out with the old, in with the new

I'm still thinking a lot about this quote.  And to start 2013 off well, I'm determined to make my home and life better.  I've spent the last 3 days organizing and de-cluttering   I'll be selling and donating a lot of stuff.  I'm planning and scheduling, for that is the only way I can hope to get anything done it seems.

Also, I'll be changing some things about current and past blogs, combining and deleting them too.   I have several blogs and since I now have "several" children, it is silly and impractical to try to keep up with them all... the blogs, that is.

........ Now, off to wake up the family, make breakfast and get back to decorating the kids room.  Oh, and I need to paint our new nightstands.  Lots of good planned for today and the end of this year... only 3 days left of 2012!

Happy Holidays

Can you believe I'm still sending these out?  

Its true.  So, if you requested one, you'll be getting it soon.  

All the best to you and yours this coming year.  

square photography

 * all images from my instagram

things are going well

This is what life is like right now.  Its going well.  I'm trying and it is paying off.  I remember this post about how parenting is hard.  It is but it doesn't have to be as unenjoyable as I/we can make it.  I'm not sure when it happened for me but, the patience and prayers since then are paying off, for now at least.

I've found that sitting down on the ground with the kids is the best way to spend my time lately.  My attitude and my kids are better for it.  I am figuring out in little ways how to be more patient and loving. I am really starting to be pleasant to be around again.  ;-)

One morning this past week the was shining and I knew it wasn't going to last long.  I stopped everything I was doing and whisked the kids outside for a sunny walk.  It was so very pleasant to be outside in nature.  Even more, I was relieved to realize that there wasn't anything in the world more important for me to be doing.

I put too much pressure on myself to be a certain way and really all I want to do is live a basic and satisfying life.  Simple is good, walks in nature are good, being able to stay home with my kids is oh, so good.

thanksgiving with family

Thanksgiving this year was extra fun and memorable.  We were in Utah for my sister's wedding than we all trekked down to Arizona where we enjoyed playing in the sun.  We had a blast!  I think you can see that from the pictures... more after the break.

happy birthdate

She's 5 months old today!

I am in love with my little happy beauty.  

She is so good just like her brother.  

How did I get so lucky?!

XAQUE

Just look at him!  Handsome and happy and so much fun.

Happy Birthdate, my Love!

thanksgiving with friends

Now is the time to write about our Thanksgiving fun.  We've made some awesome friends that we're going to keep forever.  Before we all left on our Thanksgiving vacations we all got together for a pre-Thanksgiving feast.  If you ask me, I think its the best idea.  I love Thanksgiving foods and it was nice to get to taste it two different times rather than stuff my face all at once.

A couple families slept over night and we had a blast.  We spent the time cooking, laughing, playing games, four-wheeling and eating all of the goodness.  There were so many tasty foods and pies.  And there were tons of kids!  I highly recommend doing a pre-Thanksgiving feast next year.  I might even consider a pre pre-Thanksgiving feast.  Thats how much I loved it.

You can see more pictures that Zack took on Facebook.

we got ourselves a Christmas tree

We went to a farm.
Zack cut down the tree with a saw.
He and his brother carried it back to the car.
We enjoyed free candy canes and cider.
It barely rained on us (we were so lucky!).

Getting this tree is a big deal for us.  Its our first non-sidewalk purchased tree.  It even feels like our first real tree although, we totally appreciated every overpriced real tree we did purchase from sidewalks of NYC.  There is something so special about having a real tree.  Perhaps it reminds me of being a kid and chopping down trees from our backyard.  Its what it should be like, you know.  So now the lights are up and it waits to be decorated after naps today.

Christmas time is here and its inside our house.  I love it!

happy birthdate

I love celebrating just a little on every date of my family's birth.  

Odin is a total boy.  He is my dream son!  

the ultimate holiday month is upon us

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE!!!

The last 2 months have been leading up to this month.  I am happy its here!  December will be a lovely one since we will be home the whole month soaking up the spirit and decor.  Like I was for Oct.  I am so grateful for a house to fill with holiday decorations.  Also, I am so grateful to be a mom.  My son is old enough to get most of what its all about.  I get to spend the holiday teaching and creating special moments.  How much better is that going to make things?!!!  I am really excited.

*  this image is from a little family outing to the Festival of Nativities by the Seattle temple tonight.  I was amazed at how much he liked the exhibit of over 500 different nativities.  He was very gentle and tried really hard not to touch.  This picture is of him not touching baby Jesus which is what I'd asked him to do.  It was very sweet for me to be explaining that all of these people in each nativity came to see Jesus because they loved him.  If that didn't get me in the spirit of Christmas, I don't know what would.  

a call for addresses!

See these pictures?  These 2 things have gotten me in the Christmas spirit more than anything else.  Plus the fact that we came home from our Thanksgiving vacation to find several neighbors with Christmas lights on their houses!  Not to mention, we are going to do 3 festive things this weekend! AND, something else, I am totally sending out Christmas cards this year!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A CHRISTMAS CARD FROM OUR LITTLE FAMILY, 

THEN LEAVE A COMMENT OR EMAIL ME YOUR ADDRESS. 

lmmtolbert at gmail dot com 

Tis the season to be jolly and we'd love to send you a Christmas greeting to add to that Christmas cheer!

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* all photos from my Instagram

from my pin boards

Here are a few recipes I've tried lately from my Pinterest food board.  

the pumpkin cake was light and yummy.  a no-fail alternative to the normal pumpkin dishes.

the green goddess grilled cheese was so amazing. (my favorite!!!)  it needs to be a staple in my diet!

the hawaiian hay stacks were the prefect meal for a large family gathering.  so easy and tasty!

* not my pictures - see link for source

useful + beautiful

This is my current moto.

I just got back from vacation.  We stayed at my brother's home and his wife is the best.  She is a dream of a Sister-in-law.  Whenever I come back from visiting her home I am always motivated to live a better life, be a more patient and loving mom/wife and have a happier HOME.

We had some good talks about being a mom and staying home with the kids all day, everyday.  She sees it as her job.  What a concept!  She says she wants to do the best she can at her job just as if it were a salary paying, 40 hr/wk job.  Why I never thought of it this way... it beats me!  I am an outstanding employee  so why not at my current, first choice job?  Obviously, there is some change to be made.

So, here I am, home from a lovely stay with my mentor/SIL.  All I want to do is clear my home of everything but the useful and beautiful, to de-clutter, organize, decorate and keep a clean home and what happens?  My son gets sick.  Then my daughter and of course, then I get sick.  (Stay healthy husband Love!)

Well, there is nothing like a bump in the road to really get you motivated!
I'm glad for this quote to help me along the way.

* thank you Deary Z for coming home early from work to take care of me and the kids and to friends who have offered to help and brought warm soup to my door!  I am so blessed.

a wedding

My sister got married.  

Her whole family was there to celebrate.  

She wore the dress from my wedding that our sister made.  

And our other sister that did my wedding day makeup was there for her too.  

It was a beautiful occasion for this happy bride.   

* all images by Zack except the last by our cousin Jodi