As Good as it Gets

Keaton:  Dad, can we make a bridge?

Me:  Ok.

Weston & Keaton:  {excited boy sounds}

The three of us get on the bridge...

Weston:  Now this is the good life.

Keaton:  Yeah, this is the good life.

Me:  Big smile.

tree house

"Getting your hands dirty is the best way to keep your head clean."

We went to California this year for Christmas.   I hoped my overscheduled husband could find a way to relax while we were away.

The second day we were there, Brian spotted some boards leaning up against the pepper tree in the yard.  The lumber was to become a tree house, someday.  The "someday" became  that day and the next. 

Brian found his escape in making something with his hands.  I hadn't seen him that relaxed and content in a long time.  I truly believe that good work is a cure for what ails you.

a reminder

A tiny, torn scrap of paper was placed on my nightstand and an identical one was left on Brian's nightstand.

Weston, the benefactor of these tokens, explained, "...so you won't forget my room number at school."

(numbers= correct; in the right order= not so much)

the un-love and the love

the un-love. 

don't get me wrong.  I am grateful for clothes and a washer and dryer and the ability to work.  but staring at the big pile of it today, the big dirty pile that starts all over before i can get to the bottom of it, reminds me that it is not my favorite.

now, the love.

 

i could swoon over these little bowls.  they are called berry bowls.  that is actually what the description said in the store and i love them for it.  i bought them almost a year ago and i can honestly say that they rank high on the favorite dish list.  i have used them for our dinner fruit for the past two nights and i just felt compelled to share my love.

the retouch

My friend snapped this photo of me at The New Year Party of the New Decade.  I thought it was an okay picture...at first glance.  Upon second glance, I noticed the tragedy that is going on under my eyes.  Shimmery makeup isn't helping any situation, either.  Third glance brings to my attention the chunk of pepper or something in my teeth that nobody told me about.  

So for kicks I thought that I would do a little post editing... 

And it actually made me feel worse.  Vanity never brings happiness.  I suppose I need to embrace the aging around my eyes...either that or maybe give Bare Minerals a try?

New Year 2010

caught cheating on the puerto rican grape eating game

 

my competitive boy with twelve grapes in his gub

 

holding gwen is better than choking on grapes

 

digging for gumballs through whip cream

 

just enjoying the ride

 

Kate and the girls had fun all night doing girl things

 

balloon drop

 

the aftermath

family tree

This year I nestled family photographs in the branches of our Christmas tree.  I thought it wise to take a picture of the tree before it came down on Saturday so I can recreate it more easily next year.  That is, if I remember that I took these pictures come December 2010.