{This Moment}

{This Moment} - A SouleMama Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments section of the SouleMama blog for all to find and see.  From our family to yours we wish you a wonderful last day of 2010 and a fabulous 2011!

Our Year In Review

I woke up this morning thinking about this blogpost.  Wondering about the best way to sum up our year.  In so many respects it was an amazing year.  There are (now) 318 blogposts to back that up, along with some incredible pictures.  Pictures whose beauty impresses even me who's the one taking them.  This year, however, was also one of the toughest for us.  It saw the end of a dream and put a couple others on hold.  And yet, for all the tears, all the struggles, all the uncertainty and wondering "why?", we came out way stronger than I ever could have imagined, and (most importantly) we found peace in the process.  Something that had been eluding us often throughout this year.  We learned who to lean on. We learned (something we always knew) that finding the joy in simple things will bring peace and harmony to yourself and those around you.  It was reaffirmed that we are an amazing family and made us even more grateful for this incredible life that we get to live. So, without further adieu, here is our year in review: 

This year we: started blogging, laughed, created, adventured, envisioned, loved, celebrated, danced, played, dressed up, hugged, kissed, sang, drew, painted, built, baked, cooked, explored, loved, tickled, read, hoped, dreamed, discovered, learned, loved, ran, jumped (in puddles), dug, planted, gathered (our farm share), swam, swung, slid, journied, loved, attended (a wonderful wedding in Maine!), indulged, simplified, cried, grieved, mourned, awoke, found (peace, joy, delight), harvested, decorated, loved, appreciated, gave thanks, stood in awe of, snuggled, lived!

The Enchanted Village

We headed to Jordan's Furniture in Avon today to check out the Enchanted Village.  Jordan's purchased the old Jordan Marsh Christmas window displays and spent some time restoring them and opened the display to the public for the first time this year.  We heard about this back in early November and wanted to get down there to see the windows before the holidays were over.  It's a good thing we headed there today since the exhibit closes January 2nd (but will return next year).



Periodically it would begin to snow inside the exhibit.  The girls thought this was fabulous!

It was another wonderful day, another fabulous holiday memory, in this incredible life we live. 

A Little More Christmas

Dave's parents arrived yesterday to spend a few days with us.  Ever since the Christmas I was pregnant with Emma they come up during the holiday week so that we can have Christmas together and spend some time making memories.  They got here yesterday just as we were arriving home from running some errands, and once everyone was settled it was decided that then was a good time to open a few gifts from Grandma and Grandpa.

This year the girls were all about the Magic Cabin catalog.  They poured over it (and any other copy that arrived) for weeks.  Emma would point to this doll and say "my doll?"  She was so excited to see her wish come true!

Just like Em had wished for her doll, Grace spent lots of time dreaming about many things from that lovely catalog.  One of them was this item.  I love that she has a love for hanging the wash on the line already!

The girls introduce their dolls to each other.  It was fitting that Dave's parents gave Emma her doll as they had given Grace hers on her second Christmas (the Christmas I was pregnant with Em). 

Each girl is now the proud recipient of their own lovely cup, plate and bowl. 

Setting up the marble run.

This toy is a huge hit and will clearly be loved for years to come!

We ended our night with dinner at The Wayside Inn.  The dessert is always the best part! 

Girls In Cloaks

Thank you, Magic Cabin for having such cool things in your catalog.  These cloaks just added a whole new level of fun (and lots of smiles) to playing dress up!  Clearly, wearing cloaks is simply fabulous!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

It was a morning full of laughter, magic, wonder and friendship.  A glorious way to spend a day, indeed. 

Snowbound

We had hoped to be able to get outside and play in all the beautiful snow today.  Sadly, the high winds kept us inside today. So instead we:

brought the snow in,

watched Little Bear,

played with play-dough (and realized we'll need to make a new batch or two soon),

did some bouncing,

snuggled with Al,

and fell asleep.

It was another great day, indeed!