Our Blessed Road

Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts

Moments

Lately I've tried to make myself take a second, and capture moments. Not just with my camera, but to remember them. And not just to look for them, but to create them. To ignore the messes that might occur (for the time being, anyway) and do something I might not otherwise want to do, because of said messes. To be patient with all the "whys," because that's how they learn as much as they can. (Did you know the average 4 year old asks a couple HUNDRED questions a day? I do. Also, double that number because I have two very curious boys.)

Those little things are more important than anything else I could put my hand to. My little boys won't be little forever. In fact, Jackson declared that he was NOT a little boy the other day. I have to remember these days, because they won't slow down or just hang around for a while. We make moments while learning how to fold towels (laundry is still a novel thing around here! milking it for all it's worth!) and while making ice cream. Chores haven't quite reached the yucky stage yet...sweeping the floor is fun, so we do it together. We dance to favorite songs together and we read Fox in Socks. Derik swears he's going to marry me when he grows up (I don't have the heart to let him down just yet). Legos get lost and found (and stepped on, ouch!). Drawings get found all over the place, with stick people and swimming pools scrawled on them and wobbly names written on the back, allbymineself.

These moments are the best.

A Week Away

1 Comment »

We're a week away from Christmas, can you believe it? We got our tree at the end of last week, and the boys were so excited to decorate it! We did it up in blue lights and all the ornaments we own. Usually I pick and choose which ornaments to use each year, but this year they got so excited about decorating it, and insisted that I use them all. So we have a very eclectic, but homey tree. :)

And Luke, this picture doesn't count, because we can't see your face, so I'm not deleting it. ;)

Derik wanted to see every single ornament before they got put on. (Jack didn't want me to take pictures of him, and the ones I do have are blurry, from him jumping up and down. He doesn't quite get that you have to hold at least somewhat still.) ;)

Decorating a tree is hard work!

Our shopping is almost done, stockings are hung on our mantle, glitter is finding its way all around our house, and the boys are counting down the days. We've started the baking and candy making. Luke had a brilliant idea for dark chocolate bark with roasted pistachios and I topped it with sea salt. Out of this world I tell you! I have a list of things to make almost a mile long (and I'm going to have to start doing extra exercises) but I'm excited to make the things I only make once a year, like my Mom Mom's fudge. I need to wrap all the presents and the boys are slyly offering to help, because they know their presents are in my art room, tucked away where they can't reach them. It's amazing how fast they pick up on how to be sneaky. ;)

I'm as much a kid at Christmas time as the boys. I love waiting for Christmas morning for presents, which drives Luke crazy because he has a hard time keeping presents a secret. The trays of Christmas goodies are really tempting and it's the one time of year it feels okay to sneak a few extra cookies. (Again, guess I better start putting in a bit more exercise time!). I love the anticipation and this is going to be the longest week ever!

Bits & Pieces

3 Comments »

Thanksgiving Edition! Jackson wanted to borrow my camera, and he took photos while I made pie. Derik was taking photos with my iPhone, though most of his are blurry and pink...fingers in the way! He surprised me, he held the camera very carefully and listened closely when I explained how to focus and shoot the picture. When I finally got my camera back, I had about a hundred pictures of not only pie making, but also the TV, his water cup, looking outside the front windows, and his lunch. I loved seeing everything through his eyes.

Bits & Pieces

1 Comment »

We can't get "real" internet (i.e., unlimited, fast, wonderful, etc etc) here, just the hotspot from my phone. So sorry for the lack of posting, but last month we ran short on internet and I couldn't get on as much as I would have liked. Someone (coughmecough) went a little crazy on Pinterest too early in the month.

So here are some bits and pieces from the last few weeks...

This one is from a while ago, but it's one of my favorite shots ever. And I love clams.

I may not love the desert, but I do love the desert skies.

I love coffee. And I've been trying my hand at latte art.

Derik and Jackson love taking silly pictures on my phone.

