One

My little Nathaniel,

You turned one this month. I can't believe it! We must have worn you out on your birthday because you fell asleep in my arms before going to bed. I held you and gazed at my sweet baby boy and felt such joy that I am your mom. You are very precious and a delight to our family.

Nathaniel's favorite things:

Looking at board books

Climbing on chairs and the kitchen table

Dancing with mom to music

Taking baths

Emptying the silverware basket in the dishwasher

Yelling and hearing his voice echo in the chapel in church - especially during the Sacrament.

Frozen blueberries

Being outside at the park

Happy Birthday Nathaniel! We love you.

Handmade Christmas

It is now a Christmas tradition that my children make gifts for each of their friends. This was the fourth year for my girls and the first for Matthew.

This is what they made...

Lace Earrings - cut out of vintage lace, colored with sharpie markers, and stiffened with fabric stiffener

Snowflake ornaments - cut out of polyester backed lace and a button sewn on for decoration.

Decorative pillows - lace Christmas trees and a wreath sewn on the sewing machine.

Homemade play doh - made with our favorite cooked play doh recipe in Matthew's favorite color

Oh Christmas Tree...

It began with a drive to the tree farm of choice,

we learned the price was the same regardless of height, 

So of course we selected a rather large tree,

- get the most for your money right?

And that is how we ended up with this beauty...

 Yep, 11 feet tall!

We gave it a little chop before the decorating began...

Ornament inspector