Christmas Times - Part 1

We got to have two Christmases this year, one in Idaho and one here in Cali. We got snow the first day in Idaho, then rain the rest of the time, until the last day it snowed again. It was a good time hanging out with the family, and eating lots of yummy food!

Here is Carys keeping watch over the mules

My funny brother-in-law Matt got me in the gift exchange. Can you guess what I got? Can you? You'll never guess....


Grandpa!

Mason gets ready to shoot his eye out

Carys guarding all of her presents


walkin' in a winter wonderland...

Boot Tray

I am digging this idea, even though I pretty much never have icy, wet boots. Plus my kid would try to eat the rocks. But still, I think it would look cool just as a regular place to put my shoes right?

DIY from Martha Stweart, click here.

Home sweet home

So I have been "home" now for a week. I'm so grateful that the Lord has given us this opportunity! I am starting to learn a lot about how this works. Like that I can pick up after Carys all day and its still not that clean around here! Or that if I'm going to get any grocery shopping done, I absolutely NEED the cart with the little car attached to the front (best invention ever!).
I dusted off the old stroller and we've been going on walks. Today we went to the Spectrum and I saw some of my old work peeps. I miss them! It still feels like I'm on vacation and will be going back. Weird. We also went on the carousel, although she was too scared to sit on any horse by herself, and the smug carousel worker guy with the cool sunglasses would not let her sit on my lap. Boo! I mean, isn't it safer for me to sit with her, then to stand next to her? I'm just sayin... I almost asked for my 2 dollars back. She still had fun though of course. Here's a pic of us on there, I took with my phone. Aww, look how big she's getting! She is 18 months old today...little rascal...

Dillinger Fabrics

Oh I am excited about this and I don't even know how to sew. I found this store on Ebay called Dillinger Fabrics, that has some great prints at good prices. They've got Amy Butler (who i've heard of) and Michael Miller (who i haven't), but i love them both.
I got some of this print for Carys' room, I would love to make some Roman shades out of them.

I also got some of this geometric print that has no home yet, maybe somewhere in the kitchen?

Here are a couple others I liked, but couldn't afford to buy the whole store. The blue and black is by Miller, and the orange buds are Amy Butler.



There is a lot more, if you're into fabrics you should check it out!

Getting there...

Last week I put in my 2-week notice at work, and that made my transition to stay-at-home mom-hood real. Today they sent out the notice to hire my replacement, now it really seems real! My last day at Element is next Tuesday, I will have been here almost 4 years. When I started here I wasn't even engaged yet, wow.
They have treated me well, but I am so excited for this next stage of my life, getting to be there full-time for my husband and daughter. As happy as I am to be moving on, there is still a part of me that is quite sad to be leaving. People at work become like family, people you are stuck with but grow to love (well, most of them...ha!)

Solid Gold

I absolutely love this ring from Shop Bop...

Dress Up Time

I think everyone knows how much I love to dress up on Halloween. I am still chasing that elusive costume in which Nathan will have to wear spandex. Some day...
The last couple years Carys has been cranky, so I haven't gotten the best pictures. I plan to keep dressing the whole family up as long as they will let me! This year we went as Pilgrims and a turkey. I bought the Pilgrim costumes, but I made the turkey costume, too bad I couldn't get her to wear anything on her head. Maybe next year!

Here she is with the other animals.


Ye Olde Family picture...see what I mean about cranky?


Goodnight!