remember when

You first had a cell phone with a camera? And you were like, "Nah, don't need my camera. I'll just use my crappy cell phone to take really convenient, really bad photos."

Well, I am certainly glad of that.

remember when

I took a hundred photos of the exact same thing? Well, may I proudly present: A flashback to a sofa wrestling match and playing king of the hill. (wherein Dad is the hill)

You're welcome.

year 6

Did you think I forgot about this series? I kind of did. But I don't want to stop even though the posts are more challenging than just posting some cute pictures of the kids. 

Here we are after we left off at the farm.

Every time I hear that song, We Found Love, I choke up. A lot, like sometimes I pullover if I am driving because it gets that ugly. Matt and I have this wild story. Or maybe it just feels wild because I am such a control freak and when I pictured my future before I met Matt, it was mostly an all white apartment with no kids. No kids ever. (Ha! Universe, you are so funny.)

Anyway, Matt and I pulled right up to the edge in our teen dating saga and somehow did not fall off. Maybe we fell off and climbed out of the pit. Either way, I had these days when I would just marvel at how in the world we weren't both dead. And not only were we not dead but things resembled some kind of love story, one you would want to be in.

I was worried about the edge though. I hoped it was a one and done. That we had checked the box and were never going to let things get that way again. This meant a lot of working for Matt. Extra hours being a good provider and a great employee. For me it was apparently changing my hair and baking cupcakes. (No one is ever a mess with good hair and baked goods!) But we found the edge many times.

We found the edge when I tried to make Matt go to Baptist church events. And that same cliff appeared when we were outnumbered 3 kids to just the two of us. And again when we welcomed Collin into the world, moved from Weiser to Nampa, got in a fender bender and had out of town family visiting in one week's time.

That was year six. The edge. Again. The farm was not a good fit anymore, for many reasons outside our control. (gas was almost $5 a gallon and Matt had an hour commute, for one) So we of course had a baby and moved into a blue shag-carpeted dump close to Matt's work.

There was a year seven but that was year six of marriage.

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.

best of 2012

 We Instagrammed.

 We said, "good-bye."

 We said, "hello."

 There were the first broken Archuleta bones.

 And Washington plates on the van.

 There were, haircuts, and loose teeth, and nose bleeds.

 We tried new things.

 We moved.

 There were nephews.

 We snuck away for short dates.

 We DIY-ed.

 There were birthdays.

And there was the everyday.

 There were swim lessons.

 And a wedding dress.

 And public school.

We explored our city.

 We learned.

 We loved.

 We cheered.

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!