...chocolate air...

a little love.

Karen and Andrew came to visit.

Drew would like to send out a big hug to all his admirers.

dear so-and-so.

So a month or two ago I presented my family with an idea that had been stirring around in my brain for a while now. As I was clearing out all the things in my house, I thought, "As thrilling as it is to get nice gifts... I already have everything I need (and oh-so-much more!)." Now my family never goes too crazy at Christmas to begin with, to tell the truth. We don't try to outdo anyone or feel that children need mountains of toys in order to be happy. We have always exchanged names among the adults, and sometimes we even stuck to that. I love Christmas with my family! But I was feeling like that maybe we could do something more, something better.

 

So this year, the adults on my side of the family will not be exchanging gifts. (Bah, humbug... right?) But... we've decided to exchange letters instead. Each of us will write some sort of heartfelt thoughts to each other member of the family. These letters can be short or long, sentimental or funny, handwritten or typed. They can include drawings, photos, poetry, limericks, bad jokes... anything. Or just a quick "so glad you're in our family". As long as it is sincere.

We'll hand out these letters when we get together at Christmas (and mail them to my brother and nephew on missions). And I am stoked! Seriously.

We'll try different things other years, if all goes well. I would love for each year to end with us knowing each other a little better, and having some sort of family keepsake put together. Some other ideas: an ornament swap, put together a family cookbook, a service exchange, photographs for a family album, etc. I thought one year we could each write up our personal history, with their own information and memories, which we would copy and bind for each family group.

Zach and I wrote our first letters today (Thanks, Ollie!), and I have to say... I enjoyed it a little too much. I did a little rhyming today and ended up giggling like crazy.

If anyone has any other thoughts on creating family keepsakes/memories... I'm all ears. Just hit that comment button below. Thaaat's right... tap that little button and let's hear what you have to say!

tradition.

First of all, let me point out that tomorrow is December 1st, and that means Ollie is already in his first hiding spot, waiting for our advent adventures to begin. Kirsten and I are going to be blogging our holidays again this year, so please come see what we're up to!

I also wanted to pop in here to share a bit of what I've been up to the last couple of weeks. I feel like some real progress has been made here at home, and I am so very excited by that. Unfortunately, I have no photos. And I'm not much on inspiring words of wisdom.

So I can't promise excitement in this particular blog post. Sorry.

But let me recommend a couple of books that I have been really, really enjoying. (Thank you, thank you, Grace!) I have been thinking a lot lately about simplifying our home, our days, our life. I found oh-so-much inspiration in these two books (especially the first). There's something so beautiful about simplicity, about rhythm, about the traditions in our lives, both in celebration of holidays and in our everyday.

Simplicity Parenting -

Definitely the best book I've discovered this year. And that's saying something. This isn't just for parents, by the way... it's great for anyone.

Mrs. Sharp's Traditions -

To be taken with a grain of salt and a realization that you don't have to do everything in the book, by any means. But a very interesting read with a lot of insight into different holidays and celebrations. And the thoughts on parenting are dead-on, as far as I'm concerned.

I promise I'll be back again soon... in the meantime, I'll see you tomorrow!

our littlest nephew.

Meet Carter Joseph. He's sweet as pie and we love him.

 

separation anxiety.

 

Yeah... he likes the cat.

quote of the day.

"I think maybe Santa Claus and Heavenly Father are the same kind of smart, like really smart.

And we're all not that smart, just kind of a little bit smart sometimes. Right, Mom?"

You pretty much nailed it on the head, kiddo.

reality check.

Today was one of those days that makes it to the blog. Today there was bread baking, there was knitting, there was music playing, there was organizing of some dark and crowded corners I usually avoid. Today there was singing. And a little boy with scriptures in hand, wanting to know more. Today was a beautiful day.

 

But...

A friend of mine told me the other day that she used to read my blog, but then stopped somewhere along the way. When asked why, she said that my life was too cool, and it made her feel bad about her own life. (I know, I know... people who know me well are laughing right now, probably with tears streaming down their faces... but that's really what she said!)

