sing lustily & with good courage...

One of my favorite things about Christmas is singing Christmas carols. Last year I bought some song books, so now I know the words. We're still singing Christmas carols around here. This morning Emmeli was trying to sing The Twelve Days of Christmas. There were three dancing hula girls in her version. *smile* But she remembers I saw Three Ships correctly. She loves that song. Of course, she just sings that first line over & over, but it's adorable. Today we will take down our lovely Christmas tree. I think this is the longest we have left it up. It will be sad to see it go, but enough is enough. "There's going to be another Christmas soon!" I think we need to make up a farewell to Christmas song.

Last year I bought a Celtic Christmas cd that I have wanted for years. It's out of print & last year I found a copy, but I didn't find it 'til late. It arrived after Christmas and I never listened to it, so I was really looking forward to listening to it this year. Can you believe that I never got it out? Christmas has been such a whirlwind this year! I'm planning to listen to it while we take down the tree today. Next year I hope things are not so busy. I really find joy in keeping things simple. I love shopping for people, but when you have a big family, it gets a little crazy. Next year I'm planning for more singing and less shopping. I can't wait. *smile*

tree ornaments etc...

Emmeli~ "You can't take down the Christmas tree! It's beautiful, and there's going to be another Christmas soon!"

heart to heart...

Tonight after having a heart-to-heart with Hannah, she said, "I love you Mama. You make me happy. You make my life really very good."

out with the old, in with the new...

Part of bringing in the new year is pushing away the old. This takes great skill. It requires grace and balance. Only the masters have achieved this great art.

be merry...

So I'm cheating and posting this for 12/25, because I never posted anything for Christmas. Merry Christmas!!! *smile* My theme for Christmas this year was BE MERRY. And it was very merry... chipper, cheerful, chirpy, and cheery. I don't know what I will do next year if I can't give everyone something silly. I think I've strarted something & I don't know if I can stop it.

sweetness...

Once upon a time...there was a sweet little girl who liked sweets. You might be thinking, what little girl doesn't like sweets, but this girl was obsessed with sweets. So when she grew up and reached the age that she could do whatever she wanted, she ate sweets all the time. She had sweets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She sang songs about sweets. She dreamt about sweets. She baked her own sweets, and of course she had her favorite sweet shops which she visited as often as she was able. One day, something changed inside of our sweet girl. It was a funny thing that is hard to explain. She started to get greedy about those sweets, and when she couldn't have them, she became angry. She wasn't as sweet as she once was and she wasn't as thankful as she once was. At first she wished to deny the change that she felt, but by and by the beast within could be contained no longer. She started to growl, and people didn't like it. As time went on, she noticed that growling could be very tiresome and that being friendless was very lonesome indeed. She tried to comfort herself with sweets. It's not too surprising that her anger began to fade and she became quite happy because of the sweets, but it was only temporary. The happiness didn't last, and she began to cry. The sad thing about this story is that there was no one to comfort the once sweet little girl, because she had scared everyone away. So, when she was all out of tears, she had to figure out what to do all by herself. She thought for a long time about how to stop the growling, because she was a smart girl, and she new that if she stopped growling, people would like her again. She had the idea that all of this came from liking sweets too much, but she was not sure what to do about it. She started to wish that she didn't like sweets so much, and as a result, all the shiny frostings and rich dark brown chocolates and beautifully colored candies started to lose their luster. As she thought of them, she let out a little growl. Then she began to think of her friends and her family and they all seemed rich and shiny and beautiful. And you know what? She wanted to sing songs about them. She wanted to go to sleep and dream about them. So that's what she did. When she woke up, she was a sweet little girl in a nice warm bed, and her mom was in the kitchen making breakfast. All the wonderful smells of real food filled her room and she was thankful. The End

gifts...

Christmas shopping has been fun, but I'll be glad when it's over. It really is too much.

happy happy joy joy...

Happy thoughts are coming... I can feel it. Stay tuned...

the year of the blog...

