follow up::

For the past few weeks I've had this nagging in the back of my head-- you need to blog, just sit down and do it!! I kept putting it off and putting it off until finally I had to ask myself-- why didn't I want to do it? A few more days crept by until finally a light bulb popped on; maybe if you give your space a facelift that will erase the urge to drag ones feet. The next thing I had to tackle was what exactly should go there?

^ Something Autumn related?
^ Just some words?
^ An illustration? {btw I'm completely in love with illustrations right now}

 I wasn't exactly sure, until I hoped on board my latest train of thought that was pulling out of the station, so to speak. It went a little something like this; I love autumn, autumn makes me think of cold weather and cold weather makes me think of Christmas and instead of listening to holiday music in September and October I listen to classical music. Which brought me of my love of Tchaikovsky and his ballets where I finally ended up at Degas. Oh how I love Degas. His dancers are some of my all time favorite pieces of art. When we went to The Met {# 7 on my favorite place of all time list} one cold rainy February afternoon I stood in front of several of Edgar's pieces for... for what I'm sure Royal thought was to long. It couldn't be helped though, they are so beautiful. And so now his dancers are at rehearsals on my blog perfecting the art of grace and beauty.


Now where was I, oh yes--- lets keep the follow up from my last post brief shall we??

I woke up that next morning and mustered the courage to make the call and to my amazing surprise/relief they were able to fit me that morning. I dropped off Margot and Richie around the corner at my girlfriends house(bless her) and took off for the doctors. After a thorough exam there were no warning flags or red lights of any kind, but because of my family history she wanted me to schedule a sonogram "just to be sure" for the following week. My initial appointment with her was enough however to get me through the weekend without multiple panic attacks ensuing.

That following Wednesday I drove downtown and was told by a very nice woman after my exam that there were absolutely no nodules, cysts, lumps, or irregularities of any kind.  It was defiantly a huge relief to have the ease and calm I felt throughout the weekend confirmed.

So long story short:: I quote the great Judy Garland:: "Happy days are here to stay."

{via}

And now that I've shook off the old and established the new I'm excited to dive into the blogosphere.

xO- Etheline

First Day of Preschool

Welcome friends:) We had a very special day here at the Tenenbaum home yesterday.

That's right. Yesterday was the first day of preschool for Richie. A group of us moms from church decided to put together a preschool co-op. We do it twice a week for a few hours. I see excellent things in the making!! I was the test runner yesterday. It was so good for me on many different levels, especially since I'm starting kindergarten with Chaz in a little under 3 weeks. Let me just say thank heavens for apple timers. It was my saving grace.

Here is a little peak into our homeschool/preschool loft area. I feel so blessed to have such a space. I feel like some great learning is going to be done in this room, and not just by Chaz and Richie.
 

Isn't that the cutest chalkboard? $1 at a local thrift store. In other news-- I'm not overly happy with this map. Maybe if the nautical stars were actually on it I'd like it a little bit more. You see there are certain things in life that I'm totally type A about. Good wall art/maps is one of them. This, however, will most definitely do for now.

And without further ado, here is our little preschool group. They are all so adorable and eager to learn. Everything they do is the most important thing of all time. They use there little hands to explore and create things us moms have and, let's be honest, haven't heard of. What more could one ask for? Tomorrow we will be focusing on learning about apples. I have a whole Johnny Appleseed thing planned. I'm utterly excited!! Painting smocks will be used:)

Has your summer started winding gown yet? Have your kiddo's started school? I love seeing all of the 1st day of school photo's popping up all over facebook. Ours won't be up until September 4th as I am a Northerner and am strongly against starting school before Labor day. I'm just sayin' ...lol

Listening to: Emery- From crib to coffin

xO-Etheline

A fresh start...in the middle

If you know me even the tiniest of bits you will know that I prefer the cooler weather. As you can imagine August in Georgia...not my favorite thing to experience. So when we woke up this morning and I was on the back deck looking for Richie's shoe for church {don't ask...lol} I was shocked when the words, "Whoa it's cold out," left my mouth totally on their own. Royal raced outside to see if I was pulling his leg. Low and behold I wasn't. Thermometer read 63 degrees.

