Craft bunting Easy for kids

So my all time favorite blog is Under the Sycamore by Ashley Cambell. This is the first blog I ever followed. I never really knew about blogs before this. I was amazed at her outlook on life, her heart and vulnerability. It caused me to look at my own life and family and start noticing the small things that make life so rich and lovely!

I have been following her for several years now and it even inspired me to started my own blog.  

Ashley posted an easy DIY the other day and I wanted to try it with Chloe. You can see her post and instructions here. 

We had a fun project date while her siblings were napping at home. 

Super easy for kids to do and great for their motor skills.

Have fun.

Xoxo,

Carol

When Time Stands Still

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Have you ever had one of those moments when it felt like time stood still?  Even if for a moment?

I have had this experience a few times over the last few years.  

One time was at a birthday dinner for Courtny.  We were at a local mexican restaurant with our whole family and some really great friends.  As I sat there watching everyone laughing, celebrating and generally just being happy, I was struck by how I almost missed out on these great moments.  You see  after 4 years of marriage, Tom and I divorced. 5 years later we reconciled and remarried, but it was not easy.  We still didn't know how to be married.  We were broken people who loved each other, but didn't know how to recognize or deal with our brokeness.  God's love saved us.  As we learned about the unending love that God has for us we started to grow and change and put each other before ourselves.  We had wonderful times and really hard times, but we kept going.  We didn't give up!  We locked that back door and decided we were in. So when you can't leave, you are forced to change and figure out how to work things out.  I am so glad we did.  I would have missed out on these magical moments of watching our family loving each other.  The growth that happens when there is unity and connection and love is miraculous.

We love to gather together as a family and with friends.  I have these moments of time standing still more and more.  This family night was one of those nights.  We weren't all here this night, but it was still magical.  Our family is growing within our immediate family unit as well as with friends we like to "adopt" into our clan.  I am grateful!

My meager attempt at a pinterst project.

The firepit is a great gathering place.

Snuggles

She loves her daddy.

Story time in the teepee.

Great friends and new babies.

Grateful for this guy who works so hard to make our marriage and family a priority.

Until next time.

xoxo,

Carol

Hi friends.  I finally updated our family photo.  We have grown by 2 since the last time we took pictures together. Our family friend Christina also joined us since she is practically part of the family.  Brittny took all the photos here. She was such a trooper seeing how she had to set the camera and run to get in the picture in time. 

Brittny and Jon have 3 beautiful kids now.  Chloe, Claire and Maverick.  Chloe is as smart as can be, Claire is a pistol and sweetheart all rolled into one and Mav is the sweetest little guys you could ever meet.

Everyone is healty and busy and doing great.

Tom and I still love hanging out together and make date times out of any type of activity we find ourselves involved in, whether it is work related or kid related or getting stuck in Winnemucca, NV for two days waiting for our car to get repaired.

Here is to a new year full of great expectations for more wonderful memories, fun times with friends and family and hopefully accomplishing some goals in the midst of this crazy, exciting life.

xoxo,

Carol

PS  Stay tuned. Tom is turning 50 this year and we are planning a great party that is totally perfect for him.

Family vacation.

Last week we went on an amazing houseboat vacation on Shasta Lake. Our very dear friends invited us to share their vacation and we had a blast. My favorite time of day was going to bed and falling asleep while staring at the stars. It was so beautiful and peaceful. This is what I woke up to in the mornings. Why don't I sleep outside more often?

Kids are so great at entertaining themselves. I never would think to cover myself in mud to keep myself busy. I loved watching the kids play. For the most part our cell phones had no signal. There was a LOT of grumbling about that, but I was really grateful for it. Instead of having their noses buried in technology, everyone was playing, having conversations, relaxing. 

There was lots of tubing, wake boarding, and waterskiing. The dad of the family we went with grew up going to the lake every summer and is incredible at...well any type of water sport. He has all types of toys. We were so lucky to get to try things out. 

