annalea hart

we would like to visit the electric diner

2012-01-25T23:00:00.000-06:00

have you seen the electric company? the new series, that is.

we mega heart it here at casa hart.

you'll hear me singing "silent e is a ninja." it is a sneaky song.

or maybe gia going on about her, "pocket full of h's." she is not afraid to use them.

luca compares steak and shake to the electric diner, just "not as cool."

my littles even have formed a beat boxing club and enzo is pretty good. :)

oh it is fun stuff.

here are a few of my favorite clips.

and i catch myself singing this one too.
"we are kicking it."

yes, that is lin-manuel. jesse and i are big fans.

the closest we come to a neighborhood hang-out these days is the cafe in the library lobby.
the opening photo is a sweet shot of luca and gia enjoying a sweet treat there.
do you think this could be a possible venue for performing their mad beat boxin' skills?
(cameron, could you get us booked?)

xoxo,
annalea

i CAN count to eleven

2012-01-23T22:08:00.001-06:00

did you catch my mistakes?

the whole eleven in '11 idea kinda means listing eleven things.

not ten.

which is what i did in both round-ups from last night. :)

so i went back and added something to both.

for my "projects and parties" post i added the 2011 in 2011 challenge.

(ready for an update on that?)

so far, we have purged 1269 items .

the plan is to continue until we hit 2011 and then start over for a 2012 in 2012 challenge.

this is really really good for us.

as for an eleventh "moment with little harts", i picked this photo:

oh, that boy.

this used to be a daily occurence last spring and summer.

but no longer.

which is why i take the time to document our stories in word and photo.

eleven in '11 (moments with little harts)

2012-01-22T22:40:00.001-06:00

time for a little look back at 2011.

these posts help me remember the joy chosen and the beauty found.

they give me time to savor the time given and the stories told.

blogging has helped me document family memories and for that i am thankful. the big events would be documented and remembered, but in this season, life is more about little moments filled with little harts.
let us celebrate some everyday bits.

indoor snow play

these make me smile

cool little dude with big attitude

yep

eleven in '11 (projects and parties)

2012-01-22T22:20:00.003-06:00

time for a little look back at 2011.

these posts help me remember the joy chosen and the beauty found.

they give me time to savor the time given and the stories told.

here's to the loving hours put into projects big and small.
here's to the sweet times celebrating with family and friends.

the new firepit

a star wars movie party

lighting up the back patio
(there was never a post dedicated to this other than here, but it was much more than just purchasing LED lights and stringing them up over a table. we attached a cable from the house to the tree, which is easier said than done. let's just say, it was definitely a project!)

a house concert with karla adolphe

operation tree fort
(still in progress! we are excited to finish up this year.)

gia's new all-girlie room

the boys share a room

the front porch makeover

time for a tailgate

the dollhouse

2011 in 2011 challenge
(no, i don't have a photo of the boxes and bags dropped off at goodwill.)
so far, we have purged 1269 items .
the plan is to continue until we hit 2011 and then start over for a 2012 in 2012 challenge.
this is really really good for us.

a day in the life of nicole

2012-01-19T05:00:00.002-06:00

you are invited to spend a day in the life of her.

the gal who you might think has it all together. the mama who seems to do it all.
guess what? she doesn't.

let's fight those lies. this series is an effort to dispel the superwoman myth. it is a time to be encouraged and a place to be challenged.

i have invited some wonderful women who want to be real with y'all. they want to share their struggles and triumphs. they want to give you a true glimpse into their everyday. it might not be glamorous, but it is real and beautiful.

come walk a bit in the shoes of another.

***************************************************

Dearest Annalea, Thank you for hosting me over here on your loveliest of lovely blogs...I am so glad I came across "our hartbeat" those many years ago.

Isn't the world wide web a wonder and joy in the realm of strangers becoming friends.

Thank you friend.

***

This year I undertook the task (blessing) of home educating our children, Jude (nearly 10) and Delia (8 1/2). Pulling them out of our local elementary school into our kitchen.

We are still learning together how this home schooling works.

One of my favorite parts of this education puzzle is how I have gotten to know my kids in new and unexpected ways--just spending each day with them allows me to see them grow and change--but the best part is the flexible, ever changing schedule.

