End of the School Year

The countdown to summer has started in our house! The kids love waking up and pulling the numbers down each morning off the poster that I made. Personally, I'm scrambling to get all my projects done before it's me and the kids 24/7. 

The end of school brings lots of fun activities for the kids and projects for me. Since I'm the room parent, I'm organizing an ice cream social for Jonah's 1st grade class. To ensure that all the parents know that they can join us, I have created some cute invitations to go along with theme. Theses were super easy to put together particularly since I always have stock piles of paper. 


Need a unique and fun invitation for your next party? Send me a message. I'll be happy to help!

Gift giving

I have been reading books and articles that discuss the need for simplification. The context could be mental and physical. I'm a person that loves to declutter, design and organize and I love reading this types of material. It inspires me to live a simpler life with less and be richer in other areas.

But then I get conflicted with gift giving....Does anyone NEED more stuff? What if we gave the time that it took to find the gift instead to our loved ones?

As Mother's Day approaches, I'm looking forward to the handmade treasures that my children will present to me. The "I love you's" scribbled across the page. These are the items that you can never buy at the store and will never end up in the Goodwill pile. 

Do you need a weekend away?

I went on girl's weekend with a friend of mine to Grove Park Inn in Asheville a couple weekends ago. During our weekend, we visited the Biltmore. An amazing yellow field caught my eye and I was able to capture a few gorgeous pictures of the field of wildflowers. The day was overcast and a little rainy so the sky was dark and ominous. I love the bee in mid-flight on the bottom picture. 

Now that I'm a full-time mom, I greatly appreciate the small breaks that I get. I love my family but I'm a better person when I can re-charge by batteries and refocus my energies. Also, as a creative person, I need that time to find my inspiration. 

I'm back. I feel good. I'm creating. And I'm a little more tolerant of the whining and tugging at my leg. 

Monday Inspiration

"So always look for the silver lining and try to find the sunny side of life."
– B.G. Desylva

Happy

My incredibly lucky and fortunate to have two always smiling children.
I love these little faces. They make my heart happy everyday. 

Inspiration Monday

"Our life's journey is about the people who touch us."
- Stuart Scott

Hoot Hoot!

I'm a little obsessed with owls at the moment. They seem to be in every store that I frequent. I have to refrain from buying them all. Of course, I have a Pinterest board devoted to all the owls I would love to own –
www.pinterest.com/carebear824/owls/

My latest creative piece was completing the owl pictured to the right. I had Jonah paint the wooden cutout. Then I used mirrors, bottle caps, paper cuts and some other decorative metal for the eyes. The wings and chest are paper punch outs. I'm not sure where this little guy is going to live in the house yet. I'm sure the kids will find a nice spot for him to roost. 

Inspiration Monday

"As artists, to know what to create is important. To know why we creative is so much more."
- Unknown

Inspiration Monday

"Maybe being oneself is always an acquired taste." 
- Patricia Hampl

Project | Creative Workspace

Now that I'm home for a while, I needed to claim convenient workspace for everyday tasks. Luckily, our house has a built-in desk area in the kitchen. The workspace project blossomed into a re-organization of the kids art supplies. 

The first step was to create a homework/supply caddy for the kids to use on the dinner table that is located in the kitchen. This handy caddy is easily removed off the dinner table when it's time to eat. I already had a wooden tray to serve as the caddy. Throughout the house, I found the containers for the supplies. Since some of the containers came from the pantry, I took some scrapbook paper and wrapped them. Then is was time to sort through all the different creative utensils. 

The next project was my workspace which is also located in the kitchen/informal dining area as well. The cabinets above the workspace contained more kid art supplies. I went through the cabinets and purged any used or old supplies. I used tupperware containers to sort the items and then placed them back into the cabinet. I placed the most used items such as coloring books, paints and beads on the bottom shelves so the kids can reach them easily. I added the kids artwork to the inside of the doors to really give the creative space some interest. 

My computer, sketchbooks, and the few pieces of paper that I need to keep neatly fit on the build-in desk area. I even have a fish companion to keep me company while I'm getting inspired. It took me about 2 hours from start to finish. Most of that time was sort through the chaos and finding materials around the house. The cost was absolutely $0 because I shop my house. 


