at the family kickball game

we aren’t the first picked for the teams, but we look good in gray.

seriously, the typewriter was a cool gift.

Christmas Favorites

the anticipation

the $2 fishing pole keaton bought at our neighbor, chuck’s, garage sale.  It was the first thing he picked for his dad to open.

the hugs

the {unexpected} light aqua vintage typewriter

the homemade aprons from mom.

going to church together to worship and remember what this day is all about.

the 24th

Christmas Eve never seems to have enough hours.

There is so much to cram into one day.

I always start off the day by going to the bread store to get my bread bowls for soup that night.  I brought two helpers along with me so they could smell the heavenly bread store smells on this Christmas Eve’s morn.

Then the traditionalists that we are, we went for mexican food for lunch.

This was, of course, just a  precursor to the next holiday-ish activity:

SHOOTING!

Who doesn’t go shooting on Christmas eve????

On the way home, Weston insisted we must make homemade cookies for Santa.

We just have to.

So we did.

(I was hoping to let this one slide by and make do with an already made goody for the jolly guy…but the boy was so emphatic)

We round out the evening with creamy chicken noodle soup in bread bowls, reading Luke 2, opening new jammies and watching the old B&W version of A Christmas Carol. 

It is one of my favorite days of the year because it is so full…of  us.

the boys build a house

a gingerbread house, that is.

at first glance, it seems a fine little house, obviously adorned with only the candies and cheap fondant that came in the kit.

and a little powdered sugar. 

but…

at second glance

you see what I like to call

ingenuity.

yes, indeed

ingenuity and powered sugar take everyday and turn it to exceptional.

(the budding geniuses)

three favorite hawaiian memories

[our sunday drive & figuring out the self timer on the camera]

[taking the restaurant advice from the valet.  JIMBO’S…looks so scary…tastes so good]

and lastly…

[the lonesome swing out in the middle of nowhere, just begging for a swinger]

thanksgiving

I am thankful for ninja toys

and the boy who hangs it from my thankful frame:

I adore him in his hat

gone fishin’

On Saturday Brian took the boys fishing, with their very own poles and tackle box.  I decided that there is something surely sublime about a Daddy teaching his boys to bait a hook and cast a line. 

Keaton caught the first fish of the day and he was elated.  He said to me,  “ I have always dreamed of going fishing.”

They each ended up catching 8 fish.  Weston let me know that “fishing is hard work” and that catching a fish makes him very thirsty.  Good thing we brought along gatorade.

I am glad they brought me along, too.  I loved being the cheerleader and the picture taker. 

Although, Weston decided I was there for a different reason, as I held out the salmon eggs to him,  “Mom, you’re like the egg girl.”

I love my boys!

my halloween darlings + 1

kea and wen are still satisfied with cheapo whatever costumes as long as they get candy.

(i think this is W's third ninja costume)

shelby is in that phase where she is not really sure about dressing up.

kate and bentley, obviously, are happy to be a little wacky as long as they are together.

(miss K spoke in a british accent ALL NIGHT LONG)

fifteen

what makes her happy?  good food, family, friends, art and books

what makes her sad?  bad grades and death

what makes her laugh?  witty jokes

favorite dessert?  frozen yogurt

favorite place to go?  the beach

favorite smell?  orange blossoms

worth a splurge?  shoes

favorite dinner?  zuppa toscana

what she wants to be when she is grown up?  a pianist

favorite item of clothing?   her new black blazer

what she does when there is nothing to do?  read and watch reruns of The Amanda Show

where would she go in the world?  England because they have cute accents

what she doesn’t want to be without?  music and family

happy birthday baby girl.

ha-lay-loo-ya

before:

after:

the boy turns 10

goodbye single digits for my first born son.

we celebrated his 10th one day early.

on keaton’s real birthday, bri, kate and I were dressed up like pioneers and pulling handcarts through the wilderness (see photo below).

so we spoiled him just a little bit—acoustic guitar and a whole box of costco candy bars all to himself.

then fondue for dinner.

he loved putting his hand through the steam.  he explained that it made him feel mysterious.

i loved being with him and his mysterious hand.

just crazy about him and all his ten years.

Question from a 21st century boy

“Mom, what is this?”

(I love my curious keaton)

folded & flung at me during conference

blueberry sauce

 

• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• juice of one lemon

combine ingredients in a saucepan and bring to boil. lower heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until thick.

thought I’d try a new twist on our aebleskivers this semi-annual conference morn.

they were delectable, good enough to get out of bed for.

{last night, before bed, Weston, repeatedly and emphatically instructed us not to wake him up in the morning.

“Do not wake me up in the morning.”

“No one wake me up in the morning!”

Shelby reminded him,”Then you will miss aebleskivers.’

Weston quickly changed his mind.”Okay, wake me up.”}

cha-cha-cha-changes

This morning I looked at my trash can and thought, “You have been replaced, upgraded.   But you have been good.  You have served me well for many years.”

Although these babies are fully functioning, my old trash can hasn’t found a new home yet.

Guess I am just used to seeing that old silver guy sitting around.  He was a Christmas gift back in ‘04. I think 7 years is a pretty good run, considering almost everything in this photo is no longer with us.

Even the paint and carpet have been changed. 

So have these 2004 faces:

And, sadly, my face isn’t so fresh anymore either:

But change can be good when it brings a new kitchen!

It still has some finishing bits, but I love it.

Hope I still do in 2018, because it’s not going anywhere for a long time.