Christmas past

I have been using Google photos lately to back up my photos online. They have a neat feature that puts together a collage for you. These two popped up right around Christmas. The last collage is one I made from this year.

Still making gingerbread houses and being our weird selves. I love a good timehop.

lil bit

 Internet has been restored! Hooray! Here is a lot of random shots of our life recently.

 I made a yukon gold and rosemary pizza that was good the first night but blog-worthy the next day when I sauteed it in a pan with too much butter. Mind. Blown.

 When we moved from Idaho we had to leave the Christmas decorations with Ellen because there was no room. She brought them up to us in time for this Christmas. It was great to rediscover all of our stuff. It was equally satisfying to drag out all the homemade things from last year's broke Christmas. I made that garland for $2 and I think it is my favorite.

 Kaleb is playing the violin! I don't believe I've mentioned this yet. He is very serious about it. He has spent weeks working on all the mechanics and now we are able to hear him play actual songs. Ahh, proud Mama moment.

 A fantastic local spot called Meander's just moved even closer to our home. Matt and I enjoy a good breakfast date while all the kiddies are at school. Anyone else, going nuts this winter break? :/

 A nearby church put on a live nativity. The boys were entertained for roughly 3 minutes, but then again, Mary was texting and the shepherds were freaking out about the smell. ("It's pooping- ewwww" Yes, animals do that.)

 Matt and I went out with friends and I literally dusted off a dress for the occasion. A serious call to more dates and getting out of my yoga pants in the new year. Or consigning the dresses so I can buy more yoga pants....

 I still try to capture all boys in a picture with eyes on me and smiles. This one was close.

 Our real estate agent and friend took us boating around Lake Union. We all continue to thoroughly enjoy the beauty of the place we live. Slowly we are meeting wonderful people to share those experiences with, or in this case, share something with us.

I wondered if the boys we past the Santa hat picture this year. Guess not.

crafty

 A few recent creative endeavors. I followed this tutorial for a felt wreath and it made for easy, mindless crafting while watching Grey's Anatomy Season 3.

 I spotted this 3 pack of ribbon at the thrift store for $2.99. It made for some lovely brown paper packages all tied up with string.

My favorite, a spray-painted cheese dome (also thrifted) with a forest scene glue-sticked to the base. I guess they have fake snow at the craft store, I think I'll add some of that eventually.

Also, I made the paper rosettes from this post with this easy tutorial and then added some recycled Christmas cards from last year to the center.

Merry Craft-mas and Happy 2013, Friends!

for the grandparents

 Before the fun.

 And after. I promise this is Parker's "I love it!" face, same as his mom.

 See, same face.

Thanks Poppa Ken and Grammy Annie. We're spoiled brats and we know it :)

holiday hangover

I love the attitude radiating from this picture of Collin. He was sporting a plaid sport coat on a Sunday morning church service. Also, you can see his super long slender fingers that he inherited from his Granny Annie. That was the very first thing I saw when he was born. Totally captivated by those tiny hands that made us a family of 6.

It was kind of an outtake, though. I always find myself unable to erase all the wack-a-do photos on the computer. The outtakes are so fun to look through. They tell an unscripted story.

Nothing draws a boy like a ladder.

Nothing reconciles brothers like a chance to clink glasses for a Christmas Eve toast.

I was a little disappointed when I sorted through the Christmas photos because they all looked like that one. But that's our story. Our blur in time called life.

And then there is this...

Just keepin' it real.

Season's Greetings

  No white Christmas in the Pacific Northwest. And that is just fine with me. I have enjoyed the extended autumn colors and afternoon sunshine, yes! The sun! It has been such an unexpected pleasure when it shows itself. Also, the season has brought the joy of morning tea with honey brought from Barcelona for my birthday by Andrea. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

We left all the Christmas decorations in Idaho when we moved. I was pretty panicked about not being able to get into my Clark Griswold swing of things. But it turned out so great. I crafted banners, glittered pinecones, searched the internets for a free printable nativity, & recruited Ellen to paint. It was a nice challenge, I loved seeing how little we need to bring in commercial Christmas & plastic Santa.

There were some of the same traditions as we've always done. Advent calendars, gingerbread houses, planning the Christmas dinner. (everything with my boys usually involves food) I love the rhythm these annual activities brings to the season but I think I am most jazzed about some of the new things we started this year. I invited some neighbors over to craft & eat an amazing lemon curd cheesecake I baked. We taught the boys "Away in a Manger" and sang it every night. I didn't fuss over wearing our Christmas best. (or even combed hair-gasp!) 

It was new with old, & all kinds of good.

Sparkle

 Yes, I wore a sequin dress to Christmas Eve service this year. And it is a good thing I did, because there were no candles to be found! I love going out each year to evening church with my boys all spiffed up. Then we find a nice restaurant to celebrate Jesus' birthday at. Great to be a girl in this family of handsome men.

Christmas was understated at our home this year. So much going on in these hearts though. The boys were relieved to see Santa had not left coal this year, I think it made their gifts seems better. Don't we all need a kick in the appreciate-what-you-have pants? Thank you Jesus, for coming as a baby & that you fill our hearts when we open them to you.

Radness

http://merrynewsinator.com/3j1s

The Ghost of Christmas Blahs

Just not feeling it with all the craftiness & decorations & sparkle... I still have sparkle, but the house usually has it this time of year too. A simple paper chain & felt snowflake may be all that accompany our tree this year.

Oh well, more sparkle for me!

Faux Reals

Our tree is up & decorated. This year we waited longer than usual, it was our first time with a fake tree...dah, dah, dah.... Shocking, I know. But it is a nice, pre-lit one, & it was free. Thank you Cardillos!














I love Matt's feet sticking out from underneath during the set up, & Kaleb assisting. It turned out beautifully & after I lit an Evergreen candle, same diff.

All together now

Aww....

Merry Christmas to All

So much happens in the last couple of weeks of December. I am going to be a bit lazy & paint with really broad strokes. We had a very Merry Archuleta Christmas. Blessings to you & yours for 2010.

Parker's latest obsession

My Seester!

Kaleb, feeling the Christmas spirit.

Super cute SpongeBob pjs from Aunt Barb

Mornin'!

It's Christmas! I love this look on Collin's face, right after, he was super grouchy & refused to open any presents.


The Melting Pot on Christmas Eve.


Note to self; do not wear a silk dress while dining out with a 2 year old.

The whole family loved it.

The annual face gash in time for all Christmas photos. Does this happen to everybody's kids?

Peace on Earth & in the Minivan.

Sugar High!

No joke, the difference between these photos was less than a minute.


Parker is in Choir this year, they performed Christmas songs at the Nampa High Holiday Bazaar.

The most wonderful time of the year!