Guest Post: DIY Paper Fan Photo Ornaments

I shared a Christmas-y post over at Whipperberry! Anyone still doing Christmas crafting? I think I'll be doing it all month and I'm okay with that. :) Go here to see how I made our Paper Fan Photo Ornaments. I'm excited to make a few more each year and collect cherished, winter memories.xo

Pumpkining at Rasmussen Farms

^^ You can watch a little video and listen to their laughter here! ^^

^^ Brooks took this picture of Ava and me. :) Thanks sweet boy! ^^

Last year we missed going to Rasmussen Farms to pick out pumpkins with the Kjar cousins, and it was so fun to go back! It's hard to beat the nostalgia of picking the perfect pumpkin, watching the kids have a blast pulling around and riding in vintage Radio Flyer wagons, eating apples right off the tree, and soaking up fall weather. It started off a little rocky (two little people fell asleep on the way, and woke up and little unsure;) but it didn't take long for them to realize they were in Autumn heaven. We left with some great pumpkins and sweet memories. :)

You can see past years of pumpkin picking here:
2010
2011
2012

Easter and Living an Abundant Life

^^ Brooks enjoying the Easter Bunny's leftovers ;) ^^

After my last post, I am feeling especially happy to think back on our little Easter Sunday, it was such a good day...filled with sunshine, an inspiring day at church, finding the eggs Brooks had painted and the Easter bunny hid, making festive deviled eggs (that took for-ever. haha), a lovely dinner at the Kjars, Brooks an Ava enjoyed time with cousins, and of course time spent thinking about and discussing the love of our Savior and His Resurrection and Atonement.

I'm so grateful to know that "the miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can live after we die but that we can live more abundantly"...such an inspiring truth from His Grace is Sufficient, a devotional speech given by Brad Wilcox. That is what I want. I hope and pray that I'm creating and living an abundant life, for me and especially my family, filled with real joy and time spent doing things that are lasting and that make a difference.

With Him, I know we will. :) 

Happy (belated) Easter everyone!

2012 Christmas Card

^^ front ^^

^^ inside ^^

For journaling sake...our Christmas card. I love Christmas and holiday cards, both sending (still need to get some out!) and receiving them. The ones we've got from our wonderful family and friends will stay up through my birthday in January, at the earliest. ;)

A Wonderful Christmas: 2012

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (and Sunday with Rudolph pancakes for breakfast, thanks to my sister Natalie for the fun idea!) were pretty wonderful. Christmas Eve we were all still a bit sick (even though you probably wouldn't have guessed with those smiles, those kids know how to be chipper even when they're feeling crummy) but it was surprisingly nice because we hunkered down at home, all cozy just the four of us. We had a sweet night enjoying chicken noodle soup, the kids playing by the Christmas tree, and Adam and I laughing while trying to throw clementine pieces into eachothers' mouths from across the room. ;)

The next morning we were so excited for the littles to open up their gifts. We introduced Brooks to Santa a few times this year, and even though he didn't understand what jolly old St. Nick does, Santa still came with a few goods for him and his sister! :) Trucks, a train, and a book for our little man, and   a book and puzzle for our little lady (her first Christmas!)...they were happy campers. And so were Adam and I! I got Adam a hot air ballon ride (he originally planned it on our honeymoon but the weather didn't cooperate) and we're so excited to fly high this spring! And Adam spoiled me with certificates for boots and couples massages (yessssss) and my favorite...he printed and framed our family mission statement we started months ago but never finished. It is perfect. Love it, and love that man.

After french toast and an afternoon of snuggling up to a movie, we headed out into the gorgeous snow to Mama and Papa Kjar's home for a lovely Christmas Feast. We filled our bellies and sang Christmas carols...while Brooks and Ashton chased each other and played trucks. :) And we ended the night with a couple rousing games of Clue. Love that family!

We talked to my parents in Washington and they told us they were able to Skype with Corrie in Chile!! Equally happy and jealous. ;) We sure miss them but they're coming to visit after New Years and we can hardly wait.

Hope everyone had a magical Christmas!