a little something...

is in the works around here...so far, so GOOD!

this one has taken me awhile to dream up. i knew what i wanted, just not the exact colors, exact widths, exact lengths. so yesterday i gave up on thinking i could plan it all out perfectly in my mind. i pulled out my scraps and started cutting. and drawing while i cut. i think i'm liking it...

for the mr. at school...

because we missed you this morning. but, we are happy with the weekend festivities and celebrations. thank you once again.

 

L was happy this morning. why wouldn't she be. she's worked so hard to prepare all of her 32 valentine's, (combined two of my favorites here and here) and was more excited than ever been to deliver them. of course, she's always happy when i greet her in the morning with, "would you like heart shaped pancakes for breakfast?" 

remember our conversation last night about how giving undivided attention goes a long way? still working! she got dressed with no grumbling, let max out for the morning routine..you know what i mean, thanked me profusely for such a yummy breakfast, rinsed and packed all of her dishes- without being asked, and got all of her valentine's and backpack loaded up...once again without being asked! that makes for a great morning for the mommy too!

wasn't it a great weekend? missing you...

this girl.

so, last night after mr. w and i finish working out, we all sit together on the floor for fhe. (this semester it's moved from monday to wednesday...yucky schedule) L hops on mr. w's back and says, "ooh dad, your back's all wet. kinda like it, it's sort of sticky." she cracks me up. it was even better watching my mr. with his face in his hands laughing helplessly. kids are great!

::no pics today. camera is in the shop getting cleaned. $75 later, let's hope the spots go away.

tooth + sewing again.

yesterday i went to help in L's classroom. she ran up to me with a handmade, folded and taped envelope and said "it's for you." i shoved it in my pocket and asked her to go back to her desk..  her teacher was right in the middle of giving instructions. this little girl is always, and i mean always, doodling something for me. love it. we proceeded to the science experiment, then afterwards she said, "mom, you haven't even looked at the envelope!" i pulled it out of my pocket and she had pulled her tooth out at school! i had checked that tooth a few days ago, and it was NOT that loose. if i had to guess, she was sitting at her desk for an hour or so working that tooth, and not paying the least bit of attention to what was going on around her. i love this girl! that's a talent.. to be able to tune life out and be in your own- i MUST pull this tooth out right this very minute world. yep, i bet she missed the entire reading hour...

:: loved the fabric on the dress so much that i had to make a top out of it too! loving this one as well..

monday..

so, here we go again. monday. even max is feeling it. the heavenly, long awaited weekend has passed. i don't mind really. 5 more days to the next.

monday for me means: cleaning from the unstructured weekend, laundry, picking up the groceries we ran out of over the weekend, and of course, the routine is back in force. there's something comforting about the hum of the dryer in the background, and seeing the floors shine again...  today, a haircut gets thrown in the mix. much, much needed. 

mr. w took L swimming on saturday. which gave me a little time to sneak in some sewing. i'm loving how this one turned out! pizza party with some fam afterwards, and a little playing spot-it. it's our favorite game at the moment.

now, on to another week...

photo booth...

is

awesome!

lucky me!

what a great day. lucky for me because miss L was out of school and mr. w sluffed school! 

(okay, not really sluffed... stayed home to work on his seminar, but he was here) 

they shoveled the driveway for me and made my juice this morning...an extra 45 minutes is a priceless gift.

i'm one lucky girl. really.

++    and oh yes,  L loves her shorts so much that she's worn them for 3 days...straight!

i figure they're a great compromise for the rebellion against skirts.

we obviously can't wait for spring.

next on my list... white sun dress.

by request.

our 3 day weekend...

the weekend begins with a "family camp out" in the front room. somebody was sooooo excited. 

this girl loves her dog, and in this moment she was showing it in a kind way. 

sometimes he has to accept teasing as a sign of affection...and not only from the little L...

"despicable me" was the movie of the evening.

it's a new family fav!

we use every excuse we can find to make a carrot cake. 

at least this time i made half of the recipe, and i'm proud to say that a portion still remains! 

(be it a small portion, there are still remains)

managed to snap one pic before church. 

and well, remember these? she was obsessed about making these over the break. 

so we did!

christmas wrap.

presents wrapped and ready for the big day...

even L had a few surprises in store for the mommy and the daddy!

when the big day is almost here, a snowstorm is expected in North Carolina, so santa arrives a little early so we can make an earlier flight...December 23 to be exact.

one for the season's favs... personal library kit!

we made it to n.c. the night before the big storm. grandma has to check on her "blow ups" to make sure the snow isn't too heavy on them! 

and her grape arbor... she and i went for a christmas walk around her property. it was beautiful. perfect. and even more perfect to walk with my mom.

see, i told you.

here is "snowie chloie" l, alexis and i built christmas night. i have to admit, i felt like a little girl again building a snowman for my mom as she watched from the kitchen window. loved the moment.

memaw truax's beautiful hands.

my sweet aunt. can't help but know she is a child of God when you're in her presence. love her.

l's dna kit. another christmas favorite.

there was no absence of illness on this vacation. mr. w spent many days just like this. (glad no one took my picture while i was so sick...he pulls it off much better than i)

grandma's house is a bird watcher's dream.

 l and i visited the country's largest home with cher and the girls. still amazed. 

never enough cousin time. yes, there were tears and pleas to move to n.c. again when we left.

speaks for itself. it was very windy...

you can imagine mr. w's comments.

 the fence above the garden. at one time the wire was stapled to the tree.

no need for staples now!

the barn my papaw built where sarah and i used to play. 

 oh i still remember that darned black snake in the hay loft... maybe that's why i hate them so much.

papaw's tractor that dad still uses. 

it's true, they don't make things like they used to.

FINALLY! i met baby L...

seriously, even his drool is cute!

i love how they love her.

melts me.

this does too.

love.

my angel.

the big day was in june. it only took me until september to take the photos. and until november to post them. i was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. 

 every time i look at these my heart melts. my little girl, do you know how much i love you? do you know how proud i am of you? do you know how shocked i was that you asked me to make your dress instead of buying the ones you tried on at that little shop? i know you really do know all of these things, because i tell you everyday. you make me so happy.