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May 31, 2006

Self Portrait Tuesday

she found my earring


Originally uploaded by katiek2.

I'm back. In my house. Feels kinda wierd, we were getting so used to the uniqueness of LA. Here's me and my two favorite accessories: Josiah and Eden hanging out at Shadow Cove near Laguna Beach.

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May 26, 2006

Snapshots

one happy moment

little lime

pretty indian pastry. soooo good.

pasadena fountain with judah maurer

not liking the sand

we're having FUN!!

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May 24, 2006

Sweet boy

Sweet boy


Originally uploaded by katiek2.

We're here and life's grand! Off to see the Maurer's in a few minutes!

Josiah loved the plane ride, and they let him sit up front for a moment. Crazy, I didn't think they let kids up there anymore. Very special, my boy is so proud and handsome! Eden on the other hand was mad as hell....

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May 23, 2006

Family Ties

Lola Nancy and Grandpa Dale are in town from the Phillipines. We spent Saturday with them, Oma, Big Papa, Amy and Josh.

Tonight we go to cousin Christy's wedding, married on a Monday! Any other non-Saturday weddings out there? Anyway, I'm in a zoned out state trying to prepare for an evening of nice clothes and food, and music and keeping kids in line--along with planning for a 5 hour trip from ATL to LAX. Ugh, Joel keeps reminding me that it's planning for fun. Yep, you're right, it will be great great fun, I just want to arrive there. This in between stuff is not my favorite part. I'm the Mama, the one who packs everyone, dresses everyone, feeds everyone. While we are away from our house, makes sure that nothing falls apart, dies, smells, grows, whatever could happen. I don't like the idea of coming home to a filthy house, but sitting right now seems better. Cleaning at 10pm seems easier since my son should be napping and instead is dropping every last book he owns between his bed and the wall *Boom* *Boom*.

On Sunday before I went to clean Venture PT, Jon Maurer called. My stomach got butterflies as he and Joel talked about getting together and what day we should go to Santa Barbara. Man, my faith is small. As I vacuumed I kept thinking of all my "wants" and all the little things we have to pay off. I am glad they are just little. My heart waits with anticipation to see how God will work. Will it be harder than hard, will he bring financial blessing, will it be soon or in two or more years? Most importantly, will it happen at all. My human heart always has that doubt, that what I am feeling (or what Joel is feeling) is actually just our selfish desires. I feel the same way about where we will live, what we will drive, where my children will go to school. When I express my small faith, Joel says, "Don't say that!" Joel's faith is bigger than mine. His dreams are bigger than mine.

But California on vacation is a beautiful dream, one of sunshine and breezes, exotic food and new sites, new clothes and abundant hospiltality. Before California becomes home it can become a wonderful destination. I pray that my children will travel well. Think of us and pray and dream big.

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May 18, 2006

Things I love Thursday

After seeing all the stencily goodness at huffmania and other places, I just had to give it a try. I whole roll of freezer paper was mocking me with every glance "Try it!! You'll stencil everything in sight!" I must restrain myself because I do want some shirts I own to be plain. Target had boys shirts for $4 so I bought a plain navy one for this distinct purpose: to stencil a guitar on it for Jos. I like it now, but I'm ready to take it up a notch and do another stencil on top, like a real intricate one of strings. Anyone out there tried stencil on top of stencil? Does it adhere as well? Also, can the stencil get used more than once? Whatever, I have a couple tanks and other Old Navy shirts that are too plain and I think I'd wear them more of they were clever. I bought a pack of 2T white tees to make for friends kids and haven't gotten any good ideas. That's the problem, ideas!! I have gotten the idea to do, you guessed it....POD SHIRTS! Oh, man I'm in trouble.


And might I add that the genius Claire at Loobylu has a new site that is just perfect for any creative parent, or lover of children. Kiddley! go check it out. My favorite: the tips on how to engage your child at an art gallery. Very important!

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May 17, 2006

Self Portrait

This is me. I'm a Mama 24/7. A mama that got a full body Swedish massage and a facial last night. I sat with two kindred spirits who share motherhood and anniversary dates with me and sipped pomegranate martinis and ate things that are waaaay off my very flexible diet these days. A evening that was almost not something I deserve. As I strolled through the Avenues with my two kids this morning I realized I had tasted a little bit of the fancy pants rich life with my pampered treatment last night. When I looked at the Ann Taylor dresses in the windows and thought "I should learn to sew a dress like that" I was brought back down to earth. I'm not rich, I have no prospect of being rich but I have the prospect of change and new beginnings. I have pleasantly sore muscles from being worked over, and I have a new appreciation for being treated like I was. Because I look at my reflection in my thrift store jeans and my absolute fave t-shirt (which just so happens to have 3 paint stains on it, and both armpits have holes in them) and I feel like myself. I look at my two children who are blessedly red-headed, and super cute in their thrift store clothes, and I know that when I am without these super-cute accessories I feel a little bit off kilter.

