Bed Head

It is ONE degree outside with a wind chill of -11. I just returned home from taking Ian to school. Brrr. It's tough to drag this sweet boy out of bed for school at 7 a.m. on these cold, dark mornings. His hair says it all.

Except for the freezing temps, 2011 is off to an exciting start. It's day 12 and I am full steam ahead on my goals. Are you?

A New 365

Nathan took a few photos from our Nutcracker pop-up book, scanned in a few characters, and voila: design gold.

Happy 2011, friends.

New Year's card outtakes

For the second year in a row, Christmas arrived before I managed to get cards sent. So on Christmas Day we attempted to get a great family shot for our second annual (Plan B) Happy New Year card. These poses didn't make the cut.

We finally managed to get a nice photo of the four of us. Nathan worked some serious, SERIOUSLY fab design mojo on them and they went out in the mail today. Picture coming soon.

Also coming soon: my thoughts on 2011. This year was absolutely amazing for me--life changing in so many ways. I have been putting much thought into the new year, setting goals and getting excited about what might be achieved. I vow each year never to make resolutions, but there is a wonderful newness each January 1 that demands some serious soul searching and goal setting.

One goal I know for sure--keep laughing at myself and this crazy family of four I am so blessed to call mine. Which brings me back to the New Year's card outtakes. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Check out mom and dad, same day.

I won't share what mom was doing to make dad lose it here. That's classified.

Are you busy setting goals for 2011? Excited yet?

December 12

Christmas drawings.

There is a drawer in our art center full of crayons and markers and fun scissors and pencils. And when placed in the center of the table with the four of us around it, it can inspire some serious masterpieces.

Sunday was cold. SixTEEN degrees. The day started like this--cozy feet and hineys.


We eventually got dressed and headed to church. BRRRR! Ian wanted to make Christmas drawings when we got home, so we turned on the fireplace and some Christmas music and began.

Here is Ian's work. The outside of Santa's house on the left, the inside--the rooms of Santa and the Mrs.--on the right.

Santa's bag, by Ian.

Christmas gifts, by Ian and Nathan.

"Gingerbread Cookie Boy" by Lilly

"Frosty and Karen" by Lilly and Me

My stuff.

Fireplace by Nathan, stocking dots and rug by Ian

"O Little Town" by Nathan. Show off.


Throw some paper and crayons on your family table and draw! Happy Christmas creating!

Who's in YOUR lunchbox?

Nathan's artwork on the contents of Ian's school lunches have become legendary among parents and children in Ian's class, sparking much conversation. (No kidding.)

From Batman to lightsabers to pizza slices turned into hideous creatures, Ian's baggies have displayed them all.

Why not make your child the IT kid at his lunch table this Christmas by cutting out his sandwich in the shape of a gingerbread boy, then decorating him from the outside? You might just discover your inner artist is just a Ziplock away . . .

Ginger Snaps

These cookies are crazy good. Like, prize-winning fair good. Nathan makes them every year, so I call them Nathan's Ginger Snaps. Recipe originally discovered here. Enjoy.

Clara in Training

The Nutcracker 2025: Here's your Clara.

Ballet, last class of the semester. Watch week. I took 100 pictures, because there's nothing sweeter than a three year old ballerina.

The poses. So precious. How many pilates poses can be mastered at age 3? These teeny ballerinas are working on a record.








Darling. Magical. A future Clara for sure, although we're not picky. We'd settle for Sugar Plum Fairy, too.

Maybe we'll make our debut in the Mouse King's army of The Little Theater in two years.

Looking forward to watching her watch our local theater's production of The Nutcracker this weekend. Front row, center, balcony. I can't wait.