Play...do you have it?

As a nanny, I am daily confronted with children whose minds are an arsenal of creativity. They are not today's children, in fact they represent a small percentage of children whose parents still see the need for a young brain to flourish in creative and imaginative play. As a student of early childhood in college, play is essential to one's development and later function as an adult. I think that when I was a kid, play was lacking from my repetoire. I was reading this article from NPR and if play coincides with executive functions, aka ability to self-regulate, and non-play or structured play coincides with higher drop-out rate etc. then I definitely fall towards the latter, though I didn't drop out. Very interesting topic, very interesting article. In short, I was kind of a loner kid who loved my barbies, my little ponies, and sesame street. But I was definitely not the kid that decided to elaborate into grand, sweeping sagas of personal entertainment through creativity and private speech. I was the one who looked at the Barbie house, put the furniture in place, and then said "okay that's finished, now what?" These kids I watch, they make pretend/imaginative play seem like the norm...I like that, but not when they take my Lego creation and turn it into something far more spectacular...I need to get my play back!

We have a taker?

After a year of having our house on the market, we are reluctantly sharing that once again a purchase agreement has been signed:) After the last person bailed with flimsy excuses during the inspection (and it's okay to get cold feet!) we were a little discouraged and very ready to settle back in and were thinking of pulling it off the market. I mean, everyone needs a little bit of mess in their house right? Not that I am complaining, but not having to make sure everything is pristine, will be, well, refreshing! So if everything goes as planned, we will close on the house July 15th and will be moving to an apartment for the forseeable future in Eden Prairie. It's off 62 and 212 and we are really looking forward to it...I think all this cleaning, fixing, improving, inside and out has worn us out! So pray with us that there will be no hiccups!

Camping in Pictures

On the Bookshelf

Over the last month my eyes have perused a lot of pages.  Here's a list of the books I've pondered as well as two that I am engrossed in at the moment!

Now:

-Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

-Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn

Then:

-Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

-Summer snow by Nichole Baart

-Tender Grace by Jackina Stark

-Baking Handbook by Martha Stewart

-Barefoot Contessa: At Home/In Paris/Family Style

-Back to Life by Kristin Billerbeck

A 10-Mile Race

I've been awaiting an opportunity to really push myself mentally and physically for quite some time, the problem, well if I'm honest, not enough motivation.  I've also been awaiting an opportunity to support Pancreatic Cancer.  I found my perfect chance and I'm motivated.  Why?

For those that don't know, four years ago my step-father Jim, of 12 years passed away after a courageous battle against Pancreatic Cancer.  Though my relationship with him was always touch and go through my teenage years, I was always thankful for his place in my life.  I lived with him and my mom for years and by watching them the Lord opened my eyes to what a strong and faithful marriage was, what enduring and thriving looked like, and how to be passionate about something while also maintaining the utmost integrity.  He wasn't perfect, we all are not, but in those last months of his life, my eyes were opened to all I had missed out on in my years of adolescent angst.  I treasure those months deep in my heart.

His death was the first in my life of someone who had great impact on my life and of one I loved dearly.  I want to run for him and for all those who are affected by Pancreatic Cancer.  Why?  Because, of the 40,000 that are diagnosed a year, 37,000 die that same year.  Because of cancer research and experimental trials, Jim was able to live longer and with a better quality of life.  Every May it's still sad as our family mourns his death and yet we are so thankful that he's worshiping Jesus right now.

So I'm doing it.  I'm going to run in the Medtronic 10-miler in October.  I'm running the race, not because of me, but for him.  And just so you know, I was always a sprinter not a runner, until today.  Today I ran 7 miles, nonstop, and I will be running all the way until October, when I hope to make him proud and raise support for a worthy cause.

To an amazing man and my journey on the pavement.  I'm ready to run.

Our outdoor transformation

(note the barrel planter and window boxes)

Our house was in dire need of some curb appeal.  We have the cute window boxes and carraige garage doors already in place, but we needed a little sprucing up to make things pop.

On Saturday, Alex and I made a game plan and headed over to Menards.  So after shopping around a little, we found this was the best deal for plants and such.  Imagine our surprise, when after setting foot in the Burnsville Garden Center, their plants were not only cheaper but the best looking ones we've seen, and believe me we window shopped quite a few places...Yea!

I really wanted to spruce up our front door with a couple of urn planters, some plants, and hopefully a chance to use some spray paint.  I have been so enamored with this couple on their blog and after seeing all of their transformations, I was itching to spray.  Well we found some inexpensive planters and transformed them with a can of hammered black, glossy spray paint.  They look pretty good, I think!

transformed planter

(new planters by front door)

We also spruced up our entry stairs with some hosta plants and new mulch, while the window boxes were planted with some great green plants that will hopefully get a little bigger and fuller.  We were going to add some more plants to the boxes but instead opted to plant all the begonias in our old whiskey barrel planter from our wedding.

Next weekend we are hoping to finish the project off with a privacy fence on the southwest side of our property and a cover for our gas meter that is a major eye sore.  Stay tuned!

Weekend update

(alex and i at the reception; university club st. paul)

We had a very busy and very fun filled weekend.  My dear friend Cassie married the love of her life John in such an amazing and beautiful ceremony on Friday night.  I was honored to be her personal attendant and to be able to enjoy the day with her.

(brittany and i)

Leading up to the wedding, this past week was a little crazy as we frantically worked hard to finish some entries for the design awards for Remodeling Magazine.  Alex finished them on Friday and sent them in but from sun up on Thursday while alex was golfing with a friend, I was working on those awards.  So after work on Thursday night we both rushed to the rehearsal and dinner, at Buca.  So fun, delicious, and full of fabulous memories.

(cassie and i; isn't she gorgeous!)

Cassie is a friend of mine that I lived with before Alex and I got married.  She is so transparent and authentic and her heart is full of love, care and tenderness.  She is also one of my very girly friends; the more pink the better, and I so love that about her:) She and John have been dating for the past couple of years and I commend her and their future, praying God would give them many years together.  You see, John has cystic fibrosis and his future is only known by the Lord.  This made their wedding even more precious and touching.

Congratulations to you as you begin to discover the joy of marriage!!