This is mere glimpse into our day...yesterday in particular.

Now that Jude and Delia are older they get up and dressed and entertained on their own...I spend a few extra moments lounging in bed while my husband gets ready for his day...he is a teacher.

Yesterday Jude read in bed, while Delia created a woodland forest on the table.

Crafting by 7am, what a girl.

Before the oatmeal was on the stovetop, the pair had holed up near a heater to play a game of monopoly...the Star Wars version, of course.

As the oatmeal simmers away on the stovetop, I kick start my day with a few needful things; prayer, God's word, coffee and a daily to-do list of educational goals for the day.

I find I need a few moments before the day gets going so my soul is more at peace and therefore I am more at peace.

Rocket science, I tell you, rocket science.

We aim to eat together, while having a daily devotional...the peace we all need.

Lately, oatmeal is the breakfast of choice as I got mad in the cereal aisle and refused to buy any...clearly an off day in the parenting realm.

I am not perfect and I struggle with patience...oh and the number of unnecessary ingredients in cereal...and the price of said cereal...but that is a post for another day.

First on the agenda is a hike.

In the car on the way to and from we squeeze in spelling bee words and Story of the World.

We met up with a good friend and walked the 3 mile loop around the reservoir.

Physical Education.

Lots of dogs to meet and greet.

Oodles of birds.

Beautiful sunshine.

We even spotted three young raccoons chasing an egret out of the rushes.

Ah, the joy of home educating.

After a hike one needs to eat and what is better than a lunch of frozen yogurt.

By this time it is noon and high time for Delia to craft a origami cup/hat from a newspaper left on the table outside the coffee shop.

My lunch was not frozen yogurt but more of the caffeine fueled energy of an espresso drink.

Delia is so crafty.

Since we are out and about, we stop into Whole Foods to pick up a few groceries, including cereal. I lose my patience with my children. I understand now why my mom always wanted to leave of us home when she went grocery shopping. I always thought I was "helping her" but I see now...she needed to be able to think and shop.

Sanity, now.

The morning disappeared but math, music practice and paragraph editing was still on the to-do list.

Delia always chooses to work out of doors...the joy of California weather.

Math and sunshine.

As Jude practices ukelele and Delia finishes up her math, I take a quick look at my email, switch a load laundry, fold a load of laundry and tackle the ever so glamourous job of dish washing.

We do not have a dishwasher...I am the dishwasher.

My ukelele player.

I love when music fills my home.

The gift of music changes hearts, motivates and encourages all sorts of goodness.

Clearly a post for another day.

Since it is Wednesday the schedule changes quickly at about 1:30 when Jude goes off to play at friend's house before attending Aikido with his friend...carpool and play time all in one.

Wednesday afternoon is also when we pick up Delia's friends from her school and she spends the afternoon playing in our backyard.

As the afternoon transitions I whip up a couple loaves of banana bread.

Backyardigans.

Fort building, playing pioneers and all sorts of other secretive games.

Delia fills the house with music.

As Delia works on her piano, I take a moment to sit on the sofa and read for a bit.

One of my goals for 2012, is to sit and be more often.

Plus this book is rocking my world.

The list is nearly accomplished...I did not read aloud today but perhaps tomorrow.

The day is winding down, tuna melts are on the docket for dinner, Jude is home from Aikido, John is home from work and his run, Delia is showered, I waste time online for a few minutes during a lull in the action.

Evening is upon us.

A good friend stops by and joins us for supper, I run another load of laundry, the kids clean up their rooms and we begin a rare family evening at home.

John works on push ups and Delia folds clothes.

A family game in the kitchen...Ticket to Ride.

We are a game loving family.

It is not unusual to play 2-4 games a day around here.

Good night my loves.

Snug and cozy in bed.

God is with you.

The kids read for a bit, I sew a few garlands, prepare for a trip to the post office tomorrow, John tends to his computer work, we chat, brush the cat and wind down our day.

Tomorrow is a new day.

Goodnight world.

