mmm Gingerbread Cookies....

Gabrielle and I made yummy Gingerbread Men and decorated them today, fun fun fun!

best life preserver ...

family snowball fight .....

Starring You! eCards on JibJab

Make every meal a work of art ...

Turn toddler meals into masterpieces with Skip Hop's Palette Plate. The splashy set includes three drop-in bowls in aqua, orange and lime that are big enough for lil fingers and microwave safe. Clear covers make transporting food simple and a large surface allows for kids to create their own concoctions. The skid resistant cup area and base makes stumbles and spills a thing of the past. This pretty plate is just the right size for any appetite.

fun and festive ...

These are so fun. I just love 'em. Who doesn't love cute pajamas that make you feel festive?!! J. Crew has some ($45) that are so cute you could almost wear them with a skirt and a sweater for a fashion forward look. Though I'd play it safe and stay cozy in the house.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Pancakes are a weekly treat at our house. [ If it were up to our daughter it would be every single day! ] If your house already feels like a zoo, one cage-free way to tame the chaos is with a fun breakfast And, the Animal Pancake Pan is the wild way to start the day and a good way for your child to brush up on their knowledge of giraffes, lions, monkeys, elephants, rhinos, camels and crocodiles. Lil ones can practice their calls of the wild while filling their stomachs with the most important meal of the day. The $40 skillet makes seven three inch hot cakes at a time making it easy for a mother to feed her pride.

Giving from the heart ....

Today, Gabrielle and I joined about 40 other people in our church singing Christmas carols to our elderly neighbors in nursing homes. They need to know they are loved and not forgotten. What a lovely win-win experience. These kind people in the winter of their lives brightened my life today as much as (I hope!) we brightened theirs. We will definitely do this more often through the years as our little ones grow. Having a lesson in giving from the heart this season is not only a teachable moment, but also a priceless gift for everyone involved. I believe kindness and unselfishness can be nurtured in children through example and encouragement. We all can also experience the simple joy of bringing happiness to others through donation of a little time and effort. My husband and I want to ensure our children recognize Christmas is way more about giving than receiving and this is just another way we will be able to instill that ...

"Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:32

God Jul!

While Chad hung out with Zachary for a Daddy-day, I embraced my nordic roots & attended the Scandinavian Christmas Fair with Gabrielle (she has no idea she’s not Norwegian, ha ha). In this photo she is modeling her littls Santa Lucia crown she made. Had a fabulous time & brought back a ton of memories I cherish of my Gramma Hjordis who seemed to always give our Christmas Eve’s that special Norwegian sparkle, hope to make the ScanFair a holiday tradition for our little family. God Jul!

very cute...

this is a cute little story a great friend just emailed me...

My husband and I had been happily married for five years but hadn't been blessed with a baby. I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with his word as my guide.

God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son. The next year God blessed us with another son. The following year, he blessed us with yet another son. The year after that we were blessed with a daughter. My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children, and the oldest was only four years old. I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it. As a minister once told me, "If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."

I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs. I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint him. I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks. I tried to be understanding when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs. When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess. In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children.

While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother - I didn't even come close...I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God. I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to "wash up" Jesus, too. Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife." My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine. My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, "We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes." But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes." My four-year-old "Mary" said, "That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes." A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing. I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, "Mama-mama." Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived. My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, "We are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur." The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation. "I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one," laughed the pastor, wiping tears from his eyes. "For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur."

give thanks...

Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you ....

In everything give thanks;
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

our gabrielle singing ...

Our Gabrielle singing in just THE sweetest little munchkin' voice on the planet!

National Adoption Day!

Clearly near and dear to my heart two times over!

National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness of the 114,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. For the last eight years, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by working with courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies and advocates to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care. National Adoption Day is celebrated every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. For the first time in 2006, National Adoption Day was celebrated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In total, more than 250 events were held throughout the country to finalize the adoptions of more than 3,300 children in foster care, and to celebrate all families who adopt.

enough said.

aaaaaaaaaah. the beach. what i wouldn't give to be at the beach today with sand in my toes and listening to waves .... okay.... back to reality!

Forget the kids... I want them!!!!

