*elamomma

a little saturday tour

2012-01-14T12:16:00.000-08:00

I took a photo this morning to post on Facebook and it led to another photo and another. Which caused me to decide I should't bombard Facebook with this flood of photos, but I should make a little post on the blog. Here is a mini tour of bits around the kids rooms and our house on a Saturday morning....

my yarn basket, i regularly will sit on the couch and knit or crochet when we sit and watch something as a family

current crochet project

the new "saturday morning cartoons" netflix-"pick what u like"

Elly's backpack and school folder from doing homework the night before

Atticus usually has an entourage that follows him around the house, some travel with us into the car as well

(blanket, buddy tiger(the new addition), and a couple starwars guys)

Our family art from christmas vacation

(hangs on the wall of our family room)

Also in our family room, Star Wars ship and MUNNY

Lucy's origami paper cranes hang in our Family room as well

Atticus' war zone (a favorite christmas present, $5 tub of green army guys and accessories)

Some bits from the kids rooms

The girls...

Elly's bed collection

Lucy's bed collection

The poster below is from the girls dance studio.

It is an original advertisement poster for a ballet Ruth Page was in!

The boy....

Monkey from Mimi and her trip to Paris

Original art work:)

Lion by Lucy

Red & Blue by Atticus

Animal collection and part of the kids library

The boy's bed with Japanese paper balloons hanging over

(purchased while I was in california for $9!!)

PS: soon that will be a bunkbed for 2 boys!!!;)

Another original by Atticus Jude

Happy Saturday

photos from our christmas card shoot

2012-01-07T12:45:00.000-08:00

random holiday post

2011-12-12T17:57:00.000-08:00

some random photos taken over the past few weeks....

I had to share this terrible (what i mean by terrible is the lighting, color, composition etc.) shot below because Atticus was just so funny! I love that kid:)

Christmas lights in the evening......

maybe she is an actress....i can't really tell

ornaments

Christmas 2011

2011-12-12T17:31:00.000-08:00

nutcracker pt 3

2011-12-10T20:26:00.001-08:00

These photos are from the dress rehearsal!

nutcracker 2011 Pt 2

2011-12-04T19:03:00.001-08:00

They were SO much FUN today!!!!!

being "Cinderella's step-sisters"

a little check in the mirror

mini-lulu

Nutcracker 2011

2011-12-03T17:34:00.001-08:00

The girls are in the Civic Ballet of Chicago's production of The Nutcracker this year.

I volunteer at the Ballet school the girls attend quite a bit (Ruth Page Center for the Arts), so I was able to get a few photos today. I hope to get more throughout the performances this month.

Soldiers

Snow

The Mouse King

Getting Ready

Friends:)

my cutie pie

chit-chat with friends

wish i got this lighting on the pictures above!

the boy after the performance

comfy at home- proud momma!!!

pictures taken by my girls

always nice to relax at home after a busy day!

learning photoshop

2011-10-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

Photoshop is a little overwhelming to me, but I am practicing.

fun in our neighborhood

2011-10-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

the boy

2011-10-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

art in the city

2011-10-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

some art we passed while hanging out in wicker park today

hands and feet

2011-10-28T18:29:00.000-07:00

a shelf

2011-10-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

this picture made me so happy.

when i was 6 years old my dad build some shelves in our home. it was a corner unit and our tv sat in a larger shelf in the unit he built. i remember hanging out in the shelf before we put the tv in it. my parents actually have a picture of me sleeping in it:) maybe someday i will get the picture and post it here. i love being a kid and fitting in random places of the house and being able repurpose it and make it "my place".

baby rachel

2011-10-23T18:05:00.000-07:00

My sweet friends had their baby girl Rachel. She is so precious. Just like her momma:) Her daddy is pretty swell too;)

Daddy and Daughter

we got to hold her:)

my favorite- the YAWN

more yawning:)

blue eyes

amazing momma

Updated Adoption Blog now Tumblr.

2011-10-15T19:27:00.000-07:00

Check out our old adoption blog to get caught up on our journey then hop on over to our new Tumblr.

Fall is Here!