***************************************************

oh nicole, that was just a treat for me to walk through your day. and i am so glad to be able share you, one of my first and favorite blog friends, with others. thank you, friend, for welcoming us in.

xoxo,

annalea

p.s. when i finally make it out to sf someday, i plan on taking one of those hikes with you, eating lots of yummy food, and maybe a night of catan. :)

a full heart

2012-01-18T21:04:00.004-06:00

thank you.

your love and support pretty much rocked me.

i wrote the letter primarily to give future luca a small glimpse into my today heart. a record of who he is. memories to hold close and provide understanding. a bit of my love contained in words.

i also wrote it to give others a small glimpse at our reality. i have been censoring many posts and tweets and status updates these past two months and it became increasingly difficult not to share. this isn't a craft blog or homeschooling blog, but a my-life-as-annalea blog. hence the whole blog name. while aspergers is definitely part of luca's story, it is also mine. much prayer went into what and how to share. it came down to the fact that there is no shame here. nothing to be embarrassed about. labels aren't bad if used correctly. i want to make that clear to my son as he grows. he has been fearfully and wonderfully made.

and i know that by sharing our life, another's might be impacted. i have read numerous stories over the past year that have given me insight and encouragement. thank you to those who have shared. my goal here was to be real and authentic, yet respectful and sensitive.

several of your comments mentioned how blessed luca was to have me as his mama. man, did that feel like a punch to the gut. so often i feel like a failure. so often i lose my temper or become impatient or act out of selfishness. i know i am imperfect. amazing that grace, indeed.

all this to say. . .
i am blessed to have luca as my son.
i am blessed to have gia as my daughter.
i am blessed to have enzo as my son.
and i believe He can bless their lives through me.

and, once again, thank you.

Source: obyandtarabennett.blogspot.com via Annalea on Pinterest

you are still the same boy

2012-01-17T13:00:00.003-06:00

dear luca,

you are an incredible boy. INCREDIBLE, i say. you are clever, creative, and sensitive. oh so sensitive. it is your superpower and your kryptonite. i know the world seems harsh and sad. thank you for the reminder not to turn callous and numb to the brokenness. i see you growing up to be a wonderfully empathetic and nurturing man. i pray you care fiercely all of your days.

right now, you are a lover of all things cute. you want a cute little hamster so badly (and might even convince us to get one for your birthday). you are a builder of legos and your imagination soars. every time i open the freezer, i find your science experiments in the works. you tell goofy jokes and sometimes they make sense. but they always make me laugh. your brother is your favorite person and your sister is your favorite playmate. you like quiet days at home, green tea with honey and footie pajamas. you hate sarcasm, scary things and being alone. you love to talk and talk and talk some more. you have so many ideas to share. and goodness, you roll around the house on that scooter board as if training for the olympics. i hope i don't break a limb next time it is left in the hallway. you are my time-keeper. you are my biggest helper.

these past few months have been life-changing for you, my son. you began seeking answers and craving truth. you made the decision to follow Christ! it was such a sweet september afternoon. your prayers filled my heart with thanks. and celebrating with birthday cake for that gift of new life was quite a treat.

this fall was also pretty tough. and that is an understatement. what a confusing and exhausting year it had been! we didn't know how to help you through the extreme emotions. the sleepless nights and the rollercoaster days drained us. they drained you. it was awful watching you struggle and suffer. beginning occupational therapy for your sensory issues helped. but the anxiety continued to grow. your papi and i were near desperate.

it was a tuesday in early november during your seventh year that a doctor gave us an answer. not only are you all of the incredible, wonderful, beautiful things written above (and more!), but you are also a boy with asperger's syndrome. you are still the same boy. a child of God and a light in our life. the firstborn gift that we loved before that day, before this year, before we even held you in our arms. the diagnosis does not define you or change you. it will hopefully help us better understand you.

but you are still the same boy.

papi and i will work hard to get answers. we have many decisions to make. it will not be easy. it will definitely be messy. yes, we have made a lot of mistakes. please continue to forgive us as we learn to be better parents for you. as a family, we will choose joy and find beauty. we don't know what the future will hold. or what it won't. what we do know, without a doubt, is that for this we have Jesus.

and that is enough.

love you for always, so much it often hurts,

mama

i stepped away. . .

