Things That Are Green.

Have a great weekend!

To Theme or Not to Theme...

It seems like Christmas holiday decor comes out earlier and earlier every year. I realized the season had started in the retail world when I was out shopping for Halloween candy. I received several emails from shops advertising their holiday decor (ONLINE AND IN STORES NOW!) November 1st. I felt pressure to think about my tree and how to decorate it. I've always admired themed Christmas trees. I love my Grandma's trees. She did a bird themed tree a few years back that I was very envious of. My Mom loved a themed tree too. She color coordinated all the wrapping paper so all the gifts underneath looked too beautiful to open. I never can quite get myself together to theme a tree. However, if I were to do a themed tree this year I think I would do a nautical theme using ornaments from Anthropologie. This would cost a small fortune and so I hope to buy a few December 26th and perhaps do it next year instead.


this sweet octopus

I put a tree in the little girls' room every year. It is a pink tree and thus very girlie. I'm going to sweeten it up even more this year with


these cupcakes.

What about you? Does your holiday tree, wreath, hearth, front yard or wrapping have a theme?

Cousins.

Today brought Shannon, Sydney and Dawson over for a fun play-date. We ate pizza, cookies and drank what Savannah calls "fuzzy juice". The girls adore their two older cousins and there is no greater enjoyment than watching the older two dote on the little girls.






Melissa and her amazing mom Sharon.

Home.

This was our home (and view from our room) for the past week. I miss it already. We came home to a cold house, needy cats, a stinky refrigerator, piles of damp laundry and a dead gopher in the dining room. I hope it was same gopher that bit me three weeks ago while I was trying to remove it from Marv's claws and my living room. Jerk. Anyways, here are a few more photos from our trip. I have a million things to catch up on now that we are back to our regular life. But for now... I am going back on vacation in my mind.

Love Letters.

Frings and Things.

A Case of the Cries and Curls.

As I was looking out the window of the airplane the other night, I could see the full moon's reflection on the warm waters off the coast of Kauai. When the captain welcomed us to the island, I surprised myself by getting teary eyed. I'm not much of a crier and so I sat there wondering where this emotion was coming from. It has been three years since we've been to the islands, and ten since we've been to Kauai so it could have been that. But mostly I could not wait to get on the beach with Tim and these sweet girls and have a much needed family vacation. I couldn't wait to squeeze Addie and Angela and watch Margaret with all three of her grand-girls. Now, after the first full day of playing on the beach, eating papayas and taking the girls to a Luau, I can say we are living this week to its fullest and loving every second of our stay here in this magical place. Oh, and you wouldn't believe how curly Savannah and Ivy's hair is. Ringlets everywhere.
















Addie-kins.


Hawaii's newest Hula dancers.