Good "Clean" Fun!

Sometimes it's important to get messy.  Life is messy!  Why not get messy in real life?   At least let your kids do it!  I ordered a box of 12 different Tempera paints last week.  They arrived at our doorstep while Serafin had a friend over. I couldn't resist the temptation to open them up and let the girls get creative.  I think next time I might hold off on this one till spring or summer, when I can take the girls outside and HOSE THEM DOWN!  Although admittedly, bath time (all three of them) was very amusing.  Anyway, what was meant to be a painting project (on paper) turned into body painting.  Sigh, . . . apple doesn't fall far from the tree!  And yes, they both got messy.  Really messy.  And yes, we all had fun.  Parents and kids.  

Here we go!  At first I was like, "Ok, don't paint on anything else but your hands," which lasted about a minute.  At some point I just gave in, . . .

(Gave in) And watched!  Hoping that the paint would stay on the shower curtain I had laid out!

"Check me out!"

 "Hmmm, I think I need a little color on my face."

Yes, there was a ring around the bathtub.  Somehow, I don't know how, the mess was relatively contained, . . .

Until Serafin had to use the toilet.  Oh well. 

"Hey!  That was fun!  Let's do it again!"

Kids are seriously the best!

Orcas Dreams 3: Holiday Cheer

Serafin takes us on a hike, the gray is getting to me a bit, but the beauty still makes me pinch myself.  

Well, it's our first holiday season on the island and so far it's all been pretty amusing.  Santa came on his ship with all his pirates and we've seen him around town a number of times.  We've done spiral candle walks, drank our hot chocolate, been to the local craft fair, watched the tree lighting on the "village green" and now things are quieting down a bit for the upcoming holiday.  More quiet walks, going inside myself and contemplating, hibernation.  I'm tired and I feel winter's slowness.

Honestly, it's so much nicer not to deal with the mayhem of the holidays, it was always crazy in Oakland.  So if I can't find what I want in town, I have to order it off of amazon, but you know what, that's ok with me.  I'm less tempted to spend my money and more picky about what I bring into this house.  That's a good thing.

Orcas has amazing holiday spirit.  So I've seen, Orcas has amazing spirit in general.  We aren't lagging either.  What kind of a blogger would I be if I didn't catch you up with the Dorrington holiday cheer, . . . here's what's been going on!

The tree, of course, a 10 footer!  That was Gary who insisted on that!  Hard to believe, I know!  I've never had such a big tree and thought it was a bit over the top (no pun intended), but now that it's in, I can't stop admiring it!  Two thumbs up to my hubby.  Maybe next year we'll get one off of our land??

Serafin's first year decorating (instead of demolishing) the tree with ornaments!  

She has also been her usual crafty self.  

Et, . . . Voila!

I've been crafty too!  I FINALLY finished Silas' x-mas stocking, . . . it only took me a year and a half!  

Never again will I buy a wreath, much more fun to make!  Serafin and I went clipping greens and looking for pine cones.

She entertained Silas while I put it all together, . . .

C'est Magnific!

Happy Holiday's Y'all!  xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I Remember, . . . Missing Mama

We got a 10 foot x-mas tree up in our hallway.  It's huge!  The biggest I've ever had, but it sure is beautiful (for a dead tree) and there is something about the lights and decorations that bring out my inner little girl.  My mom would have loved this tree, she always loved Christmas, it was "her" holiday.  This will be my third Christmas without her and my heart is heavy with grief.  The first year was a haze of sadness and chaos, last year Christmas was a juggle between breastfeeding and sleeping (Silas had just been born a few months earlier).  This year, things feel different.  I feel my grief creeping up again,  I miss my mama.  I wish I could hug her, bury my face into her chest and cry.  I wish I could listen to her heartbeat.  

I'm here on Orcas, a magical place, very new to me and very exciting.  It feels "right" to be here.  I do, however, feel as if my vulnerabilities have come up and smacked me right in my face.  Transitions.  Sigh.  Essential in life, but not always easy.   Life is such a trip.  Along with trying to learn a new way of living, assimilate into a new culture and clan of people, I remember that which I have left behind.  Being in a new home, away from the comfort of familiar places and many loved ones, I remember. 

If my mom hadn't died, I'm not quite sure if we would have made it to Orcas.  We had talked about moving a lot with my parents, but it never went much further than that.  You never know what happens in this life, but I wasn't ready to move at that point.  Mom's death brought about a much needed lesson in me, to live life as fully as possible and, what that means for each person is different.  

Mom was the one parent who held me tight and never wanted me to go.  Once, she actually said those words to me, "don't go", I could see in her eyes the sadness she held at the thought of me moving away.  It made me sad too.   How much I love my parents.  How LUCKY I am to love my parents and to have always felt their love.  Unconditional love.  In regards to moving, Dad always displayed more understanding of our desire for a new adventure, after all, he travelled all the way around the world to be with my mom.  After she passed, everything shifted, our lives had changed in an instant.  Once the grief settled, something lifted inside me and I decided it was time for a life change.  Now, here I am.  And the beauty of it all?  Another level of grief.  Another lesson to learn.  I can feel it, live in it and let it pass along, as it will in its own time.  In the meantime, I can hold my mama close to my heart and remember.


~Miss you Mama.  May your soul be flying high, soaring, arms reached out, wind in your your long beautiful hair.  Your energy moving on to the next incredible adventure.  Thank you for everything.