2012-01-15T22:24:00.001-06:00

it wasn't a conscious decision, but somehow the week passed and i never came back to the blog.

well, there was that two day long migraine. along with some crazy work hours for my man.

and i am still getting used to the new early 2012 schedule.

i bought this huge white generic desk calendar to keep us organized. it is working great.

we had our first real snow of the season. it was like living in a snowglobe for a few days.
i love it. and in case you were wondering, i don't miss summer. yet.

a project i will slowly be tackling in the coming months is a lampshade makeover. this pin is my inspiration, but it will not be an exact copy. oh making felt flowers in the free moments is incredibly fulfilling.

i plan on being here this week though.

here, as on the blog, but also here, as in the above pictured here of my newly cleaned studio.

(did that make sense at all?)

a clear work table just wants to be used.

in fact, i have a new day in the life of her guest for you on thursday and everything. fun stuff!

there should also be a few more eleven in '11 posts (that would have gone up last week.)

we'll see. i am still figuring out what my posting schedule for this winter/spring will look like.

also, our attic is turning into an occupational therapy fun room.

whatever it takes.

so was this post all over the place or what? :)

tell me, how was your week? i truly want to know.

(lovely) monday thoughts

2012-01-09T20:10:00.003-06:00

thanks to a lovely craft night with some lovely friends, this lovely little hoop has put me in a lovely valentine-y mood. inspired by this photo spotted at rachel's, it was a quick, easy, and satisfying project. it makes me smile.

now that christmas is all packed up, the house is feeling fresh and clean. i am in the mood for felt and doilies and hearts and red. not much different than the rest of the year to be honest.

and can i show you the lovely gift my lovely littles gave me for christmas? how sweet are these embroidery scissors? eeek! i just lovely love them! they have a smart papi, methinks. :)

oh the weekend seemed so short. i was a bit spoiled after that vacation. i have been a busy director bee preparing for our second semester of CC - science experiment supply sorting, art project planning, meeting scheduling, and all-around organizing. it was quite a nice break, but back to work time it is.

life is finding a rhythm again.

eleven in '11 (DIYs and crafty bits)

2012-01-05T20:51:00.001-06:00

time for a little look back at 2011.
these posts help me remember the joy chosen and the beauty found.
they give me time to savor the time given and the stories told.

first up, the craftiness that made its way to the blog.

favorite cardigan turned pillow

embroidered lamp slipcover

bienvenue printemps wreath

scrappy rainbow felt mobile

custom rose trellis
(built in 2010, but finally enjoyed as the roses bloomed in may 2011)

pretty gift card envelope

sailboat restyle

bird embroidery

stamped doily hoop art

yarn and doily wreath

advent banner
(which i never blogged about, but it was cut from the prettiest muted turquoise and white patterned paper. this tutorial might be helpful. and it was such a sweet way to be greeted each day.)

christmas 2011

2012-01-04T12:12:00.001-06:00

sleepy heads taking their first look under the tree. all of the sweet anticipation culminates to this morning. the greatest Gift came in the form of a babe and we give in return. our gifts are small, but full of love. not rewards or entitlements. just a way to celebrate the freely given and undeserved Love that came to earth. that came to us.

gifts were carefully wrapped in fabric and ribbon. the fraying scraps transformed into something magical under the glow of twinkling lights.

gifts from each other. the secrets inside about to burst from little lips.
gifts from afar. oh we miss them dearly.
gifts from us waiting for family to come later in the day.

he was pretty pumped about these throwing knives.

and a locket for the princessa.

with photos of mama and papi inside. she gave each a kiss upon opening.

oh, he was a happy boy.

really happy.

an unexpected opportunity for a no-cost-to-us gaming system made this wii a huge surprise. oh the look in luca's eyes! we are not the parents who give things like this.

i might not have caught him opening anything with my camera - something about needing many hands available - but he was seriously focused on his french toast.

seriously serious. "don't mess with my food, mama!" his new bib is appropriate, right?

smile, annie! caught by jesse while folding the fabric wrappings.

a son on the phone with his mama. it was a gift in itself to hear their voices across the miles.

the cradle ornaments we made earlier in the month now have a tiny Jesus-bead inside.

styling siblings sporting their new pjs from cece and grandpa.

and oh was this one excited to see his favorite visitor. the feeling is mutual.

