blocks

Bets, this one's for YOU! Charlotte had so much fun with her blocks the other day, especially when I named each one of the letters as she pulled them out individually, since we are learning some of those lately. I am realizing what a really cool gift this was--so many games rolled into one! And every time I look at it I CAN'T BELIEVE you MADE it. How'd you get so darn smart & artistic all at the same time?

~special thanks to Auntie Betsy for her clever creativity & generosity...

hot mess

I just walked by these one day & enjoyed the tangled, colorful mess. I have a beautiful jewelry box from anthropology that is nearly empty, because all the necklaces, earrings, & rings never get put away properly. Oh, well, an organizational task for a rainy day. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy the hot mess. *smile*

old vine

I just love this old grape vine, which has an earthy yet sculptural appeal. ZGallerie.com

making christmas cookies

The greatest challenge was keeping the frosting from going into Charlotte's mouth before it made its way onto the cookies! And I learned the recipe for making brown frosting--which totally psyched me out because it looks just like chocolate! We both had a blast.

the tree hunt

We had the exciting new family adventure this year of hiking up into Pickle Gulch to find our own Griswold Christmas tree! Funny I don't have a picture of the actual tree we got! Once we carried it down to the car, we noticed how scraggly and thin it really was. (Realizing that it was more of a Charlie Brown tree than a Griswold tree, I think we were too embarrassed to snap a photo.) Yet now as it stands sparse and beautiful in our living room, we gaze at it with affection and pride, for we worked/played so hard to get it. We LOVE it!

little lady

How can she be such a little lady already? Well, her name does mean, 'little & ladylike'--how fitting!