​Lately, I’ve been wishing I could have more time with the kids and maybe slow down life, just a little. A whole new crew of friends are pregnant and having babies, and it’s a raw reminder of how fast time does fly.  My babies aren’t babies anymore.  As I pass down clothes, and give away strollers, and toys they have outgrown, it’s very bittersweet.  I don’t miss the sleepless nights, diapers, burp cloths, but I kind of do. 
So, while they still are little, and they’ll still let me, I decided to make their Halloween costumes.  I like to think of myself as a creative person.  And I can kind-of sew.  Michael wanted to be Night Wing, admittedly, I had to look him up.  His mask and costume were pretty easy to make, felt and foam and a few stiches.  Melissa wanted to be a Mermaid.  Not Ariel, but a pink mermaid.  I knew this would be more difficult than Night Wing, but I could pull it off – just get some fish scale fabric and tulle.   That was more difficult to find than I thought.  I bought fabric and came up with a loose plan.  It’s funny how we think we can’t fit one more thing on our plates until we make room.  It’s like all things in life, if we want it part of our life, we will make it part of our life. 
In between teaching, and pick up and drop off, I sewed and sewed and sewed, did I mention by hand, this skirt.  The end result was better than I could have imagined; both kids love their costumes, and they survived the Del Ray Parade. 
From me, Night Wing, and Pink Mermaid – Happy Halloween!!! 

In 2014 my first born started Kindergarten.  I was excited and nervous, like most moms of their first going off to school for a long,long day.  
I remembered that when I was in elementary school, my mom wrote a little note on the napkin in my lunch box.  Michael and I have been drawing pictures since he was little so I decided to write him a little note with a rocket ship wishing him a great first day.

​ This would be the year he would learn a ton of new things, including being away from me for almost 8 hours.  Or really, maybe it would be the year I learned how to be away from him for 8 hours.  He loved the note, so I did one every day.  Some were really creative, some had facts, some were colorful, some were really good, and all were done at the kitchen table after I made his lunch, while he ate breakfast, in about 5 minutes.  
(See them all www.instagram.com/shantimommie)

Every day, Michael brought home all his lunch notes and I saved them.  At the end of the year, we bought a photo album and put all the notes in it, in date order.  First grade has come and gone and we have another filled photo album.  
​
This year, my youngest, my little Melissa is starting Kindergarten.  I am up for the challenge of drawing two notes, in addition to making two lunches, getting two kids ready, and learning how to be away from both of them all day after a fun filled summer.  

Join me TOMORROW, September 6, in reading their #lunchboxart & schoollunchfun!!