Welcome!

My baby sister has a baby son.  And I feel it again...how the heart breaks open to love another unconditionally.  I look into his eyes and he belongs and I simply love him. How is it that a heart keeps finding room to love yet one more?

And I watch my sister...I see how she looks at him.

A love that is fierce, protecting, adoring, consuming...does he know how much she loves him?

I remember laying next to Carter when he was probably 6 months old and we just stared at each other....gazing into each others eyes for a quiet moment.  This busy little boy simply held my gaze and his eyes didn't wander away.  And I thought in those moments..."I am this boy's world...he adores me...I am the woman by which someday he will compare other women."  It was a poignant moment because I realized that while he would hopefully always adore me...he would soon push the limits, disobey, argue and test me...and someday he would find another woman who he adored more.  But this was my time!

These are the precious moments my sister is living in...and I'm a bit jealous.

However, I also watch how she works hard to give equal attention to the 3 year-old darling who has had her world rocked by the entrance of baby Nico.  Oh Miss Corrie with the oozing imagination, please know that your Mama loves you just the same.

It's not easy...this new balancing act.  That part I would not be eager to return to.

I'll never forget when 2-year-old Paige hurled a block at 2-week-old Carter's head...leaving a blue lump.  I called Cal in tears. Who was this child that was was out for blood?

However, with some un-ending, yet tough, sleep-deprived love along the way, those days do end.

Granted, my kids still probably fight more than not, but they do love each other.  Funny how they can say the meanest things to one another, but anyone else says something negative about one of them and they have each others back.

So to my sis I say -- just keep on keeping on.  Days won't be perfect, but moments will.  Enjoy those.

And to Nico and Corrie I make this promise, Auntie Jen will always have your back.  I love you dearly.

Domestic Diva

If you know me at all, you know that I don't consider myself very creative when it comes to the home. But I'll let you know I do have my moments.  They are rare...but if I actually have enough time and inspiration, I can let my hidden baking and decorating genius shine.

It just so happens that one day this Christmas break I let the domestic diva in me come out of the closet.  I have recently become a bit addicted to Pinterest and found so many things I wanted to try.  I had a 6 hour stretch with nothing on the agenda and I set to work to make some goodies with the kids.  Funny how they each lasted about a grand total of a half an hour each, until they got distracted.  And I was left with a mountain-sized mess that reminded me why I don't often do this...6 hours in a kitchen is not exactly my paradise, but I was pleased with the outcome.

Now because of my time on Pinterest and certain blogs, I have also been inspired to start taking artistic pictures of my creations which I will share with you today.  (Actually, these serve as proof that I can be domestic!)

I began the day by making a Blueberry Coffee Cake -- Yum!  You can find the recipe here.

Next up, I candied pecans to serve on a salad.  These are absolutely delish and I recommend you visit this site and make them yourself.  Every Christmas I buy a bag of candied pecans because I love them so much and spend a fortune for them.  These were far less expensive and just as good!

Then I whipped up 3 batches of toffee for our neighbors which the girls and I delivered later that day.  (This is actually a microwave recipe from a friend that is so easy!)

We then thought it would be fun to make Peppermint Play Dough to give to my niece as an added little gift.  Another Pinterest idea found here.  I even decorated the jar!!

In the midst of all this, I also stuck a ham in the oven and made garlic mashed potatoes because our family of 5 was going to open our Christmas gifts this night.  And so we hauled out the few Christmas dishes that I have and set a pretty table.  Taryn wanted a candle light dinner, and we came up with this centerpiece idea from things we had in the house...a few up-side-down wine glasses and Christmas ornaments.

Not bad, huh?

Now if you check back in 3 years you might find a similar day, but likely...not until then!