Lovely Florida Things

The leaves are thinking about changing in Utah, but here in Florida—Summer is still going on.

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I think they do this warm, wet sunshine thing all year long.

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The land is so green and lush and beautiful, but–I could swear I saw an alligator in every drop of water. Sorry. Personal problem manifesting itself.

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We positively do not have swaying palm trees where I come from. But we also don’t have sharks, so it’s fair.

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Something so great about standing still while the ground beneath you slides away.

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This sea weed looked like hundreds of tiny birds’ nests scattered on the shore.

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It rained a bit every day that we were here, but even with the clouds it was beautiful…maybe especially with the clouds…

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No idea what kind of bird this is. If you know, then tell all of us so that we can be enlightened.

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The Miami skyline may not look the same asĀ  all the natural beauty, but there is something about it that makes me think of growing up in LA. It’s like standing among a thousand giants and still feeling snug and safe.

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All nostalgic pining aside, I would still rather wake up with this in my backyard than the busy city any day. Not interested in alligators. Terribly not interested in sharks. Not particularly thrilled about barracuda. Other than those spooky things–which I never saw—Florida is a keeper.

Chocolate Tsunami

One day, a package arrived on our porch for Jillian. A mysterious package from a faraway land…

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sent to her by a dear, sweet friend in England. Not an ordinary package–oh no.

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It was obviously a most wicked, dreadful, dangerous package. Needless to say…we were terrified. Shaking even.

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We…

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got…

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over…

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it…

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pretty…

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dang…

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fast.

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We spread it all out to look at it.

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We thought about inviting people over to share.

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There was, after all—so much fabulous stuff!

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But then a really strange thing happened.

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One by one, all the beautiful melty chocolate and sweets started mysteriously disappearing.

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Not exactly sure what really happened. It was like a whirlwind or tornado or hurricane sweeping through the place gobbling up all the gooey, sweet, yummy…I mean…it just…we couldn’t….sorta…

rats.

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I swear. We did try.

 

 

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Tidies: A Repurposed Gift!

wipes

Alright mamas, tell me I’m not the only one. (And, please, ignore the dirty carpet.)

I’ve lost so many wipes this way. So. Many.

There’s just something about the wet wipes, that will bring babies far and wide to just keep pulling them out one by one.

Enter the brilliant Grammy.Ausust 31 179

Yes, that is a wipe container. With pretend wipes in it.Ausust 31 178

Brilliant, I tell you.Ausust 31 173

It keeps them occupied for, well, longer than most things occupy a 20-month-old.Ausust 31 169

Except maybe a brand new pack of real wipes.Ausust 31 168

Sometimes, they even cooperate while playing with this new toy.Ausust 31 166

Which, of course is a great thing in and of itself.Ausust 31 165

Grammy made these pretend wipeys with an old plastic tablecloth. Which, being plastic means this is a “close supervision” toy.Ausust 31 156

Of course, you could make little squares out of fabric, and if you’re really in a hurry,you can even buy them pre-cut. Check out the Moda Charm Packs. They’d be perfect. Pre-cut 5.5 inch squares. You could sew around the edges to keep from fraying (though, they’re already pinked), or use some Fray Stop around the edges (it’s washable!)Ausust 31 155

One of the best innovations we’ve had around here in a long time.

A great way to use some leftover fabric, or plastic (only with supervision!), and keep a plastic wipe container out of the landfill. In fact, you could even stock up on these and make some for all the little ones you know! (Pssst! Christmas is sooner than you think…)

OH! We will return to our regularly scheduled posts on Wednesday, when Launi (Mom, Grammy) gets back from her HypnoBirthing conference in FL. Sorry for hijacking the blog. My mom made me.

At least she showed me how to keep my real wet wipes safe before she left.

Mwa!

~ April

 

The Season of Thanks

peaches

Gracias, danke, merci–whatever language is spoken, “thank you” frequently expressed will cheer your spirit, broaden your friendships, and lift your lives to a higher pathway as you journey toward perfection. There is a simplicity–even a sincerity–when “thank you” is spoken.

–President Thomas S. Monson

~ April