Jingle bells

I've decided to test my patience, and occasionally include some videos from the month. These things take FOREVER to upload on here. Oh well.
Sorry I can't figure out how to rotate the bathroom. Jingle bells...always being belted out around here these days. Old Mc Farmer is tonight, on a one horse open sleigh :)

Happy Spring!

We have been busy little bees over at the croft, but today we chose to stay home. It's so nice to be able to rest and have a day off. It's the second day of spring, but you wouldn't know it in Houston. Things have been spring-like for awhile now. I suppose a few more things are blooming and changing here, but not at all like the first signs of spring back home. Do I dare say I miss the Kansas winters? Well...maybe not the darkness and depression that never seems to end. But there is a special feeling you get when witnessing the changing of the seasons that I didn't really get to experience this year. Never the less, we went to the park today and enjoyed being out in the sun. We left a little stick  message for someone to find on the playground.

And here are a few more from our backyard today.

Blooms galore! We think periwinkle?

Wisteria

Marigold Croft

I'm excited to finally share our name for the urban farm with you all! If you'd like to read the history behind the name, you can see the explanation on our Facebook page. (See right column on this blog for the link) An update on this week's projects:

1. We have been meeting with roofing contractors over the week. Hopefully, we'll be able to make a decision on that in the next few days.

2. Cleaned another section of decomposing material beside the a.c. unit. Briggs and Finn earned dollars for their great help with stick removal. And we were able to create an already finished compost pile, using the debris from the gutters! Today the kids tended a small fire and burnt a bunch of sticks up for us.

3. Started to make part of the house nicer to hang out in. The master bedroom and living room areas will remain untouched by the remodel, so we are going to get that cleaned up a bit this weekend. I got the walls prepped for painting today.

4. Ted is attacking the attic. Cleaning it. Tackling wild animals that are competing for shelter with us. Anyway...I won't go into too much detail with that...

5. Still pumped we bought the place, even though we're digging and finding more... "issues".

Ready to take on any vermin that comes his way in his astronaut suit.

From orange walls to an open and refreshing clean slate.

Finding our Rhythm

 Hello again! We've been up to all sorts of things over the past few months, and right now I'm having a hard time figuring out what to write about....so I'll upload a couple pictures from this week. So, a few months ago I was having a really hard time managing my TIME! As in over committing to too many activities and not actually enjoying what I was doing. So I decided to intentionally 'slow down', decide what needs to get done, and make time to exercise, fiddle, and go on dates with Ted, etc...
I really didn't want to make this post about KonMari, but I do have to say that after reading her book I have made some significant changes as to what is IN my house. And those changes have affected the way I manage my time. Basic example, we have less stuff...so I seriously spend about 10 minutes tops every evening tidying up the house and I'm done. The boys have really impressed me with figuring out the new system of putting the things in their "homes". Less clutter..more time to do other things, yay!  I also wanted to tackle the weekly home school thing. So here's what our re-evaluated "school", aka "life" looks like now: 

As you can see, we keep it closer to home these days. And I'm happy with that!

 I've been attending a sunrise yoga class once a week, and that is also helping me kick-start the day with energy. Also...I started drinking this stuff called coffee...like the actual caffeinated kind !

We have found a babysitter who is next to Danielle worthy :) She is awesome, and me and T get to go on dates now. 

Ted and I have started an afternoonly tea time that occurs between 3-4pm. I am at home. He is at work. But it's our way of feeling a little bit more connected during the working day while we are apart. If you would like to join us for a cuppa (is that how you say it?), please think of us around that time and tell me about it the next time we see each other :) 

I'm getting adult interaction and weekly social time with the nanny group. Hey girls! If you're reading this, I appreciate your friendship!

And here's a weird one..I started listening to podcasts. Like, where have I been the last decade, right? Currently listening to Slow Home. But yeah....fun way to start the morning routine while preparing breakfast and packing lunches.

OH.....and the babe...MAX....sleeps.through.the.night!!!!!!!! (probably jinxing....)

So yeah, things are just gently changing around here, and it's been nice.

Check out this picture Briggs made. He said it's all my favorite animals. Unicorn (Sure, why not!), a bird in the tree. Watch out for the snake. Racoon below. A moose who appears to be pooping, a hedgehog (for sure!), and a skunk. Also, rainbows are a huge trend around here these days. Gotta use all the markers, all the time!!

Just figured out the dishwasher is magnetic. Yay

Interesting flavors, but a bit pricey for single scoops!

