"Dogs and cats living together...mass hysteria!"

We've been looking for a dog and a cat ever since we moved in - we've gone to shelters several times and called a lot of people on craigslist but it wasn't until last week that we finally found a dog that was the right age/style/breed and went for it.  His name is Yogi and he's a golden retriever mix.  We love him.  He's already so sweet and fun and protective and obediant.  Except with Peter - he's totally afraid of Peter.  Who knows why - maybe the fact that Peter was hiting and throwing things at him for the first few days he was here.  He quickly put Peter in his place with a bite and then another and another.  It seems now like we're getting that all figured out...a.k.a. Peter is giving Yogi loads of treats to convince him that he's a pretty good guy and he's stopped hurting him.  And then the other day I was looking at craigslist again - the craigslist app has made me an addict.  Anyhow, there were these two Maine Coon cats(a brother and sister) for FREE and I couldn't resist.  They are both fixed and up to date on their shots. 

I love Maine Coons - they are cute and smart and get HUUUGE.  So they came home the next day and hid for a full twenty four hours behind the washer.  And then yesterday out of the blue brother cat came out even with Yogi lurking and walked right past him -  swishing Yogi's face with his tail as he passed.  And Yogi who has NEVER experienced cats before totally played it cool.  They were fast friends and even though sister cat is still pretty nervous I'm sure in time they are going to be tight.  Needless to say, it made my day.  Here are some pics...

Anyhow, brother and sister need names - they're previous names Pepper and Oreo just aren't doing it for me.  I want something fitting and fun.  Brother is big and shaggy and sister is smaller and dainty and really pretty.  Here are some ideas...

Jem & Scout(To Kill a Mockingbird)
Bonnie & Clyde(I know, not sister and brother but cute anyways)
Donny & Marie
Adam & Adora(a.k.a. Heman & Shera)
Luke & Leah(a little on the nerdy side)

I don't know - any other ideas folks? 

Moss Hunting in My Promised Land...

This afternoon while the babies were sleeping I put my boots on and headed outdoors.  It's been pretty warm the past few days so the snow is melting and you can see the green peeking through.  It feels slightly like spring and gets me anxious for when we can start work on the barn, the fencing, and the spring(not the season but the water type).  I wandered around the perimeter of our property - up the west hill and out across the street to the 40 acres of wooded area.  We don't own it but the people who do don't live in town and use it for camping.  They said we could wander around it as long as we don't shoot guns on it.  Following the deer trails across the snow through the pine trees with the mist curling around; felt magical.  Like a scene from Harry Potter.  Along the way I took pictures of all of the beautiful varieties of moss that grow around here.  Because it's a fairly wet climate with plenty of shade from the evergreens there is a lot of moss.  Moss prettier than any I'd ever seen.  It clings to the dark rocks that are scattered around.  They are all beautiful but my favorite is a longer moss that looks exactly like a shag carpet from the 1970's.  I fact, the first time Elijah showed it to me I actually thought it was a piece of old carpet.  Now when ever I see a particularly mossy rock I pick it up and bring it back to our front garden.  Come spring I hope to have a huge collection of it that I can plant some fern varieties around.  I love all things fern, moss, and dark woodsy.

After that I hiked back over to our property and up to the barn.  The barn is full of old junk and bird's nests and needs to be repainted.  Come spring when we add on a lean-to type chicken coop and an area for the pigs I think we will paint it.  Mike wants to keep it the classic red but I can't help but think about a deep peacock blue, a mustard yellow, or a dark warm green - all with white trim of course.  What do you think?

After touring the barn I hiked up the north hill and sat on a tree stump.  I was up high enough to have the warm sun and see the mist hanging below.  It was beautiful but after one picture my camera died so you'll just have to imagine it.  I just have to say that I am so happy here.  I feel like I have arrived in my promised land.

When I was visiting Utah I realized I still didn't have pictures to show people of the house.   I guess I've been too busy with the holidays and things to do it.  Today wasn't a very good day to take a pictures but it'll have to do for now...

Our property is 4.5 acres with probably an acre out front with the rest winding up and around the house like a bean.  I am still in awe when I hike up and away from the house and realize that I'm still on my property.  It's cool.

Want to visit us here up north?  We'd LOVE to have guests!

Dear Santa...

