In the paper

Liam made the Sunday paper.

We were out for a walk on Friday afternoon when this lady drove by, pulled a U-turn and chased us down. She was a photographer with the Siloam Springs Herald Leader and said she had to take Liam's picture.

So, here it is :

Whole Foods Prize Package

We have been axiously waiting for Liam's prize to come in the mail from Whole Foods (what for? you ask? Cuteness!). Today was the day.

Liam was pretty excited to see such a huge box

He peeked inside

and found the best surprise ever: packing peanuts!

Nothing could have been better.

They could have skipped on all the goodies and just sent him a box full of the peanuts. These were endlessly entertaining, and I'm still picking up bits of them off of the floor.

But the goodies inside were a big treat for me.

Here's what was inside:

A cute congratulations card

California Baby lotion

California Baby shampoo/body wash

Peter Rabbit conditioner and detangler

Whole Foods label soaps: Grapefruit and Linden flower

Hyland's Vitamin C tablets

Hyland's homeopathic cold tablets

Earth's Best foods:

• Pureed apples
• Bananas
• Banana, peach, and raspberry
• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes and cinnamon
• Apple Juice
• Letter of the day cookies, Oatmeal Cinnamon
• On-the-go O's, Honey Nut

Crunchin Grahams honey sticks

365 Organic Cotton Balls

365 Organic Surface Cleaner, grapefruit

7th Generation Baby laundry detergent

7th Generation Baby wipes

All in a sturdy shopping bag!
A great prize!

a bit dapper

Auntie Molly and Rebecca brought back an outfit for Liam from Korea. It sure is spiffy!

shake shake shake

The other day, I made chocolate chocolate chip ice cream with my new KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment. When it is finished mixing, it is the consistency of a milk shake (and then goes into the freezer for a few hours to "ripen").

Liam needed a sample of the "milk shake" version. I'd say he likes it. Very, very much.

oh, birds

Our cats are hunters. Coleridge especially. I know this is just a part of his nature, but when we added a doggie door to give the pets free access to come in and out of the house as they please, we altered the natural balance and, apparently, are just begging for their trophies to be dragged inside.

Earlier in the week, Cole brought in a still-flapping mourning dove, bringing it right up to me for my approval. Before that it was a little black bird, that I found Dahlia munching in the living room. A few weeks ago, a squirrel, on our couch...

This is becoming quite the problem fast. I am afraid I'll find Liam playing with the carcass of whatever their next catch is.

So, when I saw feathers all over the laundry room floor this morning, I knew what I was looking for, and I began to make the rounds so I could find it and dispose of whatever kind of bird it used to be, before Liam woke up.

I scanned the floors, and was surprised to look up in the bathroom

and find a robin perched on the windowsill,

eyeing me as if I were the intruder.
Aside from some crooked wing feathers, he seemed to be okay.

Here's Gabriel, doing his manly duty, and setting the robin free outside.

I have a ridiculous apprehension when it comes to birds.

They frighten me.

On that note, we brought home 10 baby chicks today, which we're hoping will mean lots of eggs in the not-too-distant future. More on that later. I haven't taken pictures yet, and I'm avoiding a messy kitchen as I type...

Saturday morning fun

the metamorphosis

I've been meaning to post pictures of my new craft room.

This room has had quite a run:
originally, it was our master bedroom (before the remodel), then a guest bedroom.

It became our office when Linda came to live with us (round 1), then a guest room again when she moved back to CA (the small room at the front of the house became the office).

Before Liam was born, the small room became the nursery and this room became the office/guest room.

And then, for Linda round 2, it transformed into her bedroom, and the office was demoted to the diningroom counter space (as it turns out, I love this space for the computer...)

When Linda left last month, I needed a drastic change. Something bright and fresh but also soothingly peaceful. Serene. This gray blue was the perfect change of pace.
I love having a dedicated crafting space. Where y sewing machine is always at the ready, and my fabric stash is conspicuously present, begging for me to delve in to it.

There is also a play area for Liam, an unblocked view into the backyard, and still a guest space at the other end of the room.

I love how the paint color enhances my dumpster-found artwork. There will surely be many pictures to come from this room's creations...