Spring Lovelies

"It smells like warm!" - Sammy, one of the first days we opened the windows to let the sunshine and fresh spring breezes in.  I sat playing the piano, and he sat in the rocking chair next to me, simply staring outside and watching the robins and the flowers and the neighbors.  This spring Aly was in a production of Mary Poppins, the girls hosted their very own tea party, and I sewed both my sister's theatre costume and a dress for myself. --- In between the business of the season, we spent quite a bit of time enjoying the spring weather. I would carry all of my devotional items outside and Sam all of his coloring supplies and we'd sit on the back deck together.  We also played catch, picked flowers, washed rearranged the dirt on my car, and listened to a lot of K-Love.

Christmas Time

  

Christmas lights and wrapping paper and hot chocolate and carols: it truly is one of the most beautiful and magical times of the year.  All of the events and parties and present exchanges in December are constantly adding to the excitement! 

In our house, we have a rather relaxed Christmas Day. We start opening presents sometime between 6:00 and 7:00 A.M., and end sometime mid morning.  Granny and Papa usually leave early to travel back and we stay in for the day. * Pajamas and fuzzy blankets and apple cider and snack foods * new movies and books and games * between cat naps and trying out new gifts, we have a Doctor Who Christmas marathon.  We pull out the favorites and watch them (simi in order) throughout the day - occasionally interspersed with another tv series Christmas special.  It's truly wonderful to have Christmas itself a relaxing affair amidst all of the other holiday bustle.

using my new photography home studio set up for the first time  ^_^

Little House in the Big Woods {Thanksgiving 2014}

  Our annual family Thanksgiving comes at just the right time. The perfect break from school, work, or basic life responsibilities, we all enjoy the time away.  There's just something special about a break from the everyday, busy sort of life and taking an extra long weekend to spend time together.  Our time is filled in delightful ways. Board games and puzzles.  Various mountain hikes. A small stack of books. Target practice.  We make oh-so-much food and then buy still more.  From homemade pies to chicken nuggets, there's never a shortage of things to eat or hot things to drink. Thanksgiving in the big woods is not complete without a tower of pop cans, a fire in the living room stove, an intense game of Farkle or Blokus, Black Friday thrift store shopping, and of course a couple rolls tossed across the table.

 

 This year brought with it a new edition to the fun!  Just the week before we arrived at my grandparents house, this adorable white bunny was found wandering in the brush.  Clearly domesticated, and clearly in need of a home, Granny took him in until we could find him a home.  Of course, once I saw this little guy I knew I'd need to find him the perfect home, not just any old place.  I told my mom bunny needed a home, and - my animal addiction having been her constant companion these twenty years - she sighed and told my dad it looked like we had a new rabbit.  Look how sweet and cute he is!  we brought him home in a box in the middle seat between me and Aly, then mom and I ran out to the pet store to get him a cage and food and hay and other bunny necessities. He now lives in my room, leading a very happy and probably spoiled life, and Aunt Cheryl says he won the bunny lottery.