I am super happy with the results. I enjoy sitting in my space to catch up on emails, bills, finding inspiration and sketching/journaling my own ideas. The kids loved the homework caddy. They have turned it into a school store and charge me a dime everything I want to use a pen. 

The simple things about being a parent

This is a short list of the moments that make up my life as a parent. 

• comforting arms
• first steps
• wiping tears
• smiles that light up your world
• giggles
• goodnight kisses
• playing on the floor even through there is furniture all around you
• experiencing the simply things as if they were new again
• learning or trying to learn to be patient
• reading books out loud
• taking the time to teach
• learning that it's not all about you anymore
• watching your children grown inch by inch
• learning when to let go
• mistakes (mostly mine)
• being there no matter what
• listening
• interacting
• being present
• kindness
• eating dinner together
• holding hands until they grow up and don't need to anymore
• creativity
• being brave even though you are scared
• loving your husband and letting him know that you appreciate him
• taking a couple of moments for yourself
• lots of "I love you's"
• cherishing the past but living in the present

And so a new year begins. . .

I started this blog in 2007 when I found out I was pregnant with Jonah. It was the easiest way to get updates out to all my distance family and friends. Its been something that I have enjoyed and like the history that it produces for our many adventures as a family. 

For those of you that come to my blog often, you have found it void of content updates. Hopefully, you continue to check back. 

I have the same excuse as everyone - life just get so busy. Blogging is not my full time job and definitely not my second one either. I have tried many times over the passed couple of years to streamline the blogging process. I get good at it for a short period of time and then the crickets begin again. 

This post is not to inform you that jamesandcarrie.com/thewillardfamilyblog is shutting down. It's more of an evalution period. How often and what gets posted to this particular forum. 

There are so many social media connections and distractions out there to take part in. The small, quick updates of daily life get captured on facebook. My creative inspiration gets capture on Pinterest (you can follow me there as well). Hopefully this blog can take a hearty approach to the Willard's misadventures and of the learnings we experience as a family. 

Stick with us and come back often. Happy New Year!

Little Surprises

before. . . 

Kids are always surprising their parents. Whether it with their words or their actions. McKenna surprised both James and I on Saturday. We were at the mall looking for some furniture. As we were walking around, McKenna said, "I want to go get my ears pierced at the earring shop."

after. . .

Since we were not having any luck with the furniture, we walked on down to the earring store. McKenna jumped in the chair and picked out her earrings. When the  time came to actually do the piercing and she got nervous. She sat on Daddy's lap and stared into my eyes. Then it was done. Two little, sparkly earrings were now a permanent fixture on her ears. She said it hurt just a little. 

I thought for a moment she was going to chicken out but she found her courage. I cannot believe how brave, determined and composed my four year old daughter can be. 

The Happy Dance

James noticed that when Jonah gets super excited about something that he does a little dance. It's similar to a jumping jack but the arms and legs don't go out to the side.

We asked Jonah to perform the happy dance for the camera. Of course, we got some added flair to the traditional dance. He has to throw in some boy mannerisms as well as some hip-hop moves.

It's so cute. I love that fact that he has a happy dance. Everyone should have one! Watch the video and try not to smile :)

A little mommy venting. . .

I have heard this saying so many times over the passed few weeks -

"Enjoy them [your kids] while they are young, it doesn't last forever."

I totally agree with that statement. I totally want to live fully in that statement. I want to enjoy everything about my kids. The laughter, the silliness, the inquisitive spirit, and the pure enjoyment of being together. 

But yikes! - there are some days that are just unbearable. Let me explain to those who have not yet experienced it. It starts with the whining about how they think that fruit snacks are a meal and when the do not get them there's a pretty intense melt down. Next example is they ask for water. You present the water in a typical cup. Instead of "thank you", there's screaming that it's not the princess cup they wanted and they refuse to drink it. Then there is consistent whining that they are hungry when they seriously just ate five minutes ago. When you do sit down to enjoy something with them, there is the inevitable spill or something breaks and you're right back on your feet again. 

