k is for kite...

I know it's not Monday but here's the coloring page for 'K,' finally! Meredith chose her beloved kite for the letter 'K' in her alphabet hunt.

I finally sat down and doodled a bit. It's been bugging me that I haven't done a coloring page in so long. Princess and Cha-cha will be thrilled, they've been asking.

Life is hard right now. Ten million things that I should be doing but I needed a little break. I will certainly pay for it later, really in the next few minutes as soon as I finish posting this. As I speak Pinky is scribbling on the fireplace hearth with a pencil. I should mention that she moved onto that after knocking over a small potted plant that I bought as a gift for a friend. Not only knocking it over but scattering the dirt across the end table and smearing it into the carpet and several toys nearby. I let her do all this while I doodled. There are so many messes around here right now, what's another two? Not sure if I'll ever get caught up with my life again. The children certainly aren't relenting any time soon. Surrender? Do children accept surrender?

Anyhoo, sorry for the whine. Cha-cha's birthday is tomorrow, Pinky's was Saturday and still no husband to speak of, so I probably won't be around again for a while. Who knows, maybe I'll be defeated enough to sit down and just doodle again before Monday. Letter 'L,' anyone?!

Click here for more of Meredith's Alphabet Hunt Coloring Pages.

To print the coloring page now just double click on the image above and select 'print' from your file menu . Or you can right click on the image and choose 'Save Picture As...' to tuck it away in your files for future use. (Don't choose "Print Picture..." from the right click menu unless you want a teeny-tiny version to print in the corner of your paper)



goodness gracious coloring pages by laina kay are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.;

where to begin?...

Please forgive the spotty posting lately. Life has been a tad hectic. The Husband's work has changed recently and requires a great deal of travel. He basically lives elsewhere and visits us occasionally, at least for a while that will be the case. It's definitely taking some adjustment. I'm working on connecting the dots... as soon as I figure out where to begin!

I know some people have asked about the Alphabet Hunt coloring pages. My girls are waiting patiently for Meredith's letter 'K' page, too. I miss making them. Hopefully I'll find some time to sit down and doodle again soon!

Bear with me!

image via That's My Word

new year, new banner...

Welcome 2011! Time for a bit of a blog facelift. The banner hasn't been changed in quite a while. Since January 2008, to be exact. Wow, it's about time, eh?

Say goodbye to the simple dots...

 and hello to some sweet gingham. 

I even made a pretty little button for you to put on your sidebar if you're so inclined.

Here's the code. Copy and paste to your heart's content!

<center><a href="http://lainakay.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u235/lainakaybanner/goodnessgraciousginghambutton200.jpg" border="0" /></a></center>

stovetop potpourri...

I'm up to my eyeballs in holiday craftiness this year. So much so that I haven't even had a chance to take photos to share. Or to draw up our next Meredith coloring page and it's Monday, AGAIN. Forgive me. I'll be back soon with some holiday happiness and Meredith's letter 'J' page. For now I'm loving the idea of this stovetop potpourri. Isn't it festive? Holiday smells make me happy! I'm definitely going to put some of this together as soon as I can get to the grocery store. Here's to festive holiday prep!

remember me?...

Hey there... if anyone's still there!? I'm still around, just crazy busy.  I've finally joined facebook after much reluctance. I guess it's a good way to keep up with lots of people quickly. Well, I figure that if I can post there on occasion, I can stop here and update the blog too (which I actually prefer).

Anyhoo, I'd really like to catch up with photos and such from the past year that I've missed blogging. Perhaps you'll indulge me and let me go back in time for a while. Warning there will be lots of baby, baby photos of my now 16-month old (when did that happen?).

For now though, here are some semi-recent photos. Shots from Memorial Day 2010. I thought it was apropos since I seem to recall falling out of step with the blog after my Memorial Day 2009 post.

Yessir... that's my baby.  Pinky at 14-months, getting ready to watch the parade while noshing on a donut and attempting a wink.

Princess played soccer for the first time this spring and was thrilled to march in the town Memorial Day Parade with the soccer club.