Oh, C... I have obviously failed you. Yes, I have beautiful days... sometimes. And funny goings-on... sometimes. And even the occasional completed craft project, if I'm really lucky. And yes... I am a whiz at framing my photographs to focus on the beauty and cut out the clutter of everyday life. But I really ought to be better at leaving some of that clutter in.

Because all too often there are days in which the dishes aren't done and the floor needs sweeping and the cat just threw up. Again. And I've spent too much money on stuff I don't even want and my son chooses to spend most of the day in his underwear because he hates sleeves. And pant legs. And conforming to society. And my husband gets home at the end of the day, and as I give him a kiss all I can think is, "I really should have brushed my hair before now."

That's life. All of us (all of us!!) experience the good, the bad, and the ugly. I just choose to leave most of the ugly behind.

(all-too-typical) conversations.

Amy: Go ahead and put your cup in the dishwasher.

Zach: Which dishwasher?

Amy: The only dishwasher we have.

Zach: You mean this one?

Amy: Yes, that one. Will you put your cup in it, please?

Zach: You mean... put my cup in it?

Amy: Yes. That's what I mean.

(Pause)

Zach: What?

 

Zach: Mom?

Amy: What, Zach?

Zach: What?

Amy: You said "Mom".

Zach: Oh, well...(mumble mumble mumble)

Amy: What?

Zach: What?

Amy: Can you say that again? I didn't understand you.

Zach: What did I say?

 

the patch.

So we made our annual trek to the farm to get our pumpkins. This year the trip was especially important, as the pumpkins pretty much constitute our entire fall decorating... I don't fancy risking life and limb trying to dig our autumn box out of the downstairs closet anytime soon.

The highlight for Zach is always the animals. The child needs a farm (or a zoo) of his own.

"I can carry this one," he says, picking up this 30-pounder. And he did. For about 20 seconds.

Then he hefted this 16-pounder back to the wagon. And was tired when he got there. But much happier than he appears in this photograph.

It was rather a windy day. In your comments, I'd prefer terms like "sexy" and "windblown"... over phrases such as "tangled" and "blurry" and "what-kind-of-rodent-has-taken-up-residence-in-your-hair". Thank you for your kind consideration.

 

rockin' robin.

Isn't he, though? Rockin', I mean. What a cool kid.

Fighting for truth, for justice, and for the chance to show off his slick moves.

And here we have... um... Catwoman. Created mostly to amuse myself.

And so help me... it really did.

Because, really, how could I resist?

 

part two: the other stuff.

One great thing we saw (but I wasn't allowed to photograph...wah) was the National Quilt Museum. It was awesome! I can't get over the creativity and craftsmanship of some people. Mike tolerated the museum quite well. And Zachary...well... although he claims to have enjoyed it, he did spend an inordinate amount of time rolling around on the floor groaning, "Exit...exit...exit!"

But there was certainly plenty for the boys to enjoy on our vacation as well.

We observed marine life up close:

 

 We saw war vehicles. We saw A LOT of war vehicles:

 

 

And various other unusual vehicles as well:

  

We experienced crafts and trades of the 1800s:

We saw Orlando Bloom:

(Okay, not really, but doesn't he look like him? Close enough.) 

There are of course a lot more photos, but as I doubt anyone is reading even this far... I'll spare you.

love, amy.

Dear Facebook,

I hate you. For years I've been trying to avoid you, with your preteen quizzes and cyberworlds and flashing ads. But you do allow me to spy with ease on people from my past... and so you are sucking me in. Blast you.

Dear Virus of Death,

I loathe you. Quit trying to kill my computer. Seriously.

Dear Mike,

I love you. Thanks for being my computer hero, as always. If you were on Facebook, I'd send you a request to be my friend. But as it is, I'll stick to being...

Yours forever,

Amy

part one: the beach.

Okay, the vacation was a week long, so I had to split this post up a bit. Today I'll share our beach adventures. We spent a few days on St. George Island in Florida, so I got to relax and play Gidget for a while. So fun.

1. My fearless outdoorsy boy heading into the waves. He wanted to spend every moment in the water. (Click on this one to make it bigger. I LOVE this image!)

