what I need is all around me

the Russian dolls

We all opened a few straggling Christmas gifts today (and man, I love having a few gifts to open a few days later) and one of them was a set of Russian dolls that Uncle Mick and Aunt Cory picked up on their most recent trip to Europe.  I wasn't sure that Anna would like them but it turns out my worries were for naught.

I'm not sure what's going on here, but she was directing them all and saying everyones lines.

I can't determine if that's a happy face or a frustated one. 

More talking (big surprise).

Love the simple, wonderful toys that create imaginative play without batteries, cords or bells and whistles!

scrabble

Anna has lamented about her inability to play scrabble like the rest of the family for quite some time.  So this year, Anna got her very own scrabble junior.  Yay for mom because it turns out, it's a ton of fun for Anna and not miserable for adults!

Dad making a play:

Anna contemplating a move:

Anna enjoying her victory:

We probably have a lot of scrabble junior in our future and if you ever are a visitor in our home, it's in your future, too!

Anna's rough day

Asthma struck our house big-time this week and let's just say, the whole family is thankful for urgent care, pure oxygen, shots in the bum and finally a decent night's sleep!

This was Anna yesterday:

(okay, so it posted sideways...i don't care...it's Anna at Urgent Care doing a breathing treatment)

Anna relaxing on the couch because she wasn't supposed to do anything active

More treatments (treatments every 2-3 hours, actually) and a little puzzle action.

We actually slept last night, though, so life feels a whole lot better today.  Not sure if she'll be able to go to school today (those dang treatments) but we're happy that she's breathing a little easier today!

An Anna Sunday

Today we took a day-time bath and then put Anna into her Christmas pj's.  They are too warm for her to use on a regular basis, so we decided to let her use them as "lounge-wear" for the day.

She spent some time with imaginative play.  Ruldoph and some of the other reindeer were working with Anna on a plan for Christmas Eve.

Later in the day, the fact that she's not had a great time sleeping lately caught up with her:

We will open the kids' annual ornaments when Sam and Mary come home around 7pm.  Looking forward to their faces because as much as they're growing up, they still love getting a new ornament.  One of my favorite moments each and every year!

I can't believe we're a week away from Christmas.  Already planning the birthday cake for baby Jesus with my mom!!!

December 8th + Today

I've faithfully been plugging along, doing my December Daily and really enjoying the project.  Because I'm getting the photo pages printed professionally (to save $), it's been hard for me to share them.

However, I really liked my pages from yesterday so I decided to print at home for purposes of photographing and posting here.  {So go ahead and tell me how much you like them + appreciate the effort...wink!}

Left side:

Right side:

Okay, looking at it here it doesn't look that terrific but in person....Well, you'll just have to trust me.  :-)

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In other news, today is the birthday of our dear friend, Finley.  We are so excited to help her celebrate tonight at her party.  I was equally excited to realize that Sam's bff, Ryan, shares Finley's birthday.  (Since he's 14 and she's 3, I guess she shares his, huh?)

Because I adore Ryan, I wanted to do a little something special for him so we decided on donuts.  I wanted to make sure we got the type he enjoys, so I asked Sam to do a little recon.  I suggested he just try to work it into conversation.  Apparently it went like this:

Sam:  "Man I love donuts!"

Ryan:  "Um, yeah.  I like donuts, too."

Sam:  "So are you pro or against the cream filled ones?"

Ryan:  "I knda like the jelly ones"

Brilliant.  Maybe not the way I would have done it, but heck, it got the job done.

Man, I love this kid.

Funny

Tonight as we were brushing her teeth, Anna and I were discussing all the ways in which I'm superior to her dad.  Now, before you think I'm a horrible mother, we only started this conversation because she convinced me I was way better at teeth brushing because, "I don't even have to relax my mouth when you help me brush".  Because Jason has always been the "primary care giver" to Anna, I often times feel like a not great mom to her, so it was fun to hear all the ways in which Anna thinks I rock.

Being the good person that I am (wink), I started asking her ways in which dad is better than me.  "Like soccer?" I suggested because he's often playing with her and I don't even really like attending her games.  "Yes!" she replied, "And t-ball coaching because one time my coach wasn't there and dad had to do it!"  At this point I asked her if she'd be playing another year of Little League (I actually enjoy those games despite their equally pathetic athletic production) and she said,

"Of course.  I'll play two sports.  And I'll have to figure out where my skills are!" 

I don't know why, but that made me laugh.  A lot.  I'm not sure where she gets this stuff.  And for the record, no one is asking her to figure out where her talents are.  She's got too many to count!

Go Anna Go!

A few weeks ago, Anna mastered the monkey bars at the park.  This is a huge deal, and something we celebrated with a bunch of excitement.  When it happened, it took me back to when Mary accomplished the same task.  I remembered her calloused hands and fierce determination.  Anna shares the determination but managed to escape without the callouses.  Go figure.

Jason took Anna to the park and I asked him to try and snap some photos of her in action...love to capture these momentus occasions on "film".

Next up for Anna?  Mastering the ever important ability to tie her shoes!

Go Anna Go!

Hello December!

I'm really getting into the Christmas spirit this year and it feels great!  I'm faithfully completing my December Daily pages each day and simply loving them.  This year my book is a little more formulaic that it has been in the past and I'm finding that I like it that way.  Unfortunately, I won't get the photo pages (1 per day) printed until after Christmas, so I can't really share them here.

Yesterday I wanted a little project to do becasue it was cold and miserable outside.  I surfed the internet for awhile and ended up making this:

So easy and so pretty!  This year, I'm completely taken with the Christmasy-but-not-traditionally-so color combination of red, silver and turquoise.  (Thank you, Heidi Swapp, for creating the papers!)  This project just screamed for those colors and I think it looks super cute hanging on our door!

This morning Anna and I got up early because we have plenty to do.  She's currently working on her seventh book (it's about Halloween).  She also helped me with today's December Daily page.

And while this is only the "page 2" of December 4 (the non-photo side), it's totally worth sharing...

We've only received one snowflake so far this season, but it's a gorgeous one worth sharing!

And if you're wondering whether I posted it just to make you all feel guilty for not sending us one, the answer is a resounding YES.  Well, plus it's just so pretty...

This week promises to be a cold one, so I'm rejoicing in planning winter meals for the week.  I'm also rejoicing the return of my dear friend, Lindy, to our table this week.

Welcome, December.  I'm glad you're here!