Being Spoiled

Flowers, chocolate, Coca Cola, homemade lemon sugar scrub and a Lego tribute. Hubby and kids working together to make a yummy smelling batch of scones. Truly spoiled (and blessed). 

Prettiness

Grateful for other artists who put beauty out into the world. 

Grateful for luscious smelling goods just in time for Mother's Day. 

Theme Day - 80's Day

Today is 80's Day at school for Anique. We had fun getting her all dressed up and ready. It's no surprise that my current makeup pallete doesn't quite lend itself to the full vibrancy of the eighties. We made her eyelids as blue as we could and the cheeks as pink as possible but passed on the bright pink lipstick. 

Couldn't find any bright neon plastic earrings before the bus arrived but despite the inclusion of some other decades I think the idea is right. What do you think? 

Do you have a favorite 80's memory? 

When the Cat Is Away

 

What happens when you leave a camera unattended on the tripod in the living room and head off to work? Well, you find some pretty random photos the next time you load the card to edit a session. My kids crack me up sometimes.

 

My father-in-law shares a love of photography and has spent a lot of time since he retired learning as much as he can about it. He takes beautiful landscape shots. He is always trying new techniques and makes a point of spending a few hours out shooting photos on any vacation. On our mountain trips in the winter, he'll drop us off in town to go shopping and head out to find a spot for photos.

 

I came home from work the other night to find a long, skinny box on the counter with a note written on it to call him. Which I did. He had bought me a tripod. Such an awesome surprise. Very grateful for not only the gift but for having awesome in-laws. I get along with both of them and that has been a true blessing in life!

 

Of course, I set up the tripod and tried a few shots just to see how it worked. Then I got caught up in household activities and left it up before heading to bed and work the next day.

 

Apparently, the kids decided to try a few test shots of their own with the self timer. Not sure how they managed to get their dad to look at the camera because he refuses when I ask him. I swear they don't usually look this goofy. Well, maybe they do but I love them anyway.

  

Warmth Shouldn't be Taken for Granted

Okay, so as I sit here in my new office space basking in the warm air blowing out of the heater my thoughts are wandering. 

First I snapped a quick photo of my newish space heater. It has made working downstairs a real possibility because I no longer have to dress in a heavy sweatshirt, socks and slippers to tolerate the cold. 

Then my thoughts wandered to the fact that even though I'm immensely grateful for this heater, I shouldn't take for granted the heat in the house, the roof overhead and the fact that I am both dry and warm each night. 

This has been a chilly winter in so many parts of the country and wet here up in the northwest. It seems like more and more often, even here in the suburbs, I pass individuals who can't count on a dry warm place each night. 

So, yes I feel truly blessed. For all the comforts I have and I will try to remember not to take anything for granted. 

Hungry Birds

Ken put food out for the birds today. Lots of pretty winter birds flocked to the deck to eat. Until Peyton decided to sit his furry cat self next to the window. 

Little Author

She's writing a children's book. Too cute! So far she's on Chapter 3.  

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

What happens when my mom shows up to babysit on the wrong day? An impromptu photo shoot of course. 

Good food.

Grateful for yummy potluck lunches at work with good co-workers. 

Italian themed Valentines lunch. Caprese salad anyone? 

Do-Over

Is it too late to start a 365 day challenge (minus the month and a half I've already missed)?

I would like to continue showing things I'm grateful for as well as the bits of beauty I stumble across everyday. 

I may or may not share thoughts to go with them. It was too hard to keep up with writing a complete post each day. I will continue to write complete posts on my other page. This one will be a visual glimpse into my life and its pretty bits. 

Woke to this today. Not even Valentines Day yet but he is starting to spoil me. 

Grateful for the Peace of Painting

I am grateful to be able to take the time to paint and explore my creative side. Grateful for a family that supports this. Grateful for a husband and daughter who encourage me and think all my art is amazing. They are fantastic for my self-esteem. 

Still Blessed

I don't have photos to post to accompany this post but was thinking of blessings today.

I have noticed an increase in the number of panhandlers lately. They seem to be moving out into more and more suburban communities as well. This is not meant as a social commentary, or the start of a discussion on the economy. Merely an observation.

