Ten on Tuesday

Um.
Hello again strangers :)
Yikes.
Somehow almost an entire month has come and gone again without so much as a peep from me.
We'd better fix that with a little Ten on Tuesday randomness.

1. Last weekend I escaped away to the mountains to attend a photography retreat. It was awesome. I made new friends, learned a lot and came away really inspired. I am so excited to see how my photography will develop in this next year.
I think what I took away the most from the weekend was a realistic look at the business side of things. To figure out exactly what I want from my business- especially in this crazy season of raising four sweet little souls :)

2. Speaking of photography- This year I am really trying to focus on a few personal projects. To develop myself as an artist. One of them is called "Linked 52."
It's a year long project with some lovely photographer friends. Every week we have a new theme that we post on Fridays and then link to one another to see how everyone interpreted the theme. I love how it will push me in my art and force me to think of new and more creative ways to take a picture. I'm posting them on my photography blog if you're interested :) Here is last week's:

3. Have you read "The Hunger Games"? If you haven't, you need to. I read all 3 books in under a week. They are that good. Really. You need to read them.

4. Next up- Divergent. What's on your reading list?

5. Hold the phone people. My baby will be a year in less than 3 weeks. How on earth did that happen!? Man, I feel like she was just born yesterday. Sniff, sniff.

6. This past summer for my birthday my sister and brother gave us a weekend away. And in 3 more sleeps we're cashing it in baby! The countdown is on and we are all set to escape away to the mountains- just the two of us. We are even staying in a castle. For reals.

7. Highlight of my weekend- new bookshelves for our basement. This makes my nerdy love-to-read-love-to-organize heart so very happy.

8. I've written before about my struggle with being "that mom". I don't want to be her.
I want to be gentle. I want to be patient. I want my kids to feel loved, and secure. I want them to know without a doubt that they are loved- unconditionally. That they can make mistakes and that there is grace. I don't want to lose my mind the second they give a little attitude. I don't want to have temper tantrums with the best of 'em. This "Gentleness Challenge" has been awesome.

9. Everyone's on Pinterest now right? If you're not- you're crazy.
It's FULL of inspiration- for parenting, crafts, recipes, ideas for your home....and silly things that just make me laugh. A lot.

Bahahahahaha!

10. Number ten.... I always get stuck on number ten. What to write...what to write....nope, can't think of anything else. Until next time, friends ;)

Merry Christmas!

This year we spent Christmas in our jammies (with throw up bowls nearby) snuggled together watching Christmas movies. 

Awesome timing for the flu to hit. 

Ugh.

And so, even though it's now the 28th and our Christmas decorations are already down and put away (yup- I'm one of those crazies that needs her house back right after Christmas) I still wanted to come on here and wish you all a Merry Christmas.

From our little family to yours, we hope you had the most wonderful Christmas, celebrating with those you love.

May the joy of this beautiful season continue to be yours ;)

Handmade for the boy

I love handmade gifts.
The time and heart put into them just make them so very special.
One day I dream of being able to knit beautiful gifts like her.
But, for now I am happy to complete simple sewing projects like this:



I wanted to make something special for Evan this year.
I always find it SO hard to find projects for boys that are easy and that I think he will like....
So, when I saw this idea on Pinterest I was super excited!

What is it you ask?......Tadaaaaaaaa!

A quilt for his bed made from a bunch of his old t-shirts.
Yay.
I can't help but smile when I look at it.
:)


Now I must admit... it took a little longer than I expected. Many hours were spent cutting squares. Sewing X's. Trimming thread. Sewing squares. And finally cutting along all the edges. But I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out.

 

I love it.
I really, really do!
It is all wrapped up and ready to go under the tree.
I can't wait for Christmas morning.
I hope he loves it too!

 

Playing catch up

Two months of pictures.

Two months of memories.

Ones I just don't want to forget!

;)

October

1- these 3 make my heart so very happy. 2- the best picture i could get of all 4 of 'em just before we went out trick-or-treating. 3- he got a camera for his birthday and insisted on taking pictures of every single animal at the zoo. love! :) 4- new artwork we made for chris' office, yup, those are marvel comic cards. 5- evan's surprise advent calendar. 6- our little bug. 7- reason #1 of why i love fall- red leaves. i love 'em. 8- cool shoes for a cool boy. 9- such a wonderful night out with a beautiful friend! 10- love how different my girls are. selah is very organized and must complete things in order, she always does her beads in lines. Abby is wild and crazy and will put them on wherever she feels like. oh how i love them both!!! 11- making pumpkin cookies. 12- waiting for evan to get out of school. 13- our pumpkin. 14- playing in the leaves. i raked up 14 garbage bags full of leaves this year. i am convinced that all our neighbors leaves blow into our yard ;) 15- helping my sister and her hubby move into their new house. 16- rolling out the dough was always my favorite part growing up!

