moments

that moment i realized a family picture can indeed happen.   

christmas.  just us.  

 camera timer.  

that moment i realized all pictures will include this face:   

                                    that surprising moment my girl looks up and smiles
                                      without a shrug or a "no. more. pictures. mom."
                                                  just a sweet, beautiful smile.  

                     that moment of a heart pitter pattering the instant before opening a gift.  
                                                          moments of expectation.  

                           that moment on christmas morning when she got to play with the lasso
                                                  she had been hoping for.  
                                                 dear santa, a lasso please.    

that moment my kids got to play in snow because

                                              a friend with a big heart sends some via mail.  

at home

caroline is typically glued to my side so i love it when i find her playing independently.  

  here is kinsley and hallie's technique to make candy trains:

 here is caroline's:

i can actually see the sugar entering her bloodstream.

this was after i realized i rarely give caroline a chance to help in the kitchen .  i usually reserve baking when she is napping so kinsley and hallie can be the little chefs.   it broke my heart when she looked so honored to get the job.   

  typical home decor.  no, i do not remotely save everything thing they draw.  yes, we recycle.

it mistakingly looks like hallie is focused on cutting out the cookies.  in reality, she was munching up a storm of cookie dough.

tippy toes.

this is what happens to daddy's beer when he sits down to play.

 watching a christmas show.

soaking up every last minute of this season.  i should really take a close up of the stockings that grandma jane made for the girls.   stitched with ruffles, buttons and complete love.  

recently

i will waste no time filling up my picture storage in this new blog.  

yes, we (still) have a dog.  

 i adore this picture of kinsley and hallie.  they may not look like sisters but they have the most special sisterly bond.

our town has the sweetest holiday kick off.  my pictures were lousy but i did get a shot of some NC snow (bubbles).

 ben's parents flew down for a weekend visit.  we packed in some sweet memories and a heavy dose of sewing projects.   jane taught kinsley to knit.

 hallie's first time ice skating.

these pictures of kinsley in a horizontal position crack me up.  they don't do justice to how well she did after every minute that passed.   

 a good big sister.   smiling at caroline who stayed on the sidelines.