You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2008.
Haven’t posted in awhile, but we’ve been snapping pictures like crazy around here. Here’s a sample. You can find more here.
Thanks for the sweet dresses for the girls, Oma. 
The girls have been real affectionate with each other lately. They’ve also been teaching Asher how to give hugs on demand, and he loves it. We just hug all day around here.
My parents came to visit recently and Scott and dad installed a light in my pantry! Apparently a light in your pantry was an upgrade when this house was built, and things were very dark. Very little motivation to organize it, and I often lost things in the depths of the dark shelves. Not good for a pantry.
Here’s a before.
And here’s an after!
So much better. Don’t you love before and after pictures? I wish there was a whole book of them. Sigh. Thanks, Dad! Sometimes I walk in there JUST to turn on the light. Fabulous!
Scott has been working all weekend cutting and painting boards to make shelves in his office here at home. This office has been a works-in-progress for months now, and we think it’s almost done! He works from home so often, it’s been nice to have a quiet place for him for working, thinking, and conference calls. No pictures of that yet, but when it’s done I’ll try to get some. Sadly, no before pictures of the room, which was previously a very large, very messy closet.
The girls have been really loving books for a long time, but Asher has recently caught on to the craze. He loves to carry around books, and he often has one with him if he’s waddling around the house for playtime. We’ve been working on the wigglepants problem while we read to them, but he’s getting better. He chatters through the whole book, pointing at things and laughing at funny words.
I’ve been trying my hand at embroidery lately. Something I’ve always wanted to do, but always thought it was way too hard. Not so! I made a tiny sampler just to practice, and plan on working on it more this week. I have so many ideas for how to use this, I can’t wait to get started on it. Mostly in the Christmas gift-making department.
Anyone have any embroidery hints and tips?
Gratuitous, shameless promotion of sweetness from Asher.
And here, too.
Been busy with family in town, and futile attempts at cleaning out and organizing. Sigh. It’s so easy to make lists! But so hard to accomplish the items on them!
We had a great time with Scott’s family in town for New Years. There was a lot of reading,
and lots of playing,
(Ivy got The Little House on the Prairie paper dolls. I don’t know who was more excited about them…her or Mommy.)
(Asher sat for about an hour, intent on his new train and wooden toys.)
(Scott’s not in this picture, but he sure enjoyed video gaming with Jonathan. And that’s Asher, passing out a hug. He wobbled over to these two pretty often while the were sitting there, giving big snuggles and hugs.)
(We love to play games with the gang!)
and lots of thinking and talking…
(sometimes Charlotte will say out of the blue, “Mommy? I just love Aunt Abby.” Sometimes Aunt Mary’s name is substituted in there, too.)
Little Opa sat with Big Opa and talked with him for quite awhile.
We had a good time, Moonen family! We miss you!
So, are you all ready for the new year? Really? I am ready for Spring. It sure has felt like it here today, which doesn’t make me excited for the return of winter weather. All things in good time.
Ivy has been learning so many new things around the house the past few weeks. She helps in so many ways, almost like a little mommy herself. She is definitely more attuned to “mothering” things, like sheperding a toddling Asher and helping with housework. She puts things in the dishwasher, helps empty a clean dish load from it, too; she puts laundry away (including sorting and rolling socks! big accomplishment), switches laundry, gets things from various levels of the house and from the garage, and a host of other wonderful things. Her newest thing is feeding Asher a (very easy) meal. She loves it! A tiny task to everyone else, but in our family it is a huge help.
List of backlogged things I have been meaning to write about here, so I’ll go ahead and do it now.
:: I am excited to sew three big new projects this year. Wish I could share more, but the people these projects are going to read this blog, and we wouldn’t want to ruin a surprise!
:: I found this quote and thought it was great.
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common — this is my symphony. -William Henry Channing
:: We got a Burpee seed catalog this week, and I took a minute to peruse the pages. Can’t wait to expand our garden in the spring!
:: On another sewing note, I am thinking about making Asher something to wear. The girls get all the clothing attention, don’t they? I just love this.
::