Cha-Cha was an enthusiastic Daisy Scout this year and loved marching with her troop in the Parade.

The Boy adores vintage vehicles and posed for a shot with this beauty.

The blanket was quiet with just Pinky and the Boy to watch the parade with us. We missed the big girls but it was fun to watch them march.

Another shot of Pinky.  Sorry (not really).  Can't resist those delicious cheeks.  She's mine, all mine...

oh blog, how i've missed you...

I miss my happy little blog and it's happy friends, who I'm sure have long since moved to greener pastures or blogs that actually post. Alas, time is not my friend these days. In fact we're not even on speaking terms. No time in the schedule....

Checked my endless email today and saw that I received a lovely email from Coldplay, such nice boys. Anyhoo I dallied a bit at their website (while Pinky tore apart my pile of papers to be filed -- I pay for all dalliances from her specific care) and came across this lovely video. I'm quite sure it's been around for a very long time and I just missed it but it made me happy this er... lovely Monday morning. Thought I'd share some of the happiness with anyone who's still stopping by.



P.S. I think of you often. I see things all day every day and think... the blog would love that. Just. can't. find. time. to. post. anything. Maybe someday?...

memorial day...

Some photos from a glorious Memorial Day weekend. The weather was spectacular, we spent the whole weekend frolicking with cousins and friends. We attended the local parade with my sister and sister-in-law and the fourteen children we have combined! All the children are around the same ages, spanning from my Pinky at 3-months old to my brother's oldest daughter at 11-years old.

















It truly is a joy to have so many cousins nearby. Between The Husband's family and mine, our children have 25 cousins and only 6 that we don't get to see regularly (and miss dearly). So many people to love and be loved by, such a blessing.

Anyway, it was a lovely weekend. Everyone left on Monday evening to return to their regularly scheduled lives. Fast forward to four days later, Friday. My brother's youngest son, Spencer, a happy busy 2-year old went to the pediatrician for his regular checkup where they found a lump in his abdomen. He was immediately sent for an ultrasound and two grapefruit sized tumors were found in his tiny body. Long story short, he was admitted to the nearest children's hospital that night and has been there basically ever since. So far the diagnosis is Stage-4 Clear Cell Sarcoma. It's fairly rare as only about 20 new cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S. Spencer's treatment has had to be rather aggressive as it appears to have metastasized to his skull.

I'm still reeling from the realization of how quickly the world can be turned upside down. One weekend this sweet little toddler is wandering around exploring the world and roughhousing with his siblings and cousins and such a short time later he's living in a hospital room being poked, prodded and enduring the ugliness that is cancer and chemotherapy. It's very scary.

I've been away from the blog all this time as I've hesitated to tell you this story that isn't really mine. But at the same time I've been conflicted about coming here to write about trivial whatnot's while my brother and his wife endure this extreme hardship. The difficulties they've encountered in just these few weeks are things I've never imagined. They are an inspiration to me as they struggle through this trial with humbling faith.

Anyway, I'm here now because life does go on. As I speak, my children are happily playing with my brother's other five children. And as I renew my resolve to spend quality time with my family I realize I would still like to document the fun times here. I also recognize that acknowledging and appreciating some of the pretty incidentals in life isn't a bad thing. I am thankful to have the luxury of sitting here with my peacefully slumbering baby on my lap, writing about the good and the bad.

Thanks for being there and for listening and if you would send a few prayers Spencer's way...

more time flies...

Hey there! Was it really two weeks ago that I last posted? Where does the time go? Speaking of which, this is a photo of Pinky at two months old, frolicking on a blanket on the floor in her bedroom. Blink. She'll be three months old next week. Didn't I just bring her home from the hospital?

We're all having so much fun watching her grow though. She coos for us and has the most impossibly delicious smile. It's infectious, can't be sad or mad or anything but enchanted when she smiles. Seriously. She's a roly poly bundle of sweet. Wish I could package some of it up to share with everyone or just to save for myself when she becomes a willful toddler or a temperamental teenager. Ah well, I'm enjoying it while I can.

