There are very few times of the year when we go to the cabin and there are not other family members there to share it with. However 4th of July was a suprise weekend that no one but us was able to make it up. It was lovely as it was a trial run of having two kids up there both on different schedules.

Bonds were renewed…

First times were had..

Babies were guarded…

Lessons about shoes were taught…

And the call of the wild was heard…

We scrambled over forest floors, played on windy beaches and stood waves. It was a wonderful vacation and further verified that yes, Art and I can handle being parents. ( Most days at least ).

We didn’t make it to the fireworks, but we went to our favorite pottery place Eckels and got a wedding present, and another coffee cup and saucer for the house. We ate homemade fudge and wine bread, went to Hauser’s Farm and did a wine tasting. Drank some wine over a supper of  fresh smoked salmon, hummus and pitta bread. In general lived the good life.

- Sleeping with a new baby next to me.

- That even though I cut A’s hair, it still looks messy.

- fresh produce to make tons of Yummy food.

-Warm Fruit Cobbler

- a stack of novels as high as my nightstand waiting to be read.

-brothers that love each other.

- a husband that understands.

-new white dining room chairs.

- that 30 mins when the house is quiet

- the 23.5 hours that the house is noisy.

- my vegetable garden.

- the fact that I know someday again I will have time to design, draw and create to my hearts content, but for now its my babies, and all the wonderful that they bring to my life.  Creativity doesn’t dissappear, youth does…

_AAB0388, originally uploaded by AABIV.

If you happen to be passing through Duluth, MN and the kids are getting antsy (or your husband.) Stop at the Aquarium. We spent about 2 hours their but it could definitely be made into a 45 min stop and than on the road again, although Aidan would argue that it takes at least 4 hours to adequately explore. It is all freshwater fish, and we made it just in time for the otter feeding. Aidan also got to have a front (and only row seat) to the parrot feeding. There were ducks, turtles, and an amazing two-story lake fish tank. Believe me, its worth every cent.

http://www.glaquarium.org/

Valentines day Present for Hubby, originally uploaded by hannahlaura.

So here is what I came up with for the homemade present for Arty for V-day from his family. Lately he has been obsessed with finding a plant for his desk, and I thought that this would be great since it was also a little reminder what exactly he spends so many hours at the desk slaving awy for. Us, his little family that loves him more than anything.

This project cost me nothing, I had the sedum already grwoing, the container was an old container we had around from when Arty tried keeping a cactus and the modeling clay was from college.  I got the idea from an Etsy store from a long time ago, it sold all these tiny houses for terrariums and I always thought it wouldn’t be to hard to duplicate.  All in all a relatively fast project with a nice outcome. The little white house  is just swoon worthy to me. Can’t you see a whole windowsill lined with these tiny houses?