Getting ready

for the stake Red Carpet Dance last weekend

Our night at the school hobby fair

Sam did a display of codes and puzzles he's created
{notice the sling?}

I thought the collections that kids brought
were so sweet:

slippers

rubber ducks

pillows

teddy bears

stamps

jerseys

Maddy, me, and Lauren
walking home shadows

My happy place

^

...or at least one of my happy places
Some people have Disneyland
others have the golf course.
Me?
I have Ikea.

First recital

He rocked the hall with his dynamic interpretation
of The Indian Song

Snow fun

We gathered together

Thanksgiving placecards

Bell tower

Testing the better late than never concept...

^
belated birthday cake (or lemon bars) yesterday
what a great kid
9 years of spunk and sweetness

There's no place like it

London wandering

NYC chick trip

^
love these friends

^
Face off: Plaza Hotel reflected in the Apple Store

gorgeous October NYC day...felt like a Meg Ryan movie

Twins, three years apart

Maddy + Sam
Originally uploaded by basic~joy

This is why people always ask when we're out and about if Maddy and Sam are twins. You can imagine how thrilled this makes Maddy. For the record: Maddy, almost 12, Sam, just turned 9.

Floral therapy

locally grown + only $5 from the neighborhood farm.
{Sorry about the pink sponge...I thought I cropped it out}

Lauren comes home from Ireland today

and the welcome home committee is in full swing

He inherited this from me

I'm a bit phone phobic myself

Until the new furniture arrives...

This is our version of comfy movie viewing
(Sam & Harry Potter)

Proud origamians

Hay rolls

Since I was raised in hay-cube country, I find these haysnails so delightful every year...


...so I pulled the car over and forced a photo op on my good-sport kids.

Road trip!