Ok. I think I have painted the picture. I honestly think as a mom you have so much going on around you how do you truly get to enjoy any moments with your kids. Perhaps my expectations of this statement are way too high. Like everything in life, it's finding a balance of craziness and snuggling with those little guys who love you unconditionally. It's hard work! I don't care if you are a working mom or stay at home mom - it's hard work to keep up with everything and try to raise kids. And then on top of that "enjoy them while they are young". 

I give anything to stop the clock, stop the responsibilities and just stare at my kids while they push the boundaries. I would love to shut off that "bad cop" persona that I have to take on when they are "just being kids". Hard work, I say!!!

Although, to end on a positive note, I love kissing those faces at night when they are sound asleep. It takes me back to when they were babies and swaddled like a little burritos. So maybe I'm enjoying them while they are young, it's just when they are quiet and asleep. :)

It's officially back to school time for the Willards

Our little munchkins started school last week. McKenna is in Pre-K and Jonah started Kindergarten. They are fortunately at the same school. Actually, they are in classrooms right across the hall from each other. 

We have been getting use to the new routine of waking up early and getting ourselves out the door on time. We've had some tears and trepidation with going to school. McKenna has been clingy when she is usually the brave & adventurous one. 

Jonah has been a champ. The teacher says he arrives at school with a smile on his face and ready to learn. 

Parents always say this – "Where did the time go?" It's so true. It's also wonderful to witness how children grow and learn. It's also sad to know that they are not babies anymore. They are growing into independent, beautiful, young minds.

The big move

It's been a little over a month since James and I purchased our new home. We have used this passed month to renovate two bathrooms, paint, update light fixtures, replace carpet and move alot of "stuff" from our current house. 

This weekend we will make what I'm calling the "big move". The movers will be arriving in the morning to haul our large furniture to the new house. Saturday night will be our official first night in the new house. 

Although our move is only two miles away from our current location, I'm going to miss our house. There are so many memories that have happened at this house. It's been home to us for over 12 years. They always say that you will get your house situated perfectly right before you decide to move and that's actually what happened to us. We were comfortable in our home. The house definitely had is quirks and issues but what house doesn't. 

It's going to feel weird driving by the house everyday and not pulling into the driveway and unlocking the door. Farewell, 5560!

CSB Highlights

Despite the rainy weather in Cape San Blas, we had an amazing time with our Florida friends, The Wheeler's.  

Gloria & I got to venture off to see if we could find the elusive Bay Scallop. We pissed off the local kayak renter, came too close to a pointy-finned creature, and escape being stuck in the bay during a pretty bad storm. Did we find the scallops? Yes, but only a dozen.  

Our kids actually enjoyed being in the sand. By the end of the trip, McKenna was sitting on the sand while she dug holes. It bought tears to my eyes. Jonah was walking around finding seashells and playing supervisor to the castle building.  

The boys, James & Chris, tried yet again to hook a tarpon but no luck. I'm beginning to think they sneak out and go to a bar. I have yet to get a great fish story.  

We sprinkled in some great conversation, snacking, swimming in the pool while it rained, cartoons, movies, adult beverages, rainbows, snake sightings, close calls with sea creatures, playing in the ocean while it pours, sunsets, fireworks. . . .

Good times, good times.

Robert Downy Jr. Inspiration

I was reading Chris Brogan's blog a few days ago and he had a post around having inspiration in unexpected place. Through reading an article about Robert Downey Jr., he found the following quote. Hollywood people usually don't inspire me so I was quite surprised to read the quote and immediately relate.

From Chris' blog -
Let’s pretend that the question was “Is it hard doing what you do knowing that you were so messed up in the past? And is it hard doing what you do not knowing what the future holds?”

Downey’s answer was: “I stopped worrying about fixing things and just dealt with what was right in front of me. The bouncing ball of the moment.”

-----------------
Well played, Downey. Well played.

And she's diving. . .

McKenna is the brave one of the family. She will try any activity. I can't say the same thing about her when it comes to food. She has got the hang of diving into the pool. Some of the dives are exactly belly-flops but she tries.

This picture tickles me because Jonah totally photo-bombed it.