In November I studied gratitude using the study guide from the Small Seed. It primed my heart in unexpected ways for this Christmas season. I am deeply grateful for the Savior, my family, and our circumstances. On Monday we spent the evening setting up our Christmas tree with Celtic Women Holiday playing on Pandora. Nathan…
Home
A Family Wood shop Morning
Andrew and I have a dream to have a wood shop of our very own. We want a place to teach our kids how to use tools and build whatever idea pops into our minds. Currently our projects are accomplished with Andrew cutting the wood on campus and us gluing at home. This works well…
From Minimalism to Lifegiving and A Fall Dinner Celebration
Growing up I always had this conviction that I didn’t want a lot of stuff. We moved a lot and I viewed my things as a burden to pack and unpack, yet each item was filled with sentiment. After my freshman year in college I decided it was time to lighten my load, so I…
DIY Sprinkler Fun
We really enjoyed all of the water playing we did in Utah from swimming to sprinklers to spray bottles and buckets. I especially loved the kid exhaustion that followed with guaranteed naps or bedtime. We don’t have great access to a pool here (driving to and from and swimming with two completely dependent children is…
Project Roundup
The focus of the last three weeks has been projects. I’ve been working every spare minute and with the kids to finish things up and we are finally starting to see some final products. Christmas stockings. Last November after Nathan was born but before the c. diff diagnosis, I discovered these Christmas stockings and loved…
Kids’ Entryway with Free Printable
Once I had the kids’ coat rack hung up on the wall, I decided I wanted to add a few more touches to officially make it the space for the Jackson kids. Andrew’s mom gave us a series of books by Nancy Tillman, and I especially love “Wherever You Go My Love Will Find You.”…
My Box Pleated Skirt Project
About a year ago, I saw a red chevron box pleated skirt that I liked online that was being sold for $125. I thought it was nice, but probably not that nice. While I was pregnant with Nathan, I was shopping with my mom at the fabric store and I saw some red chevron fabric…
Weekend Garden Work
Saturday night we all sat around the dinner table feeling exhausted. Good exhausted from working outside all day, the way we all want to feel more often. Andrew and Emily mixed up peat moss, vermiculite, and a few different types of compost to fill in our garden box for square foot gardening. Emily and I…
Growth Chart Project
I do not have the talent of gift giving. Thinking of the perfect gift, or even a gift, is excruciatingly difficult for me. I was shocked when my brain connected the dots for the perfect thing for my mom’s birthday this year. We moved around a lot growing up, so instead of marking our height…
First Haircuts
Saturday morning I cut both Emily and Nathan’s hair for the first time. I felt pretty confident going in because I’ve been cutting Andrew’s hair for a few years. It didn’t take long to figure out that Emily’s hair is suuuuuper curly. I never had a chance to see if the hair was even or…