2011-10-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

We visited Holstein Park today. I was so beautiful. A bit blustery, but i guess that makes it a perfect fall day right? :)

a little boy walked over and Lucy threw leaves for him and Atticus

Atticus was pretty happy about it.

This was the cutest thing ever.

Lucy hid from Atticus behind a tree and they played hide and seek for a while.

Lucy being a tree and shading her sister.

Elly had a tummy ache from the spinny thing.

She said she felt to sick to get up so Josh picked her up by the pants.

Lucy's new Heely's

2011-10-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

Lucy has been wanting Heely's since she was 4 years old. We have never gotten around to buying them because of the price tag! But after she asked this last time while we were school shopping, we told her she could earn the $ for them and get them that way!. So she earned about $5 a week when she did extra chores around the house- with no whining or complaining. She has been working really hard and resisted spending the money on other things before she saved up enough! When they came in the mail from Zappos she was SO HAPPY:)

any chance she gets she is practicing

we hung out in Wicker Park today for a bit. i couldn't resist this wall!

Bolaget

2011-10-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

Look at this beautiful home from Bolaget

october

2011-10-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

elly ballet

2011-09-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

Elly just moved up to Ballet IV

She is first year Ballet IV. This class that I shot is a combined 1st and 2nd Ballet IV so there are some older more advanced girls in this class.

2nd year Ballet IV

This is one of the 2nd year Ballet IV girls

i love these 2 shots below

color is fun too

you can see elly in the center:)

A 2nd year Ballet IV girl

Reverence

likes and sparks

2011-09-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

all the images below can be found on my Pinterest

likes and sparks

2011-09-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

Found this wonderful nursery tour on Ohdeedoh

a friday off

2011-09-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

doing each other's hair and playing barbies

WP

2011-09-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

These are 2 photos I took with my iphone a few months ago at the Wicker Park Fest

late afternoon

2011-09-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

caramel apples

2011-09-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

this is what we did with the apples we picked

we washed them

we got some sticks from the Orchard we went to

got a pan

got some caramel.....mmmmmmmm

added 2 tbsp. of water and melted on medium heat

stir stir stir

my helpful helpers

put the sticks in the apples

buttered some wax paper

dippy dip the apples in the caramel

yummy

i think he was a little excited

why not roll the caramel in some chocolate chips too!

yes please!

My dad

2011-09-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

These are photos my dad emailed me of his family. He is the 5th to the right/3rd from the left- in the plaid shirt. Isn't he cute:)

Above: A photo of my dad with his father (my grandpa) and his siblings. My dad is the boy on the left.

Left: My dad

Right: My dad and his family at Newport Beach.

meg takes photos

2011-09-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

photos by the amazing Megan Anderson

she specializes in children photography and families:)

apple pickin'

2011-09-24T17:04:00.000-07:00

Hot chocolate

pre-bloomed sunflower

corn-maze

it started to rain

apple picking

apple trees

photos of us by sweet Megan

sam megan and rachel:) with the girls

run city girl!

sam "hiding" behind elly pretending elly is juggling

more photos by megan of j and me

the boy eating APPLES!

my large child Elly

my megan:)

MANGA

2011-09-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

The girls have been having alot of fun with these Manga drawing books. They are full of how-to-draw instructions for Manga (japanese comic characters)

Elly's book and Elly's drawings

Lucy's book and Lucy's drawings

ADOPTION

2011-09-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

Check-out our adoption blog to keep up on where we are in the journey.

I just updated it with a new post a few days ago:)

photo by photo for freedom

likes and sparks

2011-09-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

I must try this

2011-09-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

Oh Happy Day- you have done it again!

Look at this amazing Golden Alligator Pinata

Must do this for our next bday party

The tutorial for supplies and how-to is all on the blog:)

AND

Check out all the info. for the garland here!

iphone shots

2011-09-22T16:59:00.000-07:00

His neon yellow gloves

Elly's self portrait

2011-09-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

For Open House night Elly's class made self portraits.

This is Elly's :)

Here she is with 2 of her girlfriends she has known since 1st grade!