I can't believe I've actually done it! I've kept a journal for an entire year! Wow! ...and look, the April cat has its tail between its legs. How appropriate. =)

blank...

Sometimes I feel so ________. I know the thing that I want is what I already have, yet I feel like I'm still chasing after it. Sometimes I realize I've got it, but I don't know what to do with it. Sometimes I know what to do, and I can't make myself do it & then I feel sorry for missing the opportunity. Sometimes I really am ________.

glowing...

Tonight as I was tucking Emmeli in I said, "I'm so happy you're my daughter."

Emmeli, in her sweet, sleepy little voice...

"I'm so happy you're my mom. You do great things for me."

light as a feather...

Today is light. Ever notice how some days there is a heaviness about everything around you? I'm not talking about the pressures of life. It's more like gravity is fighting against you. It's probably simply due to lack of sleep or something, but anyway, it's awesome when the day is light and things come easily, without a struggle, when you feel empowered & infinitely stronger than your surroundings. Have you ever assumed that something was going to be really heavy & then when you mustered up the strength to lift it, it was as light as a feather? That is such a weird feeling.

storm...

Wow, this place is foaming with cuteness. And I'm not sure I like it. Too much fluff, even for this bunny lovin' mama. What's up with that? What has changed? What's going on inside this little head of mine and what's to be done about it? Ever feel like you need a thunderstorm?... or a slap in the face? Will somebody please smack me?

boys...

Yesterday as I was checking out Daniel's pants after he slid down the trunk of a tree, he said, "Mom, It's a boy's life. Jeans come and they go and then new jeans come and then they go."

rabbit...

Get in touch with your inner self through facebook quizzes. They really are enlightening. =)

"You are Rabbit, the practical one. You like plans and organization and sometimes this may seem like you don't like to have fun, but this isn't true. You love to have fun with your friends, but also like to spend time alone gardening."

donuts...

As you go thru life, make this your goal- watch the donut, not the hole.

kids...

"She taught them many things not in their books. She taught them to be kind to brutes, and gentle with one another. She taught them to be noble. She made them despise every kind of meanness. She was a great teacher."

something sweet...

This is the story of my life...always getting stung while trying to get at something sweet.

cake...

Today is the big day. Snow is 13! I love spoiling my daughter. Snow is having a wonderful time. So far we went out to breakfast at Angelo's (Snow got a candle in her omelet)-free, we got a free cupcake at Cake Nouveau, free tea at Tea Haus, a free button from Vicki's, a free movie at Hollywood Video, & a free ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery. We're home for a short break then we're off again. Snow says this is all a plan to fatten her up. =) I hadn't thought of that. Snow looks adorable today with a long cable knit sweater & a barrette in her hair. She has really enjoyed getting phone calls. She's been keeping her purse very close to her just in case. What more can I say? It's a lovely day.

appreciation...

This is a beautiful day...no matter what the weather.

ignite...

Nothing like a little sunshine to warm the soul. Open up your heart and let the sunshine in!

it's alright...

Everything will be alright in the end. If it's not alright, then it's not the end.

floating...

Just close your eyes and imagine a happy place...

innocence...

Yesterday, I broke a ceramic bowl that I like a lot and as I looked at it despondently, Emmeli said, "Can we tape it?"

here piggy...

Lord, please save me from my appetite!

jack & jill...

Emmeli & Dominik are so cute together!!! They adore each other! Sometimes they remind me of an old married couple.
(Emmeli is like a nagging wife & Dominik just puts up with it- hehe)

me & my pal...

Daniel & I make a great team. Sometimes he makes me laugh so hard that my sides hurt. Everyone needs someone like that. I wish there was a way to record all the funny things he says, so that I could look back & smile at all of our fun times forever & ever, but there's something about his humor that is for a live audience only. Anyway, it's not just the comedy thing, we are just in tune. It's fun to be with people who get you, so you don't have to forever be explaining yourself.

dentol...