I found this gorgeous dresser/credenza for free on the side of the road. How could I not bring it home?! Needs some work but I have grand plans for it.

Coffee shop treats. I didn't get any, but they were too pretty not to take pictures.

This is from a while ago, but I found it when I was cleaning out my phone. Sometimes you just need a nap. And sometimes the best thing to do is lay down right where you are.

Someone turned FOUR! And his Uncle David turned 9! This is the first year that Jackson understood they are the same age for a month, and he was slightly disconcerted that Derik is HIS age. I reassured him it's not permanent and he's asked me every day when his birthday is.

Those aren't clouds. There's a huge fire raging in the Angeles National Forest and the first day of the fire the smoke cloud filled the entire sky. (Don't worry mom, it's nowhere near us.)

My boys are growing up.

2 Comments »

They are getting so big...I can't believe that in 10 days Derik will be four (we were watching Michael Phelps win his 7th gold medal of the Beijing Olympics when I went into labor with him, and I told Derik that. He calls him Mimal Wells. We watched him win a few more this year!). And just a month after that, Jackson will turn 5! Where in the world does the time go?!

We are going to start school this year; it's not "official" because we don't have to register as a homeschool until next year but it's a good practice year for me. Both Luke and I were homeschooled and we're so excited to be able to start teaching our own children. :)

I took these a few weeks ago in my studio and they both kept asking to switch to the black wall! No, the white wall! I think they are cute no matter which wall they're standing in front of. ;)

These are getting blown up and framed for our hallway...they have got to be some of my favorite pictures of them ever! (And mom, these aren't the full-sized images, if you want them I'll email them to you when I've got decent internet sometime.)

P.S. Christmas is coming up...I'm going to have a photo shoot deal coming up soon! :)

Things, Old and New

1 Comment »

So new things first:

I've started a new venture that promises to be very exciting! I've loved graphic design since I was a girl (just ask my mom, I started a new "magazine" probably every week.) and am constantly doodling typography quotes. So I've combined it into a graphic design business and Etsy store to sell my quotes, and support my Etsy-buying habit. So visit my website and Etsy shop! And please bear with me as I get both going, because with limited Internet access it takes a while to upload everything. I'm working on it a bit each day!

This belongs in the category of old and new. It's new to me, but old. Our realtor's father-in-law recently moved to a smaller retirement home and had some furniture to get rid of. Since she helped us find our house, she knew we had a house that was almost completely empty! It's amazing how what felt so tight in a 950 sq. ft. apartment looks bare in a 1900 sq. ft. house! So she offered me this gorgeous hutch that needs a little TLC and I jumped at the chance! It's going to look amazing in my inspiration room, filled with wonderful art supplies! For now I'm going to stain the outside darker to match the cute little chair I picked up, but I may end up painting it white or gray. But the inside is where I'm going to have fun...I'm going to paint it pink!

The color is "Amber Rose" by Valspar, and these are the cutest little jars ever. They had a wall of beautiful colors in tiny clear jars at Lowes, and I wanted to buy them all.

Finally, in the realm of old news, we are still working on our library, but I'm so tired of waiting for it to be finished that I decided to show you guys some progress photos! I am loving the way it's turning out, and cannot wait to fill those endless bookshelves with a sea of books! Although as many boxes as we have, I still think we will have some empty shelves! All the more reason to go buy more books, right?

We filled all the flat walls with bookshelves!!!

To give you an idea of just how tall these are, I can only see into the fourth shelf from the bottom (I'm 5'3")! I'm going to need one of those amazing library ladders! (Cue the girly squealing.)

P.S. The couch is the Karlstad from IKEA, and yes, I know, "But you have children!!!" It has a removable slipcover that you can throw right in the washer. Also, NO FOOD IN THE LIBRARY!!! ;)

We picked a hand-blown pendant for the center of the room, complete with an Edison bulb! I will take another picture so you can actually see what it looks like, but for now, here's the artsy shot. ;)

Apart from all this, we've just been trying to stay cool (so far, not working. It's going to be 105 today. I take an average of 3 cold showers a day.), finding new recipes to grill outside (I'll share soon!) and enjoying the few days off that Luke had over the 4th. What is new or old with you guys?

