There's No Place Like Home, There's No Place Like Home...

I'm thinking right now of that commercial, the one where it shows all the different people in their different environments, clicking their heels because they want to be "home"...I don't even know what it's for and I can't remember how it ends, I just know that's exactly what I wish I could do. The catch is I don't really want to go "home", not to my house I mean, I love it don't get me wrong. But, the saying, "Home is where the Heart is" has never been more true for me than right now. My home and my heart is half a world away...just click, click, click, and I could be with you, if only it was that easy, I miss you babe.

Bubblin' Over

My love for you is just a bubblin' over...you bring so much to our world...

Energy...

Laughter...

Dancing...

Dreaming...

Joy...

Excitement...

Adventure...

Beauty...

Fun...

It is all wrapped up, packaged perfectly in your sweet little soul which has captured my heart. My heart that melts each and every time (and they're so numerous I've lost count) of each and everyday that you say in your precious little voice, "I love you Mommy." I love you too Carter just doesn't do it justice...my world is brighter because of you my love...you are my shining star.

Just in case your wondering...

how my blonde hair got brown, I thought I would share. Let's just start with the Internet. It's a pretty amazing thing. It somehow gives two girls who have never had one ounce of "cosmetelogical (and yes I just made this word up)" training the confidence to walk right in to Sally's Beauty Supply and purchase all the necessities for dying ones hair. I'll give you one guess...that would be me and my colorist aka Kim. And, let me tell you people, this was a two step process. No simple buy a box, mix it up, etc. We had done our research and found that in order to get me anywhere near au natural we would have to first "fill" my blonde with none other than reddish orange dye. This could be scary, and on most days for me, the overly cautious type A, it would be. I don't think anyone has ever used the term, "fly by the seat of your pants" to describe anything about me. But, on this particular day I was, for whatever reason, feeling slightly adventurous and the rest is history. The end result was a little more red and a little less brown than I might have hoped, but no major catastrophes and as I am bound and determined to let my real hair color take over, this seems like it will mask the transition a little better. So without further ado...

Before...

My partner in crime (Don't look too confident)...


the moment where it would've been really easy to FREAK OUT!!!!

there really wasn't much to do but laugh...


Kim managed to capture Carter (who went into a little bit' of shock when she saw me)...

I'm pretty sure her sweet little mind was thinking, "WHAT THE HECK DID SHE JUST DO!?"

I looked like I just stepped out of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind...

It seemed like it couldn't get and worse, and luckily it didn't...

Thanks Kimmi, there's no one and I mean NO one else that I would ever let dye my hair!!

Love you!

Monday Carter Edition #7

Today Monday Carter was in full blown Christmas mode! She kicked off the morning like she does every other one we've spent here, she gets in a little quality time with her favorite dog Abby (or as Carter likes to call her sweetie, cutie, or the Abbster)...

Mitzi, Abby, and Carter have become quite close since we've been here, or should I say Carter loves them with all her little heart and they tolerate her! Their bonding has included activities such as sharing food and even sharing baths (that particular idea was one from none other than the brilliant Aunt Kimmi, she always seems to know exactly what will make Carter's world just a little more fun)...

Fun times! But, back to today, the next thing on the agenda was some time in kitchen with Roxi, she and Monday Carter whipped out a dozen of these little guys...

And according to the old story you can, "Run, run just as fast as you can, but you can't catch me cause' I'm the Gingerbread Man!" Apparently Carter didn't get the memo and not only did she catch them, but she bit off about 6 of their sweet little heads...

Look at these beautiful gingerbread creations, sans Roxi...

And that's not the only beautiful gingerbread creation she's managed to whip out this week. She and Carter (and I helped just a little) enjoyed making a gingerbread house a few days ago...

and when everyone else lost interest, the artist went to town...

and created the most beautiful gingerbread house we had ever seen!

Baking with Roxi makes any Monday more fun! We ended our day with a new, and hopefully continuous, tradition. I bought Carter this Nativity today...

