smilin' moon

some holiday pics & more

Our Christmas card...

 

My special gifts to the family.  A 1962 typewriter.

 

And, I commissioned Jenn of Noodle & Lou to create a special vintage painted bowling pin family for us.  They are so adorable!!!  She took such special care to add details to each one, making them so unique for our family. 

The picture doesn't capture how amazing they are...I'll share more pictures of them soon!

Our Christmas day was supposed to be spent at  my parents with all my family.  The big midwest snowstorm prevented everyone from arriving until December 26th...so that's when we all gathered for lasagna and gift giving.  Here's uncle Doug (my sister's new husband) with Charlie---taking a break from an exhausting sword battle.

 

Here's my sister-in-law, Jessica...the wine expert of the family.  She also travels to France---among other places...she brings more culture to our clan.  I love this picture of her.  She and my brother Dan headed off to Colorado---they have a condo in Frisco and live there until April.  Our kids are hoping we can get there to ski with them this winter.

 

These last few days Edith's had a fever and cold.  We're going in today to see what's up.  She's fussy, sad, and frustrated.  Poor thing.  Hopefully she'll come around by the new year.

 

xxoo

jody

a year makes a difference

This was last Christmastime....

 

and this year, that little someone we were waiting for makes our family feel complete.

xo

jody

it changes

So, my last post was about breathing...

And yes, I have found that letting go is a crucial part of creating a happy (for the most part) & loving home. 

So, just to illustrate that even though you (meaning I) may find moments of peace and clarity, as soon as they are here, things happen.  It changes.

I found mouse droppings in my kitchen!!!  In my baking pan cabinet---seriously had to clean everything and needed to know that every piece of the kitchen was scoured and thoroughly checked for any evidence of mice.  Fortunately, nothing else was found, and we figured out the "how and why" and that it was a bit old and an isolated occurrence.  Still got me freaked out and anxious.

And I realized that I completely overcommitted to volunteering at school.  Completely.  I am heading up a fund raising bake/hot cocoa sale this week.  I am room mom for another class and with the Christmas party, we also have a teacher's birthday and two kids moving away...organizing and planning for what to do.  Also, each night this week is booked.  Each day is booked.  Why do they do this to us right before Christmas?

Tonight's festivities included the school Christmas concert.  I dreaded it all day because I was up to my ears in cookie dough (for the bake sale) and it became frigid and wildly windy.  And since I was baking, I ordered sandwiches to be delivered...to save time and hopefully prevent the annual family yelling/screaming/crying meltdown before the concert.

No tears tonight.  Only lots of yelling...mostly by me.  I lost my peace & my breath.  No one seemed to care, though.  They were too focused on their songs, I guess...thankfully.

Once we got there, though...it was sweet.

Charlie's first concert.  A big deal for preschool!

Here he is (in the tie) with his buddy.

So sweet.  He beamed.  And then told me that he needed to throw up before they went on stage.  I think he was a little hot and a little nervous.

There they are, all lined up waiting to perform.  My little Charlie...the shortest in his class.  Opposite of his older brother...one of the tallest in his class.

Yesterday we saw Santa at the mall.

And Lucy, my sweet fair skinned, freckled Irish-looking lass, begged me to get her ears pierced.  She's so pure, so fair.  But it got me thinking...is she too young?  Is seven too young for pierced ears? 

Please, people, give me input here. 

I think yes, it's too young.  But she's so relentless...it almost makes me think it might be o.k.???

Oh dear, what to do.

xxoo

jody

breathe...

I find myself spinning lately.  I should say my mind is spinning. 

Each year I vow that this season will not be shadowed by stress and anxiety about what is expected of us...and so I keep reminding myself to breathe.  To stay in the present means to stay with the breath.  That's the only way to be truly present.  The breath...the breath from God, who gives life and lives within me.  The breath that calms.  And brings clarity about who I really am.  Not the outer self, full of to-do lists, chit-chat and busyness...but the inner self.  The soul.  The truth.  The love that lives in each of us. 

Maybe it's the kundalini yoga, the wisdom that comes with being almost 40, or the influence of some amazing women I am blessed to know, but I encourage you to do something that I am really learning to do... to breathe.  Let it bring you peace.  Remind you of why there is this season.

And experience joy!

 

xxoo

jody