I guess I am having too much fun, what with the time flying and all because I just can't seem to get onto the computer to post everything I'd like to. I've still got to get you photos of the nursery and I've got lots of half-finished posts I've been wanting to share but alas time slips away from me. This darling babe, slumbering in the crook of my left arm right now (her favorite place to be), slows down my pace a bit but I'll get to it... I will...

she's here...

and we're in love!
















Finally pulled myself away from her fuzzy little head and her impossibly soft cheeks to come and give you a belated heads up.

She came four days early, such an angel, my first early child and she's absolutely perfect! I just want to snuggle with her all day long. How will I ever get anything done around here again?

I may not be back for a bit, though I know I owe you photos of the nursery. I've got two more projects to finish in there that I procrastinated thinking she'd be late. Hmmm... finish the projects or nuzzle with my beautiful bundle?...

I guess I'm a tad rusty with this blogging thing. I just deleted two lovely comments and alas, there is no recourse. Hello to Kelly and Alissa... so nice of you both to still visit!

Kelly, I haven't tried the photo thing in a while. The above image loaded correctly, so maybe there's hope! I think the button bracelet would be lovely on you!

Alissa, butterflies and bunnies and birds in the baby room. Three of my favorite things! We're working on it! I'll post photos when it's done...

help...

Some of the holiday hubbub is over. Our Christmas was lovely, hope yours was too! I have a bajillion photos from the last few months that I would love to post but am too frustrated with my aforementioned Blogger problem. All my images flip sideways. Portrait format, landscape format... it doesn't matter, Blogger turns them all on their side. So far I've just resorted to re-saving everything in my Photobucket account and linking to that but it's way too time consuming and I'm running out of bandwidth there. Can anyone help me? I use Microsoft Picture It to edit my photos though I don't think that even matters, they flip even when I don't edit them. I've always edited with this program and never had a problem until this summer. Photos copied from other sites on the web post just fine (see above image).

Aargh! Help!

image via Real Simple Photo Galleries

i'm baaaack... sort of...

I've been away for a bit. A birthday (mine, ugh), and a couple of impromptu trips have taken me away from my computer for a bit, but here I am again.

I'm aware that my last two posts have been about Breaking Dawn and now this one is, too. Sorry. I am obsessed but I haven't dedicated my life to the obsession. I've actually been avoiding most things Breaking Dawn related for the last couple weeks as the controversy is something I just don't have the patience for. My opinion, the author writes the book she wants, the reader likes it or doesn't like it. It's completely subjective and if you don't like it, why dwell on it? Find something else that makes you happy. Let go and let live. No need to kill the lover's buzz!

That being said, I finally got on the computer today and carefully dabbled around the fan sites and was thrilled to come across this fabulous interview with Stephenie Meyer. Almost everything you ever wanted to know about Breaking Dawn. The interview consists of ten clips listed on the sidebar and is quite lengthy in total, but so worth it! Beware: SPOILERS GALORE. If you haven't finished Breaking Dawn, do that first and then watch!

P.S. Life is beyond crazy lately. I always have trouble wrapping up summer, especially when they seem to get unbelievably shorter each year. I WILL be back with non-Twilight related stuff soon.

Where. Did. This. Summer. Go?!

image via American Library Association

cheer up...

Found a pretty new blog today. Grand Revival Designs. I so do not need to add another lovely blog to my must-read blog list but I just couldn't resist!

Look at this yumminess...


















Check out the free patterns on her sidebar. Skirts, aprons and purses... oh my!

via a room somewhere

bitten...

This is just too cute! Cha-Cha and I have watched it three times and I've still got tears in my eyes! Is it possible that anything said with an English accent is just more charming?...




via Oh Happy Day

pride and prejudice...

Wow, thanks for all your comments and input on my Pride & Prejudice quandry! It's fun to see how much excitement this book generates! I've decided to read the book first and then to watch both the A&E version and the Kiera Knightley version of the movie. Not sure which one first, probably the KK one since it appears I'll need oodles of time to watch the A&E one!

