Every year. The paper, the scissors, and music playing in the background. Snowflakes are one tradition I can easily do right now and they’re so pretty to look at. Win-win.

The Redeemer Christmas party is always a fun time. Lots of yummy food, great people, and a white elephant gift exchange that is always hilarious.

Tonight I am very tired, but will go to bed laughing. Laughing on the inside. External laughing would require too much energy. Goodnight!

I love my state. I love the cornfields and the long stretches of prairie. I love the Midwestern spirit.

I do not particularly like the landscape nor the temperatures come winter. However, today the weather was glorious and it reminded me of how much I adore spring. Until then, I will dream of warm beaches, peruse seed catalogs and perhaps start pricing sun lamps.

This is my 10 steps back shot. You should see the close-ups I have on the new dishes Jeremy bought me as a birthday present last week. Maybe you will in January.

Back when I was a 20 year old newlywed—let’s just pause for a moment and let that statement sink in—I used plain white dishes from Target. I decorated the table a lot in those days and loved changing out placemats and tablecloths and centerpieces. It was a glorious time in the late 90’s and I had no children, okay? There were lots of blue and green checked patterns in my life. Eventually I came to embrace my profound love of COLOR and I think it was Jenni Kluver’s Fiestaware collection that gave me the nudge I needed. I have happy dishes now. Very happy. And piece by piece I add something new to my shelves. The white remains and assists me in serving larger crowds. Now, instead of placemats, I decorate a table with plates.

Jeremy ordered four happy red dinner plates and gave them to his 37 year old happy wife last week on the happiest day of the year—her birthday. He’s a keeper, that one.

Papa uncovered magic last night when he introduced his granddaughter to Dragon Dictation. I don’t even know if those words should be capitalized or not, but maybe they should look more like this because I am so very excited: DRAGON DICTATION! My child’s storytelling abilities were unleashed and she wrote a chapter of a story last night, then snuck out of bed and stole the iPad with the desire to write more. Nothing save Disneyland and presents makes this child leap from her bed, but this morning she did leap in order to read me her words.

In the dark on the couch she read to me, face illuminated only by the light from the screen.

Dragon Dictation! Papa for the win!

It’s past my bedtime, so I’m not even going to sweat the fact that I’m posting two pics. I like them both and they represent the highlight of my day: a night at the Orpheum in Omaha with my husband. It was just him and me… and lots of other largely non-theater-going types and two guys you may have heard of, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman of Mythbusters fame. What a fantastic and fun evening it was! I thoroughly enjoyed the show.

Today’s picture made my heart melt into a puddle. It’s not technically something I love, but the subject matter trumps all technicalities. This before-school bottle brought to you by Livia and her giant heart. Though I thrive within a planned out day-to-day schedule, sometimes the baby wakes up and is hungry before the clock says it’s time. And when such a thing happens it’s incredibly helpful to have a sweet-hearted fourth grader around. Not only did the Babe get fed, he enjoyed lovies in the process. We believe in lovies around here. In fact, I have a Babe and a Pooch that beg at my knees for lovies on a regular basis. Oh Livia, you who made me a mother and showed me how big my heart really was—you’re the best.

Today is my birthday. And I hardly picked up my camera because I was way too busy relaxing and being spoiled.

Here’s to 37. May it be a good year indeed.

Inevitably I’ll spend some December day driving around Lincoln and searching mightily for inspiration. I refer to the landscape around here as “desaturated” until spring arrives once more. So when I woke up and spied fog outdoors I was a little excited. Fog lends an air (literally!) of mystery to the most suburban of neighborhoods. So off to school Livia and I walked, each with a camera in hand to capture the heavy air. It was lovely.

Having Clara eat a Happy Meal at my table makes me feel like there’s a hidden camera from McDonald’s marketing department somewhere in my kitchen. She is ridiculously cute in that totally-not-trying kind of way. I have one shot where you can see the chocolate milk dripping from her straw onto the table. She’s a real kid, but also a real cute one. And TOUGH AS NAILS. She is not one to mess with. If you’re in a street fight make sure Clara’s on your side. Just sayin’.