The Hair

2011-09-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

For back to school I got the crazy idea to dye my girls hair. They were SUPER stoked about it. I did a semi permanent color just on the front, but I did........ bleach it (scrunching my face as i bite my fingernail).

Here are some photos of how I separated the hair I dyed from the hair I kept their regular color. I just did the bangs and a tiny tiny bit of their front hair.

Here is a photo of it the day after, REALLY bright.

And their hair after 2 washings. Now it has pretty much stayed this color for about 2 weeks.

girls

2011-09-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

Walked into there room and saw this cute set up:)

likes and sparks

2011-09-22T05:34:00.000-07:00

A MERRY MISHAP
Over the past year I have been, let's say....BLOGIFIED. This means I have discovered the world of blogs and have become utterly mesmerized. This is how it happened. One day, I found a blog, I don't even remember how I came across a blog. I looked at the great pictures, read some great ideas and short stories. Anyway, a blog has links on it right? So I see a cute picture, it is linked to where it came from. I click on the link and, OH MY, ANOOOTHER entire blog with amazing inspiration. And that blog has links....this goes on. Basically, after a few days of randomly looking at blogs here and there I have about 10 choice blogs bookmarked on my computer.

I enjoy some of these entries, posts, pictures so much that I have this urge to share. Not to mention inspired by them to make some of my own. And the BLOGIFICATION has happened. I have noticed though that I am like a wave. Totally pulled out for a few weeks to months and then something happens that gets my creative swithc on and I will post like 5-10 entries in a week or 2. Eeeee! Oh well, I just have to go with it.

Thus, today I will share one of my choice blogs with you:)

I am going to openly admit I am and have been for a few months-a bit obsessed with this Blog and this Shop. The style the look, I am sold! I seriously want a few of her handmade jewelry pieces. Maybe one day I will order one or 2 or.....:)

These are some of the reasons I enjoy this blogger so MUCH.

posts on her cute family

taste

collages of perfection

interior photos she finds

Style- yes please! (another collage of perfection)

Not to mention her Etsy shop that is amazing

thank you MerryMishap

Music in our house

2011-09-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

We started having music night once a week. I am super excited about it:)

Lucy has been taking piano lessons for a while now and Josh showed Elly a few things on the guitar a while ago. But we have committed to practicing musical instruments together once a week.

Maybe Atticus will pick drums then we can have a family band:)

No, I am not going to sing and shake the tambourine like the Partridge family.

Josh has his old electric guitars from his band days;)

That is what Elly gets to practice on.

Elly showing her little red fingers from pressing on the strings.

Atticus got in on the guitar a little bit too;)

lulu ballet

2011-09-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

Elly and Lucy attend Ruth Page School of Dance. They absolutely love it. This is Lucy's Ballet 2 class. My Lucy is so smart! She is one of the youngest in her class and just soaks up everything! She has excelled in ballet so well, I am so proud of her:)

Ms. Patti is her teacher and she is amazing.

In between exercises you see that they are kids:)

I love this photo!

Finish.

roya jade

2011-09-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

Roya Jade Photography:)

today

2011-09-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

We went to church today and then to one of our favorite bakeries across the street from church, "Bake". When we got home I decided to take a few more photos, since yesterday kind of got me in the mood:)

I love this one.

This one is pretty fun too.

I LOVE her smile in this photo!

I wish this one had a pure solid background!

Is she not the cutest thing ever?!

The wizard duel, Harry Potter inspired:)

They found those wands themselves out of sticks!

