Lisa Leonard

.this sumer i’ve jumped back into reading. not that i haven’t read in the last few years, but i’d get really into a book, let it take over my life for 48 hours and then not read again for 2 months. this summer i’ve tried to be more balanced and pace myself. the boys are also older and a little more independent, which means i can read for longer than 5 minutes without an interruption. usually i don’t pick up my book all day and after dinner i get a couple hours in.

so what have i been reading? well, like most young women (ok, i’m not that young) in the US, i read the entire twilight series. the series really drew me in and i read all four books in about 2 weeks. they are fun and easy to read. after that i read ‘the host’ also by stephanie meyer (twilight author) and really enjoyed it as well. not quite as easy to read (as it was written for adults, not youth) but a great story.

i just finished ‘love walked in’ by marisa de los santos which is a fun, sweet story about a thirty-something woman whose life changes in a beautiful way.

now i am reading ‘nights of rain and stars’ by maeve binchy. she wrote ‘circle of friends’ (remember that book/movie from about 12 years ago? it was minnie driver’s first big role). it took me a while to get into it, but i’ve really enjoyed the story and the characters.

notice a trend here? yep, i like fun, happy stories. i can’t handle anything too sad or violent. like has enough drama on it’s own, i want my entertainment to be light and uplifting. so, what are you reading? anything fun i might enjoy??

thank you. your sweet comments, encouragement and prayers mean so much to me. i had such a hard time writing about my grandma. it feels so personal and i have been trying not to let the lump in my throat take over and turn me into a blubbering mess. my grandma passed away about half an hour after after i posted about her. we are so glad she won’t be in any more pain and that she is home with her Savior. i can’t begin to imagine how free and joyful she is now. ok, moving on before i fall apart…
yesterday was david’s first day of school. i was nervous, but met with his teacher and LOVED her. she is amazing. and the staff working in the classroom? the best! the problem? david is tiny. he literally 20 pounds and about the size of an 18 month old or a small 2 year old. The rest of the kids tower over him and because they also have special needs, aren’t particularly careful about not bumping into (or completely smooshing) him.

i arrived 20 minutes early to pick him up so i could observe the classroom a bit and felt confident that he must have a 1:1 aide with him at all times, just for safely, not to mention being included in activities. even with a 1:1 aide, i’m not sure i feel good about the placement. when he was in preschool, the kids towered over him. Now he is in a K, 1, 2 special day class and he is just so tiny. (did i mention how small he is??) So we are putting our heads together with the school staff and administration to try to figure out the best place for David–where he can be safe and be with his typical peers. i know some of you special needs moms out there face this same dilema. any advise??

i’ve got some fun, fun stuff to show you, so check back tomorrow. have a great wednesday!!

.

matty has been practicing his ‘kung fu skills’. his words, not mine.
he’s good.
really, really good.
try not to be intimidated.

.

little boys who want to play and run and jump and do ‘kung fu’ all day.

lindsey’s flower brooches that seriously make a plain tank into an anthropologie masterpiece.

we are all about the ocean lately. we visited the long beach aquarium when we where down south last weekend. the boys loved it. we got them a video about the ocean and we bought ’shark week’ for after they are in bed. the ocean is so incredible, mind-boggling and beautiful.

my brother got married last week and i arranged flowers for a family reception. it was so fun–i haven’t done it in years and i want to do more. maybe i’ll do a simple ‘how-to-arrange flowers’ post.

a sandy path leading to a shady tree. ahh, this is in carpinteria, one of my favorite spots to slow down and unwind. love, love it!

after we put the boys down in the evening, they usually play in their room for about 45 minutes. It’s probably time to give up naps, but I DON’T WANT TO! Anyway, Matty always does cute things with his stuffed animals, like make little beds for them. Steve and I get a kick out of seeing Matty nurture his animals.

little painted hands from fun projects that grandma planned. i try to do a couple art projects with the boys every week–even if it’s just watercolors or construction paper and glue. check out flip flops and applesauce for great ideas to connect with your kiddos.

other inspirations? my favorite jeans with the ratty hem, comfy espadrilles for $8 at target (i*love*target), a good book, sunshine on my face, lazy mornings with the boys (only 2 weeks till school starts, eeek) and a hot cup of coffee.

what’s inspiring you today??

.

it feels like a monday, since we just got back from grandma & papa’s house and i am jumping into a day full of to-do’s. my head is full of ideas and projects and deadlines and my heart is full of thoughts and prayers for my sweet friend cara who was just diagnosed with hodgkins lymphoma. pray for her, her husband and her two little girls–the youngest just one month old.

there is beauty in the everyday and joy in the suffering. deep breath.
tomorrow’s tuesday, right?