This Is Kristin

It’s time for us to hit the road, and head to Michigan, for a wedding.  We choose to drive, because with fuel prices it is actually cheaper than flying, (those airplane tickets are crazy expensive right now!) and mostly because we love road trips.  I love seeing the different parts of the country.  

We’ve borrowed my dad’s GPS, and it’s got a ladies’ voice.  Last time I called her “Janice,” what should we name her this time?  

I’ve got to start getting ready, but of course, my kids are sleeping in today… which they never do!  

  This person, Yeondoo Jung, turn kids’ drawings into photographs.  I think this is such a unique idea, (there are more on their site.)

 It’s fun to see their interpretations of these kids drawings.  

 

 

“A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart.”
~Author unknown

This is my dad, or “Papa Dan” as my boys call him.

My dad always made life more fun, and taught me many “tomboy” things.  He taught me to chop wood and start a fire, plant and garden, weld, ride a motorcycle, use a drill, hammer, wrench and other tools.  My dad has a strong work ethic, and I’m great full for all the lessons that I learned from him.  

My dad has always been faithful to me, even when I was acting ugly.  He’s got patience that I don’t understand, and I am glad that he does because my three boys need a lot of that!  

He’s a wonderful Grandpa, and I can’t tell who adores each other more, the kids or my dad, but they seem to have a great time together.  He’s about to watch them for a few days in a row, and they are really looking forward to it.  I’m glad for the help, but mostly I’m glad for the memories that will be made for my kids.  The boys are lucky to have such wonderful grandparents.  

Thank you dad, I love you! 

*Positive Post Tuesday

It’s been that time of year for awhile, to start seeds, or plant seedlings. Are you adding anything new to your gardens, this year?

I’m trying to get rid of black spot on my roses, and care for the plants I planted last year. Along with that I’ve started some cherry tomato seeds both indoors and out to see which grow better. (my kids have poured rice in the pots outside, and messed with the dirt, so those don’t have as strong a chance…)

I have planted some little white flowers, and my favorite of all is the basil. Fresh basil and mozzarella grilled cheese, basil in spaghetti sauce, homemade pesto. All such yummy things, I can’t wait!

~I was so excited to hear about this organization, Soles United, that is recycling Crocs, making new ones, and distributing them to people in need around the world. I think this is such a great idea. Read more about it, at Inspired to Action, and at their website.

(I had a dream that Randy was wearing a pair of fluorescent orange Crocs, and when I asked him about them, he said he had a pair in every color… blue, black, pink, camo…. so if thats true, Randy, you should donate a few…ha ha)

First of all, why aren’t there more younger kid movies out now?  

Anyhow, here is a clever list of Summer movies for kids and “if” you’d want to take your kids to see them.  

I’m looking forward to seeing “Prince Caspian,” with my son since we are reading the Narnia series, and also “Kung Fu Panda,” because I think Jack Black is hilarious.  

What movie have you seen, or are looking forward to seeing?  

This is my nephew Zion, one of the cutest little guys.  His Mammo, (grandma) wrote down a letter to us, word for word of what Zion wanted to say.  It is two pages of the cutest things.  Here is an excerpt:

~”I love you in the whole wide world and the fishes in the sea.  I have Thomas the Train.  We are planting flowers at Mammos house.  Papa is ‘worting’ at ‘wort.’ (work)  I saw a moth at Mammo’s house.  I have an owy.  I love you.”  

“Hi work buddy…” “Have I got a job for you…” “Pick a tool, and lets get to work..”

Those are quotes from my sons’ tool belt that he’s had for a couple of years, and I now have those phrases memorized.

 This toy will suddenly start speaking one of those phrases, out of nowhere. It’s kind of creepy sometimes. Especially when we are upstairs, and the tool belt is downstairs. At times like that, I’m glad to have a talking tool belt, as opposed to a talking doll or something- like that Elmo that was making death threats.  That would really freak me out.  

I can’t remember to pay my bills on time, or my dad’s birthday, but I have things that my kids’ toys say completely memorized.  Does this mean I’m an audible learner?  Maybe I should record things I need to remember into a toy and have my kids push those buttons over and over all day, maybe then I wouldn’t forget.  

~Have any toys that drive you crazy, creep you out, or that you have memorized?  

 

PPTTTTC= Positive Post Tuesday, Tiny Talk Tuesday, Combined

This is a video of my little buddy doing sign language. He’s such a little ball of joy to me. He wakes up smiling, and laughs easily. I love this little guy, he’s such a light in my life.

Here is a video of him “tiny talking” in his sign language way:

*Positive Post Tuesday

*Tiny Talk Tuesday

Every time summer approaches here in TN, I start to get reminiscent of my summer days in CA, and I miss being near bodies of water. I grew up walking distance from the Bear river, we lived minutes from Rollins Lake, an hour from Lake Tahoe, and a couple hours from the Ocean. All beautiful, clean swimming water, all places we spent lots of time at, swimming, camping, canoeing, boating. Now I appreciate them so much more.

It’s funny how you can grow up doing something and it’s just apart of life, it’s normal, and you don’t realize how much you love doing those things, or how fortunate you are to have those things, until you move away from them.

It makes me wonder what “normal” is going to be to my kids, and it makes me wonder what I want it to be for them.

~What do you miss, from where you are from?