Good Morning

2011-09-18T12:33:00.001-07:00

Brilliant Colors in our neighborhood

2011-09-17T17:25:00.000-07:00

Our neighborhood keeps getting better and better. We moved into our new home December of last year. So we have almost been here for a year. We are 5 minutes or less from down town, thus the girls and I have been able to go to the shows downtown and be back home in 5 minutes, when other families have traveled from the suburbs or tourist have to go back to their hotel room. Over the holidays we are so close to downtown we can go down to Michigan Ave to see the lights and The Christkindl Market. Then over the 4th of July we discovered that there is an AMAZING firework show in the park across the street from our house that has been put on by a local guy for over 50 years! Then this week we were driving home down Chicago Ave. and saw a circus looking tent and carnival games going up! We did some online research and discovered it was Brilliant Colors. We decided to go check it out today- and OH MY!!! It was so fun!! Not only was it an amazing set up with about 6 rides, a fun house, about 10 carnival games and yummy food! But there was also a gathering of some of the most fantastic families and groups of our local hipster singles. I over heard one guy dressed in his bright blue skinny jeans, black shirt and ray ban glasses said, "This is the best day of my life!" And I saw some of the cutest couples with their little toddlers. I saw a hipster mom dressed in her knee length red skirt and bright blue top, with her son in his spiderman shirt and jeans. I am still learning about ISO and this new lens, so I had taken an amazing shot of this cute mom with her son getting tickets from the ticket booth and it was totally blown out. The only picture I salvaged from my first couple shots was this on of these three guys sitting at a carnival game in their pastel suits under the bright yellow bananas, it is still painful for me to look at but I had to at least share this photo to give you an idea of some of the amazing people I saw there!

As I got adjusted to the many different types of light I was dealing with I started to get much better shots!

Atticus has been totally addicted to wearing these goggles since yesterday. They have NOT come off! He is still wearing them as I am typing this...it is 7pm.

This boy is to much!

This summer the girls rode their first roller coasters! I was so proud, they were so brave! Although Elly rode the swinging boat this summer, her reaction to the swinging boat at this carnival was THIS...

Atticus' rode his first carnival ride with Lucy!

He had to get the motorcycle.

After he rode the motorcycle he decided he wanted to do the planes too:)

He had fun with his big sister:)

Just to add to the fun RENEGADE had a few tents set up with their Renegade Crafts. We came across a tent that had some of the most amazing pocket watches!! I really wanted to get one for Lucy, but the price was a bit to much for today. Maybe Christmas;)

A Compass Ring!!! Love it!

Then we found a mini TELESCOPE!!! To fun!

Contemplating.

As we were walking away from the Renegade set-up we walked toward the swinging boat and saw one of Elly's school mates on the ride!! It was so awesome because Elly totally wanted to ride with her when she saw her friend on it!

So they did!! They are on the very back row! Oh my goodness, Josh and I were laughing so hard watching their faces of excitement and total panic!

There was a huge Circus tent that I took pictures of in the beginning- so they are totally blown out:(
But I did get some shots of these real life Carni's:)

This guys was so awesome:) I totally rocked posing for me. And you can see the tent behind him.

Boba Phett underoos:)

Carnival game to win Goldfish!

Elly threw the winning toss!

Lu holding our Goldfish- Figa:)

likes and sparks

2011-09-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

I just discovered a great blog!

Weekday Carnival, love her kids rooms and the necklaces she makes:)

She has some fun knitting inspiration too and an online shop where she has cute necklaces, totes, prints and more.

el-lu style

2011-09-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

1st day of school!

My big girls

clothes via h&m, target, zappos, and forever21 girls

a new lens

2011-09-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

a friend of mine let me borrow a camera lens for a bit and I had fun playing around with it today. hope to keep learning more!

our friend Alyssa hung out with us while we sold lemonade for the adoption on Sunday:)

tried some evening shots at home

Harry Potter

we are a little late on the band wagon, but we watched the last 4 movies this weekend and the girls are so into it.

They found perfect sticks to be their wands and had fun posing with them.

Bleeding Heart Bakery's Cafe

We stopped by the newly opened Bleeding Heart Bakery down the street from us!

Gotta love Chicago and it's yummy food.

They have Gelato too:)

He loves his Papa

and his Papa loves him

my boys

the girls want a dog

2011-09-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

We don't have plans to get a dog anytime soon. But we have been drooling over these cuties

the French Bull dog!

likes and sparks

2011-09-03T19:41:00.000-07:00

Discovered this blog PIROUETTE a few months ago. I was browsing it and found some inspirational things:)

U really want to try to do something like this with the kids.

LOVE THIS!! I actually just bought elly a red beret yesterday!

