let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

As you can see, we made it to Kansas. The kids are thrilled and don't seem to mind the ten degree temperature. Today, this mama got to sleep late, shower without a single interruption and drink coffee she did not make herself. She may not ever go home.

movies and modge podge

Do you remember the Disney musical Babes in Toyland? You know, with Annette Funicello and the scary trees and the toy factory and the village dancers in brightly colored twirly skirts...I love that movie. So, I introduced it to my kids this year with a bit of trepidation but thankfully, they loved it too! We must have watched our Netflixed copy about six times in the last couple of weeks. During one of those viewings I sat and clipped pictures out of all our Christmas catalogs (I had to make good use of them before I stuffed them into the recycle bin -and do you know how relaxing mindless paper cutting can be?) Once I had a nice stack of clippings going, I turned the kids loose on some red paper with glue sticks and they created really great holiday art and gift packaging. Can't beat an easy movie and craft afternoon like that.
Now when would be a good time to introduce the girls to Pollyanna...?

miscellany

We're still here! Things have been very quiet and very busy at the same time. We are getting ready to spend a month with my family in Kansas and the challenges and worries and details of leaving a house and a dog and getting on a plane with three little people and all our stuff has had me somewhat preoccupied. I don't know if it is a case of photographer's block or just a lack of time and energy but I have taken only a handful of photos in the past couple weeks and they aren't very good. But they do tell a story...they always do.

Like this one. I love her style. Anything goes, whether it's backwards plaid shorts and too-small boots or her baby sister's clothes. Yesterday she insisted on wearing the outfit I had chosen for Kate (because it used to be hers). I let her try it, sure it would be too small and the game would be over, but she's such a peanut it still fit! She just looked at me with her huge gap-toothed grin and said, "See?!" We had a good laugh and picked out something else for Kate.

Tristan is the sweetest boy I have ever known. Yes, I know I am his mom but if I wasn't I'm sure I would still feel that way. We have had some precious conversations in the past couple of weeks. His thoughts, his voice, his hugs and sheepish grin -all forever etched into my memories of my five year old son.

And this little one is an armful of pudgy, squishy, drooly, roly, poly, silly, giggly baby girl. One of my greatest joys these days is watching Kate play in the bathtub. She is all baby fat and happy squeals as she splashes and blows bubbles -you can't help but laugh with her.
So that's what I've been up to as the blog has sat in silence. Working on keeping these little priorities straight and looking forward to some good family time and Christmas. I have a feeling it's going to cure my photography block real quick!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"If we complained less and were more thankful, we would be happier, and God would be more glorified. Every day thank God for ordinary mercies- we refer to them as ordinary, and yet they are so priceless that without them we are ready to perish. Let us thank God for our eyes with which we see the sun, for the health and strength to walk around, for the bread we eat, for the clothes we wear.

Let us thank Him that we are not among the hopeless or confined among the guilty; let us thank Him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts. Let us praise Him, in fact, for everything that we receive from His generous hand, for although we deserve little, He provides an abundance."
-Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of men! Psalm 107:8

traditions

Black olives on fingers has been a Thanksgiving tradition in my family for as long as I can remember (I guess it's our Greek blood). It's just not Thanksgiving until someone waves their olive hands around. Tristan won't go near olives (or any other food that is not bread) so this is the first year I've been able to get one of my kids to do it. Kenna looked at her hand and promptly exclaimed, "it looks like a froggy hand!" By golly it does. How come in thirty years of Thanksgivings that never occurred to me? I love the two year old mind.
And I love this silly tradition. What are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions?
We're heading out of town today to spend some time with good friends.
I hope your holiday is full of joy, blessing, family, friends and good food (and perhaps a few olives on your fingers).

links to make you SMILE

For every one good picture of the kids I take, I have about a thousand of these -

No smiles there. Kenna looks like Cousin It and Kate is doing her rolly polly thing. I love it. You should see the attempts at getting our whole family in that picture. What I need is the help of a dear friend who also loves to to take photos and does a great job...oh wait, I have one of those! But she lives six states away. Shoot. For all of you in the Houston area, maybe you can take advantage of this sweet mama's skills. She has a new photography business up and running and some beautiful pictures to share over here at her new site. Tell her I sent you (that way if I ever do get the chance I can hit her up for a discount! hehe) Sara has some wonderful creative talent and three really adorable boys that give her plenty of practice with the camera - While we're talking photos, I bet you're all trying to figure out what to do for Christmas cards for this year, right? No? Well, you better get on it. Only 35 days left you know, but I have your solution! Head over to the Kojo blog and check out the amazing finds and creations by my friend Jordan and her sister. Their Etsy shop is full of gorgeous card designs -gorgeous! It gets better. Now through November 30, they are offering an amazing deal -purchase a $15 digital card design and get 100 5x7 photo cards with envelopes free!! When I saw that I was absolutely kicking myself for having already made our card. Theirs are SO much better!
So check out the links today and enjoy the photo goodness you will find at both. And smile!

finding a new groove

The holidays arrived at our house over the weekend. We had a small Thanksgiving feast, Christmas cookie decorating and even some gift opening. On our last evening together, we took in the sunset over the marina as the kids clambered around the shore and the playground.
Today Shawn safely arrived at his new home-far-away-from-home and the kids and I are working on finding a new groove.
For now, that mostly involves taking some time to rest before the holiday excitement and travels begin. I'm going to finish unpacking from our trip and cleaning up the messes I ignored for the past few weeks. I'm going to let Kate smash all the bananas she wants into her hair at breakfast if it allows me to sit and drink my coffee slowly. I'm going to let the kids take hour long bubble baths (especially after bananas-for-breakfast) while I read on the bathroom floor. I strung up twinkle lights around our reading spot (consolation for not getting out the Christmas decorations this year) where I will spend many hours cuddling with kids and storybooks. I'm going to pray -a lot- for Shawn, who doesn't have these comforts of home and little ones to hug. I don't know how he does what he does.
But I know how lucky I am to call him mine.