Am I Lucky or What?

.. and don't say "or what"

This is one of Timo's 30th Birthday pictures.

Sewing, Silliness, & Snow

While Timo was gone for a week long work conference, Mom-K came to stay with us and taught me how to use my sewing machine, how to read a pattern, etc. Following are my projects we completed that week. Pillow covers for our couch pillows that were falling apart.
Timo kindly models my new apron. I borrowed the pattern from my friend Michele.
Cute tush.
One fine day, Timo forgot to unload the boys booster seats from his car before leaving for work. So the boys got to eat breakfast strapped to the dining room chairs with my belts. Fun!
A self-portrait. Aren't we cute?

Grandma-K brought the boys a present from Ellensburg - SNOW!

30th Birthday Pictures

As a gift for my 30th birthday, good friends of mine gave me a photo sitting in their photography studio. We have been friends for 11 years now, and I have sat for a lot of photos in their studio, but this time it really made me reflect on where I am in my life, and the things I have gone through in my life, even just physically.


I did these photos on the same day I got my hair cut, but I also chose not to wear any makeup for the pictures. I probably would have if I owned any makeup that was less than 3-5 years old! I just don't hardly ever wear makeup. Usually, just for pictures or special occasions. The last time I wore some of my (old) makeup, it made me break out all over my face the next day. A sure sign it is time to buy some new stuff. I just can't bring myself to make the investment seeing how infrequently I wear it.



I am also reading a book that I received as a gift from my loving mother-in-law. I don't know if she read my recent blog post before or after she bought this gift for me, but it seems very fitting considering my stated new years resolutions. It is written by a Christian author, here is what is written on the back:

Feel like you need a vacation? Sometimes in the midst of the demands of motherhood, you become worn out. You can't imagine how you can give anything more to anyone else. You may feel like you're "going south" physically, emotionally, and spritually.

Lindsey O'Connor reminds you that you don't have to feel depleted. With God's help you can change the direction of your life - from the southern hemisphere of lost potential and discontent to an intentional life rich with growth.

Besides, you only want to go south if it's Aruba!

Lindsey O'Connor, mother of five, speaks at national conferences such as Heritage Keepers and Hearts at Home. She is often featured on television and radio as both guest and broadcaster. She is the author of several books, including the best-selling If Mama Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy.

I'll let you know later if the book is helpful and inspiring. I've only read chapter one so far.

Christmas Fun & 1st Haircuts

We bought a little foam couch for the boys as a late Christmas present. Our futon frame is currently having work done to it, so our futon mattress has been on the floor for the past few weeks, and the boys LOVE it. I was thinking that once we put the futon back together, they'll be sad not to have a couch to play on. So, I bought them their own (to share). Dario is our big ham when it comes to pictures, he poses and smiles, scrunches up his face in anticipation of the flash. Ray, however, is more serious and difficult to get to smile.




Grandma K got the boys their very first baby dolls for Christmas this year. Grandma Great used to buy baby dolls for all of her grandkids, including the boys, and now Grandma K is carrying on the tradition. It was so cute to watch the boys play with their dolls, and figure out on their own what to do with the bottles, not only trying to "feed" themselves, but to feed the baby doll as well.

Here's a little video clip of Raymond walking.

And, I finally gave the boys their first haircuts. Their hair was getting really shaggy, with curls around the back, little baby mullets in the making. I felt really sad while cutting their hair, not because I really loved their mullets, but because they are old enough to need a haircut. They are growing up! They will be 14 months in 2 days.