"PAT QUINN"

I was 5 years old.


I already thought my dad was the greatest thing in the world.


And this just confirmed it.


Happy Father's Day to a Legend!

Firsts

Happy 19 months old, Caiden!

I wanted to take this special opportunity to share one of Caiden's FIRSTS. 

No, it has nothing to do with words or food or inches. Rather, this little boy climbed up the ladder to his brothers top bunk. Then, according to a witness, proceeded to walk around, tripping on a bear and came tumbling down super man style after a somersault. I was not in the room. But I heard the thud...cry...and Caiden met me in the hall with tears streaming down. I am pretty sure the wind got knocked out of him and he has a bump on his head to show for it. But somehow, other than that, he is fine. The dr. did the full check because I was particularly scared about him hitting his head. But no signs of concussion. I was quite shaken up and I thought the scare of a fall would slow him down. But he seems to have been given wings in his new limitless discovery because he has been climbing onto everything he can get his hands and feet on. (he even revisited the ladder to the bunk...but did not get far at all! mom is keeping a hawk's eye on this one for awhile!) 

Busy days all around. Sandwiched with beautiful weather (in between the rain) and homeschooling and a husband that is working an inordinate amount of hours...we're hoping things will start to balance out a teeny bit as we march through Spring. 

"...because Big Boots mean an Adventure."

"Sometimes life takes you uphill. 

And it's just plain hard. 

But I can guarantee it will be better going

 if you wear happy, yellow boots."

Welcome, Spring. We are fully embracing you. Puddles and all. Does this mean I must come out of my cyber-hybernation? (that sounds like it could be a song right out of the 90's) 

*photo via Instagram

I cannot believe I have been so so neglectful to this little blog....but when I get the courage, I will return. I have so much catching up to do (um....can we say Christmas??) so I just keep putting it off. 


Thankfully, it stays right here, doesn't collect any paperwork or dust, and just waits patiently until I am ready to pick it up again.


Hope my readers are too. 


xo. 


(the memory of this photo makes me laugh out loud. we were in PA visiting our great friends and they treated us to a ski resort for their huge tubing hill. we all traded off watching caiden in the lodge. he ended up literally eating his way through the whole entire day. no joke. thus the food in his mouth. and jack, sneaking a drink of my chai. he was just disappointed it wasn't coffee. seriously.) 

::snow-globe effect::

This is the most recent measurement on our back deck. It is in the snow drift, but still...you have to make it through the snow drifts too! There is actually something quite fun about being completely snowed in. We only needed an instant fireplace kit. Other than that, we were set with a Christmas movie, hot chocolate and lots of new toys. 

The snow fall lasted from Sunday at 3pm until Monday afternoon. It has quieted down now and plows have been by and the driveway is shoveled (thanks, honey) and there is a path that is knee high that leads to a fort for the boys. And we are truly, if we ever doubted it, in a winter wonderland.

Happy In-Between of Celebration Time.

We are getting ready for our annual get together with our ever-fun friends, the Yarnells whom we'll be seeing tomorrow! Lots of laughs in store! 

from our family to yours

"Happy, Merry Christmas"


love, 
the Neiners

on angel's wings

...is how quickly Christmas feels like it's coming.

Unstoppable, yet so exciting.
Reverent, but jubilant.
Preparatory, but pausing. 


I love how each Christmas holds the same dear patterns, yet each one awaits us with its own surprises.


I love letting the lights on the tree be the last ones on in the house at night. Their magic twinkling around the room.


I love how with each new day, the presents seem to multiply under the tree.


I love how even though there is so much more hustle and bustle going on out there, people are still overall more friendly and cheerful. 


I love that our Post Office has an independent mailing machine that is open 24/7. And that there's no line at 11pm! 


I love that I just found my little stash of clearance Christmas books from last year, including: The Nutcracker (Susan Jeffers), The Gift of the Magi (O. Henry, ill. by Lisbeth Zwerger), The Child's Christmas (Evelyn Sharp), and Who's That Knocking On Christmas Eve (Jan Brett).


I love (*attention: spoiler alert) that my living room smells like fresh roasted coffee. We just received 2 boxes from Mist Valley who's coffee we have been LOVING every morning for the past few months! Their coffee is FRESH!!!!!! And the proof is in the taste. 


I love the excitement that is uncontainable in my children. And the sentimentality of adults. Particularly my dad. He sent me the sweetest FB message about how sad he is that we won't be together for Christmas.  :( 


I love that we have appx. 4 different types of advent calendars going on each day. Thankfully they are all simple enough to keep up with.  


I love the simple message that this season brings. One of hope and joy in the precious gift of our Savior. The simple, yet magnificent gift that so many pause to sing of. The gift that will soon be forgotten but will still remain long after the tree is at the curbside. The true, though cliche, "reason for the season." 


Jesus. 


[photo above: our tree. filter done in Instagram. an awesome free iPhone app that I am loving]