.  He got the car packed up and the girls ready to go, and they picked me up at the library.

We spent a fair amount of time cuddling on this trip, soaking up all the fluff and comfort of our dogs.

There's a food theme for every trip we take.  Nashville has the best vegan biscuits, Anaheim has the best vegan donuts, and Albuquerque has the best vegan cookies?!?  I was expecting to live out of the food basket and cooler we brought with us.  If there's one food group I'm not down with it's authentic Mexican/South American food.  From my previous New Mexico journeys there never was the question of vegan/dairy free or everything else.  It was, "do you want red or green sauce?"  I think New Mexico maybe thinks this is a cute way to make authentic Mexican/South American food their own.  I don't really understand it.  Sorry not sorry NM!

We stumbled upon Mata G's the first day we were there and discovered the most delicious cookies (and other foods too).  But COOKIES?!?  I was so thrilled.  That's a food group I can get down with.  

We visited four bookstores and three libraries in the Albuquerque/Sante Fe area, and when I returned home I discovered I didn't have any shelf room available.  So it's official.  I am now making bookshelves out of books, so I have a place for my books.  It's one of the best problems I've ever had in my life. 

It also looks like our winter hats/gloves drawer is going to be sacrificed so I have another drawer for library bags.  Not sure we really need winter hats/gloves.  What do you think, Robert?

We had three bucket list items for the New Mexico part of our journey: driving the mostly nonexistent Route 66 as it jogs through Sante Fe (check), visiting the Albuquerque Botanic Garden (check but maybe going back on the list), and well, you'll see the third in just a moment!

The Albuquerque Botanic Garden was cold with a whole lot of dead beauty, everything dormant and ablaze with autumn color.  It was a quiet, restorative, and short visit.

We visited two Albuquerque libraries and Santa Fe's Southside Branch, which was the clear winner.

One of the featured artists was Leigh Oviatt, who will take your breath away.  She's a brilliant fiber artist and photographer.  Her work stops people in their tracks.  Watching others soak up her work is almost as wild as pretending to shrink and walk her endless pom pom paths.  

The children's area was mostly empty thanks to the holidays, but it was cozy and inviting.

Check out this thoughtful and intergenerational display complete with author flaps!

More books! We visited Book Mountain in Santa Fe, and the gentleman there gave us a thorough and hilarious book tour of the well-organized store. At one point after pointing out the crafts, hobbies, homemaking, and gardening section, he said, "this is pretty much for anyone who's tired of YouTube."

Our big reason for going to Santa Fe involved a super special embroidery project I've been working on.  A family member of Robert's reached out to me on Facebook about making a piece inspired by the curtains hanging in her newborn granddaughter's nursery.  She wanted to give this piece to her daughter and daughter-in-law for a holiday present.  I was so thrilled to be asked!  

Here is the closeup of the curtains I referenced for the piece:

And here's the piece!

I decided to try out felt for this piece because I felt pretty confident it would have some heavy bead elements.  I loved using felt.  Though it was nearly impossible to undo a stitch, the strength of the felt outweighed the many times it took to cut things out and start over.  I quickly learned to do shorter bursts so that I wouldn't have to redo as much if I needed to cut a snag out and start over.  I also used a couple pieces of trim for the wings and anchored them with beads.  Making the wings was the most tedious but also the most soothing part of the journey.

Like most folks, I don't remember a lot before the age of five, but I do remember long moments before sleep when I rested my eyes on things of beauty in whatever room I was in.  I hope baby Octavia does the same and enjoys the sparkle of this piece.  Yes, her name is Octavia too!  I bet you didn't think you would ever see that name twice in one blog post.

When I reached out to Robert's relative about where she wanted me to mail the moths piece and she responded with an address in Santa Fe, NM, I was SO excited.  I asked if she wanted us to hand deliver the piece, and she gave us the green light.  I was overjoyed to meet the couple and their brand new baby.  They went a step further, invited us in, showed us the nursery, and told us they had the go-ahead to open the piece.  I've already been thinking how wonderful it would be to meet up with them again.  They were so welcoming, interesting, with a home that reflected so much love and beauty.  

The next day (Wednesday) we drove to White Sands (Surprise! Our remaining bucket list item!).  We couldn't find a restroom to save our lives, but we did find this:

We went sledding at White Sand years ago.  Sixteen years as it turns out.  We went with my mom and Robert's childhood friend, Josh, who he now works with!  We loved White Sands so much we added it to the bucket list again.  Dear younger HJ, you will go back, and it will be just as magical as the first time! 

Here are a few pics from 2007!  We are so cute I can't even stand it.  

I never would have dreamed we could take the dogs.  When they hopped out of the car, they were the most excited I have ever seen them.  It was like we had given them the greatest gift ever.

Margo dug a lot of sand holes to help climb up the hills, but a lot of times she pooped herself out and flopped into her creations.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our epic NM/AZ trip!