L O V E this capture. gia is quite the comedienne when she has an audience. who better than her papi?

last year it was a pygmy marmoset. this year, two little hamsters. a kiddo who adores snuggly soft animals. they have been named stuart and despereaux. :)

and the day ended with snuggle time on the couch.
full hearts and full home, indeed.

hey there, 2012

2012-01-03T05:00:00.000-06:00

today, i am offically back from vacation.

because this morning, jesse went back to work.

the christmas tree is still up, as well as all the trimmings.

i have worn pajamas about 75% of the last 2 weeks.

i have spent no more than 2 hours on the computer during that time.

i also may have read a dozen or so books. i have a problem, i know.

i have not done laundry in over a week, which is pretty easy when everyone is wearing pjs 75% of the time.

and the no-laundry doing makes the reading-like-a-crazy-lady thing possible.

but i have been playing around with my new lens. oh, she is sweet.

i have no goals set or a word of the year picked. i don't have my schedule revised or my house cleared up.

i just bought our 2012 calendar last night.

but i had a most lovely and relaxing break with my four favorite people on this planet.

and we are all caught up on sleep. which means a lot when we have been perpetually exhausted for over 6 months. i'll have to share more about that later.

how are you?

did you celebrate all crazy like or keep it on the simple side, like our casa?

i've missed you, friends and am oh so thankful to welcome in another new year here on this blog.

xoxo,

annalea

the weary world rejoices

2011-12-25T21:53:00.000-06:00

for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

merry christmas from our home to yours.

much love to all of you in this last week of 2011. until next year, friends.

xoxo,

annalea

advent snapshots (days 11-24)

2011-12-24T15:36:00.000-06:00

it is time! christmas eve is here!
we have had a quiet few days at home, without much hustle and bustle. so nice.

the 2011 ornaments, made from treefort cuttings. we give them to the littles tonight.

gingerbread houses were made last weekend. the simple graham cracker and store-bought frosting kind. that was easy! a definite repeat for next year. the creations didn't last too long though. . .

which makes the easy part, so much sweeter. :)

enzo finally has his own stocking. i know it took two years. no judging, okay?

the calendar was finished this morning. a certain 6yo is so stickin' excited, he almost can't handle it. no really. he spends his time alternately giddy and sobbing. waiting can be so hard. he wants to give everyone their gifts. and he wants to open his own, too. but he is also struggling with the mixed messages that abound. yesterday he asked to turn off a tv show because they kept saying giving gifts was the best part of christmas.

mama, Jesus is the best part. why don't they know that?

we went to fabric wrapping this year. it was much more kiddo-friendly. didn't they do a great job?

and tonight we light our last candle.
it is time! christmas eve is here!

advent in the heart and home (guest post by Roxanne Engstrom)

2011-12-23T13:55:00.004-06:00

i am thrilled to welcome my sweet friend roxanne as my final advent in the heart and home guest. it has been a privilege walking through life with this lady since high school. i love her and her family dearly. right now, the engstrom clan is living in zanzibar and when their internet works and the power is on, you can read about their east african adventures at her blog, immeasurably more.

in planning out these posts, i knew i had to ask rox to be part of this series. i love the idea of getting out of our amercianized view of Christmas and hearing from a family living it so differently. i am so happy she could join in, especially considering they just arrived from an amazing trip to south africa. (yes, they spent the night in a south african prison!)

When Annie asked me to be a part of this series I was pumped but initially thought that our celebration here on a small island that most people cannot locate on a map was too “small” and lacking in so many “Christmas-y” norms like twinkling lights, hot cocoa, and candlelight carols.

But as always the Lord spoke to me and reminded me that He is what it is about. That preparing our hearts during Advent can look different and yet still retain the anticipation of our coming Savior. It will look different as people of all tribes and tongues know and follow Him across the world and praise Him for diversity. We are all only called to follow after Jesus with everything in our being and allow His spirit to give us peace as we travel along as families. That was freeing.

