Having a Blue Christmas

this holiday season is bitter sweet.
it is going to be a blue Christmas.

it is my official first year as a separated woman (no, the divorce is not final. . . soon? i can always hope).
it is also my first year not having my kids for Christmas. . . the "ex" gets all the kiddos for both Christmas Eve and Christmas. :(

we are totally making the best of it and the kids are very excited
(what kid wouldn't want two Christmas'???). . . but it is not the same, especially for them.
kids want their parents to be together and their is no other time more important for family then the holidays and i can sense it in my children.
they are happy but it is different when your family dynamic is not a whole unit all the time.

although my immediate family and I have made herculean efforts to minimize the feelings of separation for them (and if i am being honest, us) it is going to be a hard week.

we did have an "early" Christmas Eve and Christmas day this past weekend and i have to admit that it was one of the best Christmas' that i can remember.
the kids were in heaven, pure heaven. Santa sent them an incredible letter and explained that due to their new homes he was making a special trip to visit them at both places. i can't describe the joy the kids radiated. they felt so special. they are. it was an experience i will never forget.
i remember indiana exclaiming. . . "mom! the letter even smells like the North Pole!"
talk about melting hearts.

i will focus on that this week. i know my kids love me and i know i love them.
i love them more than anything. i would do anything for them.
i guess Christmas is really a state of mind.
it doesn't matter the day. . . Christmas is what we make of it.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

i hope it snows this year. nothing like a White Christmas!
growing up my sister and i used to dance around the kitchen table while listening to Bing. . . Mele Kalikimaka!

Harajuku Mini for Xmas

Harajuku Mini at Target??? yes, please!

this is going to be under the tree for Jude. . . SANTA could *not* resist!:

*WISHING* these are under the tree for the girls. . . make note SANTA:

Mid Century DIY Printables

i am in love with these incredibly, retro DIY mid century printables!
they can be ornaments or make a swoon worthy mini Christmas diorama.
i am fixing to do both!
one of my BFF's is the creative mastermind behind these beauties. . .
head on over and visit Danielle Thompson's blog to get your printables.
thank you Danielle!
Kitschy Digitals always delivers.

Indy and Baby Jude

Kendy and Baby Jude

Faux Christmas Tree

because anything faux and from the 60s is the cat's meow!
i simply love the bright colors and use of tissue.
wouldn't this be fun to make on Christmas morning after all the presents are unwrapped with the torn up, leftover wrapping paper?
*SO* going to make this with the kiddos. they will be in retro craft heaven.
thanks "Tattered and Lost" for sharing!

Halloween wishes

Happy WAY belated Halloween!
our spooky wishes are late but i thought that all of my kiddos looked *so* stellar in their Halloween costumes that i had to share a pic.
each costume fit each of their personalities perfectly.
we love Halloween at our home and this year was our best yet! full of family and chili and trick or treating. . . the candy hauls the kiddos got was insane! they barely ate the last pieces just this past week. . . lucky kiddos! ;)

Tis the Season for Retro!

source

Still in the process of getting out our Christmas decor;
some of it broke on its way to its new home (2,000 miles is a long journey for humble Xmas decor!) but most survived so that is A+ tops in my book!

Desperately wanting to make a wreath like this.
Heaven knows I have the supplies.
Thrifting adventures have acquired me quite a nice collection of retro Christmas. . . .
awww. . . retro Christmas!
Retro warms my heart.

What craft are you itching to make this holiday season?
Please post links and share!
I always love *new, groovy* ideas.

Seriously. . . April was my last post!?! WT??? well, Merry Christmas!

Merry, Merry! all you lovely peeps. . .

here is Karli, baby Jude, Indy and Kendy wishing you a *very* happy Christmas!

i am so behind. WAY BEHIND. such an understatement.

what a year. WHAT A YEAR. another understatement.
"understatement" is a fun word to say.
try it. it's fun.

we are here.
we are alive.
we are happy. :)

can you believe it? HAPPY??? yes, HAPPY!
happiness.
happiness seems so intangible at times; like it is the hardest thing in the world to achieve. . . but it is so simple to achieve. SO SIMPLE.
one ingredient: love.

this past year, since December fifth 2010(if we are being EXACT), has been tumultuous.
very hard. full of heart ache, devastating grief and sorrow.
Kleenex made some good money off me i tell's you what!

this past year has also been full of *SO* many tender mercies and the best thing of all in life, love.
so much love and happiness. pure joy.

i want to thank all of you for being there for us and helping me and my wonderful kiddos this past year. although our lives have not turned out the way we necessarily wanted. . . our lives are still great and full of promise. full of friends and family and all the utmost important things in life.

to all of those in Buffalo, HEAPS OF THANKS AND LOVE!
you lifted me up in my darkest hours and prayed for my little family. you have been there for us when we needed you and even when we didn't.
you helped me and my kids move. . . some of you helped for the THIRD TIME! three times? you deserve medals.
you showed me the true meaning of being Christian and i will always remember your sweet kindness and love. it pulled us through. BFF's forever!

to all of those in Utah, THANK YOU FOR STILL BEING THERE FOR ME! what joy has come from moving back home to Utah. what love and friendship awaited me and my kiddos here. it has meant the world and continues to. thank you for loving us and for being our friends and continuing to unceasingly keep us in your thoughts and prayers. we are so blessed. xoxo

to all of my friends. . . where ever you may be, THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FRIEND! thank you for loving my kids and i and boosting me up and showing us what friendship is really all about.
you motivate me each day to be a better friend and a better mother and a better person! love you.

to my family, THANK YOU THE MOST! my dear, wonderful and perfectly *AWESOME AND RADICAL* family. you took care of my kids and i when we had no one else in the world. you help(ed) me each and every day to know that i was going to be able to make it through the storm. . . and not only that. . .thrive through it.
i will never be able to repay you. ever. bottom line.
I LOVE YOU!

i love you all and hope that this holiday season finds you well and happy.
i am looking forward to a new year and new beginnings.
here, here! to many happy days ahead!

*disclaimer: i cannot promise to blog before April 2012. good grief Karli Plant!
you would think you had nothing else on God's green Earth to distract you!?! *~*