Heavenly Honeysuckle

I love the smell of honeysuckle. Ever since I was little I have loved it. I think it was the first flower my mom showed me and I remember taking in the scent and just loving it. So I was pleasantly surprised when we moved to Brentwood and during the first days of Spring it sprouted up everywhere. The best is the main road we drive down in our neighborhood is lined on both sides with the stuff. I roll down all the windows in the car and drive down the road, the scent filling my car and taking me back to my childhood. Isn't it amazing how a smell can bring back so many memories?

I have been on a real creative kick lately. I swear, my brain was stagnant for so long and now I am having so much fun making stuff again. This lovely thing is a pincushion I made from a video tutorial on DIYDish.Com. Every week they post a new project and show you step by step how to create it. Soooo cool. So I added my own little touches, flowers, the Eiffel Tower and Voila! A work of art

I also love working with canvas. I have a really hard time with them but once I am finished, I love the end result. I made this one using Kaiser Craft paint, Glimmer Mist, this fabulous glittered paper from Die Cuts with a View and a little bling. Perfect for the pictures I took last Summer of the boys on China Beach in San Francisco.

Only a little over a week left of school and we are so excited. Can't wait to start traveling and taking the kids out. Going to hit the beach, do some cherry picking in the orchards out here, and just spend time as a family. My Vincent will be 18 in November so this will be our last Summer with him still being 'a kid'. I am savoring it.

Also took a quick field trip with Gavin to the Children's Museum in Stockton. It was a great little place for the kids to play. Gavin decided he needed a moustache for this trip so I obliged him.

He is such a sassy little guy. I swear, he is going to be an actor when he grows up. He is such the little performer and is not the least bit shy when it comes to dancing and singing in front of strangers.

Well, gotta catch some z's. Long week ahead of me and gotta get these boys to bed. Have a wonderful week!

Allergies Suck

Those of you who suffer from this seasonal malady know what I mean. It's awful. Doesn't help that I live across the street from this HUMONGOUS FIELD and at the end of my street are orchards teeming with pollen. So I suffer along with my sweet little 5 year old who doesn't understand why his eyes are swollen and he looks like a bug. Poor kid.

But the McIntyre's are trucking along. Last few weeks of school and looking forward to taking a few short trips with the boys and my mom. My mom is dying to go to Santa Cruz and ride the Round-Up. She is by far the coolest mom EVER. Unlike her friends that are her age, she still loves to get up and go, always looking for an adventure. Guess who inherited that trait? Also going to try to make it up to Yosemite. Shame on me, I have never been and am looking forward to showing my boys this wonderful part of California. The best part of this Summer is my brother will finally be home from overseas. It is hell knowing he's out there and we are relieved that his time there is almost complete. YAY!!!

So what's up in my world? Went to SF with DeAnne and the Brit's a few weeks ago. I love going on a weekday because it's such a different feel than on the weekends when the tourists are all over like ants. Plus we went off the beaten path into the Marina District and walked around and it was so cool. We found a lovely little Irish pub, which I forgot to get the name of. Anyway, tons of old pictures around from the 40's and 50's. So being me, I wandered around looking and lo and behold I found this little gem:

Oh yeah baby. That's the boys. From left to right: Roger Maris, Yogi Berra and the one and only, Mickey Mantle. My 2 favorite players are Roger and the Mick. Seen the movie *61? It's all about the year Maris and the Mick were trying to beat Babe Ruth's home run record. FANTASTIC movie. Especially if you're a baseball fan. Even better if you're a Yankees fan. I wanted to rip this picture off the wall but I settled for taking a picture. Needless to say, this is getting blown up and placed in a very prominent place on my wall. Where Jim and Vinnie can't reach it. Damn Yankee haters.

I have been a creating fool lately. I was in a funk for so long and then this weekend I pounded out like 5 projects. Shocked myself. I haven't taken pics yet but I will.

Very excited that the local Farmer's Market has opened for the season. They have the best stuff and the kids love walking around and picking the fruit. Going to try to take them to a U-Pick farm this weekend. I'll be the one wearing the Michael Jackson mask wheezing. No offense. Jim told me to wear a bandana over my face and I was like, ok so I'll look like a bank robber? Men.

Life is great and I am looking forward to lots of fun activities. More trips to the city and hopefully checking out new places in California. So bust out that camera, start taking some pictures and enjoy this lovely weather. It's gonna be a beautiful Summer!!