play

I thought these blocks were never going to be played with again.  They had been collecting dust for a few years and I really thought I would put them in the garage, otherwise known as the toy graveyard.  It seems like these days my boys would rather play on the computer than do anything else and I had really reached my breaking point the other day.  They were fighting and I just yelled, "play with the blocks dangit!!!"  (or something like that)  And they did.  My blood pressure lowered a bit and I realized how beautiful it is to have a mess in the family room.

Honestly, I miss the days when my kids just played with toys.  I feel nostalgic about those days when I had an ever present little one on my hip and the house was a disaster zone most of the time.

My kids, at the moment, are playing flashlight hide-n-seek with dad.  My heart is really happy.

gearing up

It looks like it's going to be a white Christmas this year.  I can't tell you how thrilled I am.

We went sledding last weekend.  It's one of those things that takes a hell of a lot of preparation but I'll tell you the trick.  See, every year we have to go through the glove/scarf bin for things to keep us warm up there.  And this year, as if a light bulb went off, I realized that we just really needed ski gloves for the kids.  I've just given them super warm mittens.  Usually, we've had to change them after they get wet. And for myself, I've always gone up there in my jeans with long underwear.  It's crazy.  So, we went and made sure we all have ski gloves.  Now, I have to go get myself some ski pants.  The lesson is that you have to have the right gear.

As you can see, we had fun sledding.  No matter how cold, no matter how ill prepared we are (and I blame myself always), we manage to make some good memories.

This dog of ours is so freaking silly in the snow.  I love him.  We need to get him a ski suit too.  I'm sure they make dog ski suits right?

I ended up taking a shaky, cold dog in the car to warm him up.   I watched the kids and my husband from my toasty vehicle.  My daughter was spending the day with a friend, you know teenage kind of stuff, if you were wondering.

And as we head into next week, I see snow in the forecast.  It's good stuff this winter is.  I hope we'll have more snow on the valley floor for snowmen.  I'm planning on taking it easy until Tuesday, finishing up some pajamas for the kids and my new favorite snake scarves found here.

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!

the week in pictures

glorious fruit

This year I'm very hopeful we'll be harvesting fruit from our garden.  Most years the late frosts have all but wiped out our apricots, peaches, cherries, grapes and apples.  But this year, being so mild, our fruit is growing bigger every day and even if there's a light frost I think they'll be okay.

These apricots are my babies.  I kind of have a soft spot for them.  Only two other years have we harvested these beauties and only a few at best.  This years there are so many that I'm pretty stoked about it.

The grapes are pretty hardy.  We've gotten grapes every year.  I love how just a few weeks ago the leaves just started emerging and now we have small bundles of grapes on the vine.  The only problem with the grapes is that the birds love them too.  When they are about ripe, the kids go up and get them before the birds.  But, I'm happy to share a little too.

Do you see these adorable little peaches?  Our peach tree is only 3 or 4 years old and we haven't gotten anything from it so far.  Cross my fingers and hope that we can get some peaches this year.

What kind of fruit trees do you have and how are they doing this year?

I am grateful for.....

little notes that Amelia has left around the house for us, beautiful reminders of how much we are loved and missed.  Ditto baby!

my friends who remind me that I'm not alone.

my great aunt who I spent time with this weekend.  She'll be 89 this week.

my husband who is my lucky charm.  He's calm, cool and collected.  Something I'm not at times. 

the ying and the yang.

spring because I feel like cleaning out everything.

life experiences that help me feel more confident and alive.

boys because they are so funny.

I'm joining Lisa today for some gratitude. What are you grateful for??

gratitude

I am grateful for extremely local (like out my back door), tender and tasty organic kale with only a few aphids! 

I'm joining Lisa for her gratitude Monday post.  What are you grateful for??