a spoon full of yogurt

Did you know we have all been sick? We are recovering now, but it has been a rocky road including burst ear drums, staff infections, Influenza-A, sore throats, missed work, canceled piano lessons and sinus infections. It appeared Lucas would fight me for 10 days every time he had to take his medicine. Then I had a flash of inspiration. Read and learn, folks:

Me: Lucas come and take your medicine.

Lucas: No!

Me: Okay, well how about this yogurt medicine?

Lucas: Okay. [Gulp. Smile.]

Forgive the lack of pictures and comments on your own blogs. I am choosing to not spend much time on the computer until the end of tax season. Some updates will be posted after April 15th. [Just think of this notice as me filing an extension for blog posting/reading.]

Sharing the Love

A tradition we have started in our home is giving our kids love for Valentine's Day. Love at our house comes in the form of special coupon books from mom & dad. See above.

I love it because (a) it is free, (b) it allows me to truly give to my children what they want most from me—time, and (c) no sugar induced hyperness/cavities. Perfect.

To share my love to all of you, here is a link where you can download the artwork for the booklets created by me. There are two pages.

Lots of love to all of you!

p.s. If you are wondering how the full-time job is going, I really like it. I love it. It's a little like being on a treadmill that I can't turn off, but happily I am surrounded by office supplies. It's rekindled my weird obsession for them. I just can't get enough of the post-its and sharpie markers. And sometimes while I am waiting for the printer I breathe in the copy machine scent and I am reborn. 

Snow & Graham

I am in love with all this paperie from Snow & Graham. Letterpressed stationary, calendars, notepads, notebooks, etc. Such a beautiful example of when less is more.

Over here we are beehive of industry and busyness. We are getting ready for out of town guests, a baptism and luncheon, and then going back to work full time next week. It could be awhile until the next post...

Cybele's Secret

Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier

Historical fantasy. This is a loose sequel to Wildwood Dancing. It takes place 6 years later and follows Paula and her father on their merchant voyage to Istanbul to collect a rare artifact. If you liked Wildwood Dancing you will absolutely love this book. Young adult fantasy is my favorite genre to read, and I read a lot. This book is so artfully and expertly written that most other books of this genre pale in comparison, even the great ones.

The setting is historical Istanbul which Marillier portrays with bold honesty and richly woven detail. The characters are many, but very fleshed out and relatable (dashing pirates, handsome guardsmen, exotic women, fatherly merchants and the like). I find the majority of books I read to be good reads, but lacking something. The emotional depth of a story is something that takes true talent to create and sets apart good books from truly great ones. This is exactly what Marillier has given us.

The plot is complex with a healthy balance of suspense and resolution, and a beautiful, slowly unfolding love story that finally rings true (after reading a plethora of ridiculous ones). No silly romances based on instant physical attraction here. Just pure, deep, abiding love that takes time, experience, and trust to develop. I really related to this theme in the book. Especially the idea that opposites attract and can help balance each other out. It was a great reminder to me of what I hold dear and why. So sweet, so tender, and highly recommended. A definite favorite.

This is on my wish list because I already want to read it again, and looking at the delicious artwork is a journey in itself. 

Charity

“Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down”

-Marvin J. Ashton

Today I am practicing having charity for myself. Try it.

Wednesday Welcome: Lucas Eli

Here's something new for Wednesdays. Wednesday Welcome will introduce you to the amazing people I know. I thought I'd start with the one person in the world I probably know better than any one else. 

Lucas Eli. Age 2.5. Baby of the family.

Actually, to be quite frank, I am writing this about him because I need to put a positive spin on a really overwhelming day.

4 of the following 5 messes were made today. Good golly! How much patience does H.F. think I have? I may have to rethink my prayerful petitions for patience...

Mess #1: Pink packing peanuts. He dumped these out of a giant box (twice) and it eventually led to a 1 hour clean up job thanks to static electricity. If you look close in the picture you will notice he is naked from the waist down. And laying on top of the peanuts. You go kid.

Mess #2: Broken antique saucer (make that 2 broken saucers). I think I cried when this happened. My first actual purchase made after years of envisioning a lovely plate wall. Lucas loves his stool and will use it to climb on the counters and search for hidden bags of candy. He found the bag and pulled. Down came the plates.I loved that robin's egg blue ;***(

Mess #3: Purple nail polish on the carpet. Lucas came up to the piano while I was teaching piano lessons and said "TA-DUM!".  I looked down and noticed his toenails were a lovely shade of deep, dark purple. I followed him into Emma's room and saw the carpet. Alas! The carpet is a lost cause. I did think it was sweet that he used a wash rag (pictured) to attempt a clean up. All of Sister's nail polish is now on it's way to the dump.

Mess #4: Blueberry Jam. This was a great way to unwind after a long day of running errands with Mom. Can you see the smashed berries on the newly washed rugs and the bottom of his shoes? Good thing money isn't an issue in our house right now. Otherwise I might have cried at this senseless waste. Oh, that's right. I did.

Mess #5: Soup of Cinnamon Roll. Can you tell from this picture that there is about an inch of water on the floor in my kitchen? Mixed in with one soggy cinnamon roll. And by this time he figured it out. Mom comes and takes pictures of every mess I make. I better smile for this one. I must be one awesome kid.

Mess #6: Poop. This was one happy moment and a much anticipated mess. For the first time ever, Lucas told me he had to go poop, produced one right in the toilet, and proclaimed: I go big, huge turd. What a proud moment for the Colemans. Until he cupped his hand in the poopy toilet water and drank it. **shudder**

Perhaps you were shopping at the American Fork Target today and heard a toddler screaming: Shut up! and Dammit! over and over. Maybe you even saw his mother pushing the cart with glazed over eyes and a zombie-like expression. If you were quick to judge I hope you can have a little more compassion now.

Those seem to be Lucas' two favorite words. Ever since we had a Family Council on verbal abuse he shouts those words out at the most inappropriate places. (I'm so sorry to everyone who was hoping for a spiritual sacrament meeting experience in our ward any time in the near future).  I'm wondering if we should ask the pediatrician about Turret's Syndrome. I'm watching for ticks.

In the mean time, please know that I am doing my best. **sigh**

Brutal Truth

Ayn Rand said that Robin Hood:

"assumed a halo of virtue by practicing charity with wealth he did not own."

and also that he:

"became a justification for every mediocrity who, unable to make his own living, had demanded the power to dispose of the property of his betters, by proclaiming his willingness to devote his life to his inferiors at the price of robbing his superiors."

Ouch. Happy Inauguration Day to you all.