original artwork thursday (OAT)

faux bois owl

5 things

1. got Nathan's sister to do our taxes!!

2. got a real live record player and a few good records (still on the lookout for journey, chicago, the monkees, jimmy buffet, the who, hall and oats, and on and on.. I love that our kids will know what a 33 is :)

3. finally (finally!!!) got the mud room organized

4. signed up for sketchbook delight with alisa burke

5. am watching eureeka every night with Nathan (love sci-fi!)

finding beauty

I have been contemplating taking an online art course that starts in february. I love drawing, painting, and such, but can never seem to find... not just the time--- but also the right motivation and inspiration. It is so easy to find the beauty in the ocean, sea, beach, forest, sunsets, etc... but here in pastureland USA, where I have always lived, the beauty sometimes escapes me.

Today I took about 20 minutes to just walk around and look at my surroundings with fresh eyes. While the younger two kids took a nap, and the older two watched a movie, I walked around in the snow and eyed the lay of the land around us, the barn in the distance, the icicles formed on the bushes, the random cat and dog prints in the snow, and began to see the beauty in the immediate surroundings of this new home of ours for which we are so grateful.

I want to remember to see the beauty in the bales of hay, and weed lined fence rows in the comfortable setting of my hometown.

back to life...

...back to reality

Nathan and I took an overnight away from the kids this past Saturday. It was the best night away we have had in a very long time. It's the first night away in a hotel in at least 2 years, so it was overdue.

Tomorrow I will be 27. I am indifferent to being a year older, but I LOVE my birthday. Too bad the partying is already over. I want to go to madison garden for wings and drinks, but we were just there the other day, and I doubt we'll make it back there again for a while. Oh well, at least I'll have my free scoop from baskin robbins.

I am thinking about crocheting myself something fabulous for my birthday. I just can't decide what. I did find an awesome new sweater pattern on Ravelry that I think I just might give a shot. It might take me a year to finish, but it's so cute. Maybe I'll just make a headband instead. I could use some instant gratification today.

...since I last posted...

Things have changed, since I last posted :)

Right now----

the babies are growing bigger and smarter and more beautiful every day

we have no animals or gardens, but hopefully in the spring we will

we love where we live, just minutes from family in the town where we were raised

i am totally obsessed with flash mobs

i am really enjoying earning a little money for doing something i love to do
(crocheting hats)

we are spending way too much money on Christmas gifts that we don't need

i am catching up on all my dental work for the last 8 years (and 4 pregnancies!!!)

i love my husband

i am addicted to reality t.v.

5 people in our house have a cold

i am in the process of creating a new craft area

and my house looks like a cracker monster with a toy center exploded all over the
floors of my house (I guess some things haven't changed that much :)

here in our corner

Oh wow! I didn't realize I hadn't posted in over a month! It has been a busy month full of discussions and decisions, and covered up in more than 8 inches of rain. The highlights of recent adventures include playing settlers with Daniel and Kristin for hours and good times at Nathan's sister and brother-in-law's annual Derby party. The low-light was when our property flooded and my husband, Daniel, Kristin and Zeke got stuck at a neighbors house for a day and a night. The water came up fast and covered halfway up our camper, covered our tool shed completely (which was holding our appliances until we were to build, not to mention all our power tools and hand tools), and destroyed most of Daniel and Kristin's stuff. Most everything they had was in the hoop house that had about 6 feet of water over it at one point. We found things hanging in trees down the street that belonged to us. I am just grateful that everyone is safe! We have ripped cabinets and carpet out of our camper in hopes of saving the shell, so far it looks as though we got everything ripped out in time for it to dry out and be completely usable. We'll be working on that as we can. No pictures just yet as I wasn't down at the land when the water got so high. I'll bet Kristin has some pictures of it though. If she posts some on her blog I'll link up here so you all can see them.

I need to get ready for the day. We've been spending the past couple of days down at the camper ripping stuff out and the apartment is officially a tee-total mess. I need to work at top speed today!

babies at the farm

Our friends are back! Daniel and Kristin and Zeke are in KY and I'm so glad :) Kristin took these pictures of 3/4 of my kiddos and they are beautiful! Just thought I would share.