k-love

 This Thanksgiving we were lucky enough to get a last minute visit with Kelly & his boys.  We met Kiel for the first time & I have never seen such a good natured, flexible child. We had our hands full with 6 boys but that baby just rolled with it. Matt & I feel so thankful for sweet nephews who have captured our hearts over & over again. Miss you, Koen, Kace, & Kiel!

(iPad pics because I left my camera in Idaho when we visited for Thanksgiving. Ellen is bringing it up here tomorrow & we will have a short visit with her for Christmas. More cute pics of the baby to share from my camera.)

on tradition

 

I am trying to bring sparkle and shine to the rough and gray 'round these parts. I push for Christmas, for jolly & bright & unreasonably cheerful. But the Hum Bug's are winning out. So I brought out the big guns: the gingerbread house tradition. That is the thing about a tradition, on the outside it all stupid & contrived but then it grabs you. The magic of the season, the smells, and the sounds, it grips you & you find yourself feeling downright merry.

blessed

A friend offered to take a family picture over the Thanksgiving break for free. Thank you, Carrie! I love to look at all my men corralled & smiling on days when I am feeling particularly homicidal.

more random

Pretty soon I will get back to some actual content on this here blog but here is some more random to go with pics from Kaleb's iPad. 

I had been wanting to try a Shellac manicure & finally a Groupon popped up for a local place. It was worth every penny because of what the lady said as I was leaving. "Remember, jewels not tools." She, of course was talking about babying my newly polished nails but I thought that was choice advice for my single friends.

Kaleb was playing with Legos the other morning, saying, "Attack the Minnovites!" but then an hour later I walked by & heard, "Attack the Mennonites!" AWESOME.

Lastly, I counted the other day & we have been given 12 Bibles since the year 2000. I think this says something. Not sure what that something is, but there is definitely a message there. Kind of brings to mind this scene from Saved. When she throws the Bible, so funny.

http://youtu.be/umLUKBlpyoY

thanks

ra ra random

 Gettin' down with our inner artiste.

 Ooooh, a centerpiece keeps it classy. And you bet your boots there is Christmas music playing 24/7.

This is how said music affects Matt.

just now

Collin: "Mama, can I watch Dora on the puter? Pleeeease? It's my best day! Pleeeeeease?!!! I won't be naughty or break it or put anything on it? Pleeeeeease?!"

And then....he hissed at me. WTH.

Happy Halloween!

From some crazed footballs fans, Rosie the Riveter, an assassin, the Ranger's Apprentice, & Leonardo.

Not all who wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien

pun'kin

Our trip to the pumpkin patch 2011. We found a great place in Puyallup, WA to get out of the city & play in the pumpkins with Grandpa & Grandma. So many fun memories from their time here, nothing like generous grandparents to feel spoiled rotten.