{insert angelic choir here}

We immediately shut off the air condition and have had windows and porch doors open along with our attic fan which has sent the loveliest of breezes through our home. Even with the degrees rising as the day has gone on the humidity that ruins our summer days has disappeared. It really is the only explanation.  I am in no way complaining. It's spectacular. 

After church we came home and I was feeling a little annoyed at how messy my house was. Not tornado style, but there was a few things out of place in each room which is just enough to make you wanna scream. Know what I mean? Well I set to it and started straightening and to my surprise with the help of my children playing on the deck and Pandora I knocked the clutter out quickly.  

{Please excuse the horrible dead tree. I'm not sure what is going on with it}

With the breeze swirling through our house I sat down at my table for what feels like for the first {real} time on our new home.  Like I'm finally settled. It's an odd feeling really, but the memory of it's familiarity is welcomed. 

I hope now to have the blog up and running a little bit more regularly now. I hope you will stop by and comment. I love comments and new friends. Old ones too; tremendously:)

xO-Etheline

Stay tuned for more photogs of the house:)

Full Circle

Happy August 1st Friends!!

I think it's really neat that you can find amazing prints like this online archived on the Conde Nast website. Honestly; is there anything more fitting to welcome August than an Olympic centered cover of The New Yorker....from 1960!?!?

Sidenote:: I know it was only 12 years ago, but I really miss the 20th century.

Now- If you are anything like me you eyeballs have been glued to the telly while you are holding your breath and waiting for Michael Phelps to become the most decorated Olympian of {ALL} time.

{via}

It's odd that all around me {I have a brother going into 8th grade} summer is "winding down" and kids are getting ready to go back to school this Monday. MAJOR yuck!! I on the other hand am still enjoying summer and planning my lessons for school that doesn't start for another 5 weeks. This is what I love to refer to as a perk of homeshooling:)

In other wonderful news we are moving into our new place tomorrow!!

Let me say that again...WE ARE MOVING INTO OUR NEW PLACE TOMORROW!!

I am really excited to finally sit down and put my fingers to work as I unravel the story that has been in the making for the last two months. From South America to the USA it's going to be a fun story you won't want to miss. Maybe when all is said and done you will understand why my friends have started playing "Where in the world is Etheline" {insert Carman Sandiego music here}

Good night friends<3 Sound off in the comments below and share with me your favorite even to watch during the Olympics thus far.

xO- Etheline

a little bit of me

We had the Sister Missionaries over for dinner last night. It was loads of fun. I whipped up a pot of taco soup which was delicious, yet probably a silly idea since it was 88 degrees outside. After some healthy conversation that was centered around the east coast being far superior to the west coast, we ate, and then the sisters shared this video with us. You can find visit Mormon.org to hear about other people stories and a very easy to understand breakdown of what we as Mormons believe. You can even request a Book of Mormon or chat online with a missionary with any question you may have. 



This video really hit home with me. Forgiveness is something that has been on my mind as of late. I've always grasped the concept that when we sin we have the power to ask for God to forgive us. And I know it is my job to forgive others when I am wronged, no matter what the circumstance, no matter how hard. What I seem to always forget, is to forgive myself. I don't always feel that I have made up for the wrong that I've done. It is so easy to be so hard on ones self. One of the steps of repentance is to make amends, sometimes that means with yourself. A few weeks ago I had a marvelous experience that allowed me to realize this, and that in order to put the past behind me and move on I need to forgive myself. This will allow me {and you} to be healed fully as the repentance process is near completion.

It is a wonderful that God has given us. We have had the power to choose, as well as the power to plead for his forgiveness when we falter. I hope that each of us can find it in out hearts to allow the principle of forgiveness to work in our lives.

xO-Etheline.

Practical Applications

There are lots of philosophical question I pose to myself at any given time. For sanity's sake {mine and yours} I'll limit it to blogging right now. Why do we do it? What do we obtain from it? Why do I sit at my laptop for a insane amounts of time reading about the on goings of a complete strangers life? {What? I don't do do that!} I believe its a compilation of things that range from yearning for acceptance, to being able to have an outlet that doesn't include a gym, and a heaping amount of wanted inspiration. I believe that finding the balance in life to be one of the best things we can strive for; be it spiritual, physical, or emotional. There are millions of blogs out there that provide ample amount of recipes, how-tos, and laughs. I hope that you take away what you need from mine as well as others to make your life better- more full-- more eclectic.

xo- Cat