I really like this photo

lovely spaces and MUJI

2011-08-31T11:01:00.000-07:00

Ok so I have to admit I am a bit crazed with all things Japanese right now. I came across this post on Ohdeedoh and I LIKEY! Here are a few photos from the post and MUJI is referenced. Yay! Muji is a really fun store online with simple, clean, creative, pretty things for you and your home. I have had it bookmarked on my computer for a while:) But in this post I found out there is another MUJI site that has the cutest interiors and references the Muji products that are in the space- it is called MUJI X IDEE- so inspired!!!

a beautiful place for a wedding

2011-08-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we attended and participated in our friends wedding! It was so beautiful. Everything was perfect- them, the weather that day, the decor and the place they had the wedding!!!! It was amazing. Here are some pictures I took of the grounds......

visting family in newport beach PT2

2011-08-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

Sunset on the beach is one of the peaceful places.

If I could i would walk down every day at sunset and just sit there and close my eyes and listen to the waves as the breeze hit my face and breath in the ocean air.

Looking out on the sea with the sun setting is such a pure picture of our amazing, creative, artistic beautiful God.

I love Him.

Lu soaking it all in.

Grandpa in his happy place.

Classic Grandpa moments

We would walk to the beach everyday.

The boys would carry El and Lu on their backs the whole way:)

sweet

Cali palm trees

so proud of them how they took on the waves!

the girls started "commanding" the waves.

i totally remember doing that when i was younger:)

some boogie boarders showin off for the ladies;)

grandpa found a beetle in the water

showing the beetle to the kids

In the evening we took a walk down to the water.

The beach sunset is so beautiful.

sandy feet

i love these photos

likes and sparks of inspiration

2011-08-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

A 2nd Bday

2011-08-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to take a few photos for a friend at her cute little girls bday party. Thought I would share a few of my favorites:)

yay for minnie mouse!!

my dad got some slides changed to digital...

2011-08-22T08:26:00.000-07:00

My dad graduated with a bachelor in fine arts and this was an art show he did. He did water color, lithography and sculpture. This was a show for his sculptures. My dad is in the white shirt.

from left to right- my grandmother, her brother, a family friend and my Aunt Carol

Here are 2 of the sculptures he had in the show.

He was really excited about this photo. It is a photo of my mom after the show. He said he remembers that day, it was a good day and he was a giddy when he was talking about it.

visiting family in newport beach

2011-08-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

It is a sad thing to be far away from family, but when family lives in a fun place to visit it eases the pain a bit. My parents and brothers live in Newport Beach and it is a fantastic place to get away to! It is so interesting because I grew up in Orange County so it was all I knew. After I got married my husband and I lived in Las Vegas, New Hampshire and Chicago. Having a taste of the West, East and Midwest I realized what a culture the "OC" has. Just walking down to the beach today I was soaking up all the Southern California beach culture. Anyways, I got to take the kids to hangout with my family for 5 days. It was super fun- wish my hubby could have come with us too! Then it would have been perfection!

We went to the beach everyday. Since my family's place is 2 blocks from the beach we could just pack up a wagon and stroll down and hangout for a few hours- easy peasy- LOVE IT!

The kids adore my brothers and it is so fun to see them be so close and have fun together:)

Lu and my brother J

Sand digging

Pretty Belle

Pretty Lu

She wanted to be buried in the sand cause she was cold

Gpa buried her then poured cold ocean water on her

E and the girls

A looooved running to the water and throwing sand into it. He would come over to me and say he got 3 stars for throwing the sand in. He said there were stormtroopers in the water.

I loved his flexed feet:)

My dad has video taped my whole life. My grandpa use to always tease him that the video camera was stuck to his face. The tradition is to video the day then go home and watch it- lol. I do have to say no matter how much we hassle him about it, i do appreciate the memories he has captured.

cute boy

the storm trooper stance- waiting till the waves are just right.

Boogie Boarding

I did some boogie boarding today. It was so fun! I haven't done it in a long time, so I was a bit nervous. But as soon and I went fully into the water I went back to being in Highschool going to the beach and attempting surfing, paddling out with my best friend and enjoying the water. El loved seeing me get in the water, she was so excited- it was so cute:).

