recent obsession

Lately I've rediscovered my love of typography.  I love how fonts are artworks in themselves, creating beauty out of names, dates, places, and text.  One of my favorite classes from BYU was typography (even though it was one of my most difficult, seeing that I had to learn Photoshop, Illustrator, and Quark all in one semester). 

I created a few of my Pinterest boards dedicated to this craft.  Keeping track of fonts and other artful ways of expressing text was refilling my crafty bucket.  I finally put this practice into use a few days ago.  My girls had a couple of birthdays to attend last Saturday, so I wrapped the presents in plain pink paper so I could have fun with the names.  Here's what I came up with:

I also addressed our niece's graduation card in a similar fashion.  But in the interest of privacy of addresses, I won't post that.  But it was pretty cool!  I may have found yet another hobby...

Ava is 8!

I cannot believe I have an 8-year-old.  When did that happen?  In the blink of an eye, all my girls are growing by leaps and bounds.  Today Ava turns 8 - already I'm thinking that in a few short years she'll be driving and college bound.  Ack!

But for now, she's our sweet 8-year-old, full of life, creativity, and love.  When she doesn't have her nose stuck in a book (right now she has started on the Harry Potter series, and is almost finished with Book 2), Ava is busy drawing and making up her own little story books.  She also loves to entertain us from time to time in the evenings with her own plays and songs (Norah is usually her unwilling accomplice, lol).  

She is also very inquisitive.  Ava loves learning about animals - their habitats, what they eat, and how they live.  She has also discovered that age-old delight of finally understanding what adults are talking about - and we have discovered her "lurking" to listen in on our conversations.  

But most imporatant of all, she has decided to get baptized.  I am so thankful for her willingness to follow the Lord and to know of His love for her.  She loves reading her scriptures, going to Primary, and getting The Friend every month.  We do our best to teach her the gospel, but in many ways our children teach us about what is important.  I'm so thankful for Ava and the joy she is in our life.

Happy Birthday Ava!

fluttershy's garden party

This year Ava and Norah wanted to have a combined birthday party.  The theme?

FLUTTERSHY!!

Needless to say I was a bit happy (and totally stoked) they picked MLP for the theme.  Since Fluttershy loves all things animals and the outdoors, I thought a garden party would be perfect.  Except we didn't have tea.  But we did have cupcakes and decorated cookies outside, so I think that counted!  We had about 20 friends - so while it was by far the largest birthday party we've hosted, it was a blast all around.

Some decor from the party.

 

Norah is 6!

Today is Norah's sixth birthday.  I can hardly believe it.  The days may be long, but the years are definitely short.  Our Noo-Noo is now in kindergarten.  And she loves it!  She is always saying hello to her friends and explaining her projects from class to us.  Norah is still our cuddle-bug - she never misses and opportunity to snuggle up with one of us on the sofa.  She also is very tender-hearted towards Serena.  Whenever all the girls are outside playing, it's Norah who makes sure she doesn't run into the street or tries to hold her hand while taking a walk.

Animals are still among Norah's favorite things!  Whether is drawing them, pretending to be them, or playing with her plushies, LPS, or MLP, Norah just loves animals.  And coloring.

She is also becoming quite the reader.  I'm sure in no time she will be moving along in her own chapter books just like Ava.

We love our Norah!

Norah on her way to school on her birthday

 Being silly at the Tech Museum

BFFs with her sister Ava

Taking a break at Target with Keira

just a little something to tide you until valentine's day

 Happy early Valentine's Day everyone!  

Hope you enjoy.

Straight No Chaser feat. Sara Bareilles, 'I Want You Back': Exclusive Song Premiere | Billboard

making valentines

Today the girls had the day off school (teacher work day), so it was the perfect time for them to make their valentines.  I found bubble sticks at Target (what kid doesn't like bubbles???), and since Ava, Norah, and Keira would be making valentines, it was a bargain to boot.

I had tons of cardstock along with valentine stamps, and recently bought baker's twine - so the idea of making the cards and tie them to the sticks was born!

It was a fun project for the girls to do, and super cute when it was all finished.


Ava and Norah stamping it up!

Front and back of the cards (the classmates' names will go over the heart)

Finished valentine!

sickies

This year started with a bang with all of us getting a 24-hour stomach bug.  Fun fun.  At least it was fast moving.

And Keira's favorite line when she couldn't see me:

"MOM!  I was finding you."

So sweet.

happy new year!

