Monday, April 30, 2012

Grace's Flower Shop

Grace's Girl Scout Troop is creating a cardboard city tomorrow.  The girls created a list of places that would be fun to include in their city, and Grace was given the task of creating her very own flower shop. A perfect choice for our flower lovin' girl!  After much searching, Dave bought a large wardrobe box from UHaul, and, along with Dave's parents, we spent a good portion of Sunday creating this wonderful little shop.
Dave's Mom suggested that the shop's side window needed some curtains.  Since our resident Daisy Scout agreed, Grandma Joan got to work making some! They came out beautifully and was just what that little window needed!
Graceful Blooms is ready for it's debut in the Girl Scouts Cardboard City tomorrow!  We love that both sides of the family had a hand in helping with this wonderful project.  Thanks to my mom for suggesting that we head to Michael's and The Dollar Tree for fake flowers, as well as for the beautiful name of this sweet little shop.  And many thanks to Dave's parents for all the help in bringing the flower shop to life.  We wish that all of you could be here to see the city that the Girl Scouts create tomorrow!  Don't worry, I'll be sure to take lots of pictures!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Wednesday night, as David and I were in the beginning stages of making dinner and talking about our days, we realized that there was an awful lot of scurrying about going on.  All of a sudden there were two girls who were a flurry of excitement: "Mama!  We're making a lemonade stand!"  "Can you help us make a sign?"  "Sure, baby!  How about if I write it down and you copy it?"  "That's a great idea!"
"Oh, no!  We forgot to put a lemon on it!"
"Now, we need customers!"
"Would you like some lemonade, sir?"
"Five cents, please!"
"Thank you, daddy!"
"Yay!  Our first customer!"
Still super excited from making their very first sale, they get ready to help their next customer (me).
"Would you like some lemonade, sir?  I mean, mama!"
"Here you go!"
I have been trying to put my feelings into words about what it was like to watch them create their very first lemonade stand.  To say that we were amazed by what we were seeing is pretty much an understatement.  I don't know what the correct words would be, but I will say this; I am so completely grateful that I was able to document it with pictures.  They are some that I will indeed treasure forever.  David and I just sat back and watched, helping only when asked and taking pictures along the way.  I kept thinking to myself that I wish we lived in a bigger neighborhood so that they could set this sweet stand of theirs up and have more than just their Daddy and I as customers.  Then I found myself wishing that the grandparents lived close by so we could have called and had them stop by.  Regardless, the wonder of this moment with stay with me forever.  Watching these two sweet sisters, best friends really, hatch a plan and work together so beautifully is truly the cherry on top of the sundae that is this life.

Friday, April 27, 2012

{This Moment}

{This Moment} - A SouleMama Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. We wish you a wonderful full of extraordinary moments!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Solar Prints


Our friends Paul and Sade gave the girls a solar print kit and we got it out for the first time yesterday.
Bits of nature were gathered,
checked out and chosen,
and placed on the special paper in our makeshift darkroom.
Then we placed them in the sun
and waited.
Then it was time to bring them in.
The bits of nature were removed,
And the paper placed in the water. 
And the magic of the sun was revealed!
Next, it was Emma's turn.
"Look at mine, Grace!"
What a great project!  The girls were in totally awe that the sun was able to create such magical pictures.  Thank you Paul and Sade for this wonderful kit.  It will surely be used many, many times in the coming months!