everydayness | late january

Since the new year I've continued taking photos everyday -- after so many years of doing it it's no longer a goal, but a habit. This year though, I'm not just reaching for my canon when I see something I want to capture, I grab my iphone too. Suddenly my digital files are even more instant and I have a quicker easier way to share them so sitting in front of my computer screen editing just hasn't felt necessary, let alone appealing -- hence my lack of posts.

Today though, I finally made myself sit down and go through the rest of January -- February will have to wait for another day (it was just too much to do all at once).

here are a few that caught my attention.


I made something! The girls needed new towels and thanks to their nana they had to have a hood. It was a quick and easy two stitches. One to sew up the side of the hand towel and the second to sew the hand towel to the bath towel.


a game or two is almost always pulled out on sunday evenings.


grateful to see there were no screens involved :)


enjoying any bit of snow we can get.


she loves braiding my hair, particularly at night, right before bed.


with the warmer weather this winter I've been taking a lot more walks -- this time I was downtown.


lately I see more and more of her animals joining her for breakfast.

loving right now

Mormon Channel
I downloaded this app on my phone when it first came out and used it to listen to conference talks and even the Ensign. It wasn't until a few months ago that I started listening to the actually radio and discovered all the fabulous programs they had available. I listen to it everyday now--when I'm getting ready, cleaning the house, driving, working on photos, etc. I have come to love the spontaneous messages that come up as so many of them are ones I need to hear. It is available at the apple store free and I know it's available for other devices as well. Check it out.

apple TV
Recently Adam and I both discovered we were going to give the other Apple TV for Christmas (long story). After laughing about how funny that would have been to exchange the same gift (and him telling me he wouldn't have wanted it--nice), I walked into my closet, pulled it out of it's hiding place, and started setting it up. Since the cat was out of the bag I figured apple TV, as a gift, was off the table so why not enjoy it now--and enjoy I am. Last night I sat on the couch while the girls danced to music (controlled through my iphone) and watched my photos randomly stream from my flickr account. We were so caught up in the memory of each one saying, remember when..., I couldn't believe more than an hour had gone by. I must add, it sure didn't take long for Adam to appreciate the awesomeness that apple TV is. Once I got him acquainted with everything he could do with it he was, shall I say, hooked. Turns out, not such a bad gift after all.


the lights
I think it's been well established, for better or worse, that I lack patience so it should be no surprise that yesterday we succumbed and started decorating the house. I know it's a little early, ok quite early, but we were all in agreement--it had to be done. What a delight it was to come from church with the lights and glow of the holiday season. I know some think it takes away from Thanksgiving, but I think it's the perfect accompaniment to both holidays. We're loving it.

this talk | education for real life by President Eyring
"Your life is carefully watched over, as was mine. The Lord knows both what He will need you to do and what you will need to know. He is kind and He is all-knowing. So you can with confidence expect that He has prepared opportunities for you to learn in preparation for the service you will give. You will not recognize those opportunities perfectly, as I did not. But when you put the spiritual things first in your life, you will be blessed to feel directed toward certain learning, and you will be motivated to work harder. You will recognize later that your power to serve was increased, and you will be grateful.


the snow
The snow not only helps create the holiday mood, but it allows the kids to get out of the house and stay active. I never thought of it like this until yesterday, but my girls won't go outside in the cold unless there is something pushing them to, and snow is the perfect excuse. They spent a good portion of the afternoon sledding down the hill across from our home and came in exhausted and ready for a low key evening.

holiday messages
I bought a bag of dove dark chocolates for our advent calendar and am ashamed to say the bag is almost gone. I've enjoyed the messages on the inside of the packaging as much as the chocolate themselves. Guess I need to go buy a new bag. I think I'll wait till next week so there isn't near the temptation.

the fire
Our fall wasn't as cold as it has been in the past so we haven't had a lot of fires up to this point. Tonight after much convincing from the girls, we enjoyed the warmth and mood that only a fire can provide. It definitely has a way of drawing everyone together and we spent the evening hanging out in one anothers company--well that is until I had to leave.

12of12 | June

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01. Sundays, the only day of the week I tend to sleep in, I love taking my time waking up. This is my view in the morning.
02. As a mother of three girls you need to leave extra time for hair.
03. walking to church
04. Megan, as usual, running ahead.
05. flowers along the way
06. Bella and Tess enjoying a quiet afternoon with a book.
07. A giant symphony bar is almost always apart of my Sunday afternoons.
08. Megan doing her part of dinner clean up.
09. Writing in my journal
10. Went for a walk in the evening, we did a lot of walks today, and found more flowers. It took us a long time to get there, but the weather lately has been perfect.
11. Adam finally made it home after a weekend of camping with friends. :)
12. The evening sunset

It was a delightful day together with my girls and grateful to be able to spend the evening with Adam as well. I hope it was an equally enjoyable day for all of you.

the art of the crepe

Crepes are quickly becoming a Sunday night tradition in our home. Not only do I need to stock up on tortilla chips for possible nachos or popcorn for a salty snack while watching AFV, which happens frequently on Sunday evenings, but now I need to make sure we have nutella, whip cream, and bananas on hand. I don't even have to ask anymore if crepes should be made--it is a given--and no one knows how to make or eat a crepe quite like Megan.


