Forever Changed

I want you to take a moment and go visit this blog post by Emilie from Pluckymomo. Now tell me that you aren't inspired, I dare you......

Getting in the picture with my kids has been on my mind for several months now. Not too long ago my sister sent me an article discussing this topic. It basically said that it's important to get in the photo... that your kids won't look back and see that your hair wasn't done, or that you hadn't put on any makeup, or that you could stand to lose a few pounds. They will cherish the photos because you are in them. The Mom they know and love. This made perfect sense to me.... so I told myself to make an effort. That I am part of my families story, the one that I'm so intent on capturing.

Then vanity sunk in. Sometimes I would think about handing the camera to Hottie and then quickly brush off the idea.... my hair wasn't washed, I felt fat, I had just been spit up on. again. When I looked back at the photos I took over Christmas there were something like 300+ that I snapped. 3 had me in them. THREE! And for those three I begrudgingly gave him the camera because having a photo of me with Dezi on his first Christmas came to mind... even then I remember thinking... "but I shouldn't because I'm still in pjs, and I wish I were skinnier.... and I look really tired."

That. Is. Bananas.

Then a few days ago I stumbled across the Pluckymomo blog post because someone I follow on Instagram posted a photo of herself with her kiddos with the hashtag #aleidaschallenge. I read the blog and began sobbing. The story hit so close to home. The reason I take zillions of photos of my family, friends, every day things, is to capture the moment. the memories. the feelings. and most importantly connections in our lives. To have something to look back on wether it be a week from now or 10 years.... to remember our lives together.

When it comes to my family I am all in on this concept. I see the kids interacting and I reach for the camera with lightening speed.... or the way Hottie is looking at our new edition and I think, oh how sweet, I have to get a photo of that. How can I just leave myself out of the equation? This woman knew  the importance of including herself. She knew deep down that her children would cherish these photos of her interacting with them... and she inspired, and continues to inspire, many Mother's to do the same thing.

Thanks to Aleida's challenge I walked away from my computer and took some of my favorite all time photos with my two kids who were home.....

I am making it my personal goal to take at least one photo with my kids each week. Regardless of how I feel about myself, or how I look, or how much spit up is covering my shirt (seriously. how much spit up can one baby produce?).... because although it is nice for them to read how much I love them on a layout, or my thoughts in project life..... now they can see it. proof. That's my Mom.... the way I remember her.

I am forever changed......... won't you join me? Use the hash tag #aleidaschallenge on Instagram.

Scrapbook Trends December 2012

Did you happen to pick up the December issue of Scrapbook Trends?

If you did then you might have seen this little guy in there, enjoying his Christmas coke....

Every year he gets a Coca-Cola on Christmas and his birthday (not sure why I'm so strict on caffeine, but it's always been this way). He looks forward to it SO much. It's a strange tradition, but it's ours and something I bet he won't forget. So happy that Scrapbook Trends decided to include this in their beautiful magazine. It's a joy to be published!

Happy New Year

Getting my spirits back up after being in the dumps all day yesterday. I took my sister and niece to the airport and was SO SAD that they had to leave. I didn't know I would be quite that sad! Wow do I miss having family close by.....

we had a great time during their visit though, so like Hottie says, I should focus on that.... he even said, "why don't you project life all the memories you guys made together, that will cheer you up." I kind of love that he thought about that.....

Here's my layout for 2013 goals/resolutions.

This year my goals are very specific and personal (& I wrote them on the journal card after I photographed the layout).... but really everything has to do with balance. If I were doing Ali Edwards' one little word project (which I still might, haven't decided) I would certainly pick "balance."... I struggle with this from year to year, so I really want to focus on getting a handle on that now...

Last year was the first time I did one of these and I actually found it served as a great reminder for me. I started with just five basic concepts since they were my first ever resolutions of any kind. ..... and I failed epically at one of them (so hard to get date nights in.)... but I only mildly failed at keeping the rest..... so there's that. :)

Isn't it crazy what a difference a year can make?! When I made the above layout at the end of 2011 I had NO idea what was in store for our family. A new baby. A move across country. Becoming a stay at home Mom. All of those things were just twinkles in my eye.... things I really wanted to happen at some point... someday. Now it's my reality. So strange. I wonder what kind of twinkles I can make happen this year.............. I'm gonna start with trying to make my butt smaller ;)

(ps- the whole "tunnel wishes" thing needs an explanation... I'll do that at some point. Suffice it to say I am a total weirdo with some strange superstitions.)

Girls Just Wanna Have Fu-un

My sister and niece have been visiting since the 27th and I've been SO happy! We've been having as much fun as possible.

The other night Hottie watched all the kiddos so that we could enjoy a dinner/movie date (I felt like the luckiest girl on planet Earth). We walked out of the theater to finding it SNOWING!.... So... we did the only thing that any self respecting Californians would do... We made a stranger take a picture of us... right there in the parking lot.

 We were squealing with delight like little school girls....

... and took some more pictures. :)

It hasn't "snowed on us" since she we were about 12 and 8 yrs. old.

The memories of our childhood in Montana came flooding back.

It was magical.

 The next morning we woke up to this....

and went sledding as soon as we possibly could...

