Poinsettias

A Thanksgiving tradition










Christmas is next week!!! I am not prepared.

I was trying to make the bed

but she wanted to play

Deck The Halls {our Christmas}

Nothing like photographing your house to reveal every single flaw. But we're focusing on the lovely, right? I've always got plans and our place is a work in progress.



Ok. Let's Be Merry!


I love my sequined stocking.





glitter snowflake garland from Joann's







This is my favorite addition to the decor. I've wanted one of these silver trees forever. It wasn't a good deal (I like a bargain), but since I've wanted one for years I took the plunge. No regrets. I love how it looks in this room.


I like the "before" much better of L's tinsel tree. But I thought I needed to see it decorated to be sure. Yep, I'm definitely a minimalist. I don't think it needs anything.







I also love my new toy bin from Joann's (black and white floral bin).







Unfortunately, you can't really see my sweet paper stars hanging in the window because of the exposure. But they're sweet. :)

Also notice I rearranged the kitchen table. It used to be parallel to the window, but now it's perpendicular. Not really drastic in photos, but drastic in day to day living. I feel like it opens up the space so much more. It was the best idea. And bringing up the bench too. L doesn't really use her high chair that much anymore. It's all about the bench. Because she thinks she's super adult now.








This white tree was a bargain. I got it for $15 two years ago. This is the first year I've put it up though. And I'm glad I did because I was going to get rid of it. It's so perfect for our room. I'll probably decorate this one next year, but for now I'm just loving it with plain white lights. It looks completely awesome at night. (Yes, I know I need a tree skirt)

Thanksgiving day

their tops courtesy of Oliver and S (yes, I'm obsessed).
L's top
S's top
I'll be making more. Many, many more.









Think our day was pure perfection? Not so much. I was about to blow a gasket with the little one. L was not having it. NO pictures. I just wanted a decent image of her in her top. I hope the neighbors did not witness the scene on the front potch. The meal was great though. And we were all completely lazy. Which is why only the little girls got photographed. One year I'll do a more thorough job. I still want a turkey shot....

Found

our favorite drive is full of visual loveliness and I love how it changes every season. Even right now....everything is dead and I still think it's pretty.





P.S. these might be my new favorite photos. I think I need to enlarge them and hang them in the house.

Is it the Economy?

Just wondering if people aren't sending Christmas cards this year. Christmas is ten days away and I've only gotten two. So sad. It's one of my favorite things.

The Good Report

1. Sitting long enough to calm down and remember how sweet it is to snuggle a sleeping baby.
2. Afternoon snack: orange juice slushies made from freshly fallen snow.
3. Took some spontaneous and totally adorable pics of L.
4. Free Christmas music on iTunes. Get it HERE
5. My sister and bro-in-law picking up our IKEA Christmas list. Saving us the trip. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
6. Took some of the advice from more experienced moms and had a better week.
7. The hubs worked a few days of regular hours.
8. Helium balloons are still going strong.

The Toy Nazi

Anyone want to share their favorite toys for girls? Something your own kids never get bored with? L needs entertaining in a major way, but I hate buying stuff she won't play with. And our space is limited so I'm not going to buy just to buy and have her play with it for two hours never to be seen again.

Yeah, I'm the toy Nazi.

A look back

Today she is two. And tomorrow we celebrate.






Right now she is loving the dozen balloons I picked up for her at the grocery store. Or "boons" as she calls them. And I'm bummed I ran out of color film. How's a girl supposed to take pics of the pink/orange loveliness in black and white?

Aw, man.







I don't really like to do developmental posts because I think they are super snooze-ville for anyone except the mom and dad. So this one is for our family. Journaling purposes.

She can say the following words:

mommy
daddy
hi
bye bye
pizza
wow
baby
what is this?
I want this.
OK
puppy
poop
plate
cup
eyes
nose
lap
Kaija
Grandma
happy
blankie
hat
please
mine
no
hold me
coat
look
home
ice
uh-oh
cookie
candy
yuck
ow-eee
apple
hand
watch

At least that is what I can think of right now.
Pics of Christmas decor next week. For real this time. :)

Revisit Part III

This was the first set of pics from our favorite drive. It's been snowing like mad the last couple of days and I'm dying to get some wintery scenes on our favorite drive. Hopefully over the weekend.



Ah, you had me at hello....


Utah 2006

Revisit Part II

Idaho 2007

Back in the day.....

...I wanted to be a fashion photographer. I revisited the glory days over the weekend. Care to join me?