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May 15, 2006

My One and Only Love

Joel and I have been married 7 years today. Whenever our anniversary rolls around I wish I had loads of sweet photos of us on our wedding day, but alas I never have many scanned. These past 7 years have been quick. Especially the last 4. Joel is a constant support, a clever, hilarious guy. He is gentle, honest, loving. He is a dreamer but has so much common sense it's a perfect combo! He loves Jesus and his children and he takes care of me so well!

As we drove home from Chattanooga last night we found it very difficult to talk over Josiah's tired complaints and Eden's bored shrieks. I swear my daughter peels years off of my life when she hits those glass breaking tones! We talked about his dreams, and about the last 7 years. I love to see him thrive and I have gotten used to his dreams and the organic way the path God has for him is forming. Our 7 years have been exciting and loving. We've been quite a team and we still are with our two little ones.

I've been feeling extra emotional this past week. Several things have been effecting me more than usual. But mostly it's been thinking of the future and God has been working on me. Trying to give my children's future, my selfish desires, my financial peace, my husband's livlihood, and everything in between to God. I feel like I'm slowly being drained of all my nervous energy and being shown lights on a dark path, being shown that things are working and that my life is worth more than the little in's and out's.

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May 11, 2006

Things I love Thursday

I love my Murphy's Oil Soap! Now, I have become very unhappy with all housecleaning, but something about the non-antiseptic smell of Murphy's makes my kitchen happy. The fact that it's scent overcomes the roach spray I laid down earlier that day, it's smooth texture in the bottle and how it mixes so nicely with warm water. It makes my crappy little hand-me-down chairs look nicer when I've scrubbed the hard as cement dried oatmeal off and the oily soap gives the wood a soft glow instead of a dried out brittle result. Again, I have no love for house cleaning, but I do have love for a clean house. Especially a clean kitchen. Speaking of which, ugh dishes....Murphy's won't clean that.

More Thursday love here.

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May 10, 2006

Brutal Self Portrait Tuesday

This is one of my artist headshots in front of Seated Nude. Here's me, this is my face. I sometimes get sick of looking at it. Especially when I have a bad hair cut (I cut it myself) or my skin is giving me a challenge of somekind. May's SPT is introductions.

One thing about me that I've been battling is my pediatrician. Not that my kids have anything wrong with them, or that I go very often at all, but I hate going to my kids doctor. I have free healthcare, therefore I have to pay in time, inconvienience and an impersonal atmosphere. But as a Christian who cares not just about people, my children, the pollution of food and the over-medication of healthy people, I have a problem with being over treated. Many of my friends choose to not vaccinate their children. I do not have the strong convictions that they do. See, many years ago Jesus saved me from much bitterness and fear. To me they went hand and hand. In my decisions about vaccines I can't succome to my fear and that's all it would be, for me. I still battle it every day, but I remember my freedom and decide to continue to live free. Something about the vaccines though make me feel uncomfortable. I am not into studying and reading and searching for an unbias source, because in my mind there can't be! the drug companies are very powerful and everyone is hungry for money. It grieved me when I went to my midwives office and almost every item there had a drug company's name on it and I had a hard time getting MY form of birth control which was NOT a hormone form. I am balancing between the stubborness against "normal" childhood care (vaccines, flouride drops, vitamin D supplement, some or all formula, too much juice, too many toys, too much TV, daycare, fast food, prepared food with high fructose corn syrup...sigh) and the exhaustion of being on a high horse. I give my son juice, my kids have cookies occasionally, TV everyday, formula with cereal or with a sitter, and they are vaccinated.

Today in my probably hormonal weakness I welled up and cried as my baby girl got an MMR, pneumococcal, and varicella. I hate that I know of two instances of mumps and measeles in Atlanta. I don't like drugs, but I also believe that without them we would have similar problems to many countries that are much poorer. How many mothers in these destitute places would give anything for their children to be free from simple diseases? I want my kids to have every opportunity. I want entry into schools to be as flawless as possible, I want travel to be less worrisome, I want them to not remember that pain. Most of all I am like all of Creation that groans for their Creator. With the world so imperfect I cry because my spirit longs for the day that Christ returns and takes away all pain, sorrow and sickness.

When my kids are testy and fussy at lunchtime I like to launch into a spiritual that I learned at church growing up:
We won't have to cry no more, when Jesus comes!
We won't have to cry no more, when Jesus comes!
We won't have to cry no more, when Jesus comes,
No more trouble in the land, trouble in the land!

I'm gonna SHOUT all my troubles are over, when Jesus comes!
I'm gonna SHOUT all my troubles are over, when Jesus comes!
I'm gonna SHOUT all my troubles are over, when Jesus comes,
No more trouble in the land, trouble in the land.
That's a good bit about me, and maybe not intro material, but as I get older I'm less and less about small talk.

