Mornings

This morning, I noticed the sunlight streaming through the sides of the shades in my bedroom windows (I don't think I've opened the shades yet this winter because I figure they provide more insulation) so I opened them to let the rays and sun filter in. It was a good and lazy morning all around since I could ease into the day (Therin didn't go to school so he could ice his very swollen face and Kya didn't have school.) A lovely morning.

I wish this evening's news were better.......I am thinking of you Jules. I hope you are feeling better. We will make you a sign tomorrow. Much love, The Smiths

Well wishes

From Therin's class:


SO sweet!

Dear C.-
Thank you for pampering my son. I am almost willing to hurl myself off a sled in your care so I can be taken care of so well. =) Have you forgotten that you were actually doing Therin and I a favor? I hold you 0% responsible.
Your good friend,
Sarah

First Stitches

Today Therin took a digger while sledding with some friends. This was the damage:


Therin was a champ while getting sewn up and Dad said he didn't cry. I think he'll have a lot of ice and popsicles in the next few days; other than that, I'm sure he'll be ready to sled again in no time! Thanks for taking care of him Celine! I owe you a bottle of wine!


Nursing wounds and drifting off to sleep while Dad reads, My Side of the Mountain.


There's going to be a lot of lube on faces in the next few days!! This one's has been SO dry. We have Vit E sticks, Vanicream, Hydrocortisone and now Bacitracin for the other one's.

Titanic

Just your everyday 6 year old drawing of the Titanic:

Gifts from the Johnsons

It's hard to know what to say when someone gives your kids one of these....

Marshmellow blow guns. Oh yes, they have been the source of many laughs AND many experiments I might add. Like, what else can I blow out of this thing? Needless to say, we are trying to come up with a gift for the Johnson boys to top this one. Hmmmmm, any ideas? =)

You know you're tired when.....

you can sleep for 2 hours on the stone mantel of the fireplace.

Sledding with Team Jarman and Caldarellas

louandlee

My newest favorite Etsy find! SO adorable I just had to order another (in favorites right now). Anyway, if anyone every wants gift ideas for this girl, these headbands are it! They always have seasonal themes like holly and poinsettas at Christmas, hearts for Valentines Day, etc.

What else we've been up to:

Lego building with Dad



*Making lots of "stews" in our new pots from Grandma-throw in nuts, Goldfish, cilantro, chocolate chips, rice, etc. and call it a meal.

*Playing new games that we got for Christmas like Qwirkle, Slap Jack, and Ribbit.

*Lots of cleaning and organizing.

*Oh yes, and crying after watching the Packers lose to the Cardinals yesterday!

Finally!

After a very long stretch of bitter cold, we are happy to be out and about outside again!

A Year of Mornings

My friend, Alisha, sent me this book featured on NieNie's blog, called A Year of Mornings. Two friends, who lived 3000+ miles apart took a picture every morning for a year and posted them. The pictures are beautiful and simple and inspiring. Too bad I'm NOT a morning person. Not that I'm grumpy but I wait until the last possible second to get up in the morning no matter how much or how little sleep I've had. So I was thinking, "I'd be better off with a book titled, A Year of Nights." These are the hours of productivity and inspiration and reflection for me. Then I thought, well, maybe if I did a morning project, I would be at the very least more AWARE of my mornings and how I move through them and my LACK OF APPRECIATION for them. So, I will not do 365, but I will dedicate some space to my mornings throughout the year in this blog. Here is the first:







These are the routine images of my morning. After I realize that I must in fact get up and tend to the routines and demands of the day, I am always excited to get downstairs and check my email, SouleMama's blog and NieNie's blog (and in that order) to see what kind, funny and ordinary words people have sent and the creative ideas or recognition or appreciation with which only SouleMama and NieNie can seem to consistently and unfailingly produce and inspire. And that is how I start my days, with love, support and inspiration. And so many good days have followed such good mornings!

Thank you Alisha for the book and helping to inspire my appreciation for my mornings!

Traveling at Christmas

This year, traveling at Christmas was a most interesting experience. Some highlights:

Therin got an MP3 player which he loves to listen to. Kya would much prefer to hear herself sing (and not quietly I might add). So, as they were fighting, Therin couldn't hear his music above her and asking for me to solve their problems; Therin came up with a solution himself: offer to pay his sister off with things he never intends to give her (like a ton of money) but she always falls for it and she promptly stopped singing.

Making sled forts in the back of the Suburban while never unbuckling their seatbelts.

Travis figuring out how he can work on the road with his new blackberry-is this a good thing or bad?

Kya asking for the millionth time to tell her a funny story.

Sharing all of Travis' naughty and very funny stories of getting into trouble with his cousin Nathan and turning over a port a potty.

Mom trying to ignore all of the story requests so she could finish her book, Catching Fire.

Visiting the Great Grandparents