a little inspiration

  I can't believe it is New Year's Eve.  Life is so different than it has been before that I can't quite keep up with the time.  So here are some thoughts that have crossed my mind today. 1- I am so thankful.  Thankful for friends and family and even some kind strangers.  I am thankful for you for reading and checking in even when I display a complete lack of "having it together."  Thank you! 2- I can hardly believe the things that started this year as ideas and have come to fruition.  At the beginning of the year we were just plotting on how to get to Asheville.   Now we live here.  At the beginning of this year I was pregnant and then miscarried.   Now I am exactly one month from my due date.  Both of these things are so big I am surely missing the point, but I am living them each day and trying to enjoy each moment. 3- My son is changing so much.  He makes me crazier than crazy but he also is kind, tells fantastic st...

  Our dear friend gave Emerson gymnastics lessons for his Christmas gift.  I've been looking for just the thing to start him with since before we moved.  I thought maybe dance classes or soccer but after we moved I found this great gymnastics place.  I wanted him to have a dedicated class that doesn't involve me where he could be learning to use his body and have to follow directions.  He has a lot of free play time in our other activities and I wanted this to be about learning some self regulation and discipline along side getting the energy out. The gym has terrible lighting but here are a few images from his first class.  I am excited to watch him grow and learn here in a small class where he will get to both run and jump and flip and have to wait his turn.  Also, I'll be sitting in the lobby crocheting or cooing at a baby while all that is happening.  Bliss. {Thank you dear Nicole!} Ps- E wants you to know that the red parts are t...

We finally have a library with a story time worth visiting.  Right around the corner with a librarian who is kind and understanding of children.  Emerson is rapt with attention while she talks and reads.  He talks about her during the week when we aren't there.  She allows him to help and participate and he just adores her. He is also learning about checking out books and returning them as we simplify his library at home down to just the essentials.  When you can't put books away on your own it gets a little silly to have so many.  We plan to cycle them in and out as needed, but for now, one small shelf is more than enough. In order to keep track of the library books I thought it was time for a dedicated bag where the books could live while visiting our home and so he can carry his own back and forth.  His book bags aren't quite right for the job (oddly enough) as children's books vary so much in size and the zippers aren't as friendly to little ha...

Taking her to church each week is kind on my own time in sanctuary.  Mountain views and quiet time are so amazing.

Surprisingly I have been getting some quilt blocks together between the breakdowns and the calm seconds.  Mostly because I have had some seriously good help.  Thank goodness for grandmas and husbands.

Trying to focus on this instead of that. I feel guilty for not looking to see more about what happened, but I don't think I could take the details.

The weekend before he had had made his own counting stick.  He was thrilled when she called on him to help her.

An example of working together where both parties were happy.  So rare and so special. {And the camera charger was found. }

This is more like what most days feel like.  I am standing still and everyone else is a blur.

Though it is hard to tell, this was hours of work.  It felt so good to work in peace with no distractions.  I love how all the bits come together so nicely. 

The days keep getting way from me.  My real camera is out of batteries and I haven't unearthed the charger. Back to the cell.  I have quilts on the brain.

Some how I missed a whole day.  I find it amazing how these art projects are only fun for a couple minutes for me.  I wonder what I am missing when I see others talk joyfully of creating with their own littles.

I found the WNC Nature Center a bit by accident.  I would have looked for it more in Spring because the name led me astray, but when I passed a sign that pointed to way I had to check it out.  Turns out, it is a zoo with only local animals and farm animals.  Perfect really.  I was imagining lot's of trails and things like that.  Not so perfect for the winter and this belly. We've been three times in the few weeks we've been here.  It is a small place but it wasn't until this last time that we even walked the whole thing.  Because the farm area is so engaging we can't get him out.  I mean, how can you leave this giant bunny .  Especially when it isn't a "petting" animal but it stays there while you sneak your arm in and the lovely people who work there don't seem to mind a bit. Right next door to him is a little area for doing "farm work." A couple small wheel barrows, rakes, shovels and bean bags.  And some hay to feed through the ...

  Some days the light and the air feel so perfect.  I still wish his ears worked better, but that bunny doesn't seem to mind.

E in his new cave fort.  We are in a great neighborhood.

Raw cranberry relish over cake donuts.  Call it a craving if you want, it is sooooo good. 1 bag fresh cranberries 1 (large) clementine 1 gala apple 1 tbsp of honey granules A little about how good cranberries are for you.