My dad helped the girls catch a few waves.

Gpa bringing some sand crabs for the kids to see

Salt water look

Sand star

It was a good day!

2011-08-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

I'm on Pinterest! It is super fun and inspiring.

Would love it if you would follow my blog and follow me on Pinterest!
Here are a few of my pins,

And here is a link to my Pinterest if you want to see all my pins:)

GIRLS GONE CHILD

2011-08-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

Just the name she picked for her blog "GIRLS GONE CHILD" makes me happy! When I first discovered the "blog world" I found her blog. It is so fun and REAL. She writes about mommy stuff-

such as recipes, her kids activities, baby/kid gear, clothing, home, family, even style and makeup. She has accomplished alot through her blog and it is quite inspiring...maybe one day;)

She is prego again with TWINS and I love how she rocks her prego belly- pictured below- with so many pregnant mommas at our church and in my life I love to see a seasoned mom who own pregnancy!

I am really loving her EAT WELL posts.

in love, engaged

2011-08-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

If you are getting married and planning a wedding you must check out my friends blog in love, engaged. She not only has amazing inspiration boards, but also is a marriage and family counselor and has the "Preparation" category to invest in your relationship with your soon to be spouse like her "As the wedding draws near/How to maintain your sanity" and "Focus on the Friendship" post. It is a one stop place! Check it out!

Below are a few visual tastes of in love, engaged.

NEON ANIMALS

2011-08-16T15:16:00.000-07:00

I want to make these with some plastic animals and paint!!

From the wonderful Mimi's Circus blog

Kids Space

2011-08-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

I love this photo and the space.

photo from Fine Little Day

A Picture

2011-08-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

This is a picture my Uncle sent me over email. I had never seen this picture before. It is a photo of my Grandma Kyoko and Grandpa Russ when they had arrived in America after traveling by boat from Japan with my Uncle who was around a year old!

I love this picture:)

The men in my Life

2011-08-12T19:53:00.000-07:00

I am a blessed girl:)

SWINGS

2011-08-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

I love taking pictures of these swings. I took these at an amusement park we went to.The rides are so beautiful.

SIMPLY GROVE

2011-08-12T19:22:00.000-07:00

Simply Grove is fantastic- you just have to check it out.

I also love her little posts of her son and daughter's picks. Like the 2 below:)

A Great Home

2011-08-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

I really like the look of this home.

Found here on this great blog!

LONNY

2011-08-12T19:06:00.000-07:00

LONNY is an online magazine that features interior design and has some of the most beautiful inspirational rooms. I love to browse thru for color schemes and ideas for room design! Here is a link to the online magazine. They also have a a blog with many different posts ranging from Art to Home Decor and Clothing.

Here are just a few I really liked:)

Time Out Chicago Kids

2011-08-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

A sweet friend of our works for "Time Out Chicago Kids" and did an article on our family for a Family Urban Living project, they did stories on families and their different ways of dealing with being a family in the city. It was a fun experience:) Check out the article HERE.

MOM

2011-07-31T16:52:00.000-07:00

my mom did modeling for a little bit, she started classes when she was 16. when she was 17 they wanted her to wear a bathing suit down the runway and she wasn't comfortable with that so she stopped.
she was 16 or 17 in this picture.

The Selby

2011-07-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

"Todd Selby is a portrait, interiors, and fashion photographer and illustrator. His project The Selby offers an insider’s view of creative individuals in their personal spaces with an artist's eye for detail."

I love looking at this site. I enjoy seeing the different people he "interviews", so many different people, so talented and unique. I love "people watching" as my grandpa would say. I like sitting on a bench at an amusement park, a busy street, or large shopping area. Any place that draws people from different circles. I love seeing how different people are and the interactions they have with each other. The way they dress. And this website is like that experience, but heightened! You get to see their personality in their home, clothes and work!

ENJOY!

The Selby

I picked a few photos with SnapNDrag from the site to give you a little taste:)

(sorry about the 'click to close" on alot of the picts)

You have to take note of these people's vocations.