{*SIGH*}

The Good Report

1. More nights of sleep. Go, baby, go!
2. L looking to her dad for comfort (this is huge). She even cries when he leaves the house. Not exactly fun for me, but I'm thrilled about the signs of attachment.
3. Quiet nights by the Christmas tree lights.
4. A very good/needed chat with my mom. She rules.
5. L cheering up her grouchy dad after his very long day.
6. Found cheap Christmas card alternate after printing wrong size photo.
7. Someone on the hubs route sent him home with a box full of Smashbox products for me. Yipee!! I'm most excited about this and this.
8. I'm done decorating the house for Christmas. Now. ...relax.
9. Happened upon a $20 knock-off of these. I'm in shoe heaven!
10. The mall playground. Great for our cabin fever.
11. My sister's kids. Great for our cabin fever.





When all my dreams come true I'm moving to Sweden. Why? Because these are my people. Just take a lookie at this Swede. Note to self: next house....all white with pops of color everywhere. MMMMhmmmm. and those white floors. True love.

Feeling feisty/frustrated

This is cracking me up today. Especially because I own the original version.

What makes me want to throw stuff this morning?
1. L repeating "I want Kaija" 9 million times.
2. Not being able to do whatever I want. whenever I want.
3. Garage door still opening for no reason.
4. Messy house.
5. Bills.
6. Christmas pressure.
7. Unfinished projects lurking.
8. How about everything.
9. More experienced moms knowing exactly what my baby needs when I can't figure it out. Or too tired to figure it out. (Ok, that's partly a good thing, but also annoying)
10. My jeans are really really tight.

Actually throwing stuff. Not lovely.




Now Read this . My sister forwarded it to me and I laughed out loud. Join me in a collective "Screw you, Martha" shout. (I'd like to add Oprah in there too. Because she just makes me feel totally pathetic for not knowing my purpose, living my dreams, blah, blah, blah).

Grrrrr!







{next week: something a little bit more upbeat. A few photos from Thanksgiving and the house decorated for Christmas.}

Happy Birthday, Nicky

Today she turns 30



Wish we could have been there for the weekend festivities.




















***photos taken Feb 2007. still some of my favorites.

The Good Report

1. More marathon nights of sleep from baby.
2. Finished two tops for L.
3. Eggs from my sister.
4. L did not cry when dropped off at nursery last week.
5. First play date started off very rough, but ended with spontaneous hugging.
6. Scheduled that play date....which was on my need to do list for a very long time.
7. Baby M smiles a lot more.
8. Stocked up on basics at Gap and Old Navy thanks to "friends and family" discount.
9. The hubs stepping up when I've had enough.
10. The girls did much better than expected during all day canning session. Go girls!
11. I saw nie at the mall. But I was too embarrassed to tell her how great I think she is.
12. Inherited more baby clothes from a neighbor.
13. Freshly colored hair.
14. Got L's birthday presents.



Want to test your food maturity? Make this recipe and don't leave out the beets. Then you can be mature too. It's a major YUM!
Note: I took some shortcuts using canned black beans & beets and didn't cook a thing (garlic). Still dee-lish.

Thanks Melissa!

Fashion advice

I've always thought my bedroom mirror is more flattering than reality. I'll stick with it.


Thanks, Viv.

Final Count...

Yesterday ended with 44 Pints of refried beans. I feel good. But I hope I never see refried beans for another year. Unless of course I'm enjoying them on a cheesy burrito.

Want to find your canning groove? Here's my source. Page 64. ( And add a jalepeno in each jar).

All in a day....

I love to be productive. It feels so great. Especially after a long hiatus of not being productive. Pregnancy does a number on me and one of the reasons I hate it so much is because it slows me down. Waaaaaay down. I don't do anything but sleep and eat. No fun. No work. Just the bare minimum from me. But I feel like I'm back to myself and I'm rockin' the house. Today started with.....

5AM feeding.
Back to sleep until hubby wakes for work at 7AM
Another feeding
Make bed
Change girls into clean clothes
Breakfast for Lauren
Start prep for canning refried beans
Then I eat breakfast
Beans are cooking.
Another feeding
And now I'm cruising my favorite blogs. I've got twenty minutes to fill my mind with visual loveliness. I'm on it. Then another batch of refried beans.
Next up....lunch. I'm hungry. And it's only 11AM

AM I SUPER GIRL OR WHAT!

M hangs out

Baby M @ 7 weeks

She is really starting to change. Spending way more time alert and awake. And looking a lot like her sister did as a newborn.

Cookie Monster

The Good Report

1. Did you see the David Stark holiday collection? I'm drooling. I really want this
2. a DIY just in time for the holidays.
3. Playdate with the neighbor who has a daughter same age as L
4. Last night M slept from 10:00 until 6:30. Another marathon sleep and I have hope in the world. :)