Here is Kelly barefoot skiing. 

And doing flips on the knee board. 

We also had plenty of time for relaxing.  Here the guys were snoring in stereo.

I think family vacations and traditions are so great. I value these times and am grateful for the opportunities!  Thank you Asbes. 

Xoxo,

Carol

What's happening these days

Ok, Once again, I have gotten caught up in the business of life and have not made documenting a priority.  So...this post will be an update of what has been happening lately.

Cournty came home from Spain.  This was a great day.

Claire Baby turned 1.  She had a confetti party.  

Got to have dates with this little peanut.

Photo shoot for Cali and her friends by her amazing photographer sister Brittny. Check out her blog to see her awesome work.  www.10baretoes.com

Bailey went to Jr. Prom.  Photos again by Brittny.  Bailey was beautiful and had an amazing time.

We had Easter and I made Chloe and Claire Easter Bunny dresses like ones my mom made for Jami and me when we were little.

More catch up posts to come.

Talk to you soon.

Carol

Craft Day for CraftHope Project 20

Hi Friends,

Let's get together and make some bibs for baby orphans in China!  Once again we are joining with CraftHope to share hope and love across the world.  See this link to read up on the story of why we are doing this and how our bibs will get to China.

We will be gathering together at my home on Sunday March 17th at 1:00 pm.  If you know how to sew, great!  Bring your sewing machine if you can.  If you don't know how to sew, that is great too.  Come help, cut, iron, hand sew or encourage.  If you want to bring some fabric, two bibs can be made from a fat quarter (this is a pre-cut measurement of fabric.)  You can find these at JoAnn's or any quilting store.

I will provide the terry cloth fabric for the back of the bibs and the velcro.

If you would like to join us, please comment below so I can get a count.

Hope you can join us.  We always have lots of fun!

Talk to you soon.

Carol

Family - One of those posts I started last year and who knows why I didn't post it!

We went to my nieces wedding last year. 

My mom, both sisters, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews all live in a small town in Oregon.  

We only get to see them once or twice a year.

I sure miss these guys and cherish the times when we get to see each other.  

It is always fun.  It is always crazy.  We always leave with great memories.

This is my nephew "Sumo".  He is fun squared.

This is my niece Becka's baby Ellie.  What a doll.

Chloe got to visit her cousins.  

She loves it and acts like she has she has been around them her whole life.

My beautiful niece Miranda.  She is my sister Jami's youngest daughter. 

Courtny getting ready for the wedding.

My sister Holly. She is a blast!  Everyone gathered at her house to get ready for the wedding.

Well...everyone gathers at her house for everything!

My sister Jami made these beautiful flower balls for the bridesmaids to carry down the isle. 

Jami is amazingly creative.

Me and Holly waiting for the wedding to start.  Unfortunately my sister Jami was at home changing.  

She was in the car with a crock pot full of chili on her way to the wedding when her son-in-law turned the corner and the pot of chili poured all over her ivory dress!  Can you imagine?  But within minutes, Jami was changed into a new dress and at the Armory as if nothing ever happened.  This is one of the best stories of the weekend.  Jami,  I hope it's been long enough for this story to be funny.   :)

My nephew Layton and his best girl Gloria.  Their wedding is coming up next year.

Holly and Sumo.

My nephews Landon and Sumo.  Two of the cutest guys I know!

My niece Brianna came with us from California to the wedding.  Bri, Cali and Becka are best friends!

Holly's second oldest son, Logan.  This dude rocks!  He played music for the wedding march.

Courtny was directing traffic.  haha

                                                      

Becka's older sister Jocelynn.  Jocey was married the month before Becka.  

Sadly we were not able to attend her wedding.

Here she is...the woman of the hour.  Our bride to be, Becka.  She was crazy getting everything ready for the wedding and reception...

Ran to change...

And was truly beautiful.  She had a great time at her wedding.  As it should be.

Talk to you soon.

Love,

Carol

(Mom, Auntie, Gamma)