Wall Crawl - Carlsbad

Over our Spring Break we didn't have much in the way of plans. A few trips to our favorite parks/museums/science centers/aquariums. And, of course, a wall crawl tossed in there for good measure. 

Let's just take a moment to talk about the cutest little beach community of Carlsbad. It was so dang adorable. Every little shop, restaurant, coffee spot, and winery (!) had me swooning. Before we left I told Scott I needed an entire (long) weekend in Carlsbad. 

Moving along to the main event. WALLS!

THIS is the reason I wanted to get to Carlsbad.

Artist : @micahelsummers
Location: Sleeping Tiger Coffees

I'd seen this wall pop up a few times in my Insta feed, and every. single. time. I saw it I fell in love with it a little more. When we actually came upon it my excitement was palpable. I also can't put into words how thrilled I was to get BOTH kids in the shot. Per the usual, Julia wasn't into wall hunting and preferred to chill in the stroller while snacking the. entire. time. Marcus, however, obliged with every wall we came upon. 

After finding the gem of all walls the kids and I just kind of putzed around Carlsbad, with general ideas of walls we (I) wanted to find and locations of each wall. 

The rest of the walls are in no specific order as to how we found them, nor are the in any logical order in regards to mapping them out. 

The wall below actually the very first wall we spotted, and I couldn't get out of the car fast enough. Artist, Free Humanity, has done several works all over California, as well as other cities throughout the nation, and I was tickled to finally spot one for myself. 

Artist: @freehumanity
Location: Señor Rubby's

What makes the above wall so unique is that the business invites different artists every so often to come and paint murals. So, the wall is ever changing. It's cool that new art is rotated. On the flip side of that, it's kind of sad that each piece is only around for a very limited time. I am anxious to see what artist is brought in next and how he/she/they will transform the wall.

Getting a picture of the following wall was tough. It was located in a very narrow alley, so capturing the whole thing straight on was near impossible. I do love that Julia decided to join for this one though (please note the snacks).

Marcus actually spotted this Mario wall well before I did. We couldn't get to it when he saw it - we were on the opposite side of the street. So, I told him we'd stop by in on our way back. I totally forgot about it until Marcus reminded me, "Mom! Don't forget that Mario wall!" I tell you, I'm training him well. 

The next series of images were kind of like finding hidden treasures all over downtown. It's clear they were all done by the same artist (though I've yet to find out just who the artist is). And, I know there's at least one more of these cute little ditty's out there that we weren't able to find. 

This was our last wall, which just so happened to be on the opposite wall of the Free Humanities heart wall. We didn't see this when we stopped to snap the hearts, but we spotted it on our way back to our car! 

Marcus. Bless him for being such a good sport.

That's a wrap on Carlsbad - even though I know we missed some walls. I guess that just means we'll have to go back!

Have you spotted any walls lately? It's been a thrill to see so many fun walls popping up on the 'gram, and hearing how others are exploring their cities, one wall at a time. Next wall you find, please tag me @desireemacke so I don't miss the façades you're finding!

M & J Monday

I am the Captain of the S. S. Bathtub

I roam wherever I please

I am the Captain of the S. S. Bathtub

Come sail away with me

My friends come visit on the S. S. Bathtub

They arrive on water skis

Some are dolphins and some are whales

And some are manatees

I travel far in the S. S. Bathtub

I sail the seven seas

Sometimes I stop at islands

That look just like great big knees

I've got two dogs on the S. S. Bathtub

A Great Dane and a Pekinese

I name one Port and I named one Starboard

And I'll let you name their fleas

The fish that swim under the S. S. Bathtub

Know all their ABCs

They study hard in their school of fish

Then go and catch some Zs

For dinner on the S. S. Bathtub

We all eat mac and cheese

I don't use salt and I don't use pepper

'Cause I don't want the whales to sneeze

We love to play on the S. S. Bathtub

With our blocks and our frisbees

We make up songs and put on plays

And we never watch TVs

I am the Captain of the S. S. Bathtub

I roam wherever I please

I am the Captain of the S. S. Bathtub

Come sail away with me

Excerpts from S. S. Bathtub

David Lamotte

Happy Monday!

The Year of Color {Pastels} Edition

With April being Easter month pastels seemed only fitting for the Year of Color selection.