Be you and be sold out, crazy in love with Jesus! It also occurred to me that our Christmas now is actually much more similar to the first Christmas simply because we have chickens and goats outside our windows, we live with people that are mostly farmers and fishermen who have never heard what the angel proclaimed that night. Grateful for new perspective.

And the consumerism and the materialism can get in the way for me of what we are really anticipating (although for reals I would love me some cold day peppermint mocha drinking, fuzzy sock wearing snuggling on the couch to Christmas music right about now). Although we miss our family and friends and all things known to us we are grateful God brought us here. God took our family to this place to learn to simplify, to learn to ask why and what we celebrate and how we can prepare for His coming when no one around us is and how that can be meaningful for our family and focus our eyes on Jesus. The process of asking and seeking has been a blessing. God is doing a work in us to change us and to help us learn to rely more and more everyday on His promises.

I love seeing how others celebrate and anticipate His coming so thanks everyone for sharing! Here is a bit of what we do as a family to prepare our hearts and our home for the birth that changed the world and is still changing us today…

We read a devotion and open a little kanga bag with an ornament for our advent tree each day. I am not a crafty mama but I sewed these simple ornaments with help from various women in my neighborhood and we hang them on a banana leaf baobab tree we found in town. We started this last year in the absence of other advent calendars and it has become a family favorite. Amazing to see our kid's understanding of the devotions grow each year.

This year we received an always-fabulous-and-glee inducing package from dear friends with an amazingly beautiful book: The Advent Book by Jack and Kathy Stockman. Opening the ornate doors and reading along will definitely stay as a family tradition.

We also started a family tradition of making a pinata with kids from our neighborhood and telling about the angel's message to Mary. It takes a couple days to dry in this humidity before we can decorate but it is oh-so-worth-the-wait to some little watoto. I love using our resourcefulness and creativity as a family to celebrate and share the experience and blessing with others.(these photos are from last year as tomorrow is the day for this year's angel)

We have learned so much from the people we are privileged to live among and they have taught us to celebrate in ways meaningful here. In the culture on our island giving and receiving blessing is of the utmost importance and it is especially meaningful to visit people and share food. On Christmas each year we always bake or buy some kind of special treat and visit everyone around us sharing that we are celebrating the birth of the Messiah.

This year a guest from Canada brought us some candy canes that we too fabulous not to share. The special "spicy" (as our friends here called it) candies were shepherd staffs, the first to hear about the news. More info on the meaning here.

We will then read the story of the first Christmas from His Word in English and Kiswahili: of the miracles, of the fear, of the danger, of the fulfillment, of the rejoicing, of the worship, and of the joy. And usually this involves some breaking up of sister smack-downs or some unexpected visitors but those too are moments that belong to Him.

Moments that are common where we live and in a stage of life we now enjoy. And we will rejoice in it and be grateful we have feisty girls and many friends and ask God for more grace and love and joy in everything. And then we will open the bag to reveal baby Jesus.

And that changes everything.

Krismasi Njema from Africa!

advent in our hearts and home

2011-12-22T09:00:00.003-06:00

hello, friends! i am making a last minute switch in today's advent in the heart and home post. my thursday guest - fresh from adventures in south africa - will be sharing tomorrow. instead, i would like to share my original post from the beginning of the series when ruth and i swapped spots.

Our family has been slowly grasping more and more over the years about how we can prepare our hearts and home with more intention during Advent. The purpose has not been to rush into traditions that won't have follow-through or decorations thrown together on a deadline. This is a season of preparing and waiting.

Our newest addition to Advent is the candle wreath pictured above. It is a beautifully crafted piece, that allows us to visually follow Mary's journey as we wait for the birth of her son - the Son.

Here's a glimpse of our simple and sweet mantle.

On it sits our Jesse Tree. Our family is using Ann Voskamp's free Jesse Tree Advent Celebration for a second year. (In fact, I had never even heard of a Jesse Tree until last November.) Each evening we warm up a pot of hot chocolate, light the candles, sit in front of the fireplace and listen to the day's reading. The ornaments (which were hand drawn by our oldest in imitation of Ann's and then embroidered on felt by me) are hung. We simply snagged a fallen branch from the backyard and placed it in a vase filled with cranberries

Another way we count down the days in December is through our Advent calendar hung on the dining room wall. Each paper cone is stamped with the day and filled with fun craft activities, ways to serve friends, family, and the community, as well as a devotional reading for the morning. This reading coordinates with our evening reading in a way I find compelling and relevant.

