back in town!

We've been hiding out in Blacksburg since Friday.  Can you find us?  

We spent some time with our favorite Jack.

I made hoho a giant "PB & J" for his first birthday party cake. :)

It snowed 6 inches and managed to be warm enough the next day for my husband to play in the snow with the boys in short sleeves and gloves.   

It was well received by all.

 It was beautiful and not even the best part of the weekend. 

We got to spend lots of time with this little guy...

 ...who managed to completely change since we saw him last.

He was not impressed with Aaron's party.

And apparently neither was Aaron, who informed me at bedtime, that for his real birthday, he would like a "regular" birthday cake.  Stinker.

It was a good break from reality.  And while we were there we got two big wins for us(things we have been praying for!!)!  One HUGE one and one good one. :) We just need one more HUGE thing and eeeek!! Keep praying! :) And thank you for all the prayers you've said on my behalf! :) 

And one last thing...I wanted some bright hair pins, so I made some for myself and I have these extras.  I won't be making more and if you would like to claim some, just leave me a comment with the numbers you would like and your paypal email address.  $4.75 a pair and $3 for shipping.  Pairs ( 5, 9, & 12 are already claimed).

Happy week to you!
xo

one sentence or less.

Here are some things I've been up to in one sentence or less per photo:
Above, a keepsake hoho made exclusively from the clothes sent to me (minus the fur).

I got a glimpse last week of 15 year old Moses, and I liked it.

OCD is quenched. 

Hoho is cute.

I hope I'm making a cute skirt.

 Now you can buy a hoho anytime from HERE. 

You can also add any name to a hoho buy buying THIS LISTING when you buy a hoho.

I got crazy with the fish bone stitch. 

Also, THANK YOU for your kind thoughts and prayers.  I feel covered and loved.  We still have a lot of mountains to climb but we could have one HUGE win for us this week. 

Some days you could keep in your thoughts to pray for are Monday and Thursday.  If both turned out favorably it would be HUGE HUGE HUGE. 

I am so thankful for this network to pull from and I am so thankful for YOU!

xo

snow and other fluff.

Good morning friends! :) I hope this finds you well and super happy!
Just wanted to let you know that we are still alive here...a little crazy and fast paced, but alive and well.
We got JUST enough snow the other day for Aaron and Moses to joyfully play outside, build approximately six marble sized snowmen/balls and yet it was still warm enough to be in a light jacket.  Thank you Virginia, you're the best!

We went to Blacksburg again and spent some time with our adorable little nephew Jack.  We're trying to get out there once a month, you know, until we LIVE there.  Visiting this adorable baby has the added benefit of being able to see loads of our friends who live in that area as well.   

Uncle Keeker (as Aaron calls him) has the most boy adventure inducing yard ever.  Full of rocks to climb and sticks to turn into swords.  The boys love it.

And the boys LOVE, love, LOVE Jack.  We all do.
He's short, bald and has a lot of love to give.

While we were in Blacksburg, Doug and I celebrated our six year wedding anniversary.  We partied like we are married with kids and took family out to Olive Garden.  While these little ones aren't technically our niece and nephew, they practically are and we love them and treat them as such.
(As a little teaser...stay tuned for next week when I will be giving away a $100 gift card to Olive Garden.  For Reals!) 

I've never seen boys as in love with a baby as my boys are with Jack.  It's wonderful to see their little tender sides come out around him, though sometimes muffled by their normal crazy selves.

Do you coupon?  I officially started this year.  I have a nerd binder and all.  My goal for the year is to take as much advantage as possible of this...without being THAT woman at the store.  I don't need ten bottles of free mustard but I will take bottles of laundry detergent for $1.25.  Do you have any coupon sites I need to know about?

And finally...my new stash of fabrics came in the mail.  Delicious eye candy even if I were to never do anything with it. 

And one more thing.  Unless a vortex of time opens up, I plan on closing the shop for the rest of the month, or at least until I can get caught up.  So if you would like to order something before then, I would LOVE to add you to the list.  Just order soon.  I may leave the pdf's and patterns in the shop and remove everything else. 

I hope your week is being good to you...what day is it again?

xo

and we're back.

We just had another quick visit to Blacksburg...it was fun and fast. :)
We saw some friends, we babysat my new nephew, I taught my brother in law to make the worlds best pot roast (email me for directions) and we made Norwegian krumkake...in traditional cardamom flavor and the new scandalous chocolate. 

We got lots of snuggle time with Jack but not nearly enough.

I gave Jack a Christmas gift I made for him...a super soft and warm minky blanket that looks football like...but rectangular.  Pretty cute, if I say so myself.  Him and the blanket, not me. :)

And our elf showed up in Blacksburg to surprise the boys!  We woke up on Saturday to find him at the door trying to get in!

 Then he was hiding in Moses' cereal the next morning...

 and waiting in the car to go home later that day.  The boys were thrilled with his appearances. :)

Then this morning he took his revenge on a certain friend of mine who has been taunting him.  Porkchop used his photo as a potty pad to send the message that he isn't afraid. :)

Yes, this is of a friend.  Yes, we are just like that.  No, it is not offensive.  He thought it was funny...and so did I. :)

xo and Happy Monday! :)

working backwards.

Instagram photos are perfect for my life right now.
I feel like I barely have an instant to spare and I am taking photos on the run.
Here's what's been going on the last seven days...working backwards.

Fall has arrived here in Virgina.  

You can taste it and smell it. 

It's pretty glorious here.

We went home for the weekend. 

 Hoho was forced to wear this (adorable) hat.

We went to the Highlander festival at Radford University (my alma mater).
It was COLD.  

 Aunt Jen saved the day by showing up with tons of hats and scarves and warm things in tow.

Despite the frigid temps Moses was a happy, happy boy.

And this one excused himself for a nap in the car.  Over funned?  I think so.

This is part of the chain reaction STILL going on in my house.
Everything has shifted and moved.

I wish I had done this forever ago.

I hung this TV. 
While my husband watched football on it.
I'll be expecting a "awesome wife of the year". 

We took the boys to meet my in-laws at Luray Caverns.  AKA batman's cave.
Moses loved it.  Aaron fell asleep in my arms.  100 feet underground. 

I'm making progress in here.
Every day I must put away like fifty things.  So I will get there. 
I'm trying to decide which vintage sheet to make into a skirt for that desk.

I got cupcakes in the mail from a wonderful friend.
Happy mail makes me feel loved.

We're taking advantage of sunny warm days. 
This boy is my adorable wild thing. 

Organization makes me happy. 

Life is full and good.
We are blessed much.

What have you been up to?