my favorite time

My favorite time? Family time. playing all together time. making art time. reading stories time. Sewing time. walking after dinner time. cuddle time. Late afternoon sun time.

 Enjoying every minute time.

After we eat. There are sometimes moments of bright stillness.

she creates. she draws. she inspires me.

his imagination is infectious. like a yawn. we make up stories.

any more independence would be too much for me.

everyday, their play gets sweeter and more complex.

i want to dress like this too.

I am amazed by them. How can they have come from me?

In the flower fairie alphabet, Z was for zinnia.

 the perfect white picket fence in our little Rockwellian town.

gills. i like mushrooms. I still remember my dad wanted to grow them in our cellar once.

organic yin and yang

I thrifted and altered this dress. For some reason it seems to be a favorite. With me. with Russ.
With friends and random strangers. Right now, I am wistfully thinking of wearing it with boots and a cardigan. Maybe later with tights.

terra cotta pots don't have feelings. But these seem restful.

a wedding in the country

This past Saturday, Russ and I had the honor of attending my cousin Miranda's wedding.  It was held at her new inlaws' farm. The weather was perfect, the atmosphere was warm and suffused with the late afternoon glow and love. I was smitten with many of the creative touches throughout the ceremony and reception. If I had any inclination for a big, family celebration-type wedding, I would have one like this!

We were greeted by this wonderful, old  truck holding a blackboard announcing the wedding and sunflowers.

Miranda was one of the prettiest brides I have ever seen! She was radiant.

If I had it to do over again, I would marry this man. A million times I would marry this man.

One of the sweet things they did was a "blessing tree" At the entrance there was a table and tags where you could write a blessing to hang on the "tree" so they could look over them later. I loved the idea and it was fun to think of sweet things to encourage them with.

also sweet were the yummy desserts!

My cousin Richard flew in from California, it was great to see him, even briefly!

The dessert table was beautiful and delicious!

Excuse the wonky angle. The cake fit the understated elegance of the ceremony and was delicious!

I loved this, they had a sweet old wooden box overflowing with stick candy! It was amazing!

What better to wear to a wedding in the country than worn-in cowboy boots and a sundress? I was comfortable and my ankles escaped without bug bites! And Russ as always was dashing, he makes everything look good! Even his "mechanic-cure" as dubbed by my cousin! He worked up to the last minute on our old truck, and hopefully it will be running this fall for lots of trips out to "our" farm!

This table cloth is a family heirloom on the Stewart side. It has been at many weddings and looked beautiful and just right. I know my grandmother would have loved seeing it. She was certainly missed.

The centerpieces were also adorable!

I like to think we look a little like sisters! We wish them both more happiness than they can imagine!

It was a beautiful beginning!

The Rest of the Story

Like I mentioned, we spread Miss Bea's day out! In fact we started early, on Sunday, when her Grandma Jan made a special visit!  Not only did she bring presents for the girl, she brought a little something for Evie and the best zucchini bread in the whole world for Russ and me!

I had more chronologic pictures, but Blogger thwarted me. So just imagine her excitement as she peeled off the wrapping to reveal her very own shopping cart!

all ready to check out!

seriously, Jan, you really don't look old enough to have a son with a two year old!

Evie gave his sister her first present on her actual birthday! It was so sweet to watch their interaction. I remember playing with the "chatterbox" phone at my grandparent's house when I was little.  Evie thinks it is  just a character from Toy Story 3, which, it is, to him anyway!

Always there to lend a hand!

Later in her day, after the tea party, my Oma, Tante Lienie, and cousin Arianna came to celebrate our girl.  Bea and Arianna bonded over the colored pencils!

Oma and Baba gave Bea a "meow-meow" birthday card! You should have seen her face light up.

She also got color wonder markers, paper, and a princess plate with matching cutlery.  The creator of color wonder markers should be sainted. Genius! Pure genius.

Talina, Jeff and Arianna also thought Miss Bea needed a shopping cart. I was thrilled because now I don't have to referee turn taking on at least one toy!

Oma always brings me the most beautiful arrangements! And yes, I have watered them every day!

So happy that daddy is home and her "real" party can start!

SO loved! Well, Evie really does love her, but that face? priceless! He may have been making a fart noise! Yay for boys!

In an effort to be greener, we used some fabric wrapping paper. This package was from Bea's Nonni and Grampy and Aunt Amanda.

Oh yes ! It is a tea set! (made entirely from recycled milk-jugs, and food safe!!!) Way to go Nonni and Grampy!

Russ waited all day to come home and have a tea party with his girl. It was a wonderful, wonderful day!

By the end of it, she was ready for bed, but not before she had one more cupcake!