Well hello there! I hope you're having a good day.

About a month ago, it popped into my head that we'd had a pretty healthy school year so far. And then I cringed. Did I jinx it?! Surely you know where this is headed. I promptly got the stomach flu, and then we all got a cold which we passed on to Maw Maw (aka Brian's mom.) And then Brian got the stomach flu. Then I got another cold? I don't know. I felt better for several days and then backslid.

But now, I'm vowing to get over it. I read somewhere you should eat extra protein when trying to fight an infection. I don't really think I have an infection, but it was a nice excuse this morning for a couple of eggs instead of my usual granola or steel cut oatmeal. And I'm going to have a green smoothy at lunch.

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I'm in a creative slump. Big time. I'm not the only one.

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See that knitting back there? I've been working on it for years. Seriously. I knit for several days and then take months off. I'm going to unravel it, start over on something quick and easy. A really plain scarf perhaps on great big needles? Maybe if there's some faster gratification, I'll stick with it longer and really learn. BUT I can't remember how to cast on. I'm looking for advice. I did a quick youtube search and a bajillion knitting videos came up. Any recommendations? Or a book? Would I be better off with a book?

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I'm getting a haircut tomorrow. And I'm going shorter. I think. Here's my Pinterest collection of cute cuts that have inspired me! Whatcha think?

(What's up with Pinterest? Crazy slow this morning.)

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The weather has been almost spring-like here nearly all winter. I'm not complaining, but it has been odd. I have a big family photoshoot this weekend, and wouldn't you know it. Cold. And possibly rainy. Phooey.

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It's almost Valentine's Day! You should buy this print for a friend. Or this scarf. Or BOTH!

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I'm still over at Flickr, with my 366 (it's like blogging lite) project. Visit me there.

Take good care!

I'm taking part in a 366 project this year: a photo a day all year long. It feels a little like old times. I'm trying to make a few notes about the day or photo on each as well. If you'd like to see them, visit me over at Flickr.

We're all well. I hope your new year has started smoothly.

xo.

So how did your holidays go? I hope they were relaxing. Ours was extraordinarily stress free. I don't know what it was- there were last minute gifts to buy and make, mad dashes to the grocery, B had a decent-ish cold- but somehow we stayed calm and collected and found ourselves dancing around to Frosty the Snowman, smiling an awful lot, feeling grateful.

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If only for the sake of having something to visit about, here's a run down of the few gifts I made:

I think I've talked about this before. My kids ask Santa for one gift, we give them one toy, and I make them something. Between their cousins and grandparents they get plenty. Too much, really. So our three gift limit keeps things simpler for us.

For his mommy-made gift J asked again this year for warm jammies. I sewed up a quick pair of fleecey p.j. pants and bought a thermal shirt to go with it.

N asked Santa for an American Girl doll, so her mommy-made gift was a set of matching dresses. I used this pattern for her dress and I made the blouse from this pattern for the doll dress, shortened the bodice and added a skirt.

My nieces, who are also AG doll crazy, each got a little doll blouse (same pattern) and a little doll skirt (no pattern) and a pair of little doll shoes.

My good friend, Andrea, pinned these little toothpaste travel rolls, so I made her a couple.

And our sweet neighbor, who dotes on our kids and left a gift on our porch, got a last-minute batch of these nuts. (I used almonds.) They were SO good. In fact, I think I'll make some more today!

Oh, and worth mentioning. We ate this savory bread pudding on Christmas morning. Oh my lord- it is rich and delicious. Instant tradition.

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So that's it for Christmas. As soon as we enjoy two dinner parties this weekend, it's time for a fresh new year, a fresh start. Time to clean up and purge and get on with things, whatever this new year holds in store for us.

Although it may appear otherwise, there was no liquor in her kiddie-cocktail, I swear.

My sweetie took a vacation day yesterday. After we wrangled the kids off to school, I made him a bowl of steel cut oats with apples and cinnamon.

But this morning I ate pie for breakfast. It was Bumbleberry from here- a little pie shop in downtown Overland Park. Possible the best piece of pie I've ever eaten. (Sorry, Dad!) Go there today.

... here it comes.

Are you ready? I feel ready.

The kids in our extended family are growing up, and really, they just want money or a gift card to help them with that next big thing they're saving for. So there's just not much shopping to do. (Hallelujah.)

I've already started on some handmade gifts. I'll flickr them if you're at all interested.
Are you?
Is anyone even still reading here?
Hello?
I'll pretend that you're still there.

(Crickets.)

Anyway... where was I? Shopping's nearly done. Hot cocoa is at the ready. Our little advent socks are up, although #24 has mysteriously vanished. Some simple holiday activities are underway. We're getting our tree tomorrow too.

Tonight was cozy. It's rainy, and we discovered Words with Friends, and we all (my mom at her house, my sister and niece at theirs, Brian, J, and I- with N as my helper- here at home) played each other on our iPods and phones. This could be a problem. A big problem.

I'm really going to try to be here a little more this month. I don't know why- or what I'll write about even. But I miss it. Will you stop in and say 'hello' once in awhile?

(Crickets.)

Yawn. Okay then. Nighty night.