November

1- salsa chicken burritos make me think of you! 2- a canvas, some paint and little hands = new artwork for ellie's room. 3- ice cream treat after our little photoshoot. 4- a little nap while we wait for the girls dance class to end. 5- pressing the button is oh so fun. she got to press the inside AND the outside button at her hospital visit to see the eye doc. it's the little things. 6- date night drink. lovely. 7- cutting old t-shirts for his quilt. 8- yummy chocolate cookies for our friends. 9- baking beauties. 10- a gift for my sister. her wedding invitation cut into strips and put in a Christmas ornament for her tree. 11- our new (to us!) air hockey table. 12- 24 Christmas books wrapped and ready to go under the tree. 13- lovely vintage wrapping. 14- a special treat while we wait to see the eye doctor. 15- new flannel sheets. i adore them...chris, not so much :) 16- waiting to see evan's teacher. 17- back at it. 18- sewing up those squares for his quilt. 19- decorating the tree. listening to Bing Crosby. 20- her first look at the lights. 21- she's wearing her Christmas dress because it snowed...snow = Christmas, right?! 22- pulling out the winter gear. 23- baking all on their own! 24- apple cinnamon tea while editing. 25- stringing up the lights.

Just hear those sleigh bells jinglin'....

We have been in full Christmas swing around here. All my shopping is done. Yay! The presents are all wrapped. Yay!....I even have all the stocking stuffers ready to go. Yay, Yay, Yay!!! Please don't hate me :)

I love that with all that done we can just slow down and really enjoy this season. The kids have been LOVING our advent activities. But I seriously think the highlight of their day is the Christmas story they get to unwrap each night and read together by the tree. I love that it's the little things that always seem to make the biggest impact :)

We have also been enjoying the Christmas tunes. Today while driving my all time favorite Christmas song came on "Do you hear what I hear".

Man, oh man do I love that song. I remember recording myself on one of those fisher price recorder thingys when I was in jr.high singing that song... and that is when I discovered (after playing it back) that I was completely tone deaf. Not a pretty sound. How is it that when I'm signing along to music I think I sound pretty good and as soon as I take out the music I sound like a dying animal?!

Anyways, I thought it would be fun to ask the kids and Chris what their favorite songs were too and here's what they said:

Chris "O Holy Night"
Evan- "Angles we have heard on high"
Abby "Go tell it on the mountain"
Selah "Rudolph the red nosed reindeer"

I was a little surprised by the boys answers, but knew exactly what the girls were going to say. Especially Abby. She is ALWAYS singing that song  ;)

But, I didn't want the fun to stop there, so I posted this question on my facebook page too and I have really enjoyed reading the responses.

And now, I'd love to hear which one makes the top if your list! 

Hop on over and share your favorite Christmas song too.

:)

Traditions

Some of the things I love most about the Christmas season are the traditions we have started as a family.
While some of them are simple and fun- like the new pajamas we open on Christmas eve to wear on Christmas morning, others are so much more than that.... like the Cookie Countdown we started a couple of years ago.
Last week Evan asked me if we could please deliver our cookies to the homeless again. Oh how my heart swelled at not only the fact that he remembered but also that he was hoping that we could do it again. When I told him of course we would his face lit up. "Awesome! That was so much fun!"

Could his response have touched his mama's heart any deeper?

This year we are going to add in a couple of new traditions...
The first one is super simple and easy. I saw this idea on Pinterest.

I wrapped 24 Christmas books and tomorrow we'll put them under the tree. Each evening after dinner the kids will unwrap on book to read together before bed. Fun, right?
And since I only had a handful of Christmas books laying around, I borrowed the rest of them from the library :)

The next new tradition is one I am super excited about. This year we are going to do a family advent activity calendar. (I got this cute little house last year on clearance boxing week!)

Each day the kids will open one of the doors and inside will be a little piece of paper with a fun activity to do together.

Some of them are things we have done together in the past and others are brand new. I think that in a season that is busy and crazy and seems to fly right by, this will give us a way to be intentional about spending time together. And also a way in we can teach our kids what Christmas is about... family, giving to others...JESUS!

I plan to just stuff in the activity we will do together the night before. That way I can kind of control what we do on what days... I don't really want the kids to pick out a slip like "Go skating at the lake" on a day when it is -30C outside! Brrr! :) 

Here's our list in case you may want to do some of these activities with your families too :)

* Make paper (or coffee filter) snowflake decorations
* Make snowman donuts
* Go for a drive to look at Christmas lights (and bring along hot chocolate in sippy cups!)
* Make and paint salt dough ornaments
* Build a fort and lay in it while we watch "The Grinch"
* Go skating at the lake
* Make Christmas tree crafts using popsicle sticks
* Host a gingerbread house making party
* Make peppermint chocolate popcorn and watch "The polar express"
* Make ice castles using sugar cubes
* Build a snowman
* Have a sleepover under our tree
* Make reindeer food to put out on Christmas eve for Santa's reindeer
* Make popcorn garland and paper chains to decorate our home
* Write letters to Santa
* Visit Santa at the mall
* Make and than give a secret gift to someone
* Play a board game in front of the tree
* Go to the dollar store and buy presents for your siblings
* Deliver gifts/baking to our neighbors
* Make teacher gifts
* Pick out food to donate
* Pick a family member's name and serve them secretly this week

What are your Christmas traditions?

Are you starting any new ones this year?

Dear Me,

i saw this on pinterest. 

i adore it.

the end.