Monday, March 31, 2008

a new season

I love spring.....
I love the warm but not stifling hot weather. I love seeing the flowers bloom. I love when my perennials I've forgot about emerge out of the mulch and surprise me!
The other day I was looking at my many plants that had dead parts sticking out of them (because I still need to clean out the flower beds) and stunned by the metaphor between them and myself......


the brown crusty branches are so brittle
making me weak
but the emergence of the fresh green leaves
are so promising
of a bright and healthy season
and the hopes of beautiful blossoms
as I become a bigger and better me.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

crafty grandma

Since I've been recovering my mom has been taking wonderful care of me and the kiddos. She cleans, takes care of the kids, takes care of me, and does crafty learning lessons with Zander & Kaya.

Here they are making their number snakes.


I think it went rather well until I rustled out of bed for a few minutes to watch & take pictures......then they started eating glue. Always to impress mommy (or drive me crazy, I haven't decided which yet).




Here are the number snakes. I wonder who I get my need to do crafts and lessons with my kids all the time from?

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

fun with uncle michael


Well, fun with ex-step-brother Uncle Michael, that is. My kids have to be thoroughly confused that they have 3 Uncle Michaels and 1 cousin Michael. But anyhow....

The past weekend we had the pleasure to have this Uncle Michael with us to visit. He is one of Matt's best friends, and he is definitely the funniest guy I know. He is also the one who set Matt & I up on our blind date 9 years ago....so it is him we credit for our continual marital bliss...
I always love his yearly visit because he makes me laugh so much. During this visit he told me what an avid reader of my blog he is, so I assured him that he would be the subject of one of my posts. So here he is....there are more very ridiculous photos coming of him later this week.

The kids seemed to love Uncle Michael as much as we do. When he wasn't around they often asked, "Michael, where are you?". Zander loved playing with him and Kaya loved laughing at him.









Michael.....Thanks for visiting us and being one of our favorites......I hope you liked your entry into the CraftyKorisa blog!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

dear easter bunny

As you all know, I have surgery tomorrow morning (Monday at 7:15) so this may be my last post for a while......or I may get some really good drugs and really post something interesting.


But I thought I'd leave all of you for a while with some Easter cheer again....and if I feel well enough this week, I'll share some photo remixes and slide shows of the 57 egg hunts we had this week. (that is only a slight exaggeration.......I tend to be very festive during all of the holidays....my kiddos only add to my madness). Yesterday, we wrote letters to the Easter Bunny to leave at the fireplace for him to see when he visited us. The kids loved decorating and telling me what to write in the letters. It was very cute of them.....

Here they are picking out the many stickers to put on the letters.


Kaya is putting much thought into her letter....



The decorated side of the letters.


The Dear Easter Bunny letters...I've typed out what each say below.


Dear Easter Bunny,
Like stickers. Love you
Easter babbit. Thank
you. Please.
Kaya

Dear Easter Bunny,
Thanks for coming to my house.
Can I have an egg please? I also
like a yellow care bear with hat,
orange scissors, and a blue &
red balloon.
I love you,
Zander

Saturday, March 22, 2008

picture perfect

I think naming myself a "photographer" would be a little grandiose, "insane picture snapper" would probably be a better adjective for myself. Besides insanely snapping pictures of my little ones I also love to take pictures of another little guy. Which probably drives his mom crazy......since they live next door & I take pictures of him all the time.

Connor always looks at us with the funniest expressions. Almost like he's saying, "Do you people realize how crazy you seem to me?". And then at times he has such a sweet, innocent look and I have to take a picture to try to freeze him into babyhood.....it is so cliche to say but it does go by too fast.....

But here are a few photos of the cute little guy. Zander and Kaya adore him (me too) and you'll see why. Zander also has a major-mega crush on his mama and you'll see why too (she is just as cute as Connor).


The three buddies sitting together
......................................................
Don't they look thrilled that we're making them sit still and pose?


So sweet......look at those eyes.......



