Tuesdyas are for...

...working with babies and their mamas and HEAVY caffeination!❤︎

Lots to celebrate!

This weekend holds so many amazing things for us:

~Eden Marie turns 6 tomorrow!

~We get to host family and friends for a birthday party of eating and crafting and unicorns...

~Ryder's Opening Day for baseball and his first game are tomorrow.

~Sunday we get to commission our new elders at each of our 4 services.

~We have our Girl Scout meeting for the month of February.

So right now, as we prepare for that, I just want to enjoy the calm before all of the anticipation and excitement come!

These people are what it's all about...❤︎

Thanksgiving recap and the beginning of Advent...

Happy December first!  This marks the first day of Advent!
Here is what our family will be doing:
A devotional as a church...

And a family inspired one:

last year we did truth in the tinsel as a church and as a family and had lots of fun with it and are excited to try something a little different...
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Our thanksgiving recap:
This year posed a very unique holiday for us as a family.  Kit's side of the family was getting together in Santa Maria for a huge thanksgiving celebration and I was scheduled to work.

(I'm not complaining because I know I get paid really well and I only work 4 days a month and working holidays is part of the deal...)  So for this holiday, we embraced a plan:

Kit would take the kids from wednesday morning until friday to his parents house and I would stay and work the holiday.

We realized that Kit, though he takes care of them ALL THE time and there isn't anything I can do that he hasn't, (minus breastfeeding...) has never had the kids for an over night without me. He was CRAZY excited about the opportunity and ROCKED it... I swear, Kit can make things look so easy!♥

So here are the highlight photos of my sweet husband rocking the holiday and all the family festivities!

Preparing for the day:

Grandma and Eden at the Lego table:

Ryder showing grandpa his archery skills: 

 

Eating by the new pond!

Siblings:

Cookie decorating table:

 Cousins:

The food! 

The family pictures:

 The grandkids:

The whole crew!

I was so sad to miss it...

While he did that, he encouraged me to capitalize on some alone time and I am not going to lie, it was so good for my soul to be still and be in our home and enjoy quiet moments in my favorite space.

I ran twice. It was calm and peaceful and I prayed.  I will be making this a regular part of my routine. 

 Snack time...

A very full 13 hours...  

I am so THANKFUL for my job!

 Black friday morning...

Making chili:

And this recipe is a favorite of Kit's:

(It makes excellent frozen dough balls)

I napped, went christmas shopping, gardened, crafted, cooked, baked, and watched christmas movies... It was so delightful!

All that to say, I was so happy that the holiday went well and I was SO excited to be all together again:

I just wanted to kiss their faces off when they walked in the door, I missed them so much!♥

being a nurse

In honor of thanksgiving next week, each night at dinner we each talk about what we are thankful for.  (We will be making this a habit on a regular basis, way past thanksgiving... It's been so great for us to help recalibrate...)
Here is one (of the MANY) that has come up for me:
I have the privilege of being a mother baby/post partum nurse.  I absolutely love my job!  6 days a week,  my life is being at home with my babies (who aren't really babies anymore...), but for one day a week, I get to take care of mamas and their newborns and share in those sacred first moments that they have together.  

This quote hangs above our nurses station.

I realize what a blessing it is to not only have a job,  but to really and truly love it! It brings me such a deep sense of satisfaction and purpose, and I know that having that day makes me a better mom when I get home. It's easy to complain about small things but I realize more and more that it's a gift that I hope to never take for granted.  In this season of thanksgiving, my heart is thankful that the Lord has opened the door so that I can do what I have been doing for over a decade...♥
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(But, I'm not going to lie, I am ALWAYS so excited to get home to these little people♥.)

making some effort: thrift store addition

In an effort to keep up with the challenge of picking a few days in the week where I get out of my work out and yard work clothes, I have been having some fun putting outfits together and feeling a little more dressed up! Recently I have been having some fun finding little items at thrift stores.  (I was really inspired by Jen Hatmaker in her book Seven to shop at thrift stores and I have been having some fun getting some good stuff!)

I noticed that some of my recent favorites have been from the Good Will and so I wanted to post them.

Did I mention that this is NOT a fashion blog, as evidenced by the photos and ensembles.♥

All the tops are thrifted:

(All together they came to less than $25! Yep, that's 5 tops and one pair of shoes!)

White top from the Loft:

 My baby girl helped me get ready. An adorable baby goes with everything I wear...Literally... 

(Truthfully, I pretty much haven't had privacy to get dressed since April of 2010♥.)

Another top from the Loft:

 This chambray top was American Eagle:

My first Mother's Day gift.  I love this necklace!

Thrifted Old Navy shirt:

 I love stripes, so this one just had to come home with me, and it was only three dollars!

 I got these Mossimo shoes at Good Will, never worn with tags still on for six dollars, IN MY SIZE!!! It was meant to be...

It's been really fun finding these little steals and getting to make a few fun outfits together with them.