all i want for christmas....

 

there is a new baby hart on the way and we couldn't be more excited.

praying i will be a woman who fears the Lord and not be anxious for the future.
celebrating each day we have with this child, come what may.

thankful :: humbled :: deliciously happy

2014 class valentines

these valentines were the easiest.  and free!  and the kiddos did most of the work themselves!
(picking out the rocks was super fun, i was told.)

30 minutes to whip up about 30 homemade goodies is a-okay with me.  they were passed out to their classical conversations classmates today.  oh the sweetness of hearing enzo show me treasured "vawentimes" from his little friends.

i haven't decided how we will celebrate at home this week.  i love lovin' on my crew with a little something special. (2013 and 2012)  my best ideas usually come at the last minute, so i still have 3 days, right?

valentine inspiration from deliajude

2013 (home)school pictures

it may be two months and three haircuts later, but here is the 2013 edition of our back to school pictures.

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see the 2010 photos here.
see enzo's 2011 photos here.

see gia's 2011 photos here. 

see luca's 2011 photos here.

see the 2012 photos here.

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i am joining the nester and will be blogging every single day in october! 

full list of posts here.

how we spend a warm autumn afternoon

 cool autumn temps are here in the high desert, but the strong new mexico sun can still mightily warm an afternoon.  and our midwestern roots show when we throw on bathing suits in october.  no need to waste the weather, right?  plus the van needed cleaning and their new towels are too fun for just bath time.  can i just say, having kiddos old enough to wash a vehicle is nice.  it was one of my favorite childhood jobs. 

and then it rained the next day.  you can thank luca.

Kids Name Micro-Fiber Beach Towel c/o Personal Creations

i am joining the nester and will be blogging every single day in october! 

full list of posts here.

the unexpected calm

most days in our home are loud.  like at this very moment, i hear a battle erupting in the kitchen.  be right back.

okay, today is one of those every-second-packed-with-noise days.

but sometimes there are waking moments when my all of my littles are quiet.  last week i was gifted one such afternoon.  an unexpected calm settled over these rooms.  and i was granted new mama eyes.  a chance to see without distraction.

like her face - that tongue! - in concentration.

i expected the spell to break once the goo joined the mix after nap.

except it didn't.
what a gift to just sit and stare.  those feet!

 please, may i always remember to drink in these babes.

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sidenote, i am posting this oh so late, because today was pretty much the exact opposite of this post.  too much bickering, complaining, and slamming of doors.  and i did not set an example of grace and patience by any means.  ugh.  i am ending this night with a contrite heart and a prayer for new mercies in the morning.  perhaps you had such a day as well?  let us pray it together then.

xoxo,

annalea

valentine's day 2013

it is such a treat to make days like these special.  one of the highlights of being a mama, in my opinion.  and no, i don't have uber amounts of free time on hand.  we picked up the potted plants (because goodness, my kiddos do not need any more toys) and some sweets the night before.  i spent a few minutes making the name picks for the plants and pulled out the paper heart bunting and mailboxes from years past.  my favorite heirloom tablecloth was laid out on the table.  wrapped books and cards from grandparents rounded out the spread.  maybe a half hour of work that brought great delight to these faces.

and i was quite pleased with my flowering succulent valentine.  good choice, jesse.

we made a quick target run to pick up a gift for papi.  and then we splurged on icees after shopping.

which turned out to be some new kicks.  see what i did there using that verse?  i also thought it quite fitting considering the year we have had.

every day is one to love on those we have been given the privelege of sharing life.

but i won't say no to extra chocolate and other sweet surprises on february 14th. 

halloween 2012

let me introduce you to the flower fairy, darth vader, and the tiny-big lion (aka aslan).  they stopped by for a visit yesterday evening and graced me with a brief photoshoot.  until the fighting over the light saber began.  then they took off for a busy night of trick or treating.  but they let us tag along.

i spent time late last night looking back at past halloween fun - 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007.  so much has changed over the years.  writing this blog helps me remember that.  here is what i want to record about this year:

store-bought costumes are sometimes best.

we missed our old neighborhood and illinois friends like crazy.  luca considered staying home since he couldn't be with his old buddies, since they helped him feel safe.

we are making new memories with new friends.  that is good.

happy mail morning!  new lego sets for all three littles from far-away grandparents made the day so nice.  until enzo tried to steal all of the mini-figs.  the boy has an addiction.

in the future, dress enzo the same as luca!  that way he won't try to steal the light saber and grab the mask.

but his tiny-big roars were adorable.

also, i must get on video enzo's description of trick or treating.  even more adorable.

not bringing the stroller was a mistake.

not bringing water bottles was a mistake.

luca was so brave!  he kept letting me know that he was only a little scared.  and then he calmly stayed back at the one house that was too much for him.  oh this is success!

for the first time in 33 years, i did not consume a single piece of candy on halloween.  go whole30!

although i didn't get a single photo to remember it by, jesse and i made a very dashing couple dressed as "new mexicans". 

gia is just the prettiest flower fairy i ever did see.

we live in a gated neighborhood and our kids are the ONLY kids.  this nixed any plans of trick or treating on these streets.  but the sweet lady across from us had a whole bowl of candy so our littles could come say hello.  it made my night.

hope you enjoyed your evening, friends, regardless of how you spent it.
xoxo,
annalea
and the flower fairy, darth, and the tiny-big lion