Adios Abril

We've had a nice Spring so far. The boys and I are chasing our dreams around all day and when it's time to shower, get dressed up, and kiss them goodbye to go teach my new Spring term class my separation anxiety is quickly replaced with the appreciation I have for my new crop of students. Kind of like a paid book club. I always come home uplifted, energized, and refreshed for more play and dinner with the boys I love most.

I can't seem to keep up with everything that needs to be done everyday, but I have a kind sidekick in Thomas Robertson so that helps. That's what I've been feeling grateful for. All of that and the connections to bright spirits here and on the mainland. Thanks for being my friend friends and family.

Who else is loving the new Eisley album and listening to it over and over and over? Me too. Favorite lyrics by far:

And you and I were meant to live our dreams
So, be very kind
Don't let the world fall on your shoulders

Good words to live by. My current life motto. Have a nice life!

Aloha,

Stephanie Joy

The people I blog for are gone now...

So, I guess I'll blog again. Mom and Dad: THANK YOU FOR VISITING! Thank you for playing with my children and listening to me and helping me and making me feel so loved. Thank you for letting my husband take your portraits. Thank you for being yourselves and having so much fun with us! Thank you for coming so far to be with us. I cry on and off now that you are gone because I am weepy like that. Most of all, thanks for always being some of my very closest friends. WE LOVE YOU!

























Let's do it all again and more next visit!

Look what I found on facebook this morning...

My big face having fun last night.

And there's Tim and Pete and the back of Thomas' head having fun too. Can't forget that.

I like paying one of my favorite former students to sleep over at my house and wake up with my kids early so I can stay out late and sleep in. From the sounds of it this morning my kids really love it too!


Best idea I've had in years!

Thoroughly productive

1. Katie cut out t-shirts
2. Matti chose the fabric for my craft
3. Natalie took our fat-faced portraits (Best 99cent App ever.)
4. Rachel instigated some short-lived truth or dare
5. Meg worked on curtains
6. Stef laughed at shenanigans
7. Taylor was the guest of honor
8. Jonna cut out easter eggs for her garland
9. And I prepped a craft I'll make someday

CRAFTY - SCHMAFTY. One great night!

Come craft with me

You could make a cute felt banner like this one I made during nap time the other day. Isn't it so satisfying to make something cool that takes less than a nap time to complete? Ahhh, feels good.

Oh, you can't really see how cute it is because I waited to photograph it after I had already nailed it into the wall and it's hard to photograph something through a window and see what it is in full detail? Live and learn Stephanie. Live and learn. I tried a couple of times before surrendering to my own defeat.


Guess you'll just have to come over and see for yourself. Come craft with me Thursday night 4/14 @ 7:30 til we are done!

In preparation for your visit I have put Ambrose to work cleaning the house:

Did he miss a spot?

Oh there he got it!

See ya Thursday!

Getting out!

Upstanding Youth hasn't played shows in ... way too long. I miss it! Saturday was Demitri's birthday dinner and it was the next best thing. I was really excited to be out with adults, at night, without children... well, my children specifically. I love those little boys so much, but sometimes, it's just nice to get out with the big kids.

See, creepily excited:

(Kristen do you recognize the really cute houndstooth gift bag? It now belongs to D.)

Birthday boy:

And friends:


Thomas and Stephanie attempt a couples portrait with inelegant results:


I'm fairly confident he'll treasure his skull tie and paper (paint or draw on it yourself!) watch forever:

'Twas a great night.

Happy Kids

Perfectly lined up little snack plates can only mean one thing around here:

Happy School!

This month the kids are learning how to be peacemakers. Precious little hippies.

Post edit: Asher has never been so popular. He almost didn't know how to act so he just giggled a lot and let them do whatever they wanted to him. There were a few head bonks... but no tears...




And I think this concludes my love affair with the free Lomo iPhone app... I used to like the vintage feel of it, but now it's just too blurry for my taste. Although, it has been a blurry morning so far so I guess the good old Lomo app captures that well. Peace.

Oh moms.

Well, I wanted to post about how we went to this really cool teacher supply store in Honolulu and bought a bunch of fun educational things for a little Mama School I am doing with Ambrose this summer, but then I hesitated because of the Moms.

Who mostly reads blogs? Moms.

Love 'em. They make-up most of my friend count. They are the most selfless creatures on the planet.

And sometimes they totally suck. I include myself in this category of social ineptitude, because after all, I am a mom as well.

Because Moms have sacrificed everything for their kids it's super easy to feel competitive, insecure, jealous, or annoyed when people post stuff like this... without even trying. It's just how we Moms are. It's the least lovable thing about us.

So, I'll refrain from all the details and spare myself an eye roll or inane comment from a Mom who's feeling insecure about how much TV her kids are watching while she surfs blogland today. (Mine are currently enjoying some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. What-up new cable! Oh calm down, we're going to library story time in 20 minutes.)

But if any Mamas out there are interested, check-out your nearest teacher supply store if you're looking for fun/educational stuff to do with your kiddos this summer! We are having a lot of fun with it and have already learned so much just with a few new supplies. It's awesome! Ok, I've already said too much.

As you were Moms. Back to your organic snacks, Baby N' Me Mandarin classes, and $2,000 strollers. ;)