This past Saturday Logan and I spent the day at the Boonshoft museum while the big kids went skiing with Barry. Ian came too– but this was Logan’s day. He has said, “I just wanna play at the Boonshoft,” at least fifty times a day for the past week or so. I’m not exaggerating. Really.

Our favorite part of the museum is the learning room. It is a big room with a few cockroaches and snakes in cages, but the best part are the drawers lining every wall. Oh, and the skeleton displays. I love those. I would love to sit and examine and sketch them, but the kids will have none of that. They’re ready to move on to other things. Wouldn’t it be cool to have skeleton displays in a school room? In my art studio? Yes. One of these days.

More photos here.

in the back yard.

with a baby on my back.

more here

Grandma and Grandpa Croker came for Christmas. The kids have loved it from the moment they walked in the door. I think their excitement was a little overwhelming at first. Logan is a pretty bouncy little boy and it is hard enough for me to handle all of his lap jumping enthusiasm and I live with the kid.

We had a wonderful Christmas and got an extra bonus when Grandma and Grandpa’s flight home was canceled.  They were going to leave on Wednesday the 26th, but didn’t get out until New Year’s Eve.  That extra part of the visit was almost better than the first half.  There were no preparations to make, everyone was used to each other…

Oh, but I forget the singing and anticipating and present opening and turkey roasting and stuffing making and pie baking.

The first half was better.

Oh the magic of Christmas!

I didn’t quite get my Christmas card printing done in time for Christmas this year. I guess they’ll be Happy New Year cards instead. They star our little friend Nutty, the red breasted nuthatch who frequents our bird feeder.

As I reflect on the past year I am so thankful. I couldn’t imagine being happier. That is almost entirely Barry’s doing. He is better than I could really say with words, and I stand in awe of this little family we’ve created– the feeling we have in our home, the rocks and drawings and books and chubby smiles. The games, the singing, the building, the playing. Bringing a fourth little person into the mix has made things a little busier, but has brought us so much closer. It seems like there’s nothing we couldn’t do together.

In so many ways the time goes by slowly– like waiting for Bary to come home from work after a long day of diaper changes, book reading, rocking, fight diffusing. But it goes by so fast! My little baby is already learning to walk. My little girl doesn’t look so little anymore with her big new teeth trying to fit into her little mouth. I really do love this time of having little ones– the boundless energy, the snuggles, the unconditional love and admiration, the hilarious observations, the wonder of seeing things new through fresh eyes. These are my treasures. There are so many things that only I will remember– that time will erase for them. What a gift– as long as I keep my eyes open, my sense of humor, a little patience, joy, love, and remember how fleeting it really is.

The new year will bring new adventures, new dreams to follow, new things to learn. Amid all the change there will be some constants– the beauty of our family, the knowledge that “home” is wherever we are together, faith, growth…

Wishing you all joy, love, and creativity in this new year!!