Hannah's going to the dentist today to get her tooth fixed. I hope they do a good job. Poor little monkey. This has been such an ordeal.

huck finn...

Daniel is so excited. I'm working on the "Old Book Project" today and I found an old copy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that we didn't know we had. (hence the project) I'm planning to go through and make a catalog of all of our old books. Anyway, it's really neat that he is so excited. He has read Tom Sawyer & wanted to read Huckleberry Finn, but we never got it & he forgot about it. He was especially excited when he read the first few pages & learned that this book is the sequel. He knew that the books were by the same author, but was not sure how they were related I guess. He sat down & started reading immediately. I bet, if I let him, he will finish it today. It is my goal to be more flexible in my schooling to allow for things like this. It would just be silly to have him stop reading so he can do his math (which is what he is supposed to be doing right now) & then "require" that he read this later to fulfill a literature requirement long after the excitement has worn off. I love that my children get so excited about books and I love homeschooling!

99% perfect...

Bunnies are a lot like people. Sometimes they're sweet & cute & cuddly... and sometimes they spaz out.

one more thing...

Why am I so not ready for the day until it's over? I wish I could bottle the motivation that stirs in the evenings & poor it into my chai each morning. My life would then overflow with gumption which I'm sure leads to greatness, just as vagary leads to chai addiction.

snip-a-dee-doo-dah...

Snow & Emmei both got super cute short haircuts today. Emmeli's is shoulder length, but Snow's is shorter. Hannah wanted to keep her hair long. She cried because I had to cut 2 inches.

happiness is...

Happiness is identifying with the little people. Love and wisdom surround me.

man of the wood...

Man of the wood, come rescue me, when life provides opportunity. I need to be rescued.

willow...

Good friends share their baby bunnies and make them bunny cages and hot wings and yummy mochas at 2:30 a.m etc... etc... etc... Willow makes me happy.

need sleep...

really cute...

Emmeli~ Come here. I have to show you something really cute...and it's not me.

that's my girl...

Hannah~The great thing about being a girl is you can wear boy hats and you can wear girl hats.

snappy not snap pea!...

Hannah has this cute little habit of snapping her fingers. She's doing it all the time now. When she gets excited, she snaps her fingers. It's the cutest thing. I just wanted to remember it.

status update...

Me thinks that taking care of two children is too easy. Totally missing Snow and Daniel while they're away at camp this week! Today is day one of 4!!!

shhhh.....

What can I say at this moment? Often times, when I'm blogging, I don't actually look for a picture to represent my thoughts until after I have written. The right picture always seems to present itself and that is a lot of the fun of blogging. This time, I'm actually working in reverse. I'm just looking for an excuse to use this picture. =) I found it yesterday when I was trying to help Snow upload a cute image to her new cell phone. She ended up choosing a kawaii picture of a mama cat and her kittens. Really, this picture makes me think of my three girls and their individuality, but I'm way to hyper right now to go into all that. So I think I will simply post my new flowers and keep my thoughts to myself.

natural beauty...

Why is it that we have to tell ourselves things like, "follow your heart?" Shouldn't that come naturally?

"Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."

(I didn't make that up. I saw it on a piece of jewelry. )

hunter gatherer...

I don't know why I have this hoarding mentality, but I am a pack rat, collector, treasure monger. I like to gather up beautiful things and precious things and tuck them away. The problem is that I'm so good at this, that I often forget about the things that I've stored so neatly as I'm moving on to the next. I guess this isn't so tragic when referring to little charms and books and baby clothes, but I think this tendency applies to other areas of my life. There are things in my life that I love dearly and I don't want anything to happen to them, so I tuck them under my arm as I go about seeking a new adventure, another blessing. There's something in me that trusts that they will always be there and there's an excitement in me that can't wait to enjoy what I have, but the tendency is there to be forward moving adding to my stash of promising beauty. Lord, please help me grab hold of what I have before I become like the dog who loses his bone trying to get another from his own reflection.

rain rain....