Above is the ice cream parlor the kids have set up. Can you tell we spend a lot of time gardening around here? Comes with hand made paper dollars to pay for your scoops.

So now I am off to practice a little 'Port Arthur Blues', and my own rendition of 'Mary had a Little Lamb' using as many drones/double stops as possible. Some day I'll include a video. I think I've improved a little bit from 'Old Suzanna' a year ago.

Fare Thee Well,
jaylyn

Making friends

Today we met up with the homeschool club for play dough in the park. Finn made a friend all by himself. The little boy was very concerned that Finn did not have shoes on, but after a few minutes of playing together I noticed that they both were running around barefoot. Max gave me a surprise, and decided to take his first steps. About 3 of them! I almost missed them because he was walking to another mom! We tried getting it on video, but of course he decided to sit down immediately and crawl the minute we let go of his hands. I also noticed that another tooth has popped through this evening, making a total of 9 all together.

I've also come up with a new game-type quest to play when we need to kill some time. We're on the lookout for Little Free Libraries around town. We visited one today that was submarine themed. Once we are in a more permanent place I'd like to set my own up. 

Little Free Library-Yellow Sub

My clothing swap last weekend was small, but successful! It was lacking a variety of sizes, but everyone who attended was able to take something home with them. I plan on meeting more people by next spring, and putting out flyers at church and other places that I frequent that have large crowds so hopefully there will be a bigger selection of items.

Here's a first pet project the boys have been enjoying:

"Fishy", "Red ninja", Mystery snail, "Striker/Stripey", and a sucker algae eater

Here's us on Halloween a few weekends ago:

From left: Toothless the Dragon, Lady Jaylyn, Viking, King Arthur

Fare thee well.

october

Woohoooo 2 days before Ted is back from his work trip!! Thank goodness. It's been a crazy, but fun week with 3 little boys. Zoo field trip, costume prepping, fall crafts, grocery store errands/mommy needs more wine to get through the week (only sort of kidding..), and a few minor dilemmas involving the front door almost breaking and a dead rat.
Briggs had his costume parade, program and Halloween party at school today. I got to see him sing a bunch of songs he's been learning in music class. He is becoming a lot more outgoing this year I've noticed. Finn also got to join in on some of the fun and wear his costume at drop-off this morning and sit beside brother in the classroom during the party. We're all looking forward to dressing up on Saturday and trick-or-treating on our block. I was talking with a neighbor, and heard there will be 1600 kids come by on Halloween evening! 1600! It's common for everyone to sit in lawn chairs on our street and watch the huge parade of van loads of kids from the apartment complexes/townhome lands to invade the hood. Too bad mannequin man is hiding in the woods back in Lawrence..we could have had some good laughs.
So I know you're all wondering about the rat. I had to pick up a dead rat with a missing head yesterday. It must have drowned from last weeks flooding and washed up into the yard. Or maybe Merlin is to blame...he has been going outside more and more lately. 1 day after the trash truck came by...ugh. Should I just leave it in the trash can until next week, or will I die from poisonous dead fumes by then?

Fare Thee Well,
jm

The Teapot Cottage, Totoro's Farm, and the Sharing Gnome

I'm once again entering the annual Fairy Garden Contest, sponsored by one of my favorite blogs, The Magic Onions. You can check out the rules for the contest and enter your own here! http://www.fairygardens.com/contest/ But don't delay...the contest ends tomorrow!!!! And this year, I was involved in a miniature gardening workshop where I began this gnome garden. A shout out to Buchanan's Native Plants here in Houston, TX, where I picked out all these adorable props! As you may notice, the gnome is feeling rather festive with his bunting flags and musical wind chimes! It's too bad my cat, Merlin, snipped off the top of the front plant with his blood-thirsty fangs before I snapped this photo...ughh cats...

'The Teapot Cottage' by Jaylyn Morehouse, age 29 Houston TX

Briggs was also inspired to use a few left-over props and other pieces we had lying around the house. He wanted to keep his on top of his dresser in his bedroom. Don't you just love that little froggy on top of the mushroom!

'Sharing Gnome House' by Briggs Morehouse, age 5, Houston TX

And finally, we have a collaborated effort, but giving Finn most of the credit since he is always playing with these cutezy wootzy Totoro figurines. I'm quite fond of the cat bus in the cactus!

'The Totoro Farm' by Finn Morehouse, age 3 Houston TX

Well, that about does it for now. Stay tuned, because I'm already plotting my next visit to the garden center to pick up Autumn themed props for the next one!