Two points I want to make about Advent Calendars, seeing as they are SO popular at the moment.

1. I don't pre-stuff my cones at the beginning of the month. Instead, I determine the night before what would best serve our family the following day. There is a list of ideas to refer to as well as a schedule of what is happening in the community.
2. Keep it simple. If all you want to do is watch Charlie Brown Christmas at night with a bowl of popcorn, that is great! The point is to spend time as a family and foster a joyful atmosphere with purpose.

This year, we made cinnamon dough ornaments as a family. The house smelled amazing! I used the remaining bits of dough to cut out these flowers and plan on making a hanging for the kitchen window.

Great-grandma supplies the chocolate calendars.

Each year, we give our littles a special ornament on Christmas eve. It is such a treat watching them unpack their collections when trimming the tree.

The Playmobil Nativity Set is in constant use. The girlie calls it "playing Jesus".

I am not trying to be controversial (as I know this tends to be a touchy subject), but our family has chosen to not "do" Santa. I will say that there is no less magic to our celebration without him.

Christmas morning is for reading from Luke and digging through stockings. French toast casserole is baked and devoured. Presents from far-away family are opened. The gifts we carefully picked out or made are finally revealed and enjoyed.

One of our favorite gifts to give and receive come from the Samaritans's Purse Christmad Gift Catalog. The littles pick out gifts for their siblings and extended family. We choose a special Mama & Papi gift for each of them.

I would also like to put in a plug for the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. We gave this to our children last Christmas and it has completely brought home the idea to our entire family (not just the littles!) that the entire Bible points to Christ. That every story "whispers His name" indeed. This season of Advent is just another way for us to remember that Creation has always been waiting for our Savior.

Lastly, I'd like to speak for both Ruth and I that the intent behind this post - all of these posts - is not to compare your own traditions and celebrations with others. Advent looks different for everyone and in no way did our family take on all of these in one year. If you are inspired by what you read during this series, take time to decide and get ready for next year. Don't feel the need to rush and live up to someone else's plans. Prepare your family in a way that opens hearts and home to Him.

We are waiting.

He is coming!

dollhouse sneak peeks

2011-12-21T18:02:00.000-06:00

gia and i will reveal a full dollhouse tour after the new year, but here is a sneak peak to satisfy that curiosity until then. we have plans to deck the walls and rooms over the hart clan winter staycation. and the house is pretty empty right now since most of the furniture is being gifted to her at Christmas - not that she has any idea :).

speaking of that staycation - it started this afternoon. we have jesse home with us for 12.5 days straight. best gift of the year!

oh and here is a little moody beauty shot. love her, but not the attitude she has had all week. yikes. did she turn 5 or 15? having papi home will hopefully help both mama and gia these next few days.

we are off to drive around town and look at christmas lights on this longest night of the year.

later gators.

advent in the heart and home (guest post by Elizabeth Foss)

2011-12-20T08:00:00.001-06:00

please welcome Elizabeth Foss from In the Heart of My Home.

I’m so pleased to visit Annalea today and to share a bit my heart and home a bit with you. Advent is a treasured time of year for our family and our traditions are both old and new. From the time my oldest son was a very little boy (about 23 years ago), picture books have been the pegs upon which we’ve hung our advent celebrations. Those baskets of books have grown through the years and now, my littlest girl, just three years old, listens to the same stories and celebrates with many of the same traditions. Every year, I think I can just add Advent to our regular routine. And every year, within a few days, I recognize that living Advent all day, every day, suits our family best. Over the years I’ve written several homeschool lesson plans, incorporating typical school subjects with our every day Advent life. And every year, our traditions change just a little bit as our family changes.