It's raining! =) I love rain! I also love the cool weather we've been having this summer. I know I've probably complained just as much as everyone else, but really, it's been lovely. It's like the longest spring ever! And I love spring. Why do we always have to complain about the weather? If it's hot, we wish it were cold. If it's cold, we wish it were hot. I'm in love with this weather, and tomorrow if it's 90 degrees I'm going to love that too.

for you...

Something beautiful for my two most devoted followers. You make my day. Love you!!!!

sweet character...

Snow's result from the "What famous literary character are you?" quiz.

Snow is Frodo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien's most famous fantasy series. She's one of the most kind and loyal friends a person can have. She's committed to always doing what she feels is right, even if she doesn't always succeed. Her purity and devotion can turn some people away, but most love her and consider her trustworthy. Despite her rather timid disposition, she's actually exceedingly brave when the time calls for it. She's driven by a powerful sense of duty, even if she's most comfortable living a dull, boring life at home. Most would criticize her for being naive, but their opinions don't matter to her. She may not be very multidimensional, but who needs depth when she's got so much happiness? =)

right-of-way...

Yay..I'm back to blogging. Now I just need to get back to riding my bike and eating healthy and doing a morning devotion. I guess I should have mentioned that first- kind of important. I think I can...I think I can... I think I can...

unexplainable...

I wish I could remember what Snow said to me the other day. I don't even remember what we were talking about. Oh yeah... I think I was complaining that I wasn't going to get to go on my bike ride because it was raining. Snow said something like..."I don't know why people are so afraid to get wet, I like going out in the rain." I guess it wasn't so profound, which is probably why I didn't blog about it right away, but there was something about that coming from Snow that sort of stuck with me. It is so like her to say something like that. She is definitely her own little person. It doesn't matter to her what everyone else is doing, but at the same time she is so unrebellious about it. Like taking a walk in the rain- it's bold, yet utterly humiliating. I know I am way too deep about these things, but I feel that there's so much more to this than I am able to express.

The idea makes me think of the time that Ben's mom told me how sometimes you have to love someone, even if they don't love you back. I was wrestling with the feeling of not being angry with someone who was treating me poorly, I think. I don't remember, but anyway this is the thing that Snow has mastered. Most of the world says, "who cares what they're doing" and that fuels they're own decisiveness or "who cares what they think" and that helps them get over being hurt. But I do care, so I become trapped. I'm not able to brush things off in order to move on. Snow cares deeply about other people, but she doesn't let those cares drive her around. She knows how to care and keep right on walking, her own way, inoffensively, even if she's drenched to the core, and she never looks back.

I know this won't make sense to anyone but me, but it's my blog, right?
Snow knew that I was blogging about her when I wrote this, so I let her read it, because I wanted to see if it made any sense whatsoever. She said I did a good job of explaining something that's unexplainable. =)

jane eyre...

I like this. It takes all my bad points and makes them sound so nice...

(my results from the quiz-what famous literary character are you?)

I am Jane Eyre from Charlotte Bronte's classic masterpiece. I spend much of my life torn between the desires of my heart and the choices I feel are most logical. I'm a smart person who is very resilient, romantic, strong, and forgiving. I have a lot of love to offer people, if they're willing to look past my eccentricities to find it. I spend much of my time in a state of humble, thoughtful silence, yet I'm not afraid to get assertive when the situation calls for it. I've never been one to conform to society's rules, even if that means making unpopular decisions. People will try to change me, but I'll never let them. Above all else, I'm a Romantic with my own set of beliefs and desires. In the end, everyone knows I'm going to make the right decision.

stolen treasure...

I love my blog. Sometimes I like to come here just to look at the pictures. Because I spend so much time picking them out, and thinking about what I want to say, these images now carry special meaning for me. Each one represents a feeling or a memory, which is awesome, because I love these old pictures. I feel like I have stolen them and made them mine.