"Bear Cutting Down a Tree" by two-year-old Lily
I set very ambitious goals for May, and – not surprisingly, didn’t get everything done! I didn’t work on either sewing project, although I did turn a shirt into skirts for both girls – using this shirt to skirt technique! Lily owns two skirts made using this technique, and Emma owns three. They all get worn every week!
I did achieve my most critical goal of finishing up the book for the Small Hands Creating Hope fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. We have raised nearly $600 so far! Please donate, if you can?
With the warmer weather, we are spending as much time outside as we can, eating outdoors, geocaching, visiting playgrounds, and running around in our own beautiful yard.
Drawing was a huge hit this month with the kids – they even made some collaborative artwork! Play dough was also very popular. And, we learned a new craft technique: dying wool yarn with Kool-Aid – HIGHLY recommended!
We (Mike, that is) put together a dresser our little baby girl due in August, and I have started gathering up the baby things that we lent out during the past year and a half. Now to organize them! Emma made her friend a lovely butterfly. Teacher gifts are in-progress, and the house did get slightly more organized, with more things rounded up for donation.
May was a month of meeting up with new friends, old friends, and family. My brother, his wife, and their baby boy are moving to the L.A. area after two years in Boston, and they will be sorely missed! Although it probably means my brother’s back and neck will be slightly healthier…
In June, I hope to:
- Make the girls’ dresses – for real! Target Areas: gratitude and education
- Make sure we eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Target Areas: health, education, and peace
- Spend lots of time outside. Target Areas: gratitude, peace, and health
- Enjoy Emma and Johnny’s end-of-school events! Target Areas: gratitude and education
- Celebrate Johnny’s half-birthday! Target Area: gratitude
Are you setting goals for June? I would love for you to link up!
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
So sorry your brother is moving. It’s good to have family (and cousins!) nearby. IMO, anyway.
My June goal? To get this baby OUT!
I’m very sad my brother is moving. Luckily I will still have one sister nearby!
Hope your baby cooperates soon!
I am so behind on my goals due to crazy workload. Hopefully things will get better after this big conference of this week is over. Lovely drawing by Lily!
I hope the conference goes well, and that work does calm down for you after that!!!
How exciting to get ready for a new baby in the family!
June is my month to get ready for my teacher training trip to Cambodia. Lessons to plan, school supplies, books and gifts to pack and just too much anticipation too control! I just can’t wait to hug all of the children I already know and love. And equally, I just can’t wait to meet the teachers and children I will be working with in Svay Pak.
I’m also currently painting and organizing Miss Enigma’s room. When you buy a little old house the work is ongoing!
Your trip sounds very exciting!
We have a little old house as well, so I know EXACTLY what you mean about the work being ongoing! Trying to make room for a fourth child, here :)
I am very excited to donate to that book! :). Plus the book looks amazing!
You will LOVE the book! So many fantastic activities!
Sorry your brother is moving :( LOL about his back and neck though.
Great goals for June!
We’re going to miss him a lot. It was so nice having him out here! My sister at least still lives nearby…
I love Lily’s drawing. It’s good the kids are getting artsy and crafty. Spending a lot of time outdoors is one of my goals too.
Have a happy summer!
it sounds like you’ve got a great plan in place! i can’t wait to see what you do with all of it!
Aw, MaryAnne, that picture of your brother with all your little ones is so cute! I can’t believe your little girl is almost here already! Oh, and Lily sure can draw for only being two ( I know I have said that before!)
I can’t believe she’s nearly here, either! Lots to do before she shows up, but very excited to meet her finally!
My kids LOVE drawing. They could learn a lot about sensory play from your girls!
Great goals! And I love the skirt idea!
It’s such an easy way to make a skirt for a little girl! They must be comfy, too, because my girls pick them over store-bought options on a regular basis!
What a sweet picture of your brother and his nieces and nephew (I love Johnny’s wavy hair). We’re excited that your brother will be back in CA, even if it’s still far away, more incentive to go down south.
It’s great that he has friends in CA who will appreciate him, since we are losing him! He even has a nerdy baby of his own, now :)
I love Johnny’s hair, too!
What a wonderful drawing by Lily – it’s amazing at the different stages similar aged children can be J’s would still look like random lines and circles on the page we may get some dots for eyes if he was in a good mood.
I love this goal setting, I need to start doing this to focus each month and actual achieve something.
I feel like it’s the only way I get anything done!
I’d love for you to link up sometime, too!
Drawing is a big priority for all three of my kids. I definitely did not draw like Lily at her age!
congrats on getting through your goals and $600 is a huge milestone on your book! Yay!!!!!!
Thanks!
LOL about the healthier neck and back! Great photo, too. :) I can see he’ll be missed!!!
Love the pictures, both Lily’s drawing and the photograph!
Oh yeah, you’re school closes later. I forget that sometimes, our local schools got out last week. Well most of them, one got out yesterday. They “went late.”
I wish school were out! The kids are enjoying it, at least :)
That’s awesome that you’ve raised $600! Sorry about your brother moving. :( Those things are usually bittersweet.