So happy.

3 Comments »

And busy. But really really happy.

We're moved in. I'm still trying to get boxes unpacked and books at least moved into one room and extra clothes put away somewhere. And the initial house cleaning is wearing off so back to that. But we are loving our house! I'm getting used to where everything is in my kitchen, and getting used to using an electric stove again (one day we'll replace it with gas, but not until this one breaks or we remodel the kitchen). I'm planning on what colors to paint what rooms, and where to hang artwork (and how I need a LOT more of it!) and deciding what furniture to put where (and how I need a LOT more of it!).

The projects have been fun too! So far we've replaced the door handles on the outside doors, the shower heads, a toilet, the garbage disposal and drains, a bazillion lightbulbs and the water spigot handle so we can water our new fruit trees. And they (and by they I mean mostly Jon, Luke's brother) took apart the ceiling fan in our room to find out why the light wasn't working. And we have a ton more projects to go.

In sort-of house-related news, we got a dog too! We have been wanting a dog forever, but living in an apartment that doesn't allow dogs kind of puts a damper on that. The whole clan of us (all but two of the boys and Luke's mom and even Matt and Julie and Kaylynn) came to the shelter with us and we looked at all the adorable dogs, and Luke wanted to bring home half the shelter, but we kept coming back to a pretty blue pit bull. She was so friendly and so good with all the kids so we decided she was the one. Her name is Alice (after Alice in Wonderland, of course!) and she's about a year and a half, loves the boys to death and loves her new backyard!

Bath.

No Comments »

You never know what wild animals you will find at my house. A dinosaur and a zebra were bath buddies last week. The other wild animals were in the tub. ;) Making a point to try and capture more everyday moments, since that's what really matters in life. :)

Little Happy Things No. 6

No Comments »

(via)

I swear one of these days I will be more consistent in writing my blog. But with everything going on right now I'm guessing now is probably not it. ;) Until then, I'll keep trying.

::Having fun with trying new foods. I've had duck, romanesco broccoli, persimmons, and basil mayo in the last month or so and loved all of them!

::Valentine's day. It's almost as good as Christmas to me, and this year a big bouquet of flowers showed up just like on our first Valentine's day, SIX whole years ago! I am very spoiled. :)

::Buying a house. I guess this isn't really a "little" thing, but it's a very happy thing! We are smack in the middle of it right now, with the inspections finally set for next week. We could use lots of prayers that they all go well, but we have high hopes and are so excited to move!

::The new plant sitting on my windowsill. I bought him at IKEA yesterday and I'm already thinking he needs friends. He keeps me company while I wash dishes.

::Painting mugs with porcelain paint! I need more dishes to paint.

::New matte nail polish topcoat from Hard Candy (at Walmart). It's awesome.

::Derik yelling last night when I picked him and Jack up from grandma's house: "You're my mommy! Hi mommy! My mommy!"

::Making time for reading and drawing.

::Making lists.

::Planning out how we're going to decorate and update our new house. :)

A Photo-a-Day in January

1 Comment »

On Instagram there's been a challenge going around to take a photo a day in the month of January. I decided to go for it, and had a great time. Keeping up with something like that is hard, but while it was a challenge, it actually helps my photography and creativity improve, and helps me conquer something else I struggle with: consistency. I'm the kind of person who hates schedules, but even something as small as taking one photo every day has helped with things like remembering to vacuum the floor everyday (seriously, who thought carpet in the dining room would be a brilliant idea?!). I was sad to see the project end, but super excited when I found out a new list of photo-a-day topics was created for February!

Without further ado, here's the list of topics for January, and all the photos I took!

1 // You