First, she makes the perfect crepe. For a 6 year old I'm quite impressed by the remarkable skill she has for putting together a pleasing looking crepe. Doesn't it look professional?


Second, go straight for the whip cream on top and eat in one bite.


Third, now that the crepe is fully manageable, ditch the fork, pick it up and eat like a sandwich--must use two hands so as not to loose all the delicious goodness inside.


Fourth, eat and enjoy.

I shouldn't do post about food, now all I want is to go make another.
Will you make crepes this week?

ciao.

P.S. I just wanted to thank all of you who took the time to leave a comment or email me regarding my previous post. Your support and encouragement is greatly appreciated. I know in the grand scheme of things this isn't a big thing, she will get the help she needs and on the right path, but in our little world it means a lot. So thank you. thank you very much. xo

see good days

...love life, and see good days...

1Peter 3:10

quiet sunday

We came home in this last night, the winter storm we had been waiting for for weeks finally arrived. Winter took it's time getting here this year and can't say I'm let down by it. With an excellent fall behind me and Christmas on the way it feels like the perfect time, a quiet Sunday, to wake up to 10 inches of snow. And what a quiet Sunday it has been...I'm not sure whether or not it was the snow that caused church to be canceled, but apparently the meeting house power wasn't working...no power, no lights, no heat so they canceled.

So we all came home, got in our pjs again, and this is what we've been doing...some good old togetherness.


Adam read a short story to the girls. He's so great about sharing what he loves with them and I love to see, not only them together, but the girls soaking in all the goodness he shares with them.


With snow currently coming down with abandon, a fire going, and a quiet Sunday ahead of us we decided why not start decorating, especially since we're going to be gone for Thanksgiving and we usually do it the day after. We had some crazy moments of lights not working, TVs almost falling, & cords ripping (don't ask), but ever since we moved passed the crazy moments we've all been enjoying the warmth of the twinkling of the lights, me especially...it's one of my favorite parts of the holiday. I even put some up in my studio I don't think I'll never take down. There's just something about the lights that add to a home.

I hope it's been an equally fabulous day for you!

xoxo
amy

**so when are you decorating?

12of12 | September

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01. reading scriptures in the morning hours.

02. waking up and finding the girls piled on each other reading the friend.

03. orchids that bring color to our living room.

04. bella getting ready for church.

05. adam and I talking before leaving for church.

06. walking to church

07. our primary

08. flowers seen while walking home.

09. eating lunch/dinner together.

10. taking a much needed nap, for some reason I had a strange headache in my eyes. (photo by adam)

11. pears from our pear tree.

12. megan coloring before bed.

I always enjoy capturing days like Sunday that are so different from the rest of the week. I hope it was a good one for you as well.

weighted days

I've watched a family in my neighborhood in the last four years go through some of life's biggest changes. Once they were a young family of five and one by one the boys have grown, gone on missions, come home and gotten married, and created a home for their new families. I've watched the parents go from a house full of teenage boys to an empty nest.

I can so easily, frighteningly so, see my future as I watch them transition from one life into the next. Adam and I, the girls, we are on this path and there is no turning back. We will one day get to this place and I'm grateful that I won't have to get there anytime before I am ready...I hope.

Watching them though, it does make me so queenly aware of the passing of time. In the book Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert talks about the Balinese concept of "rubber time". She says, "One day to [a Balinese] isn't necessarily composed of twenty-four hours; sometimes it's longer, sometimes it's shorter, depending on the spiritual and emotional nature of that day." And this is my favorite part, "sometimes you count the days, sometimes you weigh them."

When I read it, it made all kinds of sense to me. Yes, of course. Time shouldn't be measured in hours, weeks, and years. Time should be measured by moments and experiences.



This evening, remembering what it was like to be smashed onto the couch, sweating under the blanket, getting battered by Megan's flailing legs, the way Tess and Megan called for Bella because they didn't want to read the book without her, hearing the laughter from my three girls as Adam read and entertained them the way he does has stay with me long after the moment has passed. Yes this moment was quick, but it was full of weight and the emotion allows it to linger on, and in that sense, it appears to move through time slower.

