little baby in a mint green bumbo.

That's actually the first line of a song I find myself singing all day long.

"Little baby in a mint green bumbooooooo"

Seriously.

I can't help myself.

I know that bumbo days are short lived.

Very short lived.

Sing about them while you can, I say.

after breakfast, but still in pjs, is my favorite time of day.

When David came home early from work, we scrolled through these pictures on my camera.

Speaking of the kids, I said, "They're like little jewels. We are so rich."

He said, "What more do we need?"

And we sat on the couch with star struck eyes, and goofy smiles looking at their perfect faces.

Also, at the time, they were all asleep.

Which made that moment, and those feelings, possible.

Oh parenthood.

remembering.

Turns out, I don't have the ability to write what I'd like to say.

And so I am shooting from the hip on this one.

Here we are standing on the land my parents just purchased a few weeks ago.

It is in the beautiful Ozarks on Table Rock Lake.

Two lots down is Tom and Sylvia's cabin.

Sylvia is my mother's cousin, although that hardly describes the relationship.

They built their cabin over 13 years ago, and graciously, generously let our family use it.

I have so many fond memories here.

But our trip this weekend was more somber.

Tom passed very unexpectedly on New Years Day.

My Dad offered some remarks at the service.

There is a portion that I can't forget.

I can't stop thinking about how spot on this observation was.

Of Tom, he said:

"Even though you might have just met him, Tom had the unique ability to immediately put you at ease and make you feel comfortable. In the middle of the Iowa state fair, a basketball game, at an art exhibit, in a restaurant, at a business function, a family or social event, it didn't matter. He was just the kind of guy you wanted to be around. Tom could converse on any subject, and seemed always eager to find out more about a subject, about you, what your interests were and always able to, within time, funnel any conversation you were having with him to common ground. And before you knew it, you were unwittingly linked to Tom Rawlings forever."

It's true. It's true.

What a quality to possess.

December House

I am quiet in my soul.

Peaceful and Grateful.

This was a very good season.

Three little Christmas Houses remind me of the cold and blustery day in November that my Mama, Ashley and I (with little Poppy) ventured out to Nell Hill's in search of Holiday goodness.

Candles burned all month long.

Evergreen, pumpkin spice, and peppermint crush were the scents of this season.

New stockings!

Before we ever had children I purchased the bow and flower stockings at an after Christmas sale.

Each and every year I would lament the fact that I didn't make new stockings to accommodate our growing family.

This summer, unbeknownst to me, David dug the two stockings out of our tub of Holiday decor, and took them to a very talented lady who created two new matching stockings for my boys!

How very very thoughtful.

You bet I cried when David presented them to me this October.

New Books!

My favorite Christmas gift.

Admittedly, they never get a lot of action the morning of.

There are other shiny new things.

But books are friends that last longer than all the other toys and goodies.

Last night at 10:30pm, Roman snuck into my room with his new book.

We read about Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne by the light of my lamp.

He loves that Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne.

I am looking forward to the new year, but sort of want to hang on to the last bits of loveliness this December has been.

so well loved

A sister makes life infinitely more interesting.

Toys thoughtfully displayed around each blanket, carrier, swing and chair.

A song in the morning,

and a parade of ponies in the afternoon.

I've thought about hiring a professional...but then I wouldn't have access to pictures like this:

Oh Friends.
See that little Tasmanian Devil front and center?
This might be the roughest Christmas picture yet.

Fantastic Indeed

After Thanksgiving, we headed down south to watch Kyle play basketball.

(Tis the season!! YAY Basketball!! YAY Kyle!!)

We totally stopped by Fantastic Caverns.

"America's Only Drive Thru Cave!"

I love the picture they take when you enter.

Roman is covering his head with his hood, he was a little nervous the whole time,

and my brother Kevin's face is awesome.

Leave it to him.