I know photos of pets are really cutest to the owners of said pets, but I can't help it. He's so handsome. This little guy is my good friend and co-worker. We go for a walk together most mornings- seeing me in my tennis shoes makes him really happy. No matter what I'm doing, he's at my feet. When I'm working in my studio or editing photos on the computer, he's sleeping under my desk. If I'm cooking in the kitchen, he stretches out on the rug in front of the sink. He chases the vacuum when I'm cleaning. He waits at the window if I leave. He can catch a tennis ball in the air. He feels it's his duty to keep our back yard squirrel-free.

Now, if only we could make him stop freaking out when he sees other dogs (dominant aggressive? protective? scared? who knows.), he'd be just about the perfect pooch...

I love him. Dogs are just so good. Do you know what I mean?

We relaxed this morning.
Then we raked leaves.
Had grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch.
Took a long hike-
Some of us walked and took lots of photographs.
Some of us rode mountain bikes.
One of us ran ahead off his leash.
They played catch in the yard.
We made homemade pizza for dinner.
Talked with a friend.
Then played some Uno.

November 12 was a perfect Fall day.

The girl-child has wholeheartedly embraced knee socks, which I love. But daddy doesn't. I think it makes him think of this.

The ladies at habit have opened the flickr group again. What do your days look like lately?

Did you see Rachel's makeup for Halloween? Um, wow.

On repeat: Falling Through, Darkness Between the Fireflies, Naked as We Came, Blame the Vain, Chinese Translation, A Girl in the War, Winter Birds (crushing on Ray big time).

I have so many of Tara's photographs in my flickr favorites. She just has it going on.

I think I'm going to make a flan tonight. I've been thinking about it for days.

Heather's journal moved.

Happy Wednesday.

There's a display of the photos I chose of each woman at the hospital right now.

It was so wonderful to meet and photograph these ladies- they are beautiful, strong, and inspirational. And I am proud to be a part of the calendar again.

These are a couple of critters we've seen in our yard lately. My kids always insist I take photos. : )

This has nothing to do with wildlife, but I recently read Blood, Bones, and Butter. I loved it. LOVED it. I also just finished The Host. It was addictive, soap-opera-ish fluff, but it got me thinking, so that's good.

What shall I read next? Any suggestions?

I had a girls' weekend away with some of my besties at a sweet little lake house that belongs to my friend's mom. It's sandwiched between a perfectly tiny lake, Legge Lake- hence the legs, and a river. We took one short boat ride, and then the cool, damp weather kept us inside the rest of the time. We flopped around on big pillows by the roaring fire watching Sixteen Candles and eating too many snacks. Jake Ryan, you handsome devil, where have you gone? Apparently to Pennsylvania to make furniture. Sigh. Love that.

A few (too many?!) beers and glasses of wine (and something resembling an adult cherry limeade) were consumed which in turn produced much laughing, dancing, old story telling, and other such merriment.

It was really, really fun. It's good to have these sorts of friends. And then Sunday, feeling all thankful, I came home to read this. So...

Girls? Are you reading?
I love you guys.

While I cut up the squash for breading and frying (our favorite way to eat squash) she sat on the couch and tried out her brother's new trombone. She swore she played a little bit of the National Anthem.

Her brother told her not to puff out her cheeks. "That's bad form," he said.

Around here we set the table for the four of us the same way each time. Two big plates and two small plates. Two big forks, two small. And even though the kids often eat just as large a portion as we adults do, they still prefer it that way.

I've been so busy. I had a mural job for a client whose playroom I painted several years ago. I did three kids' rooms in her new house and had a great time working during the day like a normal person! I am very excited about drumming up some more mural business now.

Family photo shoot season has indeed begun, which means I am spending a lot more time sitting at the computer editing photos. I have discovered Spotify and it's genious.

The weather has cooled off. Today I wore jeans. I was happy and sad about it. This morning was also the first time I've wanted a hot beverage in quite awhile. Actually, I might go make a cup of rooibos right now.

Sometimes I really miss coffee.

We went our friends' wedding in Lawrence Saturday night, and I learned a few things:
I am happy that there are people like these friends in this world. Look at this cake.
N is a dancing fool. And loves cake.
J is self-conscious when he dances.
But he looks handsome in a tie.
Cucumber gin rickeys sound odd, but taste amazing.

J is singing in his school choir. He has also decided to try out playing the trombone in the band. The choice has me giggling a little- it's a big instrument for a such a small guy. But really, I'm excited for him. I hope he likes it.

I can't stop singing "seventy-six trombones in the big parade..." in my head.

I got an email about student council at the kids' school. I asked N if she'd like to do it. She said, "Sure!" (silence) "What's student council?"

She's had a serious fear of bitewing x-rays at the dentist. But today she overcame it and did it. So to celebrate, we went to the Target dollar section and bought cheap, packaged cotton candy. Good mom, huh?

Our dog Jerry is a serious runner-awayer. I mean the second he's off the leash or loose he takes off. And FAST! But we took him hiking this weekend bravely let him off leash. He stayed right by our sides. It was so nice.

Well, I'll stop. I could go on forever with worthless little tidbits.

Take good care,
A