happy weekend.

In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips. ~ Unknown

pic pix: my sister (A-boo to the boys) helped with the boys' halloween costumes last week. we are so blessed to have her around to have fun with! 31.Oct.2014, at home

happy weekend, a green view & some links for you.

This week has been a crazy weather week for us ... snow days already, you say?!  Yes, unfortunately so.  I've been keeping green pictures on my desktop to remind me how great the snow is for our plants & trees(!).  

Minus some yard clean up this weekend, we are going to be celebrating my mom's birthday (even though it was in July!), checking out the new apartment my siblings are moving into, meeting our friend's baby girl (I seriously can't wait!), and working away on the "play room/space" that I have envisioned (hopefully get some pics up soon!).  It'll be busy, but I am looking forward to every part of it. 

Some favorite stops from this week ...

| diy bubble gum dispensers |

| i love me a good set of before & after pictures ... in love with those mint cabinets |

| this sweater |

| how the sun sees you |

| i'd like to get the boys these beanies |

| also, we'd like this knitted bean bag |

| i've been super encouraged reading this book |

| absolutely in love with this family's home decor |

| this butternut squash soup (with coconut milk) looks worth experimenting on |

| i'd like to give the game of backgammon another try - these boards are cute 1 2 3 4 |

Hope you all have a happy weekend!

happy weekend.

"If you're feeling blue, try painting yourself a different color." 
- Hannah Cheatem, age 8


pic pix: reflections off of my stair railings ouside, Feb.2014, at home

links & happy weekend.

Oh goodness.  Where has this week gone?  We seem to always do that to ourselves - before and after our vacations, we cram our weeks full.  If we always do it, you'd think we would've learnt by now!  On top of business, our little Hunter man has been having some sleepless nights (yes, mama & papa too).  All to say, not much down time these past 7 days, but being reminded of how blessed we are to have such rich relationships, friends and family, around us.

Here are a few things that have been mulling around in my head, amongst the busy-ness!

. My sister reminded me how much I wanted Toms when she mentioned she wanted to get Juju a pair.  Initially, I wasn't that into them, but now(?) LOVE them.  A pair for me, Juju, and Hunty-Bear.

. Judah is into Curious George shows on netflix.  Found some cool "oo-aa" free printable coloring pages. **oo-aa is what he calls it**

. Thinking about summer ... dreaming about plans for our backyard.  Looking here & here (and everywhere else!) and pinning all ideas here.

. Doing some research on different teaching methods and activities.  Here's a site I've spent some time perusing.

. Does your handwriting ever change?  From italic-slanted, to straight and even, to scribbly handwriting, all caps, no caps ... it seems mine changes like a flavor of the month!  Today, wishing mine looked like this.

. We are getting some company jackets made up with our new logo and cannot wait to get them!!! (logo on this page - sawback builders ... our graphic designer is awesome!! check out her work for inspiration.)

. She Reads Truth.  Love these daily devotions.

. A weekend quote to chew on.


Hope you all have a beauty of a weekend!

pic pix: my view two fridays ago, Palm Springs, CA, Feb.2014

happy weekend.

Palm Springs ... wow, you've got some pretty ace weather, beautiful scenery, sweet rental places, and, you've highlighted some pretty cute moments of my boys ("hashtag" sorry notsorry for the bombardment of pictures of my boys ... wait, I do that at home too!).  If it works out again, I'd say you are a pretty cool place to visit.  Only a 3.5 hour, direct flight from home, we can definitely handle that!

As we're down here for a week, I've been purposefully taking time off from day-to-day things and have been focusing on REST.  Physically and emotionally specifically, it's been good.  What a treat to spend some q-time with all my guys.  I am loving it!

Anyways, I'll be back to blogging regularly next week.  In the meantime, hope y'all have a beautiful weekend, wherever you're at!

"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be." 

~ Abraham Lincoln

pic pix: a swaggin' iPhone pic of Hunty-bear, 21.Feb.2014, Palm Desert, CA

happy weekend.

Joy does not simply happen to us.  

We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. 

Henri J.M. Nouwen

pic pix: my favorite birch patch, 13.Feb.2014, Fish Creek Provincial  Park, AB

happy weekend.

"There are times when we stop, we sit still.  

We listen and breezes from a whole other world 

begin to whisper." 

James Carroll

pic pix: a summer shot at my desk, Jul.2013, at home

happy weekend.

"What we hope ever to do with ease, 

we must learn first to do with diligence." 

Samuel Johnson

pic pix: juju - watching papa work, Oct.2013, Black Diamond, AB

happy weekend.

You're here to be a light, bringing out the God-colors in the world... 

Matthew 5:14 (the Message)

pic pix: starry light, Kootenay Provincial Park, Sept.2013

happy weekend.

