Hello Everyone! I hope everyone has enjoyed their holiday so far. I have been thoroughly enjoying all the family-down-time we've had over the past couple weeks. I don't even want to think about sending the girls back to school next week and all the extracurricular activities and scheduling that will start in a few days. Nope. Don't wanna. So I won't. Instead, I'll show you some fun highlights from our Christmas.
Miss J staring at the tree in awe...
Miss A devouring her fairy and mythical creature pop-up book that is crazy cool. (I found it at Costco.)
This next picture is so sweet--Miss C just unwrapped her first (and most likely only!) American Girl doll, Kit...
She adores her! Sooo sweet.
Here's Kit meeting Miss A's doll, Makenna, for this first time... (they're shaking hands lol)
And here's Miss C with the doll quilt I made her...
Someday she'll appreciate the fact that it took me 30+ hours to make it, right? RIGHT?? :)
And I just love the expression on Miss A's face after we brought out the beds that my Dad made for the girls' dolls... pure excitement!!
And then Miss C realizes what it is and then she freaks out...
How precious is that?! Very, in my little ol' opinion. :) THANK YOU, DAD!!!
Here's just one more picture that I love--Aaron trying out Miss A's remote control helicopter. Those expressions put a smile on my face. :)
Yes, it was a fun-filled day. We lounged around in our pjs all day long, played games, ate yummy food, and enjoyed each other's company. It was perfect.
And there was another important day that we celebrated a couple days ago--Jane's birthday! My little baby is 3!!! Miss A made her this "birthday headband" that she didn't take off all day. (She found the feather from a leftover Thanksgiving craft--way to be resourceful, kid! lol)
How has three years already gone by since posting this blog post? Or this one?? Or one year since this one? (And WHAT THE *HAY* was I doing hosting a giveaway before she was one month old? sheesh. Get a grip, Pamela, really.)
But back to this little sweetie-pie. Like I said, she turned 3 a couple days ago. What a delight she has been (that is, besides those moments like when she purposely knocks over the Lincoln Log cabins her sisters just barely finish building and then laughs in their faces!) Don't get me wrong--she can definitely be a *stinker* at times, but the majority of the time, she warms my little old heart. The way she says "Hold me, Mama!" and "I love you, Mama", or "Hiiii, Mama!", even though I may be the only person who can understand her. :) I love how she changes her clothes 3-5 times a day, or how she'll leave on her Ariel costume allllll day long. How she loves to help me bake muffins and bread and constantly says "Help you, Mama!".
Yep, she is my little side-kick, and I love her dearly.
And not to change the subject, but I've been thinking about the internet lately. You know, like how much of a time-suck it is. I swear, I'll hop on my laptop to check just *one thing* and then there goes an hour. As wonderful facebook, pinterest, surfing blogs, checking news and email is, I'm kinda sick of it. Sick of the constant distractions throughout the day. And that leads me to another thing--I think pinterest and perusing other blogs can be a fun thing, and there's all sorts of inspirational projects out there that exciting and wonderful, but there's also a downside to them all, too--and that is comparing our lives to others, and not being satisfied with what we have or with our own personal accomplishments, and constantly comparing ourselves to all these strangers out there in blog land. What is up with that? That is so unfair to ourselves! (And I say ourselves because I know of quite a few other ladies who have experienced the same thing.) I found myself comparing myself to a couple other bloggers a few weeks ago and was left feeling kinda down on myself. When I mentioned my feelings about it to my husband, he luckily helped bring me back to a healthly place--a place where I realized that comparing IS NOT GOOD. Not good at all. Fortunatley it's not something I do often, but I want to keep it that way--to have a healthy perspective on life always, or as often as possible.
So, back to me thinking about the internet--I kinda miss the good old days when we didn't have fb or the constant need to check email, and I want to try a little experiment--I want to take a break from all things internet-related for the month of January, just to see if it makes a difference in my personal and family life--to see if the absence of the internet allows me to be more mentally and emotionally present and connected to what is 'real' in my life. So if it's a loved one's birthday, I can mail a card the old fashioned way rather than post a 'happy birthday' comment on fb, or when one of my daughters does something exciting, I'll jot it down in her journal rather than feel the need to share it on the world wide web.
I dunno, I guess I'm just curious to see what it will be like. I don't even want to label it as a New Year's Resolution, but something I just want to try out. I'm looking forward to it. So, if you need to get a hold of me, and you're a personal friend or family member, gimme a call. If you're not a personal friend of family member, go ahead and email me and I'll respond the first of February. I'll report my experience with this whole thing then, too.
Here's to a (hopefully!) great start to 2013! Bring it on!
xo,
Pamela
p.s. I don't think I wished you a Happy New Year's, so Happy New Year's!! Let's make the most of 2013!
p.p.s. Real quick--back to the whole pinterest/fb thing--in the effort to simplify my viewpoint on it, let me put it this way: If pinterest (or whatever site) is a happy place for you and you find it to be inspirational, great. If not, and it makes you feel depressed, stay away from it. Or at least find a way to find inspiration in it rather than allowing yourself to compare yourself to other people's talents and feel down. And I use the term "allowing" because comparing ourselves to others is a choice, is it not? And we're in control of where our thoughts go. Anyways, just my two cents on the matter. It has helped me, and maybe it'll help someone out there in cyberland, too.
See you in February! xo
Pam - LOVE the doll quilt! Lots of good thoughts in this post. Happy New Year to you!
Posted by: Susan | January 02, 2013 at 07:50 AM
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you & yours too Pamela! :) LOOOOOVE seeing your kids with their gifts & their little faces! :) TOOO SWEET!
I KNOW EXACTLY what you mean about the internet! I have been finding myself wanting to get away from it too! NOT because I compare myself to others, BUT because it DOES occupy SOOO MUCH TIME & you walk away with WHAT? NOT MUCH! There are OTHER THINGS that are MUCH MORE IMPORTANT! Things that would improve a person, ACTUALLY reach out & touch someone CLOSE-BY & make a REAL DIFFERENCE! I too have a blog & haven't posted since before Christmas--my son home from college & feeling that need to STAY AWAY....MAYBE, I'll do what you're doing & just take a break till I can find a way of blending what my heart is telling me to do with my blog OR posting less often! THANKS for your little words of wisdom Pamela! :)
Posted by: Becky Green | January 02, 2013 at 05:50 PM
Love it! My daughter and niece got AG dolls too from their Grandma. I had a friend make them doll quilts as well! I love the doll beds your girls have, so cute!
Posted by: Steph B. | January 11, 2013 at 04:02 PM