Happy Birthday Jesus & Merry Christmas!

From our house to yours.

Many blessing in the new year!

in case you were wondering...

Outside my window...a chilly night, but I'm thankful for a warm home. Christmas lights on houses, but not ours because we're saving money this year.:)

I am thankful for... the gift of Jesus. Perspective. Faithful friends. God's grace. Provision. 

From the learning rooms...R.E.S.P.E.C.T. We have a 10 year old, so a lot of teaching in this area is needed. 

From the kitchen...Trying a lot of Pinterest recipes out these days. All very yummy so far. Trying not to bake too many Christmas treats since I WILL eat them if they are there.:)

I am wearing...stretchy pants. Hey, it's 11:30pm after all.

I am creating...a couple crafty things from....Pinterest, of course. But they're Christmas presents so I can't tell...shhhhh.

I am going...to a sweet friend's house tomorrow. Lincoln requested a "play date" with her daughter and it gives us moms an excuse to chat and have fun too!

I am reading... or TRYING to read a hundred different books that I haven't finished. Someday... But I AM reading the book of James. Conviction. Repeat with me..."Conviction". 

I am hoping...to have the will power to start exercising regularly. Lose 40 pounds. Be healthy. ...and actually stick to it.  :p

I am hearing...the fridge running. Property Brothers on HGTV. Myself yawning. My fingers typing. 

Around the house...white Christmas lights, Christmas trees, laundry, special secrets, 1 clean bathroom, 1 dirty bathroom, sleeping children, groceries that still need putting away, dust...but what's new. 

One of my favorite things...kisses from my children, bear hugs from my husband, and dark chocolate. Okay, that wasn't just one...but who's counting.

A few plans for the rest of the week... a play date for Lincs and mama. Family coming into town. A going away party. Foster Parent Night Out at our church. The kids last day of school for a few weeks. And The Nutcracker Tea in the "big city" with a friend and our daughters. 


Here is picture thought I am sharing...the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. Tradition. The gorgeous Pacific NW. My beautiful family.:)

Better late than never!

My babies' first day of school...2nd grade and 4th grade.

Time is tickin' away, tick, tick, tickin' away.......

Practice...

Practice makes perfect, right? Well that's what they say anyway. I'm far from perfect...never will be, in fact, but I'm LOVING practicing my photography! This picture was from a family shoot with my sis-in-law (hope she doesn't see this, because this card is for her birthday! Hey, Lani, act surprised.), my nieces, and my mom-in-law. It doesn't look as clear here as it does on my computer, but I was pretty happy with it.

But it wasn't perfect so I guess I'll keep practicing...:)

Picture In Portrait 5x7 folded card

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O Spring, Spring!

...wherefore art thou, Spring?!
Deny Winter...
...and refuse thy rain!!
Or if thou wilt not, I will take back my love,

And I'll no longer be an Oregonian...

The Big Picture (Post) Part 2

(blogger wouldn't load it all in one post.:p)

February...

We got to meet our new nephew! Isn't he a looker?!

The table for our 2nd annual Valentine's Dinner...

Emma turned 7!!!

...and a sweet family friend made these for her. D.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.

She had a traveling party to Build-a-Bear Workshop for some friends...

Who knew that the bathroom would be the location for our best group photo op...

Her buddies putting their heart wishes inside her Princess Pinky...

The gang and their newly adopted critters...

Red Robin for sundaes, of course!

My gorgeous girl is growing up too fast...

Snow day!

There's more, but I thought I'd spare you since by now your retinas are past the point of burning and are now bleeding.

I'll see you in about 3-4 months!!

But I'm hoping for sooner.

The Big Picture (Post)

In all fairness, I did warn you not to get used to me posting 2 months 2 days in a row. (But does it count if it took me 2 days in row to write this one post?) So, let's just recap the last 3 months with pictures (and a few words), shall we?

Get ready for your retinas to burn.

January...

Some alone time at the beach...

Remember this pic? My big camera is being held by my right hand at the top of the heart. Can't see it, can ya?!

"Wow! I see a hot guy!"

"There he is!" Try not to be jealous that he's mine.

What a gorgeous skGuy.

Upward season...

Trip to Nana's with the Sis-in-law and fam!

...and an impromptu photo shoot, with Fancy, my camera...

Nana knows everyone in town so she took us to see her friends at the firehouse.:)

Cool old leather water buckets.

To be continued... cause bloggers dumb.;)

he says, she says

Don't look now but I'm posting 2 days in a row.

On a recent trip where we drove over a mountain range we were in need of "a facility". So we pulled into a snow park where we were greeted by a lovely vault toilet (aka outhouse aka a stinky hole in the ground). I usually avoid these like the plague but when nature's calling and there's 4 foot snow drifts in all the usual hiding spots, what's a family with 3 small (shorter than 4 ft) children to do...

So I pull myself up by my fancy slippers (travel wear), take a quick breath, and escort my darling daughter to the "ladies room". Where she says..."Eew! This bathroom must be really old...like from the 1980's."

Flash forward to last night...

After creating a gourmet meal serving up Little Caesars on paper towels, we were discussing the classic show that I had found on Netflix for the kids to watch - Pippi Longstocking. I was telling them that I used to watch Pippi when I was little girl and loved it. I can tell Will is thinking something by the way he turns his head to the side and glances at the ceiling, then he says... "I didn't think they had TVs back then."

Just when I was thinking that I wasn't young but I wasn't old either, I was just a good in between...apparently I was mistaken.


Yesterday after dropping the olders off at school Lincoln informs me that he wanted to go to his school. I remind my sweet boy that he doesn't go to school yet, but when he, in all seriousness, says that he does and I ask him where, he says... "At the taco place for dogs."

I had no response.

Now don't go thinking this posting 2 days in row thing will become a regular occurence...I'm too old for that...and too busy taking 3 year olds to the taco place for dogs.

Just call me Hallmark

I took this photo of Billy and I on a recent getaway to the beach and thought it was perfect...

So, I made a Valentine's Day card at Shutterfly. (FREE if you enter CARD4U at checkout. You're welcome.)

Since I'm pretty confident the hubs won't see it and I'm certain y'all will keep your lips sealed, I decided to document the fact that I DO still get my semi-creative on every once in a blue moon.

(The inside reads "My heart wouldn't be complete without you. Happy Valentine's Day, my Love." I love a good eye-rolling-oh-brother pun.)

Brocade Red 5x7 folded card

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And it only took me how many months to post again??