It's a new year - time to set goals and reflect on all the good things from the past year.  This year I've go - GOT to get my website up and running!  My other goals include to get more sleep and learn to keep from getting stressed out so easily.

Last year was exciting - Norah started kindergarten, Ava really picked up reading (and is turning into quite the bookworm), Keira's personality shines through more each day and Serena FINALLY started walking.  

Mason was laid off, but there are quite a few exciting job prospects on the horizon, so stay tuned!

I think 2013 will have lots of good things in store!

lots and lots of rain

This afternoon we had a torrential downpour that concluded with a small river in front of our house.  Rain like this hasn't happened in about 18 years.  We had fun watching the cars trying to drive through it.  And the girls loved having a grand puddle to wade around in.

cookies

Today the girls had fun making and decorating Christmas cookies.  They did an excellent job!

cake

The other night for family dinner my mom made a special dessert.  Chocolate cake shaped as a gingerbread man!  The girls were pretty stoked.

dance time

For the first three Saturdays in December, we had Ava and Norah's dance performances.  The first one was a church (the original venue was rained out), the second was at San Jose's Christmas in the Park, and the third was at Santana Row (which consequently got rained out 3/4 through the show).  The girls had fun getting their hair and make up done.  I thought they were adorable in their costumes.  My absolute favorite of the whole show was Norah's gingerbread outfit.  Too cute for words!

For the curls to set, they had to sleep with the rollers

                                               




                                 

These are from the last performance at Santana Row

bethlehem 2012

It's become a tradition to go to the local Baptist church's Night in Bethlehem experience.  It is so well done - everyone who is here during the holidays should go to it.  Everyone is in character, and they give you a taste of what life was like during the time of Christ's birth - from making bricks to pressing grapes to tasting flatbread.  Amazing all around, and a great way to usher in the Christmas season.

Ava and me with a Roman guard

All who visited Bethlehem had the chance to write their name for the census

traditions

Norah had a school project about traditions.  She was to make a banner outlining every family member's hand.  Then we each had to decorate our own hand with either a holiday tradition or our favorite aspect of the holidays.  (We of course helped Serena's with hers).  It was a fun project to do together.

Thanksgiving 2012

This was my first Thanksgiving cooking all by myself.  My parents went to Utah to visit my brother, so it was just us!  I admit I was a little nervous cooking a turkey (okay, so it was just a turkey breast, but it was still 8 pounds!).  It turned out fabulous!  As did the sides.  I was rather proud of myself!  And we had plenty leftover so I didn't have to cook the following evening.  (huzzah!)

 

Halloween 2012

This year Ava, Norah, and Keira all wanted to be black cats.  Which was fine with me, because getting their costumes together was a cinch!  Serena was a skeleton, Mason went as a Roman guard, and I made use of my butterfly wings (again).  Maybe next year I'll put together a more elaborate costume (at least I sported some pretty cool face make-up).

twitter

I joined.  That is all.

in His loving care

As a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I've always been taught that Heavenly Father knows us individually and watches over us.  I believed it, but today my testimony of that particular point of doctrine has been strengthened, and I can most assuredly proclaim that He does.

I had a particularly difficult morning, a culmination of a tiresome two weeks fraught with sick children, a horrible economy, and just trying to maintain.  It was just one of those mornings where you feel like you are doing everything correctly, but life just sucks.

 

I had vented to my mother about all my concerns.  It felt good to talk, but I was frustrated that certain things were out of my hands.  And I am someone who very much likes to be in control, and have a plan.

Then Mason called me later this afternoon with the news that I had been hoping to hear for the past few years.  I nearly dropped the phone.  I felt such relief that words really can't describe it.  It was like a fresh start, a welcomed friend, a true blessing from heaven.  In that moment, I knew that I had a loving Heavenly Father watching over me.  I know we aren't given anything that we can't bear, but lately I have felt at my breaking point.  It's been all I can do to hold it together and just do the basics - going to church, reading my scriptures, having personal prayer and trying to be a good example to my children.

I am so thankful for the knowledge of the gospel.  And for the fact that trials only seek to strengthen our faith, and solidify points of doctrine that we hope are true, to knowing beyond a doubt that they are.

photo experiments

I've been fiddling around with Instagram lately, and trying to figure out the best ways to post photos on my blog.  So here's some photos of the gang, as I muddle my way through technology (and try to become better at it).

In case you were curious, these are from the county fair we went to in August.