Can't you see I'm busy with this egg?




My mommy always makes me laugh!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

go get your camera

"Go get your camera Mama."


After so many attempts at trying to get a picture of my two kiddos, I NEVER thought I'd hear those words. But, the other day, when Kaya and I got Zander up from his nap, he wanted me to take a picture. Once again the two wouldn't look at me but I did snap this shot.



I can't decide if I truly captured the moment or if they planned this pose for me.
They love to look in each other's eyes now and giggle hysterically. Sometimes they'll kiss each other but usually one does it and the other gets mad.
I can't wait to pull out this photo one day when they despise each other!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

ready. set. glue!!!

In an attempt to turn my kids crafty, I have been letting Zander stay up late when he takes a good nap in the afternoon. (Those of you that know me best know late means 7:30......but it is late to him!) The last few nights we have been doing things with glue.

The other night started with this flower....
He wanted to make sure the green pom-poms were on the stem and leaves. After that, he just wanted his dad to help. Now that was a sight to see......Matt gluing pom-poms on a flower, too bad I didn't think to take a picture of that!
After a while we noticed that he mainly loved gluing.....not necessarily putting anything on the glue.



Never fear, Zander my dear!!! That is why they make glitter glue and puffy paint!!! I found some perfect miniature size ones at Target yesterday in the dollar aisle. They were perfect for our nightly art projects.
When I showed them to Zander and told him we could do some gluing after Kaya went to bed, he got soooo excited!!! When I was moving the dishes from the table so we would have a workspace, Zander looked up at me and enthusiastically said,
"Ready. Set. Glue!!!"

So here he is after he Ready, Set, Glued. It is so interesting to watch him. He is very particular about where each color goes and really takes his time. Notice the tongue sticking out of his mouth from concentrating so hard.


I'm sure we will do more gluing tonight. If we have any left, that is.......
Zan-Zan is particular about where it goes, but also puts TONS in their designated spots.

Here are the finished products....


an Easter Bunny with a painted egg....

and



an extremely colorful car.

Saturday, March 15, 2008



You can't deny laughter; when it comes, it plops down in your favorite chair and stays as long as it wants. ~Stephen King

Friday, March 14, 2008

Compassion

I have to admit, this week has been a hard one. I feel like it will never end.....

I have cried more, been saddened more, suffered more this week than so many others in my life. Nothing Significantly bad for me......just a bad week.

It started out with severe cramping and bleeding (which I know I said I wouldn't dwell on earlier...ok, I'm a liar). I was in so much pain, and the bleeding was so much, it had me in tears. But now I feel some better.....horray!!!!
Then we found out Matt's Mammaw.....whom I call Creepy (long story behind that) fell and broke her hip and had to have surgery. But she is now doing exceptionally well...horray again!!!
And then I found out one of my best friend's mom died, she seems to be dealing with it as well as she possibly could......but no horrays there, please keep praying for her.

But ANYWAY....my point here is Compassion.

I've been so down and out this week but I've also witnessed and seen so much love and compassion. I tried to find a quote to describe how I feel, but nothing comes close. I'm just overwhelmed by the love and compassion of the human spirit in the time of need.

To start with....

My friend Rachel.
I sent out a prayer request for her to all of my friends. It was unbelievable to hear the responses. I spent all night worrying about her and her family. I kept praying, Please keep her safe, loved, and at peace through this tragedy. And then I heard her sweet voice the next day....she was doing ok, and I felt so bad about not being able to come see her immediately. And then she said, "Carmon is already here with me." Oh....sweet,reliable, Carmon......What a Friend!!! I automatically felt relief and thought my prayers were answered. When I got off the phone with Rachel I started crying tears of joy and relief.......so happy we had a compassionate friend like Carmon.

Mammaw.
What sinking feeling in the stomach it was to hear she had fallen! But she is such the trooper. I talked to her the next day and she sounded better than anyone I know!!!
It was so sweet that before I called I told the kids, "We have to call Mammaw because she fell and she isn't feeling very good." Zander immediately said, "Mammaw have some stuffed animals in her bed and she'll feel better."
What a proud mother I was to hear such compassion come from my child!