So far we've bowled, watched movies, played board games, sledded, and have plans to visit the horse park. Fun times, indeed. But really, even if we are just sitting around Instagramming and watching tv and playing ping-pong (horribly), I'll consider it the time of my life. Because I am SO happy they are here!

Very Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

& I got the best present of all. My big sister and niece are visiting from California tomorrow! Now that is a very merry Christmas... and the happiest New Year ever!

This is How I Roll: Tradition Edition

We have several holiday traditions, just like every family, I'm sure. Today I thought I'd share a few....

Just after Thanksgiving each year I get out our collection of Christmas hats. They are up for grabs for anyone who wants to wear one anytime for the rest of the season.

I always encourage the kids to wear them when we get our tree.

 We always select the biggest fresh cut tree we can possibly fit in our home.

Every single year Nakiah wants to be hands on in the selection process and every year he narrowly avoids getting crushed by a falling tree.

Once we get the tree home we put on National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (our family favorite) and I break out the egg nog and Hottie says the joke, "little full, lot a sap," about 5 times regarding the tree. (a la Chevy Chase).

This year it was especially fitting because our tree is huge and has these crazy long branches.

Sometimes he thinks he is Chevy Chase in National Lampoons.

The kids always start to decorate the (bottom front half) of the tree and argue about who gets to put up which ornament. The whole process seems to take all night and by the end I am ready for it to be done already. (Maybe next year I will wise up and make it a new tradition to decorate the tree the day after  we bring it home.)

The boys always ask if they can put the star on top, even though they know very well that Hottie puts it on every year.... and every single year I make a comment about how I want to look for a new topper. (then miss the boat by waiting for a sale)

 Traditionally our tree would have ribbon around it, but Hottie didn't think we needed it this year.... (I'm bringing it back next year. It takes the tree up a notch visually, I think.)

We also have a small selection of Christmas attire and will wear red/green whenever possible in December...

Especially while making our gingerbread houses....

(some of us are just too cool to wear red or green or hats of any kind... but not too cool to decorate.)

We also make a lot of treats during this time... this year I added a few more easy ones to the list.

We decorate sugar cookies, make caramels, attempt fudge (finally pulled it off this year!), etc. etc.

We make those with an endless loop of Christmas tunes and movies going on in the background.... all while sipping hot chocolate or egg nog or spicy cider from our holiday mugs...

We also like to read a lot of different Christmas stories. 

A new tradition that I am so glad we started this year is the Elf on the Shelf.... I am sure you've heard about this unless, of course, you've been living under a rock. We named ours Buddy McElfersteen. He is bananas. I love him. So do the kids.

He bungie jumps and ziplines and has dates with barbies, among other things. Evareaux keeps reminding me not to touch him, or he'll lose his magic. 

Another new tradition is listening to Christmas records. I have memories of my Dad playing records for us growing up and how happy that made me so it dawned on me that I should do this for my kids. They are loving it!

Our final Christmas tradition is opening one gift on Christmas Eve. (alway pajamas) Every year Nakiah asks if he can pick which gift he wants to open instead (to avoid getting lame pajamas) and every year I consider it but then realize he can just wait until the morning for his other gifts! Rotten kid! haha.

Oh, and I like to read The Night Before Christmas to them and watch the original Grinch on Christmas Eve. So! That's us! Not too exciting, but memorable for the kids I think.  I wonder which ones they will choose to carry on with their families later in life. What traditions do you have?

Snow Day

I got my wish. As we speak it is SNOWING! Oh man. I didn't know how excited and emotional and happy this would make me. I feel like my inner child is screaming from the rooftops, "IT'S SNOWING, LETS PLAY!" Of course not even 5 minutes after being out in the fluffy stuff I was show-boatin' and slipped and almost busted my ankle. Rookie. Luckily I wasn't holding the baby.....

Growing up in Montana snow was no biggie. We always got a ton and I never really remember it even causing "snow days" from school. Seeing this snow has brought back a flurry (pun intended) of memories. My sisters and I sledding for hours on end. Walking to school gingerly on top of ice-covered snow and falling through parts up to my hips... tiny snowballs clinging to my tights... no need for pants when you are accustomed to the cold, I guess. I remember building snow tunnels and igloos on the playground. Catching snowflakes on my tongue.... sticking my tongue to a handrail a la Christmas Story. ouch. So many happy memories related to snow..... no wonder all of those years living in California (almost 10) it never really felt like Christmas time. I found the missing ingredient. SNOW!

 
It's so cool to share this first time with my kids. They've been to the snow before, but never walked right out of their front door all bundled up to find it snowing. They are pretty excited.

It probably sounds funny to those of you across the country who are used to this... to see photos of my kids trying to gather enough to make tiny snowballs, making snow angles in the street (California kids are so clueless! haha)... but for us this is a real first, and even if we do only get about two inches I'm going to sit in my house with hot cocoa in my hands and watch every single flake fall... and remember the good times... and pray for more.... and sledding! I'll cross my fingers for enough snow this season to take my kids sledding! ....

PS-these photos were taken first thing this morning before much snow had fallen. Now there might actually be enough to make a real snow angel!