I was delighted to come across this post (a smackdown, even), discussing the movies, just a few days after posting my question. Good to know each movie merits such loyalty, they must both be great.

Ooh! I love having a good book to read and then yummy movies to look forward to after I finish... icing on the cake!

bloggedy blah blah...

Sorry, I've got the blogging blahs lately. So many things I'd like to blog about but I can't seem to summon the energy or the time. I still haven't written about Christmas or posted pictures or complained about my Christmas card fiasco, and I have a stack of cards I've made from card group that I need to photograph and post and... and... and... maybe tomorrow...

what happened?...

Went on the computer today and my internet explorer icon, a plain blue "e" has been replaced with an "e" with a yellow swash orbiting it and everything is different and difficult. Who did this to me? I do not like this new little change. It is making me quite crabby. I'll have to ask The Husband if he is responsible for this. I'm not good with change... unless I initiate it... raaaaarrrr... too crabby to blog...

new year... new banner...

As you can see, I've changed my blog banner. Who knows how long this one will stay... I'm a bit fickle about these things. I'm surprised that I kept the button banner as long as I did, though I do still love those little buttons! They may reappear. Time for a change (obviously not a big change)... buh-bye button banner (with it's poor kerning that I was too lazy to fix).










Buh-bye cute little button button.



Hello, simple dot banner...









and little dot button that coordinates with the new banner.



Here's the code to copy into your sidebar if anyone would like to include the dot button on their blogroll...

<center><a href="http://lainakay.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u235/lainakaybanner/dot.jpg" border="0" /></a></center>

a mention...

Imagine my surprise when I stopped in at one of my favorite blogs and saw my name! How exciting! Love, love, love Dash & Albert rugs! That Annie Selke, such beautiful stuff!

photo via Dash & Albert

halloween boo hoo...

Can't post photos of the kids' Halloween costumes this year. The Husband dropped the camera and alas, it's broken. It happened the night before Halloween on the way home from our church Halloween party. I think I may have one shot from the Halloween party if I can still get it to download, we'll see.

Anyway, here are some "fab" shots from years past. I'm realizing that we never really get good pictures at Halloween. Too busy, too much chaos. We seem to only have one or two shots from each year, none of them great.

I can't seem to locate any photos from my favorite Halloween. I need to go through my stacks of paper photos and scan some. Maybe someday!






















This is Halloween 2004. The Husband and I were entomologists. He's turning around to show the shirt we designed. I think it said "Bugs r Us Entomology - specializing in the study of the cutest bugs." The boy was a big green caterpillar. His request to be this was the catalyst for all of our costumes. Princess was a bee but insisted on being a "Princess Bee," not a regular bee, not a queen bee... a princess bee requiring that a crown be added to her costume! Cha-Cha, geesh she was so little I barely remember her that way, was a little ladybug that clung to my side. So sweet.


















Halloween 2005. I'd forgotten that the Husband and I didn't dress up that year. That was the first time since we had children that we didn't join the fun. I recall spending hours online searching for the perfect Queen and King attire with little success. I finally gave up and the children went as their own mini royal court. The Boy as Knight. Princess as, well, a Princess (surprise,surprise). And Cha-Cha as a sweet little jester who wouldn't wear her cute hood, the best part of the costume, for any amount of cajoling. This shot was taken in my mother-in-law's kitchen, that's her hand holding onto Cha-Cha. Photography at it's finest!


















And here we are Halloween 2006. The only photo I have of last year. So sad. Cowboys and and a little Indian. How tired do those little ones look? That's Halloween for you. Late nights, too much sugar, parties here, parties there! Oi! Gotta love that face on Cha-Cha... personality all the way!

Well, we had a pretty good Halloween this year. It was the first year without a theme. The Boy wanted to be a "Motorcycle Man" and the girls were Woodland Fairies. Couldn't find a way to tie those together! The Husband and I were just too tired and too busy to dress up this year. Oh well, there's always next year... when we'll be less tired and less busy, right!?