{already} Back to School!

Well, I just got around to remembering that I took pictures of the big kids on their first day of school this year.  They are each into their third weeks of 2nd and 3rd grade.  Time is flying!  But as much as I miss their littleness, it's fun and gratifying to see all that they are learning and that they are succeeding in school.

But you know what's more fun?  The fact that so far, as Fancy and Hi-Hat grow older, they only grow closer.  I absolutely adore the special brother and sister bond that they share.  She is the yin to his yang (or is it the other way around - I have no idea.  And maybe it's actually ying to yang.  Any-hoo.), and as easy and laid back as he tends to be, she is his goofy, spirited, wide open counterpart, and he loves her for it.  He will put up with his little sister hanging all over him, being (lovingly) right in his face, taking up much of his personal space, and it just doesn't phase him.  I guess that's the way it goes when one's spunky little sister has always been there for as long as he can remember.  They are just two special puzzle pieces that make up a very fun picture, and in looking over their first day of school photos from this year, I think that comes across pretty clearly.

See? Nothing phases my sweet serious guy, and no one can put a lid on my fun spunky gal. My prayer for them is that they will always have this special closeness and that throughout their childhoods, they will provide for one another steadfast support, encouragement and confidence.  I'm thinking if our kids are so close and loving, it's a good sign that with God's help, we are on the right track.

I ♥ Faces {Water}

Well I haven't posted to one of the I ♥ Faces challenges in a while, but give the extreme heat we've been having around here, I thought this week's challenge was quite refreshing: water!

My entry for the week comes straight off the slip-n-slide.  'Cause what else better is there to do with the mercury creeps up past 100?  Here's to hoping that what has come up must surely (one of these days, please!) come down.

And this little piggie went...

We've had a guinea pig visitor in our home this week, and Fancy has been in heaven!  Mario is living in her room, enjoying Fancy's special brand of pampering that involves generous helpings of celery, carrots, oranges and timothy grass, copious amounts of clean water, and plenty of cuddle time after school.  I was a little skittish on day one, with me having to coax a wiggly rodent out of his cage with the mindset of a person who may have watched one too many episodes of Swamp People, and may have been mistaking guinea pig behavior with that of angry hooked 12-foot Louisiana alligator behavior.  After a little pep talk from Mario's mom that, in fact, guinea pigs are not viscous swamp dwelling reptiles, I regained my courage and was able to get him out of his cage for Fancy to cuddle.  Of course, by day 2, Fancy had figured it all out herself and did not even want me to do it.  All in all, I will say that a guinea pig seems to be a pretty easy little pet to have around, and a week into it, I'm thinking there's not much cuter than a guinea pig systematically munching its way through an orange wedge.  I may have spent some time sitting with him today when the kids weren't around.

Because I never had a pet as a kid.

Express Yourself

I can't remember what exactly she was pouting for (or just generally seeking pity over), but this is a face I see quite often.  Her special gift? Melting her mama.

Good Morning!

Wednesday morning was not the best of mornings around here what with an ill child and some heavy duty cleaning that was required.  So here's looking forward to today's new day.

Updated Space

I'm so excited! Big changes around here - for our little living room, that is.  We are finally getting around to updating our little front living room which has evolved from a study to a toddler playroom to a sitting room comprised of a mishmash of leftover early marriage furniture, townhouse drapes, and horrid yellow paint.  I like sitting in the quiet of the room, but I dislike the actual room.

Yesterday we set to work updating the space.  I spent a few hours yesterday giving the room a fresh new coat of paint and I adore it!  Can't wait to share the finished product, but it will take a few weeks to get everything put together.  For now, here's the direction we are headed in.

I'm going for a very soft, sophisticated, monochromatic look, accented with corals and pale watery blues. We found the coffee table last night - Pottery Barn floor sample. Woot-woot!  I spray painted my wicker floor vase a nice shade or coral.  I may be hanging drapes later today.  Geof ordered the slipcovered seaside-inspired sofa last night, and this afternoon I may go on the hunt for large floor rugs.  And let's not forget the centerpiece of the room - the inspiration for the space (and a photoshoot that Geof is probably now regretting given that it turns out the session fee did not include the cost of redecorating an entire room):

I'll post more when the room is all done.