november

Last Thanksgiving at my parents house in Eagle Mountain, UT

fun fact:  I was unknowingly pregnant in this photo

I've been thinking about November.  Not the end of November with the large warm Thanksgiving gathering and excited whoosh into Christmas.  But the quiet, understated beginning and middle of November.  The pomp and parade of colors of September/October are through.  The winter hasn't begun.  The trees are mainly bare and the sky still a sweet blue.  I think each year that I get older, I've come to appreciate this in between autumn and winter stage more and more.  Or perhaps I'm just getting to know a new November here in Kentucky that doesn't exist as much in the west that I'm accustomed.  It's quiet and not boastful.  It's chilly but not harsh.  It feels like the person I'd like to be.  Thoughtful, contemplative and content.  Not seeking attention for grandness.  Not pushing too much or trying too hard.  But simply beautiful without begging to be noticed.  And yet, as I've begun to notice how much I truly love November, I'm realizing how inviting it is.   As if it's that person that I begin to truly see for the first time for how good they are.

habits

houses and trees,

houses and trees,

houses and trees and leaves.

these are the things I tend to take pictures of, but seldom share.

a list person

That's my mom.  Isn't she beautiful?

I'm going to do one of those link lists.  Because it's my party and I can cry if I want to.  I mean... it's my blog and I decided to make a link list.


I really enjoyed this article on parenting.  It felt real.

Here's a quote from it:
"Here's the truth: you don't know much of anything. A year from now, after your fantastic kid turns 1, you won't know much of anything still. Gather wisdom around you. Learn from your mistakes. Stay humble. Stay open. When you know better, do better. Be a better parent tomorrow than you were today, always, everyday, as often as you can. Try things out and leave them behind shamelessly if they don't work out. Life isn't a contest or a game -- it's simply only beautifully life. Live the minutes instead of scoring them. Love that incredible baby."


My sister shared this video with our fam.  A modern day "Make Way for the Ducklings."  I thought it was so sweet.  I always loved that book.  It also reminded me of this video of ducklings.  Which makes me laugh harder than I should and then I question my humanity.


Have you ever heard of BatDad?  I think I joined Vine just to follow a couple funnies.  And this guy is one of them.  His poor wife.


I just found out about this company.  Plan Toys.  The toys are so darling and real!  And unfortunately expensive.  But I have a new crush and may just have a contender for Melissa and Doug.  (and I'm really glad I didn't find out about this when I was teaching preschool because I know I would have blown a lot of money)

Ian's brother sent us this.  These parents have a lot of time on their hands.  And they are awesome.


I'm on the lookout for some really good winter boots.  I'm eyeballing these off zappos.com.  And it sets me to wonder... am I boring, or classic?


This chicken pot pie recipe is really good.


This is one of my husband's favorite memes.  Enjoy.


This Sesame Street parody of Catching Fire was pretty cute.  P.S I can't wait/I'm so scared to see Catching Fire.  Why do I love these violent books so much??  Explain it to me!


I'm reading Little Women right now and loving it.  Here are some quotes from the book for your enjoyment.



okaybye

panoramic fun

This is what we do when we're out for a walk on a Saturday.

Photos and concept by Ian and his nifty iphone

boogus

Right now you are almost four months.  You are a happy baby, especially after a good sleep.  You've slept for eight hours for three nights in a row!  This makes me happy too  :)  You are really working on controlling your movement, especially your ability to grab things to stick in your mouth.  Sometimes I can sense your frustration that you aren't able to grab things exactly as you'd hoped the first time.  I appreciate that you keep at it, especially with all that concentration.  You become better at your control all the time.  You laugh at the sound of a zipper.  You're starting to move a lot.  A couple times when I've come to pull you out of bed you've completely turned upside down from where I had you the night before.  You've rolled over a couple times but you don't seem all that interested in it yet.  You love dad's hair.  You pull on it and try to eat it.  Sometimes you laugh when dad yelps in pain over it.  I love your bashful smiles up at me when you're eating.  I love how excited you are when we help you stand. I love to watch you discover things and check things out.  You've always been so alert.  I love that you sleep with your arms over your head.  And that if I put a blanket up to the side of your face you will cuddle up to it and close your eyes.  You are the sweetest boy.  And we are so glad you're here.

love forever,

mom and dad

*the word 'boogus' is a word granD (my mom) used/made up with her babies and i guess it stuck with me because this is what i call you.  of course, your dad and i have embellished it like we do.  you are also "the boog,"  or "boogus supreme," or my favorite, that doesn't make sense, that your dad coined "boogus the train."  

inching my way

I have an awful lot of goals.  Hopes.  Aspirations.  Dreams.  Call them what you will, I have a bunch of them.  They're not very grand either;  they're each fairly simple.  But as there are so many, and they all require the precious use of time-- sometimes they can feel daunting among the simple life I'm also living. 

To name a few:

I want to know how to tend a garden and cook using food I've grown myself.

I want to invest time in music.  It's a dream of mine to play the cello.  I'd like to become more comfortable with the piano.  I'd like to play the ukulele.  and SING.  Sing sing sing.  And record my own favorites.  

I'd love to learn more about photography.  I love to take pictures, but I've never learnt much about the ins and outs of photography.  How amazing would it be to perfect the use of light but also to find your own style?

I want to be extremely comfortable with making bread.  One that is healthy (like the ones I'm learning about here) to the point that store bought bread is a treat, or a thing of the past.

I'd like to be a better writer and be more comfortable with myself as one.  Try not to try so hard.  And love it more easily.  Haha.

I'd like to find more time for good reading.

I want to know how to edit video and to improve my skills of filming too.  I'm not super worried about this one, considering my man is so excellent at both.  But I think being a partner in it wouldn't be so bad.  Especially when it comes to our own home videos.

I want to design houses.  Okay... this dream is kind of big.  Maybe just design a house of my own?  And related to this... I would love to realize my true style in my home.  Pinterest, you kill me.

I want to learn how to really sew.  I'm grateful that I have the (very) basics down of sewing.  But I'd like to quilt.  To make things for my home.  Make clothing, even. 

I'd like to be consistently active physically.  I am loving Zumba right now, but the consistency part is missing.  darn that consistency.  

But you know what desire trumps all the above?

I'd like to be a good mom.

I'm just beginning to appreciate what my sister Mica, mother of five, has been saying for years.  "It will keep."  I'm a mother first before all else.  I may find my small moments to tinker away at the things I'd like to accomplish... but until my children are grown- it will keep.  Accepting this has lifted a weight.  I may not be considered a super-human-mother-creature-woman.  But I will be a mom.  And hopefully, a good one.

And perhaps in the mean time, my little desires will aid in my mothering and will help shape my children.  We had our first snow today.  So I strapped Peter to me, all bundled up, and we went out in the snow and took a few pictures.  Win, win.

blessed

"...We bless you that you may have a strong spirit as you grow, and as your family grows you will be a great example and a great leader to your siblings, to your friends and to those around you. "    

phone spill

I love my sleeping babes.

 Shot while driving.  This horse farm thing never gets old.

 i love to catch sun beams

thank goodness for Lisa

 beach baby

louisville science center for kids

 
 another from the science center

 aunt patty

 sleeping, not choking.  i promise.

 testing out his ewok bottoms

3 months old

trying to remember this cuddly boy

 oldest bookstore in KY


uncle john is home!

 bundled baby
cute james and holli


I cannot get over the colors this year.  It's been different and beautiful every day

more sunbeams

Stole a picture of this man: my grandpa's doppleganger.

'round the neighborhood