Rules for Self Discovery:

1. What we want most
2. What we think about most
3. How we use our money
4. What we do with our leisure time
5. The company we enjoy
6. Who and what we admire
7. What we laugh at
A.W. Tozer

pic pix: a little guy "open" to learning about himself, Oct.2013, in the kitchen

happy weekend.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him [God],

and He will keep your path straight." 

Psalm 3:6

pic pix: on a river walk, Calgary, AB, August.2013

happy weekend.

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one

can take it from you." 

B.B. King

pic pix: Judah taking in the sites at Butterfield Acres, Bearspaw, AB, July.2013

happy weekend.

"I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught." 

Winston Churchill

I love this little boy so much.  I feel more, hurt more, laugh more...all because of this wee face.

This morning, I've already faced some of the most challenging moments that I've encountered with him yet.  He's teething again, and this time with a vengeance.  His understanding that things aren't "normal" helps, but equally as much doesn't, as I can't explain it all to him.

My little meltdown this morning (after poop got everywhere-don't ask!, tears were coming down both of our faces, our colds flaring up into coughing fits...blah blah blah), caused me to think deeply about the quote above and how my relationship with Father can be a lot like me and Juju's.

My understanding has grown ... but I can't understand it all.

I go through growing pains ... and all He can do is comfort me, love me as I have to go through it.

Even though I want to learn, explore, and try new things ... it's hard to be taught how to do 

something when all I want to do is know it and have mastered it already.

Not sure if at all you are like me, but wherever you may be within your current travel of learning, be reminded that it's okay to not have all the answers - it's normal to face frustration.  Just the same, it's natural that our Father DOES have the answers and He wants to guide us if we allow His comfort into our lives.

May your hearts and minds be open and teachable ... happy weekend!

"If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it..." Proverbs 12:1


pic pix: from our exploring walk with Uncle Jesse, K-Country, 12.Aug.2013

happy weekend.

"Life is either a great adventure or nothing." 

Helen Keller.

pic pix: pics from last year's camping - Juju's grown so much!, K-Country campsite, Jul, 2

happy weekend.

summer watermelon luvin' from Sarah Nadine Arsenault on Vimeo.

"It is always the simple that produces the marvelous." 

Amelia Barr

pic pix: juju enjoying his watermelon slice, in the backyard, 06.Jun.2013

happy weekend.

"Only where children gather is there any real chance of fun."

~Mignon McLaughlin

pic pix: this little lion man making us laugh today - he's getting in all sorts of "fun" these days, today at home

happy weekend.

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

~Dr. Seuss

pic pix: oh the joy this little lion man brings, taken this morning, at home

happy weekend.

"Each day provides it's own gifts."

~Marcus Aurelius

pic pix: judah taking yet another moment to check himself out in the mirror, today at home.

thoughts. things.

Cold Break 
I took an unexpected hiatus from blogging this week because of a stinkin' cold that is hanging on ever so slightly.  Thankfully, Judah nor Matt got it and I'm almost over it.  On the bright side, I've been thoroughly enjoying my tea and oranges...staples as of late.

Picking and Packing
We move in 3 weeks...ahhh!!  And packing has only just begun!  Though I haven't gotten far putting things in boxes, I've been mentally preparing how to do it all (printed these labels, got a system for where to hold boxes in the interim, visualizing where it'll all go, etc.).  Some other people may call this procrastination(!), but I'm pretty confident in saying that it's going to be productive when it comes to moving day.  I've also been picking colors for our new walls {glee!}.  Keeping a pretty simple palette, and who says walls can't be painted again (if you're reading this Matt, ignore the last sentence!).

Things I Overlook
So apparently, I have saved every magazine I have purchased - or so it appears!  I've made piles: give away, keep, maybe... I may give a few magazines away, rip out pages and toss the rest, but the majority of them still end up in the "maybe" pile.  What do you do with your magazines?  Maybe I should just give in, keep them all, and do this (!) or wait till I have this many to do this.

Beach Time
In the middle of April, we are going down to Mexico for my sister-in-law's wedding.  We HAVE to go, so we might as well enjoy it right?!  Haha...it's going to be great and the closer we get to it, the more excited I am!  Last time we were at the beach, we were only there for a day or two and I can't wait to see Judah in the ocean again.  I am desperately needing some sun, so this will be good for my health too(!).  For a swimsuit, I'm thinking something along the look of these one-piece suits... 1. 2. 3.

Happy Weekend
Hope that y'all enjoy your weekend!  I'll be back to regular posting next week...

"We much teach our children to dream with their eyes open."

~Harry Edwards

happy weekend.

"A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years mere study of books."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

pic pix: Judah loves to "talk" on papa's iPhone (if it's a real phone or just a toy, he likes to talk!), 21.Feb.2013, at home