It puts into perspective what is important and forces me to re-consider what "broke" is. Despite some months being leaner than others, I am grateful that we are able to provide our children with a home, food to eat, the opportunity to participate in sports, and the absence of fear from any of the above. My heart breaks for those who struggle with the basics and the children who wonder what each day will bring.

I am grateful for having a husband who supports my need for creativity. For friends who love me even when I fall off the planet, caught up in my projects.

I am grateful for so much more but that is what is on my mind today.

We have been blessed and I truly believe the Lord provides what we need. Not always what we want, but always what we need.

Beyond Blessed

Grateful for the last day of work. Grateful for the fantastic friends I've made over the past 10 years. Great co-workers, great bosses! I felt very loved today. Going to miss everyone! 

Thankful for friends who offer to babysit with a seconds notice (even though I think she was joking). Recovering from surgery on Wednesday but still spent the day with a 9 year old. And it sounds like they both enjoyed it. 

Day 98

 

I'm grateful to have a child who loves to read. She's really into her Judy Moody books right now and reads and re-reads them whenever she is between other books.

 

I walked in to tuck her in for bed and she was sprawled on Peter (giant Costco moose).

Day 97

Today we braved the downpour and went up north to see the tulips in bloom. This was the first weekend of the tulip festival and the fields were in bloom.

 

I'm grateful for Ken for driving up there in the driving rain and suffering silently while I took pictures. We didn't stay too long because we were drenched so quickly but it was fun spending time with him, Anique and Chayton today.

Day 89

 

Once again I'm all mixed up on my days.

Bailey really, really wanted to take Ellie to the beach on Saturday. So we picked her up from dance that afternoon and headed to Picnic Point Park. The weather was warm (over 50 degrees is considered warm) and the beach was beautiful.

The beach is quite rocky but is the perfect spot for walking and talking. Of course, I was the third wheel so they wandered off and I took pictures like bad paparazzi. Okay, I limited myself to just a couple.

I am grateful for the time to enjoy the beach and a relaxing day spent reading and soaking up the sun.

Day 92

Yesterday was Anique's 9th birthday. I can't believe she is so big already. I'll be doing a full post over on my regular Whimsy and Life blog but wanted to put a little something here as well.

I am grateful I was able to take a day off and spend her birthday with her. I'm grateful my husband was able to be home with us too. I'm grateful for her kind, sweet and loving nature. I'm grateful we have her in our lives.

 

 

Day 86

This week the elementary school has been celebrating Spirit Week. They get out early everyday this week for Parent-Teacher conferences. Each day has a theme. Today was Twin Day. Anique and her best friend, Maddy, were so excited to dress up. They really, really wanted to make it inot the yearbook.

 

Maddy's mom picked them up matching t-shirts and they each wore their gray jeans and black boots. Maddy came over this morning before school and I put a waterfall braid in each of the girl's hair.

 

I'm grateful that the girls have each other and I'm grateful they can have fun together. Don't they look cute. I took a picture of the Maddy's hair but Anique just couldn't be left out. Hilarious!

 

 

 

 

 

Day 85

 

Sadly, I don't have a picture to back up my gratitude post this time. However, I am grateful for the sunshine we had yesterday. I am also grateful that I have an employer who is flexible enough to let me out early to attend a soccer game.

I was able to leave a couple hours early to see Bailey play in one of his school soccer games. They are all scheduled so early and many of them are quite a drive away so this may have been the only one I will get to.

The weather was beautiful and it was great to be able to see them all play and see the team relationships.

Day 79

 

Little Miss Anique wasn't feeling well this week. She toughed it out through school on Monday because she didn't want to miss American Girl Club and because of our TV rule. (If you don't go to school, then there is no video games or Netflix/TV). Sleeping and reading or other non-electronic choices are it.

 

She stayed home with my mom on Tuesday and with me on Wednesday (Day 79). While I'm sorry she wasn't feeling well, I'm grateful we were able to get some one on one time. She finished up Holes and in the afternoon I decided to let her watch the movie. I decided it was educational since it was related to the book. Okay, maybe that was a stretch to console my guilty conscience.

Reading her Nook