Winter

My sister sent me these pictures the other day. She went on a walk near her house and ran into these beauties. I forgot how beautiful winter can be!

Christmas

I know, I know .. I'm so completely behind on posting Christmas pictures! Sorry Gramma, I know you've been waiting for some! Our Christmas morning was wonderful and Christmas night? Well, how honest do you want me to be here? We started dropping like flies. Some 24 hour flu bug had five of us very under the weather. It was down right ugly by 1:30 in the morning. With the laundry machine in full force and the wet/dry vac humming away, Brent and I looked at each other and just started laughing. What else can you do? It was a.. memorable holiday to say the least. Here's a few pics of the crew before the fateful flu.

The classic gingerbread house tradition. I'd post a picture of all of them together, but it's so darn hard to get one! They're just too wiggly.



Merry Christmas everyone! I hope your holiday was a happy, healthy one.

sendin' some love..

Not sure why I've been neglecting my blog of late. We've kept the holiday busyness to a minimum this year but things still feel crazy busy. I decided Valentines Day cards sounded like a great idea and gave up entirely on Christmas cards. I think it's a pregnant thing. I have limited energy this season and would rather spend it with my punks going to the park and such. So if you don't receive a card from us please don't feel neglected. We still love you! We're just takin' it easy this year. Ever listen to the James Taylor Christmas CD? It's my new favorite. Very relaxing. And so.. Merry Christmas friends! We're sending some love your way... even if we're not sending a card.

Giving Thanks..

For a husband who doesn't mind bucking tradition and spending the day at the beach. We ate turkey sandwiches and had the beach all to ourselves. It was a lovely, relaxing day for which I am tremendously grateful.

I wanted to post about the many things I'm grateful for, but it felt too overwhelming. Suffice it to say that I'm truly thankful for my life and all the people and experiences in it. I savor every day and thank God for the love, joy and learning that comes with being a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend.

Happy Birthday Sis!

In honor of my awesome sister, today's post is all about her. A few of the many things I love about Cheri..

• She has really great hair.
• A fabulous sense of humor.
• She is the most generous person I know.
• She's always as excited to see me as I am to see her.
• Even though I'm thirty four, she still occasionally gives me her hand-me downs and I love it.
• She spoils my kids rotten... rotten I tell you!
• I know I can call her anytime I'm sad/mad/happy/tired and I always feel better after.
• she is resourceful, creative, and successful.
• not to mention genuine, feisty, and independent.
• I want to grow up to be just like her.

I love you Cheri and can't believe how blessed I am to have a big sis like you! I hope you get spoiled, pampered, and taken out to lunch today!

metering

After seeing so many beautiful portraits on Pioneer Woman's photography site, I decided to attempt spot metering and see what I could do. And you know what?..it's pretty cool! I was able to take pictures in full sun and not have faces in shadow. Lovin it!

she's a natural high!

I was looking through some old beach photos today trying to remember how to edit in photoshop, when I came across these beauties. (I've been too morning sick the last few months to even care about taking, let alone editing, pictures. Use it or lose it right. Well, I lost it.)

Notice any similarities?
Besides the fact that they are all taken at the beach and are of my kids?
Guessed it yet?
Abbey's feet are never touching the ground! Ever. I love it! It's just so perfectly.. Abbey. Now I need to figure out how to bottle her up so I can take a swig on those low energy days.