home sweet home

   When we purchased our home 16 months ago, there was no back yard. And there is still no back yard. I know, anti-climactic. The idea was to get going on a brick patio this summer, fix the wonky fence, and throw down some grass seed. Instead, our upstairs bathroom leaked into our downstairs bathroom in June. We spent the summer repairing the downstairs bathroom. We decided to DIY it as much as possible and that is why we haven't finished the upstairs bathroom. DIY is exhausting and takes so much time. Not going to lie, it was a huge bummer. The house was remodeled before we bought it so we were not planning on any major overhauls, other than the back yard.

   I am trying to put on my gratitude glasses and shift perspective. I did hang twinkle lights. Everything looks better with twinkle lights. I did plant some pots and manged to grow flowers, herbs, and  eggplants.

   I did manage to sip tea outside on summer mornings when the hot air balloons were drifting overhead. I did manage to paint the front door a few times.

   (She told me she wanted to be red.)

   I did plant some lavender to trying to keep the neighborhood cats away. I did enjoy watching the boys mow and weed whack.

   I did savor many meals Matt grilled up. Or one of his many perfectly golden marshmallows in a s'more. I did enjoy hilariously told ghost stories around the fire and the sounds of Kaleb playing the guitar.

   I did go on stunningly beautiful walks through the nature reserve that is just blocks from our home.

   I did give our bedroom wall a moody makeover.

   I did hang up the #summerselfieseries I enjoyed with Koen this year. The laundry room has never made me happier.

   And lastly, I did relish every bouquet gathered from other people's gorgeous yards. Ours will come someday, along with a new upstairs bathroom. As the only female in this tribe, the days of two toilets can't come soon enough!

a year ago today

 Aden's arm was in a cast.

 Collin picked me all the dandelions in the neighborhood.

 Matt enjoyed his morning cup(s) of coffee.

 Technology brought 4 feisty boys together.

Little reminders that our lives are not our own were scattered through the house.

A lot has changed in a year, ...and not so much.

alice in wonderland tree

 This tree is busy transforming our front yard into a pink petal-ed paradise. I am in heaven. It reminds my of the "paining the roses red" scene from Alice in Wonderland. I think it is called a Camellia tree.

 We are seeing signs of spring pop up and trying to get the yard back into shape. When we moved in, the house had been empty awhile and the yard was serviced by a professional lawn care company. It was perfect! Matt and I are working on some realistic expectations for the yard in this season of life. The doing isn't as hard as the agreeing on a plan part. (Maybe this is true of all life?)

lights, camera, action

A couple points of note; do not try this at home. But if you do, make sure to capture it on video as Kaleb did with his iPad. Also, my man has embraced flannel. Cue the heavens opening and angel chorus.

blackberry cobbler y'all

   About this time of year, I turn into a freegan. If it can be foraged, I am all over it. It must be the long days of summer filled with, "Mooooom, I'm huuuuuunnnnnnngry." Well, Seattle provides, friends. All along our neighborhood alleyways are bushes heavy with perfect blackberries. Sweet and free for the picking.

  After we pick, I freeze half (for gray February mornings that beg for blackberry syrup on warm pancakes) then we usually make crepes with this lady's recipe. The boys asked for cobbler this time, though. I used this recipe. Easy, quick, delicious and all with stuff I had already.

Remember the berry post from last year? Well, the same circus act discussion came up again this year, too funny.

the great outdooors

We are enjoying our backyard space as the sun comes out in the PNW. I was so impressed by the beautiful outdoor spaces we visited in Idaho, that I took a few pics.

Aden getting smoked out on the 4th of July in our back yard. (and my finger, whoops!)

 My parent's serene deck and yard.

 Enjoying the Cardillo's revamped backyard.

 Cute place to soak in Vitamin D on Ellen's patio.

The backyard has kind of been a second thought in the places we've lived but, we have spent so much time outside this summer. It has me thinking about ways to keep the yard up and add some sparkle to our outdoor escape. Anything like what this lady has going on! What do you think? Is your yard the last place to get some love? Or do you love dirt under your nails?

impromptu

 Right after the Science Center we wandered past this freshly raked pile of leave & once again, I was not quite ready with the camera. Little boys move like lightning & have no time for photo shoots. They do however, go with the flow, have boundless energy, & brush off grudges easily. That is better, for this mama, than a perfectly posed picture. Love my band of hooligans, I do!

green thumb

 This little gem popped up in our yard about a month ago. Eep! Eep! More pink flowers? I know I am in the right place. Also, hummingbirds are consistently found hovering around it.

 Kaleb has always had an interest in nature. He is happiest covered in dirt & looking for wildlife. I appreciate his green thumb because no one else in the family has it. I think his shaggy 'do goes with his personality so good, looking all the more like Grandpa Jeffrey as well.

I snapped a few photos of his on his first day of school. He is a 4th grader this year. (Whaaa???) Parker, Kaleb, & Aden are going on the adventure of Virtual Academy with me this year. It is public school curriculum done at home & a certified teacher is available for meeting standards & help if needed.

 The flexibility in schedule combined with the uncertainty going on in our life right now, were the reasons I thought it would be a good fit. Wish us luck! (I will post the other boys pictures as well. Kaleb started first because his materials came in the mail first.)

around the house

Not a heap o' trash, it's the garden.
Grow baby, grow.

Culturally sensitive door mat, came with the place.

Yay! I decorated. I first saw this project here.
It is hot glued to the wall, wow, that is resourceful,  if I don't say so myself.

The before shot. Have I mentioned how much I lurve having a fireplace? (2 actually!)

We also have a sofa now, almost like we are grown ups, almost.
Good thing this is not smell-o-vision, the couch smells TERRIBLE.
I have been running to Bed, Bath, & Beyond like mad for de-stinkafication products. Yuck!

Back to the fireplace, love the fireplace. Bonus, it does not stink.

A lot of trees in our yard. Funny, because the shade is not really needed here in the Northwest.
The sun has been persistent though, we have seen it shining through the trees more days than not.
Welcome to Seattle, Archuletas!
p.s. do not get used to this nice weather.

And my very most favorite, a love note from Aden.
Complete with eye glitter. I ADORE eye glitter, man, this kid gets me.
 My love of eye glitter & my boy's affection made me think of this snippet I read on the internets:

"The only way I can describe what it's like to hold you as you make these high-pitched, exhilarating outbursts about the simplest of things is, well, use of illegal drugs. People ruin their lives with illegal drugs because they want to feel that feeling I feel when I'm holding you in the morning.

Because it is the purest essence of that which hasn't been desensitized by pain, loss, disappointment, or failure. It's the thrilling rush of hope and possibility shooting right into the core of what it means to be human: we are alive! We live! Look! Another day to be alive! That is the fundamental principle behind everything meaningful. We are alive to witness."

Casa Archuleta

We had another Grandma invasion. Ellen came for Father's Day weekend, and as Lindsay says, "She turns everything to gold." Projects are Ellen's favorite way to interact and boy do we have projects.

It is an amazing feeling to have someone who "gets" us to talk to.

She helped us rescue this table from the garage & shabby-chic-a-fied it up for perfect use in our kitchen.

Ellen planted veggies, I am just praying I don't kill them. (Or the slugs, eek!)

Our visitors have been troopers, seeing as we have virtually no furniture. That was another great thing about Ellen's visit. She brought a queen bed frame with her & stayed with the boys so Matt & I could peruse the strange offerings of craigslist. We actually have a sofa now. This was all in addition to the time she sent us off on a date & paid for it! The boys had their fill of M&M's, homemade tortillas, & Grandma's funny stories about their dad. Thank you, Ellen, we miss you so much already.