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May 8, 2006

Happy Birthday Eden!

My baby girl is one today!

The birthday hat

Presents!


How old are you Eden?

Oh, yeah. ONE!

We went to celebrate with my family, especially since Unka Kirk, Aunt Sarah and cousin baby Jo-bean, I mean Joanna were down from St Louis. We spent a lovely afternoon with Cat at Cooledge Park and Jos and Joel rode the carosel while the girls kicked back, watched giggled and toddled. An exhausting weekend, but a special one. I only wish we had more fun play time with Kirk and Sarah, kinda feel like that was my fault. Sorry guys. Maybe we can do the beach sometime! It's great to see our family grow and play. The days have arrived where my kids can play together. Many of you were reading when I wrote that I was in labor and then Eden's birth on Mothers day last year. Quite a special event, and it was a great labor/delivery. The second time was 100x easier!! No regrets. God is so good to us. I feel like we have a right-rounded family with Eden here. So nice to have two kiddies. So nice to have my petite baby girl.

More birthday fun here

mommy time | By | 4:03 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

May 5, 2006

New Pod Batch

GRAPHIC POD

PODS WITH SNOWFLAKES

H-POD

DANDY-POD

Look for them soon in my etsy shop.

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May 3, 2006

Self Portrait., um...Wednesday

May is for introduction thanks to the newly improved spiffy SPT website!

I'm 29, in the ATL area, I have a wonderful husband of 7 years, 2 kiddies: Josiah 3years, and Eden 1 year. Am am an artist, a painter, I try to show my work as much as possible. I'm going to school to get my BFA, one class at a time.

I love Jesus, he's my personal savior. I don't think I would make it through a day without His grace and peace in my life. I am constantly reminded of what being a pefect parent is when I need my Heavenly Father to take care of me.

Here's a good way to introduce myself:
A Five Meme!

Five minutes to yourself:
-check my email
-eat
-do a quick sweep of scattered clothing and gather together
-sit
-drink something refreshing

Five bucks to spend:
-Starbucks latte or mocha
-couple pair of shoes at the thrift store
-a cute tee on clearance
-a nice pen
-picture frame for pod at IKEA

Five things to part with right now:
-my coffee table
-my virus ridden desktop
-a couple strollers
-my Volvo Wagon
-an empty futon frame

Five items you couldn't part with:
-my comfy couches
-my thrift store jcrew jeans
-Lifeblood
-my camera
-my (gulp) laptop, tee-hee

Five words you love:
-"my dawgs are barkin"
-"no big woof"
-"giddy-up"
-"H, I, larious!"
-"yummy-licious!"

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May 1, 2006

Art for Mom

Why not get Mom flowers that can hang on her wall? Sweet, colorful, cute ones full of expression and character? How 'bout 3?

MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL--THREE PODS FOR $60!

Glowing Pods has sold, but check out my etsy shop for more available.
Here's a preview of the ones I'm working on:

OK, Joel and Josiah went camping Saturday and that left me mucho time! It's amazing how little you have to do when all you have is your 1 year old to take care of. No hubby coming up with random tasks, I could have a one track mind! No toddler to grab things, I could leave my wine glass on the table all night! I must say that 24 hour period was very very quiet, almost uncomfortably so. I watched MY movies, and went whereever I wanted to go. That's Joann's, Staples, and Moe's cuz heck no I wasn't cooking!

It was very nice to have one on one time with my daughter. Every once and awhile I think about preschool for Jos and think it would be good for me and Eden to have time just us. That's if I could ever ever afford it. But it was fun playing with her. She is so close to walking and talking. Her little voice makes me so happy. I can't wait to hear the things she wants to talk about. She sleeps so much when Josiah isn't around too! I mean Sunday we slept in til 8:45!! Amazing. I am taking a break from formal painting and trying to get Eden's baby book done(?) for her first birthday....next week. HA! If I win Joy's contest Eden will have one killer layout for her book. Because of my paper swap partner Jen and her generous supply, Eden has some nice accents that I don't have to create! I'm so stingey with those fancy papers, I rarely buy them. I figure, I can make those patterns myself. The next step is to make my own rubber stamps. I allow myself 2 new stamps a year. I got a cool target Jasper Johns style stamp, and a line of stars, and a stamp for a friend.

Thanks everyone for your kind words after my bleah day. It's never fun to get rejected, but I have many opps to be thankful for and many artsy things to do just this week! It's a blessing that my Be Still piece didn't make the show because I was able to get it to Gallery Street this morning for a giclee for the Perkins, and the original to the Wiegers sooner than I thought!

Another thing I was totally obsessed with this weekend was the Covenant Alum Community site. Wow, it has gotten huge in like 2 weeks! very cool trying to bustle through all the names and remember who everyone is. I mean, I am connected with so many CC grads already that this is just another perk to finding more old friends. If you went to Covenant, even for a little bit, and haven't signed up yet do it! And find your friends!

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