It is interactive and takes place over seven nights in December. It seems like such a great way to teach her about the story surrounding Christ's birth...

And just in case your wondering where the bruise on her forehead came from, that was also courtesy of sweet Aunt Kim. It was an accident and it was all in good fun...but, it was also a doozy....

It's ok Kimmi, it happens to the best of us.

I can't help but think about the time Nate lifted our sweet baby's head into the fan that was spinning over our table while we sat and ate lunch on the Riverwalk shortly after she was born...oh the horror!! Happy Monday everyone!

Dear Daddy, I miss you!! I've been "playing" daddy with everyone lately. I make them pretend they are you and it is so much fun! I also tell Roxi when she kisses my forehead that, "My daddy gives me kisses like that." Thanks for loving me...I love you too! XOXO Carter

Give Presence

We had a little life lesson yesterday. Carter, Kim and I ran into Wal-Mart to grab a couple of things. On our way into the store I was happy to see a young Marine who was collecting "Toys for Tots". Maybe it's that it is military oriented, but I always feel immediately compelled to donate to their cause. I was excited about it and told Carter how we could go and pick out one toy for a boy and one toy for a girl. I tried to explain to her that some children don't get a lot of gifts and Christmas and the toys we picked out would make them so happy. She seemed to immediately get into the whole idea. The boy gift was an easy choice, it took us less than a couple of minutes. The girl gift was a whole different story. She carefully examined all the dolls. Each time I suggested one it wasn't quite right. Then, she finally saw it...on the top shelf...a little baby (which appeared to have the chicken pox) that came with it's own set of medical gear for you to doctor it with. She was sold! But, it was also at that very moment that it seemed to dawn on her she would not be taking this baby doll home with her. The remainder of our trip was a painful one. She cried, she begged, she bargained..."could we please get two? Mommy PLEEEAASSE I want that baby." I tried and tried to explain to her that this baby was for a little girl who wouldn't be getting very many presents for Christmas. I wanted so badly for her to "get it", I wanted her to want to give it away. It was a painful process. We placed our items in the box and her heart was not nearly as cheerful as I had envisioned it might be. We went on our way and as she and I stood in line at Subway her mood had done a complete 180. She said, "I didn't really want that doll. It wasn't for me, it was for another little girl." Small steps.

So, when I opened up my inbox a little while ago and received an email from my sweet friend Cayce with instructions on how to watch the following video...



I was inspired. My friend Sam had also posted information about the Advent Conspiracy a couple of weeks ago, but I'm ashamed to say I didn't really look into it. A BIG thank you to both of you for sharing this message. I just finished watching this video and felt inspired. This concept completely hits the nail on the head for me. Nate is always talking about living a "balanced" life. I love the thought of applying that same sense of balance around the Christmas Holidays. Don't get me wrong I absolutely LOVE giving gifts, and if we're being honest I like getting them too! But, it seems like it can so easily become too much. Going overboard kinda' runs in my family. Simple is good. Sharing what we have been blessed with is really what Christmas is all about. It's not really ours anway...it's what we've been given...all we have to do is pass it on.

Brown Banana

I have brown hair...Carter is eating a banana...that pretty much sums up the latest from around here.

We Be Jammin'

We spent several days this summer "reaping the harvest" of blackberries that grow wild behind our house on Whidbey Island...

I just can't pass up on something "free" that can be turned into something yummy! We enjoy an occasional cobbler thanks to all the berries I have frozen, but I also attempted making jam for the second year in a row! I would love to share photos of the "jam making process" but I actually find it a little tricky and didn't have a spare hand to snap a photo. I made things harder on myself this year because I started with a pot that was not nearly large enough and had to switch things around mid-jamming, and this is not something I would recommend! So, the best I could do was a photo of my little babies cooling on the counter...sweet success!

I then shipped them to Texas and created these cute little labels for them (2 Chicks Jam because I had some help from my partner in crime Carter)...

I added a decorative touch to the lid, tied on the label, and they are now the perfect pint sized (and might I add very affordable) gift to give away to friends and family...