over the weekend: a photo essay

Our Thanksgiving was spent down south enjoying the warmer weather. We were only gone a few days, but it was a welcome diversion.


the trip down was quick and painless. The kids slept most of the way.




sleeping arrangements






adam entertained Estee while we cooked.


dinner


I actually went shopping on black friday. Yes, I woke up at 4:30 and got myself to Target in hopes of getting one of those Zhu Zhu pets and a 1TB hard drive. Sadly, I didn't get anything I wanted. It was sort of a waste, but I must say it was quite the experience. I don't think in all my life I have ever seen a line so big. Even my sister, who shops black Friday every year said she had never seen it so packed. It was crazy. When I got in the store I lost my head. I felt like a chicken with my head cut off. Mass people were scurrying about grabbing things that I couldn't remember what I was there for in the first place. It was madness...not to mention the line to pay was hours long. Don't think I will ever be doing that again.


my dad saw this hat while visiting my sister over the summer. He joked about buying it, but when he left empty handed my sister went back later and bought it for him. We all had a good laugh, but I think he was serious about wearing it out.




it rained while we drove home and lucky for us it had it's perks.

grateFUL

i am grateful for my little ones and the lessons i learn from them everyday that remind me how beautiful life is.

i am grateful for adam. for his patience and love. for being willing to drop what he's doing to help calm my troubling heart. The other day he did just that and all it took was really just being with him that made all the frustration go away.

i am grateful for the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His gospel that without i would be a lost soul in this world. what i believe helps me get up in the morning and gives everything i do meaning.

i am grateful for friends who will stay up with me for all hours of the night talking about important things. who make an effort to understand who I am and cares without judgment.

i am grateful for forgiveness.

i am grateful that i have free agency and the power to choose.

i am grateful for the opportunity i have to be a stay at home mom.

i am grateful for good health and a strong body.

i am grateful for humor.

i am grateful for good food that has the ability to bring families together.

i am grateful for my belief in an eternal family.

i am grateful to be an American citizen.

i am grateful for the change of seasons.

i am grateful for my desire to create.

i am grateful for technology that helps me stay connected.

i am grateful for light and shadows.

i am grateful for the soothing power of chocolate.

i am grateful for books.

i am grateful.

she wrote

School days
[found this list the other day. love that she took the time to write it down. I have no idea why she did it, but I hope that means she's into documenting her life. FYI I left the integrity of her spelling.]

*wack up
*get brekfist
*take a shower if we need to
*get dressed
*shoes on
*mom does are hair
*get are backpacks on
*wach a show [never knew this was part of the routine]
*say a prayer



*read the skrepshures [scriptures]
*then we go up the hill and I go to school
*then after a few hours school is over



from tess
[yes this is how she signed off]

change

The day (a couple of weeks ago) I wrote on facebook that I needed change was the very day we got the call from the Stake President that he wanted to see Adam and I that night...

Change was coming.

That night Adam was asked to accept a calling as the 1st counselor in the bishopric for our ward (an LDS bishop is over the welfare of the individuals in the ward boundary and the counselor is just that, there to help and counsel. for those of you who don't know being a part of a bishopric is a very time intensive calling of service). I had hoped for a long time that I wouldn't have to share him knowing full well that surely the time would come when I would.



Just because you know something is right doesn't mean it comes easy. I cried a lot those first few days. I admit to feeling very selfish about what this would do to our family life. The weight of no more Sunday afternoons lying in bed talking or sitting in church leaning over and putting my head on his shoulder or watching him make cookies with the girls broke me down. I didn't want to give those things up. I am ashamed of these emotions and am not proud of myself for thinking only of me when I know this calling will push and stretch him as well and that he will need my support...I do fully support him.



He said to me one night while we were talking about changes that might take place, I am so glad I took the time when I had the chance to spend it with the girls making cookies and just being with them on Sundays." I'm so grateful for all the Sundays we've had together and that he's such an active father in their life because I do feel like my girls will have to lean on those memories at times. I am forever grateful for Adam's example to not think of himself, but to give and do. I know there's not one thing he wouldn't do for me or his family and I know he will approach his new responsibility the same way.

As I sat listening to the beautiful blessing that was given to him today I was at peace. I know it will be a blessing for our family. Life is changing...all is well.

the hunt

I can't believe it's been days since I've updated my blog and yet it seems just like yesterday that I sat down to post. My days are melting into each other, especially now with the holidays upon us. I hadn't really thought about the season at all until a couple of days ago. My mom called with our gift exchange list and my mind has been swarming ever since with Holiday gift ideas (sorry to say I can't share at this time...too many family readers).

It was then that I realized I should start shopping for my own children and then that I realized the one thing Megan wants is the one thing I can't find. Have you ever heard of Zhu Zhu pets? I hadn't until Tuesday and apparently they're all the rage and can't be found anywhere. They're listed at Walmart for only $8, but people are selling them for $50 a piece online. Crazy! What has the world come to when we're trying to make money off desperate families who are just trying to make Christmas magical for their child (no judgments, I'm just saying). Although it's kind of a pain to have to search for this toy, I admit to feeling this excitement about trying to find it and racing to be the first one in line. I remember last year thinking, I wish we wanted a Wii. I felt like I was missing something not trying to locate one for my family. I guess the hunt for the perfect gift just seems part of the Holidays.

