{PHOTO SHARE}

It's snowed a lot here this week. Like…a TON! My kids finally got their snow clothes on today and went out and built a snowman. (Insert FROZEN song here…it's been running through my head all day!) So after I got the baby down for a nap of course I grabbed my camera and my boots and headed out to get some pictures.

It's a struggle for me to let go of the "perfect image" mentality, and to remind myself that the "perfect image" is NOT the one of them looking at me with a huge smile. While I definitely love me a natural smile…they're not the images I find myself falling in love with. Take this one for example:

Most definitely my favorite shot of the day…next to this one:

Love them both. (the pictures and the kids!) Eating snow…I mean it doesn't get more fun than that, right? Abbie actually said to me "Mom, take a picture of me eating snow!" And Gavin was just eating it more than he was playing in it. :)

So…get rid of expectations and just capture the moment. I'm talking to myself here… But seriously, the candid moments always end up being my favorites.

{OUR ELF ON THE SHELF}

I can hardly believe that Christmas is upon us! As I was searching through photos I happened upon all of our Elf on the Shelf photos from last year. I thought I'd post them here just in case I had any clever ideas that I could share with you...although I'm pretty sure I got most of mine from Pinterest!!

I compiled some PL style collages, mainly so you don't have to sift through a bajillion pictures! If you'd like closer up views of any of them, please let me know!

And here's a copy of the goodbye letter he left for our kids:

{WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - MY LITTLE COWBOY}

{MACK}

Just a picture share today, I'm totally and completely smitten with this new little guy. He's absolutely PERFECT...in every way imaginable.

{WORDLESS WEDNESDAY}

I {HEART} VALENTINE'S DAY

{PICTURE SHARE}

Like I've said before, my goal this year is to capture more "moments" rather than events, and to do so using my Nikon, NOT my iPhone! :) I think it's going pretty well so far. Granted it HAS only been a month...but a successful one, nonetheless.

A neighbor brought over some frozen cookie dough (along with about FIVE blankets she'd made for the new baby) and my kids could hardly wait to cut it up and get those cookies in the oven. (I think maybe it's been too long since I made cookies...) Anyway, Gavin wanted to watch them bake and promptly went to get his little stool from the bathroom. He then, of course, wanted Abbie to join in his excitement and she was so cute to humor him. I love how much she loves him. She loves giving kisses and hugs and it was no surprise that she snuck her arm around him as they watched the cookies bake. Oh to be little again and take time to enjoy the little moments...like watching cookies in the oven.

{ANOTHER SICK DAY}

I think yesterday was the worst of this nasty cold (I hate being sick and pregnant at the same time). Gavin and I are both feeling MUCH better today. And even though I'm sure I could have cleaned bathrooms and mopped floors, I decided to just take it easy and have another lay around jammie kind of day.

I've been wanting to start a blanket for this little baby boy coming in March. I decided today was the perfect day for that. And what do you know? I actually had all of the colors of yarn I needed! Perfect, no need to run to the store. :) I'm really excited about getting the nursery put together, it looks pretty cute in my mind...hopefully it all comes together the way I've envisioned. Anyway, here's a little sampling of what the blanket is going to look like.

Aren't the colors pretty? It was kind of an afterthought to add the blue, but it really brings the color scheme to life.

I also whipped up this cute little elephant print to hang on the wall as part of a photo collage that will go above the changing table.

And this is what Mr. Gavin did while I crocheted in my bed:

Super Hero setups. I love it. I especially love how he has to put them in order. The Hulk's have to go together, the Zurg's have to go together...etc. This was just before they all got "HULK SMASHED"! Now the big kids are home and I suppose life turns to homework and reading. Still hard to believe sometimes that I have a 1st AND a 3rd grader...I so don't feel old enough!

{WORDLESS WEDNESDAY}

A sickie, jammie, iPad watching kind of day... :(