Just to brighten your day . . .

We're feeling very Christmasy around here

We have been up to our usual tricks at this time: listening to Christmas music non-stop, putting up twinkle lights all over, pulling out well-loved decorations, checking our lists twice, making sure we are good boys and girls.



Making sure each nook and cranny feels like Christmas.



Treasuring Christmas stories- some that are very very old and some that are very new.



Discovering new play toys and setting them up whenever possible.



Sitting near the tree at night and reading into the wee hours by its small and steady light.

(and needing a gate so the 15-month-old can't pull the ornaments down)



And always trying to remember why we celebrate this season.

Did you have a Happy Halloween?

'cause we did!




We attended our neighborhood street festival and had a blast. Tyson loved all the different activities and Jack was a good sport in the stroller. Tyson told me his favorite thing was the blow-up slide.






Tyson choose to be Darth Vader ages ago and I scored big time on an Ewok costume for Jack on eBay.

I didn't decide to do my hair until an hour before we went out. But it was easy (for the most part) to do and when Tyson saw me he said "hello Princess Leia", in a very mysterious, Darth Vaderish way. I am not big into Halloween, but thought it would be fun to do my hair. It is all my hair by the way.



My aunt Joie took Tyson trick-or-treating a little bit more, since we were all Halloweened out. We watched Young Frankenstein, answered the door four times for other children, and gorged on candy.

Now on to the next holidays!

More Family Time

Sometime in September, all of my immediate family met at my sister's to celebrate her pregnancy. Seriously, though, we just look for good reasons to get together whenever we can. And what is more exciting than a new nephew coming? I submit, nothing. Except maybe a wedding. But those are few and far between. Actually, babies are pretty rare in our family. So you can see why we are tickled.

Ahem. Back to the story.

This is a good-looking bunch of boys no? Slightly rambunctious perhaps, but handy to have around when something tall needs to be reached or something heavy lifted. Or when food needs to be eaten.


Two of my sweetest sisters. They have great taste in music and educate me frequently exclaiming that I am "too mainstream". Whatever girls. You love me.


I promise my child isn't a street urchin. And nice shoes, brother! I hear they are all the rage. Have to pick me up some next time I pass by a Toms store. No, but seriously, I want some. They look super comfy.


Somehow, my crawling baby got corralled into the Bumbo. Tyson must have been in charge. :) Mom may or may not have been out shopping.





Nothing like some kitchen utensils to keep a baby happy. I highly recommend the pastry cutter. Jack swears they feel good on his gums.



Side note: "so that's the other end of my party line. . . " Name that movie.

Cute aunt. Also known as the entertainment committee. :)

Super sweet mother and "Grandma Jewels". The gatherings would feel empty without her.

See you on the flip side!

Growing too quickly.

Have a great day!

Our Alma Mater

We live right next to our stunning University campus in our city. It has beautiful architecture, magical landscaping, lots of tradition, and gorgeous sunsets in the evening. When we go on walks or family bike rides we almost always end up there. This time was no exception. Our auntie was able to come along with us, which meant I actually ended up in some of the pictures!





The boys had just gotten new sweatshirts to wear to football games and we decided to all show off our University regalia. :)
We were pretty matchy-matcherton.




Tyson did not want to be in the pictures. He wanted to be taking them. He has been experimenting with the camera lately and having a lot of fun.




The light was fading fast by the time we took this picture. The focus is horrible, but I love it anyway.

Pom-pom Mania

My sister and I threw a baby shower for another sister a few weeks ago, and I graciously accepted the job of decorating--okay, okay, I gave myself the task. I had seen these tissue paper pom-poms on etsy, which seemed enchanting, but didn't want to pay over ten dollars to ship them so I decided to make them myself. I found this tutorial on the Martha Stewart website and decided they seemed easy enough.

When I told my sister about the pom-poms, she was less than enthusiastic. Later I discovered she had envisioned some horrid display of cheerleader pom-poms, in their full metallic glory, but she is far too nice to say anything. How could she every doubt me? :)

I purchased tissue paper in assorted colors and followed the steps. They really were very simple to put together. Another sister (different from the previously mentioned sisters) helped me fold and assemble the pom-poms. It was time-consuming but we had Doris Day/ Rock Hudson films going to distract us (and give us laugh attacks).

The only difference I made from the Martha Stewart way was use extra garbage bag twist ties instead of wire to tie the middles together and also tie my fishing line around the middle before fluffing them.

We didn't fluff them out until we arrived to her home, and I "enlisted" all the help I could find. It was easy for everyone to do. Just a word of advice, unfold carefully, or you might tear the precious pom-pom resulting in a scathing tongue-lashing from your sweet, adoring older sister. Just kidding, just kidding..... sort of.

We decided to hang them from straight pins from the ceiling in a monochromatic fashion.

My sister didn't want to take them down. Now, I call that a successful baby shower decorating!

PS (I added this one of my sister because her shirt coordinated, unintentionally, with my pom-poms)

my baby is a one year old!