Yes it is Confetti System pictured below (he did a piece on them)

a dream job

2011-07-26T15:29:00.000-07:00

The Confetti System. Seriously, this place is so inspiring to me!! They make the most amazing displays, decor, jewelry, ART from confetti, tissue, cardboard, silk. AMAAAAAZING!!!!! I would love to work at a place like this.

KYOKO

2011-07-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

It was only in the last few years that I started calling her Obason. She has always been grandma......

I was in the airport a few weeks ago with my family when my mom called me and told me my Grandma was not doing well. She had some episodes of dizziness and not talking very much. After a few days she was doing ok and up and about. Up to this point she had been loosing little memories here and there, but nothing to drastic happened. This was the first reality check of her state. I started to cry in the airport thinking of my grandma. I couldn't pull it together. Thinking of loosing her. The memories of her in my life started to flood my mind and I was so sad. I had to see her. I had to spend time with her before she wasn't HER anymore.

It is a strange thing to have someone you love experience dementia. It is slow and you go thru a time of "oh it's not that bad" she is still grandma. Oh she just forgot what pizza is called, but she is still here. Oh she put fish in a recipe that she always put chicken in, but she is still her. Then one day it hits you.......those things she can't remember are never coming back! They are lost forever.
You don't realize something as simple as a meal your Grandma makes for you being such a beautiful comforting part about that person until it is gone. It becomes something lost. One memory here, another memory there and the person starts to disappear right in front of you. And you cling to those parts of them that are familiar. In your heart begging them to remember.
I recently went to visit my Grandma to spend time with her. She is always asking me to come visit her. I am so thankful for the time that I had.
One morning while I was there I remembered how she use to ALWAYS played Solitaire. Every single day I would walk by her room (she lived with my family pretty consitently since I was 9 years old after my grandpa passed away), so i would walk by her room and see her playing solitaire. I would go in and play double solitaire with her all the time. While I was visiting her I thought "I'll get some cards out!!!". I hadn't seen her play cards in a while and thought it would be so fun! She taught me how to play and could shuffle and deal the cards so quick. I always enjoyed watching her. So I get the cards and start to deal them out and ask her if she remembers how to play Solitaire. She didn't even remember suits! She had no clue how to deal out the cards or how to start the game. It ended up that I was sitting there with her helping her put all the 2's together, 3's together, 4's together etc. It was surreal.
I started typing the list below-memories I have of the past. Things that were HER. Things that were "Grandma". As I was typing I realized how much of that is lost. I started tearing up as I was typing this list. Realizing that I couldn't ask her to make my favorite Japanese food, tell her how yummy it was and hear how proud and happy she was that I liked Japanese food. I couldn't play cards with her anymore. I couldn't even sit down with her and remember some of these things with her......
Playing Double Solitaire
Sukiyaki (one of my favorite dishes she would make)
Walking home from school with her and racing down the street (she still remembers this!)
Her amazing skill of making a bed- still to this day I can't make a bed as crisp and tight as she would.
how she says "Oh Aiyana!"
Fur Coats- she has so many real fur coats and she loves mink
Getting excited about and eating to much mochi together (we can still do this:))
Her amazing quick way of shuffling cards to play War with me
How she would lick her finger to deal out the cards
Her fish cake soup, soba noodles, gyoza, curry rice and making home made mochi
Teaching me to count to 10 in Japanese
Teaching me to say "I Love You" in Japanese
Her room in our house- always tidy, always 2 pairs of shoes in 2's (neatly side by side), her crisp bed, a deck of cards and her crisp bed that we would sit on and play cards)
Zodeez (what she called flip flops)
Putting all the shoes around the house in 2's, perfectly side by side
The way she bent over to pick up little pieces of dust and random small things that she would always seem to find on the floor
Her regular outfit- a big t-shirt, leggings and mocassins
The time she jumped out of the way when a door came swinging open-like a little ninja!
Her volleyball skills
She loved and still loves me doing her hair and make-up and always says "WOW, thank you!!! You do such a wonderful job!"
Her hands- her hands are so familiar to me-her hands make me feel at home

i love you Grandma!