Things I'm Loving

In honor of this being my 500th post - woohoo! - here's a totally random list of stuff I'm digging right now:

B. Kershisnik - "She Will Find What Is Lost" (Lithograph)

I saw this piece on someone's Instagram this week and immediately fell in love.  Art is such a powerful vehicle for emotion and this particular print is no exception.  This image of angelic help being given to a woman evoked such a sense of peace and comfort in me, it nearly brought me to tears.

Super-Fast & Easy Mayonaise

Word has it that this is the best homemade mayo recipe in all the land.  I'm totally going to try it, as it sounds fabulous, as well as easy.  And it's Whole30-compliant, for anyone that's knee-deep in the world of Paleo.   Recipe courtesy of Foolproof Homemade.

Heart Pillow Craft

I LOVE THIS PILLOW COVER.  It's simple, but classic so we could technically keep it around all year, not just for Valentine's Day.  In all of the free time I have (bahaha), I'm going to make this.   Photo & idea courtesy of UCreate.

Cool Name, Fabulous Skirt

Has anyone else seen this crazy, gorgeous skirt from Shabby Apple?  The Waltzing Matilda: you are adorable, you are covered in polka-dots, you have the sweetest name, you will be mine... someday.

Wrapping up the Magic of Christmas

This face?  It's what it's all about.

If this elated (albeit blurry) expression doesn't scream 'Christmas morning', I don't know what does.  As a kid, I came remember the incredible excitement and anticipation as we waited for Santa to come.  As I got older, Christmas was a fun holiday but it lacked that pure joy... and that magic.  

Since Benjamin and Emme have come along, the magic is back - but in a bigger and better way than I could have ever anticipated.  We filled our days leading up to the 25th with fun activities like decorating gingerbread houses, writing letters to Santa, making Christmas crafts, the beloved chocolate advent calendars, and lots of time spent with friends and family.  

I didn't do everything I wanted to, but I could feel the anticipation building and loved every minute of it.  I especially loved watching Benjamin.  This is the first year that he really gets 'it', and not just Santa.   Although Santa and the gifts were a big part of the magic for him, he was equally excited about celebrating Jesus's birthday.   Early in the month, we had a Family Home Evening lesson on Christmas being Christ's birthday, and how we should look for gifts to give Him throughout the month.   Periodically, over those few weeks, Benjamin would say, "I just gave a gift to Jesus by..." - and would fill in the blank with something good or kind he had done.  It made my heart happy in that Christmas morning kind of way. 

After hosting my family's Christmas party, a caroling party with 40 of our friends and neighbors, and a Christmas Eve party with Dave's family, we ushered the celebrations and people out and gathered our little family together.  The kids were soon bathed and dressed in their new Christmas PJs, and finally tucked into bed.  In a bit of rare insight, I had wrapped the majority of the presents weeks before which left some time for Dave and I to enjoy Christmas Eve together - and get to bed at a reasonable time for once.  The cutest thing that happened shortly thereafter was when Benjamin came running into our room crying.  Like many kiddos, he was so excited for Santa to come that he couldn't fall asleep.  It was 10:30 and he was worried that Santa had skipped our house because he was still awake.  We assured him that wasn't the case and then quietly tucked him back into bed.

The morning came - and the magic erupted all over our living room.  We kept our gifts to a minimum and kept things fairly simple.  It was joyous, it was so good, and it the most magical Christmas morning we've ever had.   Here's a look:

Post-Christmas Family Hike

Paradise Falls

The day after Christmas we joined Julie (one of Dave's sisters) and her family for a little day hike.  Heading east is a fun hiking & mountain biking park called Paradise Valley; it's only about 15 minutes from our house, but it feels like you are much further away.  Plus, the terrain is quite easy with very little elevation gain - which is especially nice for little legs.

Nothing screams hiking success for a kid like finding the perfect walking stick.  Both of our kids did that:  not surprisingly, Emme found a 5-foot stick that she adored, but which posed an incredible challenge to hang on to for such a little lady; Benjamin hunted for and wielded six perfect sticks... and nearly took his cousin's eye out in the process.  I think Benjamin rates a hike successful if he manages to get 1) absolutely filthy and 2) soaking wet.  Check, and... super check.  Our merry band traipsed through the beautiful red alders, muddy "rivers" and sky-scraping Evergreen trees for over hour before the littles got thoroughly worn out and started melting down.

It was a pretty chilly day - and of course, I didn't dress my children appropriately (and Emme dressed herself) - so the big thermos of hot apple cider than Aunt Julie brought warmed up those frozen little fingers and bellies just right!  All in all, it was a fun outing where we got our bodies moving and enjoyed some of the best fresh air the PNW has to offer.

