smilin' moon

one evening in early October

A lovely evening in early October...I meant to post this earlier, but got sick.  I'm too tired tonight to add thoughts, but you can see my eager little subjects hamming it up!

xo

When it's quiet...

It usually means my little companion is up to something.

This is what I discovered the other day when I realized that the house was too silent...

Shirt stripped off, markings on her arms and belly, but still showing some style with the blingy pink shoes.

That's my girl.

She's learning a valuable lesson early; Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Thanks, little Edie, for keeping me smiling!

I'm so glad I still have you around here with me while the older kids are away.  And so glad I keep my camera nearby.

xo,

jody

sweet freckles!

Lucy had First Communion practice and photos on Saturday morning.

We got up early to curl hair and get her in her new fancy, white dress.

I couldn't resist her freckles and took lots of pictures...I shot mostly on manual F1.4, using my 50mm lense.  I really don't know what I'm doing, but I absolutely love learning and experiementing.  I also edited some of my pics using Florabella actions.  Love them!

Mostly, though, I love little Lucy's freckles, her sweet & soft personality, and her innocence.

 

xo

jody

sweet freckles!

Lucy had First Communion practice and photos on Saturday morning.

We got up early to curl hair get her in her new fancy, white dress.

I couldn't resist her freckles and took lots of pictures...I shot mostly on manual F1.4, using my 50mm lense.  I really don't know what I'm doing, but I absolutely love learning and experiementing.  I also edited some of my pics using Florabella actions.  Love them!

Mostly, though, I love little Lucy's freckles, her sweet & softt personality, and her innocence.

 

xo

jody

She's 2!

 

She wanted to be a fairy and she wanted cupcakes.  She tore into the gifts from her family.  She giggled at the ponies, purses, magic wands & girlie gifts her sister and brothers picked out for her.

She wore fairy wings & jumped to her heart's delight on the trampoline.

 
Little Edie turned 2 today!

It's gone too quickly...the baby days & wobbly stepping days. 

She's sure-footed now and knows exactly what she likes. 

I can't help but look back to her birthday last year, and her actual birth day in 2009:

 
Keep on soaring, little Edith Rose!

We are all so proud of you!

xo

a rare day in February

Last weekend:

Fifty degrees.

Sunshine.

Football.

Vitamin D.

 
Fresh tulips.

Sunlight warming the living room.

A bright spot for curling up with a book.

And when the sun sets, a place to enjoy a big glass of wine.

After 8 long days, the stomach flu has left our house!

Cheers!

A handmade holiday!

     This is one of my favorite things at home during December...seeing the stockings hung by the fireplace.  Years ago, I found a few of these handmade stockings in the Garnet Hill catalog.  Another baby came along...so I called the company(they didn't carry them any longer) and they pointed me in the right direction.  After a few phone calls, I finally found the maker and she made another one for me with our baby's name on it. 

     Two years ago I was pregnant with baby #4...we really needed another stocking to match our 5.  I did a search and this time it was easier...the stocking-maker was on etsy!  I quickly ordered a stocking with the name "Edith" and although she hadn't been born, we had our 6 matching stockings that Christmas.  I was quite pleased as I was in big-time nesting mode, and the stockings in their uniformity and craftsmanship represented a milestone for us; we were going to be a family of six---big and wonderful changes were upon us.

Here is the sweet etsy shop, Terrapin Knits where our stockings came from.  Check it out...and be sure to read the story of Terrapin Knits.

And CHECK OUT Etsy!  Support handmade artisans, local artisans, independent artists and crafters---you won't regret it!

Here are a few of my favorites on Etsy for the holidays...

gift tags by Sarah Jane

 

A contemporary folk art Santa.

A really neat, custom gift!

And if you're an artist or crafter, consider opening your own etsy shop and share your talent with the rest of the world.  Our gifts are meant to be shared!

xxoo

jody

 

 

 

 

 

 

picture time!

     We set out late Sunday afternoon with a goal: to get that ONE great shot of our kids for this year's Christmas card.  We had about 20 minutes of good sunlight left in the day---we would have had an hour, but fights broke out about clothing, issues with hair, dirty diapers and general chaos...but it's all good, right?

      We chose our battles and I compromised the "look" that I was going for with the kids.  I wanted a picture of them all holding hands, walking towards me---but we couldn't get it.  This is where I knew I should have called my photograher-friend to do this for us.     What we got, though, were pictures that captured the real looks of our kids and the real imperfect(which I wouldn't trade) that is our lives.
     I am still chuckling about Charlie wearing a size 2 shirt...pulled out of the closet at the last minute...he's a stubborn one.

    

      After torturing them in the cold wind for what seemed like over an hour, we treated them to our favorite local Mexican joint.  We laughed over the craziness of it all and my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our cocktails...well-earned!:)

     Have a great week...xxoo

          jody

 

 

 

  

Thanksgiving Week

     Hello!  I am finally introducing my new blog!  The links at the top are not done, and we still have some tweaking to do, but it's coming together.  And somehow, it's already past the middle of November.  How did that happen?

 

     I took these pictures less than a week ago in our front yard...it's the last of outdoor color we'll see for a while.  I've always loved November...the brown and gray and bareness of nature...the chill in the air---it's such time of pause before the rush of the holidays. 

        Happy Thanksgiving, friends!  One of my favorite quotes fits perfectly for this holiday..."Gratitude is the open door to abundance."  (Yogi Bhajan)

        May you find gratitude...may it find you...hold on to it...it's the KEY!

xxoo,

jody

shooting on manual...

I still wait patiently for my new blog...some technical delays stand in the way, but we are getting closer!  

So, here are some new photos...I have courageously set my camera to "manual" mode...I have so much to learn, but I contiue to be intrigued with photography.  I LOVE to play with my camera...these last few weeks, when I have been super busy with our children and their lives, bringing my camera along on our adventures keeps my creative bug satisfied.  My studio awaits...so many paintings and pieces up in the air, but this is such fun.

Humor me, will you?

Lucy as my muse, sandals in November, our yard, slowly succombing to fall...

xo

jody