Community

Anyone who knows us on a personal level (which I like to think most are clients feel), knows that the Just Trees family is BIG on community. We live out on a dirt road with 4 houses of neighbors and we take part in important milestones and even more important family dinners and chores with one another. Two sets of neighbors even stayed up all night to create Kristina's big girl room for her birthday surprise.

This summer has offered us even more opportunity to get together. Last weekend was my (muffle muffle)th birthday and neighbors and friends turned out in full force! My birthday is the 4th of July. Little K participated in a parade early in the morning that she was sure as all for me. It's so sweet that my little one felt all of Austin was out with balloons and fanfare to celebrate her momma.

Later in the day, we were joined by many to BBQ and enjoy our new "redneck" pool, my birthday gift. Even without the usual Austin fireworks the festivities banged on into the late evening. It feels wonderful to be so supported by our adopted family.

Neighbors are truly an asset to a family. I hope you will be encouraged to get out and meet those who live near you. It's more than a borrowed cup of sugar (or in our case, someone to pick up milk for Little K on their way home). Neighbors form a foundation and keep you in line, making sure your actions match your beliefs.

As a favorite classic movie, The Matchmaker, tells us, "A man can survive without his wallet, but not without his friends."

There are many more gems in this movie, and I encourage you to add it to your Netflix que. Here's one I'd like to dedicate to our office assistant, Katie, for her upcoming 25th birthday,

"The very young are almost as smart as the very old, Cornelius. It's in the middle that you get in all the trouble."

Kristina's Big Girl Room

This past weekend was one of the busiest for the Just Trees family. On Friday night we worked side by side with our neighbors until 4:00 AM to put together a surprise for Kristina. On Saturday morning we unveiled it to her, a brand new big girl bedroom for her birthday! From lunch until dinner we entertained fourteen four year olds and their parents in celebration of Kristina turning four years old!

As much work as it was my favorite part of the weekend was putting together that room. We transformed Kristina’s nursery/storage room into the place of her dreams. She sees it as her “princess fairy” room, but I love it because it’s a good mix of the pink and frills she loves with the green, florals and practical pieces I love. I think it will stand the test of time and she can grow up in this room. We got a lot of inspiration from the site project nursery. I’m so proud of what we came up with, especially on the small budget we decided was appropriate for a four year old’s room. I’m thinking of posting the room to project nursery see how well others like it, too.

Anyone with a daughter or granddaughter may know about the “princess fairy” obsession that takes over little girls when they enter school. How does it happen that two rugged arborists get together and make a baby who insists on wearing twirly skirts and glittery shoes every day? I'm interested in picking up the book “Cinderella Ate My Daughter.” Has anyone read it? I’ve decided to compromise with the pink but to stay hard nosed with her about what makes people special. It’s not about pretty.

Children should be taught to work on their character and their treatment of others. That’s how you can be the best you can be. Sometimes I worry there are still mixed messages sent to young girls about where their focus should lie. Wow, Markus and I have been parents for four years! It doesn’t get any easier, but it gets more and more fun!