See Ya, 2014 - & Hello 2015!

“And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.” ― Meister Eckhart

For the first time in ages, the house is quiet and I have some time to write.  I found this little nugget of time while Dave is out on his annual ice-climbing trip, Emme is actually taking a decent nap (thank you, pneumonia) and Benjamin has earned some screen time with his favorite video game.   Normally, any free moment such as this, I jump onto the computer to catch up on work because I am ALWAYS BEHIND.  But alas, today is a holiday, so I'm taking a break!

Before I start in on all of the New Year hullaballoo, I wanted to take a quick look back at 2014.  Let's just get it out of the way and say it - I am absolutely stoked that this year is over.  It's been a rough one.  But there have been some good moments that have made the rough ride worth it.  Here we go:

january

My 40th Birthday - so many fun celebrations, I couldn't pick just one photo!

               

february

Our one snowstorm of the season - yep, we went sledding on a Sunday morning!

march

Emme's first trip to the Woodland Park Zoo

april

Marchant Reunion - Easter at Lincoln City, OR

may

Memorial Day at Deception Pass Park

june

Co-hosted Rochelle's baby shower

july

Willis Tucker splash pad

august

This one is a TIE!

Riding the Train at Remlinger Farms with Grandma Julie

AND...

Manzanita, OR with Ady, Grandma Julie & Grandpa Frank

september

First Day of School (Pre-K)

october
Swan Trails' pumpkin patch

november

Emme's Big #2

december

Leavenworth at Christmas-time

So, yes, we had a very busy year full of fun activities and great people, all for which I am so grateful.

  To celebrate NYE last night, we opted to stay in; in fact, the kids were in bed before 8, as was Dave! I stayed up on my own, cozied up on the couch and started chowing down on a yummy ice cream sundae while watching "Edge of Tomorrow".  My party of one didn't last long, though!  Shortly thereafter, Emme woke up (she's fighting sinusitis and viral pneumonia), followed by Benjamin, who awoke from a nightmare.  And thus, two sleepy kiddos snuggled up with me and we rang in 2015 like wild and crazy party animals.

As to the New Year, I am on the fence about writing down resolutions this year... mostly because I stink at keeping them for any length of time.  I did stick to last year's resolution of getting the gym more often.  Now I just need to balance that with some better eating habits!  Anyway, I digress.

Thus, rather than going the resolution route, I came across the hashtag: #olw ("one little word").  People have been choosing a word that is going to be their goal for the new year; a word to focus on, mediate on, and reflect upon as each day rolls by.  I thought that sounded like a more reasonable and realistic thing to work on in the months ahead -- or maybe it's so vague that it's going to be a heck of a lot harder!  Nonetheless, I want to make some big changes in my life, to myself, to my environment - so maybe this will be the jumpstart I need.  Without further ado, here is my ONE LITTLE WORD:

To grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment.

We'll see how it goes - wish me luck!

A Walk in the Park

Lowell Park in Fall

 

As a reward to Benj for staying dry all day (including at preschool), the kiddos and I piled in the car to celebrate with a late afternoon trip to one of our favorite parks, Lowell.  Sweetening the deal, I had leftovers slated for dinner so we could stay even longer.

And boy did we savor this beautiful afternoon!  Swinging our hearts out in the filtered sunshine of a mid-October afternoon.  Flying head-first down the big green slide, with magic wand (stick) and unearthed treasure (rock) in hand.  Kicking up bark in our wake as we push the merry-go-round at warp speed.   Carefully making our way across the vast chasm on our trusty blue bridge.

It was such a treat, such an awesome day.   It was one of those perfect days that you see in the movies.  

The movie moment ended promptly when, walking to the car (read: dragging the kids, kicking and screaming from their beloved park), Benj informed me he pooped.  When we first got there.  Over an hour ago.  I was so busy chasing after both of them and making sure neither plummeted to their death from a gutsy highwire act, I didn't notice.  

The magic was officially gone.   

I'll spare the details of the gruesome aftermath, and oh my, yes, it was gruesome.  Just sit on this little nugget to fully appreciate my predicament and a little glimpse into the story of my life: I ran out of wipes.  Gruesome, folks.

Someday, I'm sure I'll look back on this and laugh - maybe till I cry - but man, not that day.  Nope.  No laughing.  Not on that picturesque, 65-degree October afternoon.  You may wonder what it's like to have a child who is still struggling to potty-train at five.  While we are making baby steps every day, I can assure you it is most definitely NOT a walk in the park!