a new verb redefining reality tv

iChatting: (i.chat.ting) (verb)
1. talking informally by computer, usually involving loved ones that you miss terribly.

caution: may include reality, ie. the mess in the background, costumed children, and daddy still in pjs.  caution: may result in daring efforts to see the screen around the children.

caution: may involve being photographed without warning.

finally fall

it's been a while since i've done an 'intentional' photo-shoot with the kids.  by 'intentional' i mean the kind of shoot you put on the calendar, plan/buy outfits, pull out the real camera & lens, and own up to the fact that you'll do just about anything to get the smile that defines them...or that will define them for the next couple of generations.  so, the long-put-off photo-shoot happened on friday with the cutshall kids.  funny, it seemed easier this time around than i remembered it being...another sign that they are getting older.

eight (and three/fourths) years old, madeline is a constant reminder (because her father keeps reminding me) that she is her mother's child.  i can't help but be a little proud of that...

connor just turned seven.  he's a heart melter.  he is so different from me (i don't need any reminders from the hubby to know this.)  i like to think that he somehow keeps me well-rounded, by keeping me on my toes.

our baby isn't really that anymore...except in our hearts.  she'll be four in a couple of months, although i'm not quite ready to admit that.  she's another one to keep us all on our toes.

bookends

i never had cousins growing up, so when my sister and i got pregnant within two months of each other, (her first, my last), we were so excited about the prospect of our kids having cousins that were so close in age.  over the last couple of years, as we've started to see the two of them become friends, i am more and more thankful for God's timing...even though i had to wait 30 years...and i still don't have a cousin.   i have a niece, and a nephew too, that i appreciate so much.

usually, when i think of "the cousins" it is the two girls who are so close in age that come to mind.  or our nephews on the other side of the family, who are closer in age to madeline and connor.  but recently, i discovered something perhaps even more sweet.  

last weekend, we had a spur-of-the-moment moseley family gathering.  there wasn't a birthday to celebrate, a holiday around the corner, or even a reason to gather.  we just got together...just because.  it was great.  the kids watched a movie.  the adults sat around the dining room table and talked for 2+ hours.  at one point, i looked into the living room and garrett, the oldest, (a recent teenager, complete with cell phone,) was sitting in the recliner with caroline, the baby of the group.  it was one of those moments. unfortunately, a camera would have ruined the moment, even if it were nearby.

not so with this bookend moment.  

sometimes it's the less obvious blessings, the ones that you aren't expecting, that mean the most.  as we head into this season of thankfulness i encourage you to find your, (perhaps less obvious,) bookend blessings.  

up and running

i think i've created an energizer bunny out my friend stephanie...she's gotten the digiscrapbooking "bug" and is inspiring me to keep up.  so, in honor or our hard work, and by that i mean blood, sweat, and swear words (when the technology won't obey), i'm posting some of my new layouts.  (we have just completed the "up and running" class by jessica sprague.)

i'm trying to keep everything fair.  (is there such a thing?)  caroline keeps asking where she is on my layouts...like where's waldo?  i'm not used to the audience and am not giving up hope that this digital scrapbook party-of-one will be easily transferrable to "scrapbook retreats"...can't give that up.

 cuties.

fair is fair.  here is my madeline.  hard to believe.  i probably wouldn't have scrapped something like this on my own, so i'm glad for the digi lesson prompting me to look back and appreciate how time has evaporated.  i'm so grateful for the time i have with my kids.  not all of the moments God gives us are easy, but as i look back, the picture is beautiful.  this is one of life's reminders never to take a moment for granted. (don't miss connor's layout posted 10.8.10)

this is a two-page tribute to our camping weekend in september with the cutshall family. i've come to the conclusion that our family can only tolerate one campout each season.  what should have been our 2nd campout this fall took a few interesting turns.  the plan started out as a full-fledge campout, complete with a bonfire and s'mores at the crane house.  very soon after our first campout, the plan changed to a "pretend campout", where we'd set up the tent (inside) for the kids while the adults camped in the bed.  

we did go to the crane house. we did see smoke from the would-be bonfire.  we did eat s'mores...baked in the oven.

new every morning

a fresh start... 
       a new name...
                same me...

after almost a year of having a blog, it's about time i start playing with it. never to jump into a project halfway, i thought i'd make it my own...down to the html.  

so i:

·  put some of my new digiscrapbooking knowledge to use

·  realized that i didn't know anything about html...and faking it doesn't work

·  enlisted my techie hubby

·  realized that he doesn't know as much about html as i wanted him to

·  bought a tutorial

·  realized that it would't teach me enough about html to do what i want

·  figured it out on my own (with google)...after many many hours.

perhaps now i'll keep adding to it.  stick around.

my little man...not so little anymore

in celebration of our little man's 7th birthday...

Merry Christmas

merry christmas! (special thanks to madeline for the background music.)


(make sure you press the pause on the music down below before you press play on the video.)