Happy First

My sweet Elliot Joy.

A year ago today we welcomed you to our little family.
We grew from five to six.

You were an answer to our prayers.

You completed us.

In the last year you have brought so much to our family.

Joy.

Laughter.

And so, so much love.

I can't say enough about how much I adore you.

You have been our easiest baby by far.

You are content.

Gentle.

Quiet.

Happy.

You smile and the room changes.

You laugh and everyone around you joins in.

Happy Birthday my sweet, sweet baby.

This past year has been such a blessing.

I wish I could keep you little forever 

and yet at the same time I am so excited to watch your little personality emerge.

My heart rests in the fact that

you, my little love, will always be my baby girl.

Daddy and I love you sweet thing.

Happy first birthday!

xoxo

Grandma's Glazed Lemon Cake

Do you have a certain recipe that reminds you of a special time in your life? Where each and every time you have it you are transported back to that magical day when you first enjoyed it?

I do.

When we had each of our kids my Grandma made us a wonderful homemade dinner the night we came home from the hospital.
She spoiled us with a delicious swiss steak meal complete with rice, salad, vegs and usually some kind of fruit. She also sent along this cake. Each and every time I have it, it reminds me of the days we brought home our brand new fresh from heaven babes.

This cake reminds me of that special first day home. It reminds me of my grandma who showered her love on us by cooking us a special meal. It reminds me of family. Love. Joy.

Not only does it bring back wonderful memories it is honestly the most delicious lemon cake I have ever, EVER tasted. Chris has claimed it as his very-favorite-of-all-time cake. It is super light so you can practically eat the whole thing in one sitting. Which I may or may not have done when we brought Elliot home last feb.

Just sayin'.

Go ahead. Give it a try. I promise... you'll lovey, love, LOVE it.

Grandma's Glazed Lemon Cake

1 box Duncan Hines Lemon Cake mix
1 cup water
4 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1 package of 4 serving Instant Lemon Pudding (you can skip this if you don't have it on hand, but it makes it sooooo much better :0)

Beat all together.
And that's it baby.
Crazy easy.

Next, you'll butter and flour your bundt pan.

Pour your batter into the pan.
Spread evenly with your spatula.
Hit the pan a few times on the counter to remove any air bubbles.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 mins.

After you cake is out of the oven let it cool 10mins in the pan before removing. This will help keep the cake from sticking to the sides.



Glaze

Beat together 1 cup icing sugar and 2 tbsp milk or lemon juice. (I like to use just milk, I find the lemon juice makes it a bit too bitter)

Pour over top of cooled cake. If you put it on too soon it with melt and won't look as purdy... which you can see that I did and then let it cool and glazed it again ;-)

Enjoy friends!

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.

:)