And finally, my problems...
On Monday, which how did my mom know I needed this she sent me a card and package.
On Tuesday, when I was in soooo much pain, my friend Steph called at exactly the right moment, when I needed her the most.
On Tuesday, when I was still at my lowest....my neighbor and friend Indira went and got a prescription for me.....boy, was I thankful.......
On Wednesday, my friend and neighbor Trish, watched my kids so I could go shopping and rest a little bit.....another lifesaver friend....
On Friday, after Stephanie fixed me lunch, I got an incredibly sweet and touching email from my friends and neighbors....Trisha, Laura, Shannon, Meaghan, Indira, and Jessica,....who are going to fix me meals of all of next week. I am so grateful for their compassion and kindness.

So my point is in all of this, isn't is great to see the compassion around you even during the worst of times. Please continue to keep Rachel in your thoughts and remember show a small act of compassion to someone around you.....you never know what it could mean!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

easter eggs

To practice glueing and get into the Easter spirit, we made paper Easter eggs the other day. The kids were so serious about glueing on their pompoms.




Here is the complete set of finished eggs....


"My hands can't reach mama."


Tuesday, March 11, 2008

watch me wednesday no.10 (pappaw

2 treats this week

My first treat......a dining room table with chairs....

After almost 8 years of being a homeowner with a dining room, I finally have a nice wooden table with chairs. I love it! Now when we have company we can all sit together.

My second treat....catching these two reading their magazines, Babybug and Wild Animal Baby, while sitting together on the couch.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

E I E I OOOOOOO


Baby you can drive my car
Yes I'm gonna be a star
Baby you can drive my car
And maybe I'll love you
Beep beep'm beep beep yeah
----The Beatles-----

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

gingerbread men

What a fun lesson we had yesterday.......
Run, Run as fast as you can,
You can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man


I do love the internet. You can find anything when you decide to have a little mini-lesson on a whim! This adorable book and gingerbread poem was all I needed to get started. The kids are still repeating "Fast as you can, Fast as you can."

After reading our poem together, we made these paper gingerbread men. They are now adorning the doorway of the playroom.


Then we started having fun with the real stuff. I got this kit as a Christmas gift from our aunt Barb......it was quite the hit!




You can see it was soooo tempting to taste them while decorating.


Now the finished products....


And finally, Zander & Kaya can have them for good!

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

cowboy take me away

I said I wanna touch the earth
I wanna break it in my hands
I wanna grow something wild and unruly
Oh it sounds so good to me

Cowboy take me away
Fly this girl as high as you can
Into the wild blue
Set me free oh I pray
Closer to heaven above and
Closer to you







How the kids love the song "Cowboy take me Away" by the Dixie Chicks. AND how they love to play cowboys.....cowboys that ride tractors and pooh cars to go buy sushi & pizza, that is.
Maybe they are channeling my childhood spirit......the one who thought she was Cowgirl Jane. Once, in first grade I actually dressed up like a cowgirl to go to school and refused to be called Korisa, only Cowgirl Jane.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

zander's bus

I love it that our days are now filled with creative & imaginative play. Zander is constantly pretending and going to do things. His latest favorites are to have a "picnic under the table" while he drinks imaginary milk and driving his tractor while wearing a cowboy hat to go get some sushi.
Yesterday he walked into the kitchen with his backpack on and told me he was going to school and he needed a bus. So this was how the creation of the bus began...


Here he is making the "trunk that has an engine".


I thought our quickly made bus turned out rather well. I especially liked the blue boa seatbelt that Zander is using. His idea...I decided not to tell him that busses don't have seatbelts. He'll learn and be disappointed about that soon enough!


Here he is busy steering the steering wheel we made. Yes, he is driving backwards.



TADA!!! The full view of the finished bus. I can't wait to see what adventures are in store for us next week!