A few weeks ago, we got this text from Nik of JJ making a ridiculous face:

So, of course we had to send him this:

Then he sent this:

So we sent this:

Then we got a picture of his little naked booty, which I will spare you. 

He wins….. this time.

P.s. Of course JJ is a very BIIIIIG kid, so I’m sure he wouldn’t like me calling his booty little.

We finished our art pieces for Sit. Stay. Art! 2012! The proceeds from these pieces will go to Pets and People Humane Society (no-kill shelters)!  All of the lovely lady cats you see featured here are available for adoption at Pets and People. The art sale and reception takes place on June 2nd in Oklahoma City. If you’d like to purchase tickets please visit www.sitstayart.org  I blogged about this awesome event here, but if you need a refresher, here’s what their website has to say:

“Sit Stay Art! is an art exhibition/sale and reception. Local artists have been called to create works using shelter pets as their inspiration, and the works submitted will be on display and for sale at the event. Adoptable shelter pets will be present to meet attendees in person, and attendees are invited to bring their own pets as well. Attendees of the event will have the opportunity to purchase artwork featuring the sheltered pets, to adopt the sheltered pets, or both!”   

Joe’s inspiration was Strawberry, the cat. You can read her bio here: http://petsandpeople.com/browse/showpet.php?PID=13486

Here’s is 3-D metal art piece:

My first inspiration was Cheeto, the cat. You can read her bio here: http://petsandpeople.com/browse/showpet.php?PID=13952

Here’s my acyrlic on canvas piece:

My second inspiration was Mar, the cat. You can read her bio here: http://petsandpeople.com/browse/showpet.php?PID=12808

Here’s my acrylic on canvas piece:

Can’t wait to see how the art show turns out!

Fluff.

Fuzz.

Im writing this from my phone, hours after you’ve gone to bed. I’m snuggled in one of your guest house bunks. Joe is snoring in the bunk above mine. I’m remembering last Mother’s Day. The one where we went to the amusement park and I cried my heart out over everything overwhelming in my life and you made it all better the way only you can. Then we rode round and round on the carousel and the world made sense again. You’re always doing that, you know?

Every year I think about the commercialized ways to tell you I love you and I catch myself because I know you. That stuff is sweet but it doesn’t always hold its value. Earlier today we talked about the ways people manipulate or twist relationships by making the other person operate within certain expectations. Mothers Day seems like it would come with a lot of expectations, doesn’t it?

I thanked you today for how you look at my heart and not the gift in my hand. You don’t make any of us kids fit into a mold. You know how to receive love no matter how tattered, no matter what shape, no matter the words used. You get it. You just know.

I’ve said “our family isn’t normal” so many times this weekend. Our family isn’t normal because we have a weird sense of humor. Our family isn’t normal because we share real feelings and bring things out in the open and deal with them. Our family isn’t normal because instead of declaring the day off from mothering I watched you sit down and sort through some tough stuff with one of your sons today (much like you did for me last year.) Our family isn’t normal because you have never stayed in the lines and you love us wherever our life path takes us. I think there are a lot of families that miss out on that. I think there are a lot of people being manipulated or judged by those they need love from the most.

So, thank you for never holding expectations over my head. Thank you for making gut-wrenching honesty feel so natural (because it really is).

I love you like Cactus Jack loves his blankie by the fireplace.

I love you like Josie loves to whoop on her monkey.

I love you like Pecos Bill loves to give lizard kisses.

I love you like only I can. With these words on my blog. With the conversations (and comfortable silences) we will have tomorrow in those brown leather recliners. With my whole heart.

-Meecy-

A text conversation with Joe from a couple months ago. (I’m the blue)

I’m surprised he still shared his ice cream with me.

P.s. I just thought the second auto-correct sounded German, but apparently it’s an actual city in Germany! haha

I feel like my living room window is a two way mirror and I’m about to be interrogated.

Where was I on the morning of March 26th? On my porch, watering my plants. That’s all I know.

I just thought I’d show some pictures of what our living room ACTUALLY looks like with our etsy shop in full swing lately.

Work tables, tools, materials, a basket for each order, cats climbing on things, unmade med, etc.

Having purposeless mess bothers me, but this is a thing of beauty. 

This is organized chaos.

This is home.

One  month ago:

A couple days ago:

I’m so proud!

I took this on a Sunday morning. I was running in circles getting ready and as I passed through the living room I saw Joe pulling out his guitar. Khloe was helping.