Does Christmas Change the World?

I had all this stuff I was going to say about Advent Conspiracy and our experience with it. However, I think this clip does a great job summarizing anything I could say. Plus, I'm not here to preach to anyone but rather to encourage anyone who wants to pursue a different kind of Christmas.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

One of my favorite things about moving to Oregon is how BEAUTIFUL and how LONG Autumn is! In Missoula, Autumn comes and goes within a 2-week period. BAH-BLAM! GONE! But out here, it slowly and wonderfully unfolds. This is when the grass that grew brown and crunchy during the Summer time, plumps back up and shines a plush green! And the trees, 0h my lordy, the trees! Ironically, it's like a gradually blooming flower, this Oregon Fall. Nothing quite like it.

These are the Days of Claire's Life

Lately, I've had my camera out a LOT more than usual. Claires friends, experiences, joys and traumas all for you to view. At times, it is like a soap opera.

Recently, Claire discovered that she loves sitting in things. She loves sitting in this hamper as well as her potty chair which she flips upside down and stuffs herself into. Don't worry, we haven't actually been using it yet.

Claire also got to play with her friend, Molly, last week! They had fun providing this photo op for me.

Pictures can be deceiving. Right here it looks like they're cooperating pretty well. But Claire really doesn't like this whole "sharing" business. These two gave a new meaning to the word "sassy".

Of course, no day is complete without talking on the phone. She loves the phone. She makes anything into a "phone"....blocks, remotes, paper, shoes, balls, etc.

Oma and Opa brought back a new friend from London! She *loves* Paddington.

Another sweet picture with her cousin....another one not showing the sassiness involved with (not) sharing/taking everything he even showed a slight interest in.

And this is Claire with her (boy)friend, Ben. They love each other and always greet each other with a little head-bow/nuzzle.

And then she pokes his eyes out.

Here we are again, in the hamper, snuggling with her buddy, Calcifer. I have to say, she is really really good with the kitty. Usually very soft and very snuggly with him. He doesn't even run away when he sees her coming!

She was so hungry she ate gravel. And it didn't taste good. Actually, she's only crying because I held her down to get a picture of her face.

A very hungry/tired little girl.

But happy now.

My Pumpkin

Today, I took Claire out to a little pumpkin patch near our apartment. She had a lot of fun hopping on and off big pumpkins, eating gourds, and seeing all the animals (ponies, puppies, cows, llamas, goats, chickens and pigs). I resisted the insane urge to buy and eat a bag of freshly made pumpkin donuts. I may have to get some for Halloween night, however.

IY Autumn.

I have a fan!

My internet life has been multi-faceted.  I shop online, met my husband online and have had many-a-blog out there on the interweb.  Over two years ago I started a wedding blog to help me organize my wedding info, record all my DIY activity and just really keep a constant visual aid regarding my vision for our wedding.  

This really was the beginning of my growing love for creating themes and planning parties.  Since I got pregnant almost instantly after getting married I didn't have too much time to plan anything like that.  Nevertheless, I'm back in the game now.  After Claire's birthday and Heidi's baby shower, I now get to help plan for my friend Karyn's baby shower.  I get a tingle just thinking about the possibilities :) 

However, planning my wedding was truly PAINSTAKING.  I had NO idea what I was doing. And everything I did do for the wedding was probably the longest most arduous way of doing things. In many ways it still feels so hard when I try to craft or plan or whatever because I really don't know what I'm doing and I've never thought of myself as artistic. But, the more I do this sort of thing the easier it gets.

"WHAT IS THE POINT!?", you ask! I randomly decided to visit my old wedding blog (click here!) to see if it was still up.  And it is!  I was shocked to see that over 8,000 people have viewed it and in the comments section found out that one other blogger  blogged about my wedding and that it was such an inspiration for her. Maybe it is rather insignificant but it just felt so great!  People keep telling me that I need to do this party-planning thing for a living.  I dunno about that; in my book group we talked about how sometimes doing what you love for your "job" can actually distort the thing you love because it's now something you do for money/a living.  But I do know that I at least want to do it for fun and if anything as a way to show people I love them.  I am, by no means, a pro especially in this day and age where there are so many amazing event planners/crafters etc.  I'm not even a tiny fish in this sea....smaller than the tiniest.  But...I do love it.  More and more.  It excites me and it's fun when ideas turn into reality and a reality that is pretty and wonderful!  And even better when you can actually inspire someone else!

Camera Eyes

Ever since Claire has "gone mobile" I don't take as many pictures as I once did. Meaning, I only take about 500/week instead of 5,000/week. But seriously, I find that she's speeding through all these stages, looking so much older as each day passes and I forget to capture it on camera. Yes, I capture it in my mind but it's so easy to forget how she looks or things she does because it changes so quickly.

Chris still teases me about when we were first dating and I told him that if I could have any *ability* it would be to have camera eyes. Seriously, how awesome would that be!? To capture an image EXACTLY as YOU see it...and be able to print it and frame it! Or at least blog it, right!? So that's what I wish. I wish I could just blink, capture her lovely face without worrying about the stupid flash, or if she was moving to fast to get a clear shot. Just to have that perfect picture.

Maybe I could even have some abstract photography taken with my eyes when I don't have contacts in or glasses on. That would be something. But, I digress.

Today, I did pick up the camera so I'll share a few shots.

Well, okay...this was 3 days ago. She loves my really gross headband and is so proud of herself when she actually gets it on her head.

Happy girl, clapping with all of her heart.

Claire's Favorite!

Besides her dad, Claire's favorite thing is the swing! We parked all the way across the park for a chance to do something other than swing. But somehow, she found her way to the swings and that is where she wanted to be. It was fun to spend some time with Claire at the park after we came home from our little out-of-town getaway.

Heading over the see the cows. According to Claire the cows say, "boo". Spooky cows! This, however, did not end well because we wouldn't let her grab the barbed wire/electric fence. She got mad and threw a fit. *Sigh* Mayhap we are entering the terrible-twos a little early? 10 months early?

This shot was a total accident but I think it's super great! Kinda arty, eh?

She likes to swing really high :)