OLD BEFORE OLD WAS COOL

I love the iphone app Instagram. I'm addicted. The photos probably give us all such a great feeling because they are like so many of our old family photos. I have quite a few old family photos scanned into my computer and love to look through them. There's just something about them. I love seeing my parents and wondering about their life and love. It's weird they were people long before I came along. I wish I could go back in time. I give you... real old photos. Do you find them as iconic and magical as I do? In these particular photos my Mom was 21 and my Dad 19.

Sad?

Maybe a little...

Is it just me or is it hard for all parents to decide if things are funny or sad? Usually, it's a little of both. Anika has always been great about bedtime but has been giving me trouble lately. Last week one night she announced her utter refusal to go to bed. I just went about my business and sat down to watch GOLD RUSH. She stayed real quiet and just sat on the chair, surely thrilled I was ignoring her. I could read her mind... I'm getting away with it!

I stole a few glances only to see her eyelids getting heavy. Eventually, she grabbed a pillow and laid down on the carpet where she fell fast asleep. I was reluctant to go to bed because I knew what needed to happen. I knew I had to leave the poor thing there. Ahhh, natural consequences are such a bitch, aren't they?

At about 3 a.m. I was awakened by the sound of very disoriented feet. Pitter patter, pat pat pat. They sounded frantic and like they were running around in circles totally confused and lost. Finally... pat pat pat... they found their way down the stairs and into her bed. The next morning I asked her casually how her night was. She said, "The floor is hard, Mom."

Aaaand... She hasn't pulled that crap since.

Williams - Our Get Away

Herb and I went away for a short get away this weekend. A big thank you to our friends the Melanson's for watching our children. I am sure they were worn out by Sunday night. Back in June, Herb won a free two nights stay for two at a hotel in Victoria BC. We couldn't use it until peak season was over and then we realized we needed passports. I already had one but we had to wait for Herbs and then the thing expired Dec 15th so our window was short. We left at 3am on Saturday morning and returned on Sunday evening. We had to take a ferry across the river to Canada. We just drove our car right on the boat and then crossd over. It was so much fun. I didn't even feel like I was out of the country. It looked alot like downtown Portland or Seattle and everyone speaks English. We ate lots of really good food, spent too much money on food, visited the Butchart Gardens at night, walked along the coastal line and tried to find creatures in the tide pools, slept in until 9am on Sunday, froze our butts off, took a free horse drawn trolley around downtown, and then headed home. Quick but worth it.

Williams - The wretched thumbs

My two little thumb suckers.

Williams - Christmas Decorating

Decorating the tree and the house. The kids go crazy and love to take creative control. I love these pics of Nora. I couldn't get her to wear the hat so I could take pictures for our family Christmas card. We finally got a keeper, after several tries, crying, Herb trying to force her to stand in front of the tree. She is hilarious.

Anika Can Read!

It's official- Anika can read! My Mom kept telling me that, too. I knew she was starting to read words here and there but kind of blew my Mom off as daughters tend to do. I finally got her a set of beginning books and she had read through 6 of the books 10 minutes after the UPS truck delivered them. My Mom was like, "I've been telling you this!" Anika's very excited and proud. So am I!

As with anything concerning Anika, she won't let me help her. She was reading to me yesterday and I accidentally told her a sound- which she does NOT allow. She freaked out and said now she had to wait until the next day and start over. So, order still reigns supreme in her life. She can't just read a book from the middle or end of a set- she has to read the entire set in order EACH time.

She cracks me up and entertains me all day. It's been so beautiful to have Ben join our family and see her bond with him. They love each other. I love them both. ☺

Tree

Big B chopped down a rustic piñon. And she turned out real purty. Jenny- those nesting dolls are still my ONLY Christmas decoration- thanks. I bought some white felt trees that I might string up and then I'll own TWO whole decorations!

My Babies

Two questions:

Why is Alana's family so hot?

Why did Herb's parents move?

rings

I've never in my life seen more beautiful rings than these. Never has anything come close to how gorgeous these are. Right?!?! So pretty. How many decades do you have to be married before you get wedding ring do-over? Who am I kidding, though? Rings irritate me. I hardly wear my wedding band. But seriously, I am in loooooove with these. Girls?! Are the gorg or what?!

Colonel Mustard

The fridge is Ben's favorite thing in the house, the mustard particularly. Love him.

Williams - Thanksgiving

 Herbie playing his own game of Turkey Bowl

 Check out Herbie's face in this shot. Grrr! Let's play ball!!

 The brothers, Taylor and Bryan

 Turkey dinner was amazing especially because we actually got to spend the weekend with some family. We thought with Herb's parents moved that we would never see anyone. Bryan and Meredith were here visiting her family and Taylor and his girlfriend Jess stayed with us for 5 days. Dinner was fabulous although we need to work on our yams. Herb accidentally burnt the marshmellows and under cooked the yams. Better luck next year. He is the only one who eats them anyways.

This is our thankful Turkey. Isn't it a work of art? I threw it together 5 minutes before dinner and made everyone write down two things they are thankful for. I told Herb that my graphic design degree paid off!!!:)

Williams - Fun with Cousins

 Sage did Nora and cousin Evelyn's makeup and dressed them up. Then she preceeded to take about 50 photos of them. Nora and Evelyn have looked similar since birth. Evelyn is Herb's brother Bryan's daughter about a year older than Nora.

 I love this candid shot of Nora's pouty lip.

 Took all the kids to a children's museum and Herbie played in this nature area the whole time dressed as a racoon. Here he is taking a nap for the winter.

I love this shot of Herbie trying to punch the ball in mid air. He is such a boy!