Today was the first day that I finally felt like school worked in this house.  It's been a long time coming with a lot of stress, some tears, and a lot of books on homeschooling leafed through.  And in the end, all that needed to happen was a little reorganizing, some more patience on mom's part, and some loving kindness.  Anyhow, today we worked on our letters to Santa which is ALWAYS fun. 

Also, instead of filling our Advent calendar boxes with candy like usual we took some cues from Sheree and filled them with Christmas activities, like writing letters to Santa or ice skating or making gingerbread houses.  To my surprise the boys didn't protest and they are still as excited to open them up each morning - at least so far! 

p.s.  I've had a lot on mind lately on "doing it all" and have a lot to say and a few life changes to make so pretty soon I'll fill you all in.  I'm sure you're dying to know, aren't you?

Best Gig Ever.

You may not know this but ever since college I've had a dream that someday I'd get Jonathan Canlas to take my family portraits.  He's amazing, shoots on film, and his work has inspired me ever since I was first starting out in photography.  And still he and his work continue to push me to get better.  And now, ten years later I can tell you that literally a week before we moved my dream finally came true.   Here are some of my favorites... though I hate narrowing it down but I didn't want to bore you with endless images of my family... just slightly endless images of my family to follow.

So, in the end, if Jonathan Canlas ever asks you if you and your family would be available to model for his FIND workshop - say YES!  Or just go book a session with this guy!

School house rock.

Today was our first day in the nearly finished school room and already we all feel so cozy and happy in it.  It isn't completely finished yet - we still have to paint the table, put in a shelf, frame the home-made blackboard, and add the art; but it's finished enough for us to use it. Once it's completely done I'll post before and after pictures and what not.   But I still wanted to post and say what a difference it makes to have a large space dedicated to school.  A room without a television or even within earshot of one.  A room where we don't mind making a mess.  A room with space for everyone to be working at once and not bother each other.  I love it.

The first of many before and afters...

I have a lot to take after pictures of but most of it isn't quite finished.  But since this was a quick fix I thought I'd share it.  Here is the before of the light that hangs over our kitchen table...

And bless it's heart but it's ugly.  Not the worst light ever but just plain ugly.  Luckily in my sickened state I was still able to visit some thrift stores and found a $6 chandelier.   I then spray painted it and tonight Mike took down the 1966 wagon wheel-ish light and hung it in it's place.  It's cute and the color makes it less formal.  It might end up with some shades on it but it's cute enough for now...

What do you think?

Hit the ground slumping.

On the way here - somewhere in southern Washington.  Before I realized I was as sick as a dog...

Did you know that on the first day of the rest of my life, a.k.a. the day we moved in, I got sick?  Like, really sick.  I'm pretty sure I got the flu.  A little ironic, I thought.   I actually thought a lot more negative thoughts about it than that.  I was B-U-M-M-E-D!  And it took me seriously an entire week to get well enough to get out of my pj's and start opening boxes.  What a bummer.  Anyhow, I am no longer sick.  Well, I'm a little sick.  Turns out that flu turned into a sinus infection but that is almost gone and I've got all sorts of energy and the like.   And today I went to church for the first time.  I had all sorts of ideas about how I was going to hit the ground running and learn everyone's names and make friends and instantaneously integrate into my new life.  But instead I was a ball of nerves and sometimes a little trembly.  And even though Mike swears I didn't, I think I even had that nervous bad breath.   Anyhow, so I'm not a super-human integrator.

As for the house, I love it.  And yet sometimes I am completely lost.  Sometimes the list of things I want to do to it gets so long I can hardly see straight.  I look up pricing and colors on my little phone until my fingers ache.   Anyhow, we've just about got the school room done - I'll post pics in a couple days.  And now we're working on getting all of the wood paneling painted.  And then...  where do I start?    But I love it.  I really really love it.  I feel like we've lived here a long time - like we're old friends me and this house.  Like she was waiting for us.  Made for each other.  Soul mates.  Anyhow, I just wanted to write a post since I finally have the internet. I also included some pics taken with my phone.  From now on pics will now be taken with my real camera but it was in the shop getting all spruced up and the like...

If you meld these two pictures together and make the hills a little bigger - that is what it looks like here.

It has been really misty and drizzly here which is beautiful - except when you're as sick as a dog.  But now I love it.

The first day of the rest of our life...

