The other night I was tucked right into the corner of the sectional reading a book.  First Caleb came and sat to my left.  Then Walter the cat came and curled up at my feet.  David sat down, then Seth got on the coffee table with a deck of cards.  Sarah came crawling over (she was a cat) to watch.  Seth wanted David to teach him some card tricks.

I felt bliss.

Cozy.

I’m reading through Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Newbery books and found this quote in The Long Winter:  “It was so wonderful to be there, safe at home, sheltered from the winds and the cold.  Laura though that this must be a little bit like Heaven, where the weary are at rest.”  pg. 94

I’m sure reading these books throughout my formative years helped secure my ideals and make me determined to have the kind of home that my own children feel safe and secure in, too.  The sounds, smells, conversation, laughter, candle-light, pets, blankets, and the ever-popular family pile ups on the couch are just a small part of what makes a house a home.  Rich and I and the children, together.  This is what makes my heart happy and content most of all.

It’s sunny and 32 degrees outside, with a bright blue sky.  As I look out the window I see the tops of the trees waving back and forth in the wind.

Sherlock the cat is next to me, charmingly licking his paw and washing his face with it.

The dishwasher and dryer are humming, doing the work so I don’t have to.  What a blessing to have the ease of modern appliances.

I spent time making room for the Christmas tree.  I moved the table and chairs from in front of the livingroom window into the kitchen, and rearranged piles of books and papers (lots of papers were thrown away).  Now we are all set to get the tree tomorrow.

I foraged for christmas decorations this week.  It was nice to wander around with scissors until my hands and cheeks were numb with cold.

I changed the table-cloth and scattered some oranges.

The pine branches and berries make a wild bouquet for the table.

Every once in a while I see Parker the dog walk by with a clementine in his mouth.  It’s a mystery to me.

Sarah reading her book the other day.

She asked for this one for Christmas.  “Take a picture of it so you can remember the title,” she said, so I did.  “Mom, the flash.  You can’t see his face.”  “That’s okay, this is a magic cover.  See, the title of the book is The Sun Trail, so when you take a photo the sun appears in the picture!”  “Um, okay.”

Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon you just gotta trap the energetic son in your arms so you can sleep.

and old faithful recipe….making this for the last 18 years!

I was amused by the way he got comfortable on my lap one day.

I like it when a child sits right next to me.

The neighbor boy came over to see if Seth could play and I asked him to turn around so I could take a photo of his jersey featuring my favorite football team!

I got to visit my sister-in-law and the baby the other day!

This is Cassandra’s first holiday season as a mama and she’s doing great!  A sense of humor will be important throughout the entire parenting journey!

The other morning I was driving the kids to school and as we got to the end of the road the sun was coming up over the hill and shining beautifully on the church in front of us.  I was first in line at the stop light so had to take a quick photo.

scarlet fiesta mug of coffee in the afternoon

Sarah and I made paper chains so we could tear one off each morning until Christmas!

They are also eating the dearest tiny chocolates each day, too.

I got a new shirt and jeans from anthropologie yesterday!

Delish hazelnut latte from the downtown coffee shop

I made the kids muffins one evening and they were so good I have to share the recipe:

Aunt Betty’s Blueberry Muffins from Taste of Home

 

I hope each of you have a lovely weekend!

 

Love, Shanda