Finger Flashlights. Forget the kids... I want them!!!! LOL :-) I can't think of a single child who would not want to find these in their stocking. They let your hand be the flashlight. Very cool.

favorite song friday ....

"Undo" by Rush of Fools.
i love this song as it speaks to my hopeful heart.
always feel better after i hear it!
thought i'd share...

"it's my birthday too, yah" ....

A long, long (ahem) LONG time ago ---- A wee little Lisa was born.
November 6th, 1969 in the mighty Silverton, Oregon
well here's what 38 candles on a birthday cake looks like folks!
yipes, knockin' on 40 ha ha!

cool mom pick .....

Stylish, hip and incredibly quick. Not words one would typically associate with changing diapers, but the Ubi changing table is all that and more.

Both the basic and deluxe tables make changing diapers a breeze by always having a fresh diaper laid out ready for the next change, while the retro-mod prints and clean wood lines appeal to today’s modern parents.

Don't settle for traditional. Embrace change.

our tiny hands .....

[ i took this photo recently of G holding Z's tiny hands! ]

My little hands play patty-cake
they peek-a-boo and wave...
They catch me while I learn to walk
and splash me as I bathe.
My little hands reach up to you,
for hugs before I sleep....
and fold together when I pray
the Lord my soul to keep.
My little hands are tiny now
but yours will serve to guide me ...
And when I'm grown I'll still reach out
and know you're right beside me ...

a love letter from God...

i just never get tired of this message.

twick or tweet ...

Operation Trick or Treat 2007 with a disney princess and a 2 month old pirate was a success! However, my super-clingy princess turned fiercely independent once her little glass slippers hit the pavement and she saw her efforts directly resulted in massive amounts of candy in her little orange bucket! ha ha ... it begs the question: aren't we all just slightly treat-motivated in one way or another? [smirk] Hope you all had a safe and fun Hallowe'en.

In Loving Memory ....

Hello everyone. Sorry I haven't posted for a while. Many of you know my mom, Karen, passed away September 30th, 2007 after a terribly long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Our world as we know it is forever changed. Add to that, just three weeks prior, our son Zach was born (who continues to be a bright spot in all this). Celebrating this new life while mourning someone I love so dearly has been extremely difficult. Each day is brighter as I am comforted by our Heavenly Father. Thank you, all of you, for your kind words of sympathy, support, and prayers for me and my family. She was a cornerstone in our family and will be deeply missed. You can expect more regular posts from my little corner of the web soon ....

it's a BOY!

Today our son Zachary Evan was born!
He is our Gabrielle's biological little brother!
As much as i would like to, legally i'm not able to post a photo on here until our adoption is final :(

September 6, 2007
3:04 am
7 lbs. 0.0 oz.
19.5 " long

WELCOME ZACHARY!
WE ARE SO BLESSED!!!

enjoying the simplicity ...

Ah. The power of a good photographer. Showing you the beauty that lies in the ordinary. The strength of the mundane. Have you ever heard of Jennifer Causey? If not, visit her etsy store called photobird. She creates cards and prints from her Brooklyn abode that free the soul, stimulate the senses, stir the heart. And I bet for her, it comes so easy. I'm sure she's a natural, you can just tell. Jennifer comments, "These works represent my continuous journey to live simply." She adds, "To slow down and discover and celebrate the beauty in everyday life. I am inspired by nature, design, form and color." Jennifer stays true to her mantra, clearly evident in her photography. I can totally see her shooting for Real Simple or Martha Stewart Living. Maybe she does, who knows. I'm smitten by her style. Positively smitten.

It's a journey, but I am trying to learn that Less truly IS more :)

mmmmm ... cupcakes!

mmmmmm ... cupcakes! Perhaps even more yummy (and arguably the best of both worlds) cupcakes that look like ice cream cones! One of my all time favorite stores, Williams-Sonoma , has created a cupcake pan to make these sweet treats ---- no more paper cups. And take this a step further, they also offer a snazzy way to transport an individual cupcake, say .... in a lunchbox?!!! Oh how I love you Williams-Sonoma.

art supplies everywhere ...