I love where we're at right now...every piece, every part. If I could reach out and stop time, just for a bit I would, but I can't, so I go with what I know...I can never get enough of these moments. They sustain me and keep me whole, and I didn't understand til now it's because these experiences are full of weight and meaning. There bigger spots on our time line and are what tie the other pieces of our life together to make our complete story. I believe it's that completeness that will help me be ready when the transitions come because I'll know I was there, I was present, and I have the memories to remind me and help keep me moving forward.

xxox,
amy

everyday randoms

I've mentioned before that Adam's been spending a lot more of his time sketching. I do love to see him drawing again, but really love that it's encouraging the girls to do it as well.


Helped Hannah start boxing up her house last week. Can't tell you house sad I am to see her go.


This is a tame version of what it usually looks like right inside our door. Add a couple for pairs of shoes, food wrappers, and more jackets and we're good.


I love that it's this time again....


and this time. Hopefully it will start feeling like it for more than a day.


My friend was really struggling on Sunday so I snatched up her kids so she could have some alone time to sort things out. I think they liked our version of Sunday cookies.


This is one of my favorite trees in our yard. I think I'm biased because it's right outside my studio window and every time I look up there it is.


Went to the Beehive Bazaar last night. I had fun, but really just enjoyed the company of Jenica and Amy. I seemed to be more interested in the way the vendors presented their creations than the creations themselves. I do respect all the work that goes into pulling something like that off though.

ta ta for now.

monday miscellany

It's so nice that it's finally feeling like spring. I was early for a meeting with the women I'm presenting with so I took advantage of her beautiful blossom covered "popcorn" tree. It was eerie standing under it and hearing a distinct buzz from the many bees.


Cracked me up to see her reading with her alligator visor on. She said she made it to keep the sun out her eyes and it felt sunny inside.


I ran the 5K on Saturday morning. It wasn't something I had planned on doing, but I'm so glad I did. (Thanks Tasha for putting the idea in my head and Amy who ran it with me.) When I got there I figured it would be a glorified exercise with a free t-shirt. I didn't plan to try, but a race is a race and well, I was curious. Quickly, my competitive side kicked in and I went for it. I can see how racing can be very addicting. I'm planning to run a 10k this summer.


from the other night while painting.


Megan had an opera at school and she was a pig. She was really funny and animated. I'm not sure why, but afterward when I tried to take her picture she gave me this face. She put up her fists and looked as if she was ready to fight me. She's gold.


I spent a good portion of my afternoon outside yesterday and couldn't help but watch the lone paraglider floating around in the clouds. I wondered what that must have felt like to be up so high and free...too bad I'm to chicken to find out.

give me your ear...

They were interested in what I was doing all those hours on Sunday evening so I read them my talk...the parts that I could see.

The best part wasn't that they told me they liked it, but that they listened.

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.

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.

typical sunday

Sundays are quickly becoming my favorite day of the week. A typical Sunday for us goes something like this...

After lunch, which is really dinner, Adam and I head to our bed. Traditionally this is when we would talk together until I fell asleep, but I can't do the nap anymore so we just lay and talk. Apparently we've done this for so long that the girls now know to let mom and dad have some alone time; however, there comes a time when they just can't take it any more and inevitably we find them sneaking in to reclaim us.

It usually looks something like this...


[this was one of the first Sundays with his iphone and he was thrilled that the two of us could lay in bed talking with music playing right next to us without having to hook it up to speakers. He will deny it no longer, the iphone has changed his life.]

Our comfy little haven broken up by our girls climbing all over us. It goes on for a while until we can't handle it anymore and then we begin to tickle.




[she doesn't look like she's enjoying herself, but I assure you she is.]

Then everything calms down for a bit. Adam does his thing, the girls do there's, and I do mine. The girls are really passing the time until Adam let's them know it's baking time.



We usually make cookies, but it varies. Last week we made banana bread because we had lots of ripe bananas and today, because we are having a BBQ tomorrow, we made chocolate cake.





and there is of course a lot of taste testing.



Now this is where the normal routine stops and it beomes a little unclear. Some Sundays we sit down to watch a movie together or Americas Funniest Home Videos. Other times, like last Sunday, we picked pears off our tree.



Then because we were outside we made an evening of it. Adam and I hunkered down and talked (round 2) while the girls played with one another. I so enjoy watching them play, especially when they get along, and hearing/seeing where their imagination takes them. I will definitely miss these warm summer nights.





Last Sunday we took a walk and delivered some banana bread to our new neighbors. Walking use to be a big Sunday tradition, but when there got to be too many kids to push in a stroller and too many hills we stopped. I think I'm ready to reintroduce the walk...it was so enjoyable.



The other thing I love about Sundays is Mondays are next and I love Mondays...especially holiday Mondays.

a sunday afternoon

[photo by adam]

Me and them doing our thing and doing it together. I love that this is possible, though I must admit, it didn't last longer than an hour. Megan and Tess eventually got restless, but Bella and I could have gone on all night. It's been a really nice Sunday full of togetherness.