mr. january

January Student of the Month Celebration 

conferencing with connor

In the springtime first grade has student led conferences.  In this time we meet briefly with the teacher and then get to be led around the room as our child shows us different skills they have been working on. It's a great way to truly get to know what your child is able to do and what they might be struggling with.  

Connor's conference was fantastic.  He is such a smart kid and it's really awesome to see his confidence come out when he shows off his stuff.  I got to see his proud shy smile about five different times which just made the afternoon that much better.

an afternoon in the sun

Two weeks ago a little girl at Micah and Connor's school passed away after a freak accident.  Like any other with littles at home my heart when directly to the mother, to a mama who didn't know she wouldn't talk to her baby again, to a mama who now has a date in her calendar that will never be the same.

When tragic things happen, when any things happen, it makes a splash and the ripples keep going and going touching parts of your life and parts of others lives that could have never been forseen.  Every action, every situation, effects others, other situations in your life and other people.

That afternoon it was an unseasonably warm and sunny day.  Chores and homework were forgotten as we spent hours outside together, partly because I have three boys and running out energy is an absolutely necessary thing, but mostly because my heart needed the healing of loving interaction as I stood praying while playing for the ripples that would continue to come in the life of another.

phone pic friday

There are four weeks of 2016 phone pics to catch up on, minus the ones that have been shared in other posts.  This month has started with lots of work on the house in preparation for new things coming in our lives and because it seems as if moving in and settling in takes a lot more time than I thought.  

Annual New Year's Day doughnuts

My new hairpin legs on an old spool and now there's a bedside table in my guest room.

Sunny, winter days are the best

First fire in our new home

Joy in writing

Our two kittens cuddled up

Hipster Hot Chocolate

Wild Art painting party

New, Old hooks in the bathroom

Words.

Leia saying hi

Basketball buddies

Early morning free Chickfila breakfast

Logan and his Teddy

Sunrise from the back porch

Magnolia Market!

Back from the weekend hugs from my Logi Bear

9 more to go!

Callie Rey found a bed

Handles.  Doors will come sooner or later.

sweet magnolia

I hadn't been on a girls' trip since I was pregnant with Connor.  That's a good 7 years ago.  There have thankfully been many day trips and girls' nights out but this past weekend I boarded a plane with four fantastic ladies and flew to the big state of Texas.  

If you are a fan of HGTV then there is a good chance you have heard of the show Fixer Upper.  It is a favorite of mine for all the reasons it is loved by many.  A fun couple who wants to bring joy to families by making houses into homes and revitalizing the town they love in the process.  Seriously great and beautiful things in that show, and not just from the decor!  While watching with Zach one night I said out loud how cool it would be to go out there and my travel loving husband immediatey started planning a trip.  Somewhere in the middle of the planning He let go of his need to adventure with me and instead gave me the gift of a weekend away with the girls.  

As much as I wish everyone was able to come, I loved the time with the three others who were able as we drove under the big Texas sky, walked in the very cold Texas wind, talked about things that only come up when you are with each other 24/7 and searched for treasures.  It was a very memorable weekend.