2. His favorite activity was letting the waves crash into him and knock him down. If they weren't big enough, he knocked himself down.

3. In front of the house we stayed in, right on the beach. That was awesome.

4. The sunset view, obviously. No, nothing is on fire.

5. Mike, blinded by the light, watching Zach's first venture into the ocean.

6. We were trying to stay dry that morning going shelling, but the ocean kept calling Zach's name.

7. And he kept answering the call.

8. Observing hermit crabs we found.

9. Our Family Home Evening lesson was about building our "house on the rock".

 

10. Heading back to the house for the morning.

11. A sunset view from our backyard.

Stay tuned for a quick summary of what we did in the other seven(!) states we passed through.

back home.

Very few people even knew we were gone, and now we're home...sunburned and happy.

More later, after the unpacking and the laundry and the getting life back in relative order.

 

gifties.

So I had a crazy-busy weekend. And a crazy-busy week getting ready for it! In addition to the wedding, I had family in town to watch General Conference, and a baby shower for my sister-in-law.

I had put together a sweet little pink and green quilt top for my new little niece... and then the newest ultrasound revealed it to be a new little nephew. Back to the drawing board. So I came up with this quilt instead. I like the way the quilting turned out, especially on the back.

Then used a few of the same fabrics to dress up a onesie and make a teeny pair of pants to match. My first time making an elastic casing. For some reason I always thought that would be hard. Turns out... not so much. So here it is.

  
 
 

And after I saw Andrew admiring a couple of the fabrics in my stash, I couldn't help but throw together this little taggie blanket for him.

 

So I had a weekend full of inspiration, celebration, family, friends, babies, photos, and crafting too. So good.

a happy event.

"The event had every promise of happiness for her friend. He was a man of exceptional character, easy fortune, suitable age, and pleasant manners...

She had been a friend and companion such as few possessed: intelligent, well-informed, useful, gentle; one to whom she could speak every thought as it arose."

 
 
 

(Anyone recognize the quote? Hint: Later in the book someone asks about the wedding, "Who cried most?" Incidentally, the answer to that question would, without a doubt, be me. I was grateful to have the lens to hide behind.)

Lynne... Tim... wishing you so very happy.

good morning, sunshine.

really old projects.

A friend of mine was asking this week for some advice on art supplies for her artistic young daughter, and it got me thinking. File this under the category of "things I used to do in another life". When I was in high school, that is.

I'm kind of getting the itch to pick up a pencil again. Or watercolors, perhaps. Or pen and ink. Or... something. Hmmm.

girly.

So, I've actually had a pretty good crafting streak going on here lately, but unfortunately, most of it can't be posted just yet. So I'll settle for sharing a photo of a gift I put together a few months back for a sweet little friend of ours. I saw the idea for a doll's diaper bag ages ago, and never had an excuse to use it... so I jumped on the chance when we had a little girly birthday come up.

The doll was mine when I was a child. I thought he needed a new home, and a mommy to care for him properly. He's actually bald (oh, sorry... she's actually bald... this particular little girl only has girl babies). She's wearing a little bear hat that I knitted. I sewed up the wipes and diapers (made from a white t-shirt that was no longer in use), and everything else was purchased. I really wanted to make the diaper bag myself, but time was against me. C'est la vie.

There was one more diaper, but Zach confiscated it for his kitty. She has been wearing it ever since.

cubby.

So, being a big eight-year-old has its responsibilities, but it also has its perks. And for this curious, sweet, enthusiastic, helpful, outdoorsy kid... cub scouts is a huge perk. Seriously, this boy was born to be a scout.

He has been going all out... studying the manual on his own, asking to do the activities, and passing off requirements like nobody's business. I'm loving it, too, because it all fits in beautifully with our homeschooling, our family nights, and well... just our life. I'm actually one of his den leaders, and I'll admit I was reluctant about it. Boys still confuse me, you see. But I'm having loads of fun with it, after all.

A few photos from back in his first week of scouting, which happened to include day camp...

(Isn't he cute?!)