We are getting over run with art supplies! I recently found these darling little buckets at Bread and Budder Buckets. These one's tend to be crazy-expensive, I'm guessing I can glue some funky fabric to a metal bucket m'self! I'll bet 90% of moms have had to deal with art supply organization in one way or another. Currently, it's our dining area that houses all little one's art supplies — Mom's art supplies are in a completely separate space however! I don't want to use those catch-all plastic bin/drawer things, but we need to come up with something to (A) tame the clutter of reams of paper, notebooks, crayons, markers, stickers, paints, googley eyes, et al, and (B) keep it where she can get into it without our help (in other words, store in such a way that it doesn't stifle her creativity). Not a huge priority, but we hope to address it soon. Wish us luck!

for those facing infertility...

On a serious note. For the second time, my husband and I are beginning the long process of adopting a child through foster care. (All prayers welcome!!!) It's an emotional rollercoaster for sure, but such a beautiful ending --- which then sparks such a beautiful beginning. I am caught off guard by the old emotions that come flooding back. A while ago, I came across this song "I would die for that". Unfortunately, this will hit home to many of you (like my husband and I) who faced infertility. It is a positively heart-wrenching experience. This song is all that (yet beautiful) at the same time. We are proof there are many paths through this pain. We chose adoption and by the time we traveled through our adoption journey (and met our darling daughter just a few days old), honestly, the sorrow we felt for years was just ... gone. Truly. Miracles happen daily. I believe there is a plan and purpose for each and every one of us. Please have faith and trust God keeps his promises. We know He was, and is, with us every step of the way and I cannot wait to see how He unfolds in the lives of our children. There is no doubt that our Gabrielle was conceived especially for us, we love her completely and she is our child through and through ... being a mom is the best, most rewarding thing I have ever done. I know my husband feels the same way about being a father, and he is such a great father. All children are blessings and we cannot wait to have another child to help grow and love unconditionally.

creat online baby albums ...

A fast and simple way to complete your baby book online at Big Day Books. Sure, baby books can look great - but not if you don't take the time to complete them! (as I stare at a closet full of blank books and a shoebox full of special mementos!) I love these books because they have beautiful covers to choose from and they REMIND you to stay up-to-date. With easy-to-use online templates for dozens of milestones. Log On, Fill in, Print out! Over 30 archival-quality printer-ready pages. Great for creative, tech savvy dads & moms. A monthly email reminder helps keep your book up to date. I especially love that it also has templates entirely focused on the adoption experience. :)

Wonderfully made ...

My little girl is getting to the stage where she loves sleeping on pillows "like a big girl". She is using a toddler pillow I recently found in my grandmother's old linens. Although simply adorable with a beautiful embroidered linen pillowcase... I would sure love this scripture pillow I recently found on Etsy for a backup. I wonder if you can get it without the pom-poms? I also think it would make a darling shower gift idea!

OH bebe ...

Do you love vintage inspired trinkets as much as I do? Do you know someone who is expecting? Well, a mommy-friend just emailed me the sweetest link to this beauty from The Present Past Collection. This exquisite collection originates in old Parisian workshops established over two hundred years ago. The elegant designs are rendered from the original molds that were created from 1900-1930. Pieces are made of "Old Silver" (a unique French process of laying sterling silver over 14k gold plate over a copper base.) All crystals are hand set and each piece exhibits a uniqueness that reflects the art and culture of the past and while holding a valuable place in the present. All for an affordable $45.

meaningful, colorful, beautiful and fun ...

One of my passions is photography. Make no mistake, I'm most assuredly a hobby photographer! I'm a life-loving person and hope my photos represent this. As an Art Director I've had the privilege of working alongside amazing photographers & stylists in my past. I'm drawn to the close-in-cropped-tight editorial style of photography -- pictures that make a statement & tell a story. Perhaps it's years creating print ads, (that and having an unhealthy obsession with my stacks of shiny, glossy home decorating magazines?!!) I don't know ... I just know what I like. These days, as a mommy of a 2-year old, I can relate to the artist who's images I am highlighting today. Her name is Rachel McGinn. I'm finding I love photographing children and everything associated with children. Whether it be an infant just waking from a nap, a jar of gumballs, a collection of muddy rain boots or a pair of sticky hands. To me it's all meaningful, colorful, beautiful and fun.