However, finding a craft, an experiment, a book, and a treat to fit within the color scheme proved to be more of a challenge than I expected. That doesn't mean we didn't try.

Let's start with the obligatory monthly photo. This time I had Scott jump in the photos with the kids and me. We had just gotten back from Easter Mass and we coordinated pretty well. Not to mention, I've kind of made it mandatory that we take a family photo every Easter.

This was the very best photo of the whole bunch.

Julia's personality on display...

Marcus wins the character award.

I feel our Easter attire was pretty spot on in regards to pastels. I'm not sure I can say the same about the rest of our Year of Color activities, but we had fun in the process!

Read

We read several Easter themed books this month. None were specifically designated "pastel," but the colors within the books illustrations were. I figured that was close enough. 

What a Wonderful World - Tim Hopgood
The Littlest Bunny in Los Angeles (also available for other cities and states) - Lily Jacobs
Easter Bunny's Amazing Day - Carol Benoist and Cathy Gilmore
God Gave Us Easter - Lisa Tawn Bergren

Grandma and Grandpa Dudding sent the kids What a Wonderful World. The song by Louis Armstrong is one of my all time favorits, and to have it in book form is pretty special. It was near impossible reading this aloud without actually singing the song.
The Littlest Bunny in Los Angeles (also from Grandma and Grandpa Dudding) was a fun story of a brother and sister who adopted a tiny bunny. At night the bunny became the Easter bunny and goes on several adventures throughout Los Angeles. Marcus really enjoyed this one.
Grandma and Grandpa Macke sent the kids Easter Bunny's Amazing Day. Talk about a unique and beautiful way to entwine the story of the Easter bunny with the story of Jesus' resurrection, and in a way that kids could understand. I had no idea what to expect with this book, but I love it, as does Marcus, as he's asked to read it several times. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great way to explain the Easter bunny and Jesus at the same time.
God Gave Us Easter (also a gift from Grandma and Grandpa Macke) has been on repeat with the kids. It's another fabulous story of Jesus and the meaning of Easter.

Bake

For the baking portion of our color I went the easy route and made up some Easter Blossom Sugar cookies.

Marcus enjoyed helping with all the sprinkles, as well as making the cookies disappear. I tried to get fancy and use Robin's Egg candies in lieu of regular Hersey Kisses. I did not love the final look, or taste of said candy. Next time we'll stick with the Kisses.

Easter Blossom Sugar Cookies Recipe

Experiment/Craft

Finding a pastel colored experiment was impossible. I scoured the internet looking for something, but came up short. So, we combined our egg coloring (the craft) with the experiment...

Thanks to Erin for sharing this fun and easy way to dye eggs!

1) A can of shaving cream in a large pan.

2) Several drops of food coloring dripped on to the shaving cream.
3) Lightly swirl the food coloring drops into the shaving cream with a straw.

4) Lightly roll hard boiled eggs in the shaving cream/food coloring swirl mix.

5) Allow eggs to sit in the mix for at least 15 minutes (we left ours in for two-ish hours).

6)Admire the finished product!

There you have it. Another month of color! If you're joining us this month for pastels be sure to link up below!

Next month (Friday, May 19th) we'll be showcasing YELLOW!

An InLinkz Link-up

M & J Monday

Oh Sea, why do you deliberately pound the rocks along the bay

Sending showers of white foam up, in a cascade of spray,

Can you not cease your travels, churning incessantly,

Surging back and forth, always longing to be free

...

Oh Sea, you are so gigantic, so powerful and wild,

And yet at times you're gentle, just like a little child,

You command our admiration, your vastness is immense,

But you are so unpredictable, your energy intense.

...

Oh Sea, it is a pleasure when your tides flow, to and fro,

To sit and watch the sunsets, over waters all aglow,

To know your restless feelings, to accept your endless tasks,

And yet to try and understand, what you keep behind your mask.

Oh Sea, who owns the tranquil blues and greens, and violets too,

That in your watery world to us, gives such a wondrous view,

We know your unleashed mighty force, the course you have to take,

The storms, the squalls, the hurricanes, these terrors make us quake.

Oh Sea, we know of other words like tranquil, calm and still,

Times when you are peaceful, with no need to thrill,

Contrasts are your constant plan, your order of the day,

And admiring you, we would not have you, any other way.