So we'll see in a few weeks if I still feel the same way or if I'm cursing these Zhu Zhu pets. I just told a lady today at Target not to panic that she had 7 weeks to look for them...I hope I don't find myself in a panic come Christmas.

Have you started shopping for Christmas yet?
Are you looking for the hot item this year?

our weekend had a lot of this...

i've been keeping a secret...

from Bella.

It's not necessarily hard for me to keep a secret, but for some reason this one was difficult. Tuesday morning I got an email stating that Bella had won the reflections contest for Literature in her age group.

I got teary. I know I'm a baby about these things, but I was so excited for her to be recognized. Plus, it's amazing that a girl with her writing skills came from my gene pool. Anyway, we were suppose to keep it confidential so they would be surprised at the assembly when they presented it to her today.


[modest bella]



It was cute to see her jumped up and walk down the red carpet (they had laid out a red carpet for the winners...so cute). I wish I could have seen her face to see how surprised she was...or not surprised. Afterward when I saw her she said, "I knew I would win, I mean I thought...maybe, but I didn't know."



Congratulations Bella! I hope this will always encourage you to try and keep on writing. luv you!

my motely crue + winner

- we're working on putting our stuff where it goes around here. I thought pretending to move this summer had changed their habits, but I think it was just me who was trained to constantly remind them to pick up after themselves or else we've totally forgotten. Back to the drawing board.

- even though they are not so good at putting their stuff away they are really great about helping me around the house when I ask. I guess that's the key...when I ask. They vaccum, do the dishes, put away their own clothes (megan always complains about this), helps with the folding, & cleans bathrooms.

- we're trying to find a good balance after school with homework and relaxation time. Tuesdays and Thursdays are our busy days where we're just making it home to get dinner on the table, but on the other days we come home and veg in front of the TV for a bit. It seems like my days are constantly moving from one thing to the next so I enjoy having that bit of down time with them and not feeling guilty about taking it. Plus it make getting homework done so much easier when they've had a moment or two.

- i am constantly amazed at the food choices my girls make. Yes, they like candy but for whatever reason they never eat their Halloween candy. There is still 3 big bags of candy hanging around our house, which like I said yesterday is hard on me. Megan even has hers in her room, which I thought would make a huge difference, but she's only eaten a few pieces. It's crazy.

- they are in a huge scooby-doo phase right now.

- they're becoming more and more independent. Each morning they get themselves up and get ready by themselves, which includes a shower, eating, dressed, & brushed teeth. Today they were up making lunches because they didn't want what was on the menu. They didn't even ask for help...times are changing.

- night times have changed a bit for us as well. Bella and Tess read every night in Bella's bed for at least a half hour if not more. When I go to see them they merely give me a kiss goodnight and send me on my way. I'm trying to think now, if they actually take their eyes off the book when they kiss me goodnight. I guess I need to get in there before the reading starts. At least Megan welcomes me in.

- I know I've said this before, and recently too, but I love where we're at right now. I would love to freeze time for just a bit...just to keep them here a while longer. I'm not so sure I will ever be ready for the heavier teenage years (that's only 3 years off people).

****************************************************************************************

Congratulations Elizabeth. You are the winner of the merry&bright tags. Send me your info and I'll get them sent out to you.

all is calm + nov giveaway

At the moment I'm sipping hot cocoa enjoying a quiet house. Megan's at a friends and the only sound I can hear in the distance is the laundry drying. I guess I should turn on some music because I don't need laundry to remind me I ought to get back to work. I've got lots on my plate, but I'm taking a moment to just enjoy the day. The last week I had a rough bout with anxiety. With my neighbors passing I had a hard time pulling myself out of the death thoughts. I suppressed what I could and didn't blog the days I couldn't. Poor Adam who had to try and help me through it. I love him for his patience. Today is the first day in 6 days that I feel myself and calm...feels good to be back.

here is some stuff I would have shared...



-I'm running out of hard drive space, quickly, so I've been going through erasing images I know I will never want. I hate to do it, but it's needs to be done. Anyway, while looking through them I came across this image of Bella and her cousin Austin taken way back in July. It made me smile so thought I would share.

-I have a serious chocolate problem. I thought I had the will power to limit myself to just one a day, but I don't...they're so little I think I can have multiple. I told Adam last night to please get rid of the candy in the house, but it's still here. Will I be able to make it a day?


[Oct 12th. Click here to enlarge]

-Tomorrow is the 12th if any of you are playing along with me. I've actually really loved having this collection of photos every month (you can see them all here). I've been looking through them and it's definitely serving it's purpose to tell the story of our life over a years time. I think I will continue the same goal for 2010. Who knows maybe I will change the date.

-Megan loves puzzles so the two of us have been doing tangram puzzles almost everyday for a couples weeks now and it's very addicting. She'll end up moving onto something else and I'll still want to play.


