Blog a la Cart

I know how self-congratulatory these posts are. But this one relates to an article that I think is worth a read. I was emailed a link to this post with the following thought included in the message:

This is what is so vital about your writing – it is rigorously focused on the activities and hard choices of adulthood.

If I’m achieving that in even a very small capacity, I’m satisfied. I’ll keep striving to push into uncomfortable realms, breaking down that BFF-ship – even if I do make occasional mention of my “lady” parts -  because that’s where the most important learning happens. I still stand by all I said here. And I hope I can continue to provide a perspective that opens people’s eyes. Makes them laugh. Makes them think. All with a dash of humility, honesty, and cute photo or two thrown in for good measure.

Because sometimes I get letters like this from a reader:

Just one of many reasons why I inhabit this space. Thanks, Eric. And happy weekend to all.

In 2007 we got engaged and moved across the country. In 2008, we were married, announced our first pregnancy, and I started a Master’s program. In 2009, we welcomed that baby, Addison, into the world. In 2010, I received my Master’s degree and started back to work full time, we moved back across the country, rescued our super mutt, Hanna, and announced a second pregnancy. In 2011, we welcomed that second child, Courtland, into the world.

And so, James and I have determined that 2012 is the year of NO BIG LIFE ALTERING EVENTS.

As much as we can control sticking to that kind of resolution, of course.

We had a discussion this evening, processing the past five years and all those crazy life happenings, and we’ve decided that this year we are forgoing major milestones. Ya hear, UNIVERSE? Sure, home ownership would be the next appropriate step, but that thought is so overwhelmingly exhausting that I say, NO! We have the absolute ideal rental situation, so until we have to give up these digs in the summer of 2013, we’re staying put. Settling in. Building upon and growing the already established, quiet, lovely life that we are creating for our family in The Berkshires. Focusing on our growing girls. Our family of four (or six if you count our furry dependents). I’ll be overhauling and rethinking this space and Green Eyed Monster to more accurately account for the direction and focus I’d like to provide my creative side and resulting impulses. And I’ll be settling back into a full year of work without the interruptions of a maternity leave. Perhaps I’ll finally stick to my resolution of not biting my nails or picking at my face. I actually may learn how to properly wield a camera and edit in Lightroom. I could get real crazy and finally learn to sew like I’ve always wanted.

So, 2012, let’s be uneventful, shall we?

And uneventful most surely does not mean boring. Life is anything but when you have rascals like this living in your home.

Cheers to 2012, the year of minor milestones and baby steps, in the most figurative and literal of senses.

I like that. Yes, yes I do.

It was a merry Christmas, indeed. Sunny requested that every member of the family sing Rudolph at least five times, and if we hadn’t distracted her with cookies, it could have gone on all day.

I particularly love Courtland chilling on the couch in the corner of the video and my raspy, out of pitch voice enthusiastically blaring in the background. Sunny sure did love twirling that Christmas skirt, too.

James and I were nostalgic, emotional messes most of the day. Okay, mostly me, although he deigned to admit that it was a pretty magical state of affairs. We realize that we’ll only get so many Christmases like this where both of our families – our parents, our siblings, our friends, our children – are all alive, healthy, well, happy. Christmases where our children wholeheartedly believe in the magic of Santa, and joy and happiness are in abundance. We are very very blessed. And filled with ooey, gooey, weepy gratitude.

It really was the perfect Christmas.

How did Kimmy and I spend Christmas Eve afternoon? Why making a stop motion Christmas video, of course!

Design by Paper Culture

I haven’t posted something of substance here all month. And the reason is because I’ve gone totally and completely DIY insane.

Pair that with parties that have prompted me to bake and do things like make photo booth printables. And blog posts with a caramel popcorn recipes I could not resist making myself. And a number of knitting projects for friends and family’s Christmas gifts… and, well, you can imagine the state of our home. Yep, my crafting trunk has thrown up all over the house. James. Is. Thrilled.

But, I mean, c’mon! These photos alone justify James’ horrific trip to Michael’s and the piles of foam core and Exact-O knives strewn about our home.

I swear our house is totally safe for a 2.5 year old.

Anyway, after Christmas I’ll be back into my semi-regularly scheduled bloggy routine here. But first I must go bedazzle some fabric for a DIY Furoshiki post. Of course.

1. This is James’ email signature: James Cart — Valdictorian of Life,  Master of Middle Earth, Husband extrodinaire, Father of the Gods. 

I cannot wait until he accidentally sends it in a work correspondence.

2. I need this poster. It speaks to how I approach my life. In a very literal way.

Our kids aren’t going to grow up to be weird at all. Not with parents like us!

Here you can see their differences, despite the matching outfits.

But man, they have identical button noses. <squeal!>

This was too good not to share here, even though it’s already made the social media rounds.

The resemblance between the girls is striking in this pairing, no? They’re both around 12 weeks old in each photo.

People have pointed out that James doesn’t age. I’m aspiring to be quite the cougar in 20 years.