Excerpts from Oh Sea

Ernestine Northover

Happy Monday!

Julia || 20 Months

Whew! Month 20!

I vividly remember toting Julia around when she was just a couple of months old, chatting with other moms whose babies were in the teens and twenty-something months, and I thought there's no way we'd get to month 20 this fast. But, alas, we are here. And there's nary an idea for a second birthday party. I should probably get on that...

Anywho...
Height :: I'm guessing about 32-33 inches
Weight :: 24.5 pounds

Loves

Per the usual, Marcus, depending on the situation.

Books.

Being outside.

Sticks.

Puddles.

Getting filthy.

Helping to walk our lab, Drake.

Snacks.

Cheese.

Sweets.

Puppies.

Kitties.

Snails (so gross).

Getting up on the computer desk and "typing."

The intro music to Bubble Guppies and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but not actually watching the shows, that would mean sitting still.

Wearing shoes, particularly Marcus' shoes and her Mickey and Minnie Disney Twins; if you spot her in those and they don't even remotely match her outfit (see the last couple pictures below), it's because I've failed to hide them.

Running around in her birthday suit.

Dislikes

Marcus, depending on the situation.

Wearing headbands/bows. I knew this day was coming, but it doesn't make it any less sad. Daily, I attempt in vain to put headbands/bows on her, but they are almost immediately ripped out.

Hearing, "no."

Veggies.

Going down for naps and bed time (though the resistance is usually short lived).

Waking up from naps and bed time.

Language

This month seemed to be the breakthrough with words. 

Simple, two word sentences are now the norm. 

The sweetest is when she will be given something she's requesting and she says, "Thankssss, Mommy."

Potty talk. Oh my goodness, I don't think we had real potty talk with Marcus until he was just entering preschool. But, Julia loves to tell us, "Drake, poop," or "Izzy [our cat], poop."

Sleep

We've kind of hit a hiccup. For quite some time Julia would go to bed and sleep through the night without waking up. Lately, there have been multiple wake-ups per night. Usually the remedy is nothing more than a pat on the back and a reminder that it's bedtime. But, even those few minutes away make for some very groggy mornings. I'm hoping this is something that passes quickly, momma's tired.

Thankfully, however, morning wake-ups have been pushed from 4:30 to closer to 5:30, 5:45, and every Blue Moon, 6:00.

Another thing to note, Julia has recently insisted on going to bed with her water bottle. I thought surely it was just something to hold on to. But, in the mornings when I retrieve the bottle at least a quarter of it will have been consumed.

Notable moments

Julia can identify the colors blue and yellow. Red, green and orange still have some work. She is also able to help me count to three. I'll say "one," she'll follow up with "two," and together we will say "three."

Just recently I've noticed that when we sing to Julia she will "sing" along. It's more a mumbled hum with a bit of the song's melody tossed in for good measure. It's the most adorable thing, and I never want to forget it.

We've participated in two Easter egg hunts, and Julia held her own and loved running around with a basket swooping up eggs.

Along with potty talk, there's been a curiosity about the bathroom in general. Julia gives exactly zero privacy when it comes to bathroom courtesy. And, each night before bath time she insists on sitting on the toilet, though nothing ever comes of it.

That's a wrap on Month 20. Onward to 21. And time to start that birthday party planning!

M & J Monday

When you walk the streets you'll have no cares

If you walk the lines and not the squares

As you go through life make this your goal

Watch the donut, not the hole.

It's written on the rainbow, in letters made of gold

Written on the rainbow, there's wisdom to behold

My friend the little sparrow flew

Close enough to see

Written on a rainbow is this philosophy.

When you walk the streets you'll have no cares

If you with the lines and not the squares

As you go through life make this your goal,

Watch the donut, not the hole.

Little angles wrote it, so folks on earth would know.

When you walk the streets you'll have no cares

If you walk the lines and not the squares

As you go through life make this your goal,

Watch the donut, not the hole.

I'm off to jolly England where

Bulldogs all wear pants

Off to Pago Pago where alligators dance

my friend the little sparrow will

Take me where he flies

Even to the rainbow to read with my own eyes

When you walk the streets you'll have no cares

If you walk the lines and not the squares

As you go through life make this your goal,

Watch the donut, not the hole.

The Donut Song

Burl Ives

Happy Monday!