Sleep Deprivation

Third night in a row Gwen has gotten up super early - 4:30am, 3:00am, 3:30am. I am so tired today I can't even think straight.  She is phasing out naps, even though she needs one, and falling asleep super early.  Hopefully she will crash today and take a nap for me, because I need one!

Joe is working till 4pm and then we are going to a Halloween party. I also need to finish Joe's costume, do the dishes and work on a layout I was suppose to do yesterday. It is going to be a very long day. I think it is time for a cup of tea (or a glass of wine).

Hoping I get some fun pictures from the party tonight to post!

Have a great rest of your day.

Nikki

Indian Summer

Well I think we had our "Indian Summer."  It has been almost 80 the last two days. Gwen and I ditched the office yesterday and headed out to my parent's to soak up the last warm day of the year.  It was so nice.  We picked the last of the tomatoes and sat on the deck.  I love that we can do this.  Unfortunately we don't know how many more days we have out there.

My parents went to a meeting last night and it is official the Illiana Tollway is a go.  Construction is to begin 2014.  It just makes me so sad. My parents have worked so hard for what they have and now it is going to be taken away. Earlier this year the wonderful state of Illinois passed the quick-take law, that allows the state to take property and give what they think is a fair price. I thought eminent domain was bad, this is just wrong.

My parent's home and land is paid for. They have never taken anything from anyone. My dad is a Vietnam vet and union worker (retired). They built the "American Dream" and now it is being taken away from them.  I just don't get it.  You work hard your whole life. You save your money.  You Pay your bills. You retire thinking you are going to be ok. Then the carpet is pulled out from underneath you.  The stability you thought you had is gone.

I am so sad and frustrated, but we will make the best of it.  We will enjoy the time we have. We will continue to plant gardens and play until they tell we can't. We will find another place to call home.  Because home is wherever Mom and Dad are.

So for now we are going to enjoy the time we have and look forward to what the future holds.

But for what it is worth -  NO ILLIANA TOLLWAY!

Have a great rest of your evening.

Nikki

Time flies...

Time flies when you are having fun, or have too much to do.  I don't know where this year has gone.  I feel like I have done so much, yet nothing, all at the same time.  In February I decided to take a break from blogging and the internet to focus more on being creative in my own life.  I had so many things I wanted to accomplish and then life happened.

"Life is what happens to you 

while you're busy making other plans."

~ John Lennon

My year recap:

FEBRUARY:
Joe worked a lot
Willow had to go to the vet several times

MARCH:
Beautiful weather = lots of park time

APRIL:
Joe took a new job -  lots more family time!
Went to Appleton, WI for a weekend getaway
Went to a really cute tea shop with my mom - The Pickwick  Society Tearoom

MAY:
Fairy Festival at Pilcher Park
Janesville Renaissance Faire

JUNE:
13th Wedding Anniversary
Signed contract with Milltown Market for a booth

JULY:
Started doing freelance design work for Joe's company
Shot an engagement session
Shot a wedding
Gwen started swim lessons
Bristol Renaissance Faire

AUGUST:
Started doing graphic design work for the park district again
Gwen started gymnastics

SEPTEMBER:
Camping
Fall Fest at Goodenow Grove
Shot another wedding
USF Homecoming
Fairy Fest at Goodenow Grove

OCTOBER:
A lot of design work
Gwen was sick
Family wedding

There were also play dates, trips to the zoo, gardening, fishing, painting and hanging out on the patio interspersed throughout the year.

And that brings us to the last full week of the month with Halloween only 8 days away.  We still need to finish our costumes and get a pumpkin to carve (we were suppose to go to a patch, but the weather was bad the day we planned).

That was our year so far. There was a lot more, but these were just some of the highlights! We are already making our holiday plans. Can't believe it. Thanksgiving is less then a month away!

On that note, have a great rest of your day!

Nikki

Burning the candle at both ends

October has been a crazy month.  Gwen has been sick and I have had a lot of work today. I dont' think I mentioned that I am back to work part-time at my old job.  I started back in the middle of August. I am helping out while the graphic designer is out on medical leave.  It is great to be back, but also very crazy.  I get to do most of my work at home and go in two mornings a week to do printing and meet with staff.  I also started doing freelance graphic design work for the hotel my husband works for.  And on top of that we also have had several photography jobs.

I do enjoy being busy and having more of a schedule, but it is beginning to wear on both Gwen and I.  Her schedule is off. She is not napping and she has become an even more fussier eater.  I know sleeping and eating issues are normal at this age, but it still leads to a lot frustrations on both parts.

We also have been cooped up the last couple of weeks because she has been sick. Result - a very restless two year old! She has energy to burn and then some.  I actually did take he into the office yesterday for a couple hours and low and behold she took a nap when we got home. She needs to be active and social.  I blame her father for that :)

In the little bit of downtime I have been getting, I have been immersing myself in Tudor/Elizabethan English history.  It is so fascinating.  Who needs fictional stories when these real life ones are so fantastic.

I have been reading several blogs on the subject:
http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/
http://onthetudortrail.com/Blog/
http://www.elizabethfiles.com/

Aside from the lack of hygiene, sanitation and antibiotics, I would love to have lived in such a time. Well, if I was a noble with the fancy dresses and lovely jewelry.  

Time to return to the present and get my day started.

Have a great day!

Nikki

Tea Time

“Tea is the elixir of life.” ― Lao Tzu

My mom always says, "tea tastes better out of a tea cup."  I have to agree. I usually grab a mug and throw it in the microwave, but today I decided to use my tea kettle and actually make tea the proper way. Then I decided to use my nice china. What a difference it made.

Sometimes it is the simple things in life, like a good cup of tea, that help you get through the day.

It has been an extremely long week and I am so ready for the weekend. Not that I don't have more work to do, but just the thought of "the weekend," seems to make it easier to deal with.  For now though, I am going to relax with a nice cup of chamomile tea and enjoy some quiet time.

“Tea tempers the spirits and harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents drowsiness, lightens or refreshes the body, and clears the perceptive faculties.”  ― Confucius

Have a good rest of your evening
Nikki

Sidelined

Life definitely gets in the way of being productive sometimes.  I was sidelined with a sinus headache for a couple of days and now Gwen has come down with a nasty little cold. Hopefully we will return to our normal schedule in the next couple of days.

We are back!

I can't believe how long it has been.  We have been so busy.  Can't wait to get back to writing and sharing. More to come soon!