An Idaho Barn - gotta love the hipstamatic.

After six weeks of speculation, tomorrow we will begin living rurally.   The bank has recieved word that everything has gone through and we are a go.

This is something that seriously Mike and I have been talking about for ten years.  We'd talk to each other about it as we fell asleep at night or when I was having a bad day Mike would let me lay my head on his lap as he described our future "farm".   The kids would draw pictures of it - we'd read books about it - it was often a subject of our prayers.  I have yearned for it - ached deep down in my gut to have it.  And now we are getting it.  Isn't that strange?  I'm not sure if I really believed that would happen in this life.  I often wondered if I wouldn't get it until the next life - that my heaven would be a big beautiful farm.  I still hope it is.

And I'm embarrassed to admit that when we first started the process of buying this home that instead of being ecstatic - I was terrified.  I've never lived rurally before.  Maybe I was wrong - maybe I didn't really want this.  And my stress lasted for weeks.  I think the Lord must have been slightly bothered with me since he was giving me EXACTLY the thing I dreamed of.  Honestly, Mike and I often ask each other what our dream day would look like - not a vacation or a Saturday - a perfect day of the week.  Where do we live, what does it look like, what do we do with our time?  And I am not kidding you when I say that everything - down to what it looks like out our window is what I imagined.  Saying that makes me get teary-eyed.  I really feel like all of those years the Lord was taking notes and in his due time, delivered it.  Wow.  Keep hoping and praying for your dreams.  And trust the Lord. 

Honestly, it really wasn't until about ten days ago that I finally came out of that craziness and realized, "Are you kidding me?  We're going to be so HAPPY!"    And we are.  WE ARE GOING TO LOVE IT!  I am so so grateful.  I really am.  And the best part of it all is that I get to do it with Mike.  He is my everything.  For real.  And we are going to rock this farm life thing.

In the end, I just want to say - go for your dreams.  Really ask yourself how you want to spend this life - what do you REALLY want to do.  And then don't spend another minute on paths that won't take you there.  Pray, work, hope, and trust that you'll get what you want.  I really think the Lord gives us our desires - our personalities - to help us achieve the unique mission he has for every one of us.  So, even if everyone around you thinks you're crazy - go for it.  And don't worry about all of the finger-waggers and nay-sayers.  You don't want to be like them anyway.  Take counsel from the Lord.  Ponder, pray, and discover what you were made to be.  And then go for it.

The Rodabough Family

My last session while being a resident of Utah was with Lindy and her family.  For their session we headed up to Wallsburg, Utah which was a beautiful place to take pictures.  Not only was it an amazing location but Lindy is a true Wallsburger - in fact, her fifth great grandfather was William Madison Wall who Wallsburg is named after.  Pretty cool, eh?  She grew up in the same house that her family has lived in for nearly 100 years.  These images were taken in one of the many pastures her family has in that darling little valley.  I love love love taking pictures in places that mean something to my clients.  And what a fun group of boys she and Robby have.  They just exude happiness...

Giddyup.

Last Saturday we moved out of our beloved house and off of our dreamy cul-de-sac.  It was hard.  After we moved out we went and stayed at Mike's brother's house until we were ready to drive out on Tuesday morning.  We were waiting for Mike's parents who are helping us drive the truck and the cars up to Washington.  Along the way we stopped by the Airforce Museum, had a flat tire, and saw the beautiful Utah/Idaho countryside.  And since I am slightly obsessed with the trendy hipstamatic camera on my phone, I recorded it all with that.  The hipstamatic is pretty cool - it's pretty much adding something akin to actions right in the phone to make them look like old lo-fi film cameras.  It's really fun and kind of like film you don't really know what you're going to get.  These images are untouched except for resizing for web.  This is how they looked straight out of phone... so here goes...

As for updates... we were supposed to be closing on our house and moving in today but there was a problem with the well so we have to wait until that is straightened out.  Luckily Mike's parents have been VERY gracious  to let us stay in Boise until next week some time - not to mention all the driving/flying they have been doing on our behalf.

The Weeks Family

Because of my tight schedule with the move - the Weeks and I had a very abbreviated session.  I wish we could have spent more time together in their beautiful home with their beautiful kids but it just wasn't meant to be.  Luckily, we had some great light and some cute kids which makes beautiful images...