[taken with my iphone. I tried to bring my camera in but when they checked my bag they said, no pro cameras. I was bugged.]

-Saturday night I went to the sytycd tour with Hannah, Lucy, and Lucy's sister Sara. We meet for dinner at training table (cheese fries) but split up for the show. I thought it was good, the second half at least when I could actually see both dancers together. The girl ahead of me sat on her bag (we were on the floor) so I struggled to see around her. The second half, since we were the second to last row, I sat up on my knees because the guy behind me was sitting up too. It work out great even though I felt like I had just worked out after wards....my legs were sore. I now know floor seats are not the best seats in the house.

-I've been listening to the Lost Symbol the last week while I clean and such and am very bored with it. I keep making myself listening to it thinking it will get better, but it's time I just turned it off. I guess I just can't get into the story line...I need to find something new because I enjoy listening to books while I work. Any ideas?

-I've been thinking about Christmas, Christmas cards, and gift ideas...what to do? I still can't believe it's almost time to pull out all the decorations and welcome the snow.



-For November's giveaway I made these "merry&bright" tags. Included is a set of 8 with punched holes and added red gingham ribbon. I think they'd be a great addition atop any gift if I do say so myself. Comment if you want to be in the drawing. I'll announce winner Thursday evening. I will also have some for sell in my etsy store.

Have a great day.

outside looking in

Sunday late afternoon I went outside to take a photo of the last of the leaves clinging to our backyard tree. When I looked toward the house this is what I saw...


[if you look closely you can see me reflected in the glass on the left side]

Adam and the girls finishing up their Sunday cookies.

I sat there for a moment, watching. It's nothing new, I watch them all the time, but for some reason this felt different. I was completely removed from the situation, on the outside looking in, and it gave me a whole new perspective...I love our family life.

As much as I can appreciate (and love) the quiet clean moments, I wanted nothing more than to go inside and enter their loud, messy, and crazy world.

random thoughts

* Yesterday my neighbor passed away. It was coming, she was waiting for a liver, but still a complete shock as she was doing much better. She was also the 2nd grade teacher at our school so it has been really rough on Tess and Bella because they knew her well. I know death is apart of life, but it's such a heart breaking experience I wish no one had to go through it. I hurt so much for those who are left behind to deal with the loss, but I am grateful to know, as is her family, that she's in a better place without pain. Makes me wonder...when someone doesn't believe in God what do they think of death?


*This scene makes me extremely happy.

* A few weekends ago Adam got some guys together and help our neighbors take down two dead trees. Out of the blue that same neighbor called yesterday to invited us over for dinner to say thank you. When we asked if we could bring something he said he was having a chef come to prepare our meal. An unexpected, but appreciated thank you. I'm looking forward to getting to know them better.

* I've decided that one of the best things about my calling in my ward as Primary Secretary is I get to design all the invites and flyers...basically anything that involves paper I get to do. I'm having the best time putting my spin on things and am excited about getting all the new stuff for the new year put together. Here is a party invite I'm working on.


* Isn't it crazy how you can meet someone, be complete strangers, and then after spending a good 7 hours with them you leave as friends? I love spending time with woman that inspire and leave you feeling energized. Thanks Hannah and Jenica for last night.

* Jill was up in my town yesterday and dropped me off a piece of delicious chocolate cake...just because. Thank you Jill for your thoughtfulness. I need to do more "just because".

* Tomorrow I'm going to start and hoping to finish painting my studio. I've never liked the current color and I found one I loved last weekend with Adam and decided it's time. The colors darker than what I would normally choose so I think it will be a refreshing change.

random shots from october

Love finding her in these quiet moments. They are certainly rare around here.


abstract scene of tess playing in the backyard.


Bella just finished Anne of Green Gables the other day and has spent the last two nights watching the movie. She still has about an hour to go.


Megan made this spider hat at school and immediately after getting home she asked me if I would take a picture of her with it. I sat her on my table to get the good light and she volunteered the face. I believe she was posing for the picture.


Megan made me this necklace while I was helping in her classroom (they were having some free time). She insisted on taking a picture. With trepidation I handed my camera over. And yes, I walked out of the school with my necklace on.


A couple weeks ago Adam and I went out just the two of us. We found ourselves at Z-Gallery browsing when I saw this cool magnifying glass. I didn't have my camera, but Adam had his iphone so we snapped some silly shots. I think the other patrons thought we were crazy.


this was right before...


the two of them began to spin. They did it over and over again and I can't figure out how their little bodies don't get sick. This kind of fun is no longer a possibility for me.

anatomy of fhe

FHE, for those of you who don't know, stands for Family Home Evening or as Megan use to say "Hamily Fome Nevening". It's a night we set aside to spend as a family. We play games, have treats, and talk about what's important to us. This night we happened to be talking about "The Family: A Proclamation to the World".















I adore these photos. It's just so them and exactly the way it goes every week. We start off strong and although our lessons are only a couple minutes, by the end we're left with Bella still engaged in the conversation while Tess and Megan are mentally gone. Of course they're all engaged once the treats are introduced to the night. Definitely good times.