We usually begin our Advent celebrations the first weekend after Thanksgiving. We bring out the Advent wreath and other reminders that this is the season to prepare. Purple letters propped on the mantel are visual reminders that it is a season of getting ready—it’s not yet Christmas. Our favorite books for the first weekend are whimsical works of Tomie de Paola. We read all about Strega Nona’s preparation in Italy in Merry, Christmas, Strega Nona and Strega Nona’s Gift. And then, we read about the angels getting ready for a celebration in heaven in Country Angel Christmas. I always resolve to make sure that the Advent wreath is lit each night, which is really my resolution not to let Christmas preparations get so crazy that we don’t make time for quiet family meals. Sometimes, however, it really must feel like a crazy mess!

We light the candles with a song, adding one verse each week,

Light one candle for hope, one bright candle for hope, He brings hope to everyone. He comes! He comes!

Light one candle for peace, one bright candle for peace, He brings hope to everyone. He comes! He comes!

Light one candle for joy, one bright candle for joy, He brings hope to everyone. He comes! He comes! {Here we switch out the mantel letters for pink ones that spell “Joy” and we light the glass luminaria on the front porch which spell “Joy” also. The children know we’re getting very close.}

Light one candle for love, one bright candle for love, He brings hope to everyone. He comes! He comes!

Around December first, we trim our tree, placing it in a front window to light the evening and bear witness to our waiting. We read The Legend of the Christmas Tree. We also begin our Jesse Tree devotions. We’ve much enjoyed Ann Voskamp’s meditations for several years now. We also place several manger scenes around the house. A favorite book to celebrate the appearance of the crèche in every nook and cranny here and there is The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey, Christmas in the Barn, and Who's Coming to Our House?. There is a little bit of a war in our house about whether baby Jesus should be in the manger or whether he should be hidden until Christmas Eve. Some of the children think that he should be hidden since we’re waiting. But the wee ones want to re-enact the nativity again and again, so they need the Baby. My compromise is to ensure that the scenes which are safe for playing hands have Jesus to hold all through Advent..

On December 6^th, we read The Miracle of St. Nicholas and The Baker’s Dozen. The children are treated to stuffed stockings in the morning and we begin cookie baking that day. Clearly, my children understand that Santa Claus is a legend that began with a real man who served the poor. Because our stockings come early, they aren’t filled by Santa. They each will find, among other things, an ornament in their stockings. When they are grown and have Christmas trees of their own, their ornaments will go with them.

On December 12^th, we read The Lady of Guadalupe and enjoy Mexican hot chocolate. We share a traditional blessing with one another: May God be as good to you as He was to Juan Diego. Then, we usually have tacos for dinner.

My children love the Feast of St. Lucia, on December 13^th. We read Hanna’s Christmas, a darling little story about a Swedish girl who is homesick in America. We talk about St. Lucy and we think it’s pretty cool that she’s an Italian saint who is beloved by Scandinavian countries. Since I am Italian and my husband is Scandinavian, she’s the perfect saint for our family! The girls awaken early and dress and make cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate for all the men in the house. They wear fabric crowns of holly and candles and delight in serving breakfast in bed. Because St. Lucy is the patron of light, that evening is the perfect one to drive around the neighborhood and admire Christmas lights. Lucia, Saint of Light is the preferred evening reading.

On December 17^th, we begin to sing the O Antiphons. You might recognize them in the verses of O Come, O Come Emmanuel. My children know that Christmas is close indeed when we get our little Antiphon house out and begin to fill the rooms with golden cubes. Each Antiphon begins with "O" and addresses Jesus with a unique title which comes from the prophecies and whose initials, when read backwards, form an acrostic for the Latin "Ero Cras" which means "Tomorrow I come."

For some reason I cannot remember, this is also time for Peppermint Day. We make peppermint marshmallows and peppermint cocoa, peppermint bark and peppermint crackle cookies. We read The Legend of the Candy Cane. And we begin to get really ready for the twelve days of Christmas which will begin on the 25^th.

This year, my oldest son took to heart the dictionary definition of Advent: onset, beginning, commencement, start.

And, he kept to the tradition of celebrating all the little advent feasts with a picture book. He wrote and illustrated a picture book for his girlfriend. At the book’s end, he asked her to marry him. Advent: the beginning of a new family in our family.

Our Christmas celebration begins on Christmas Eve. Traditionally, my husband has taken my children to the wharf to buy seafood for our feast. My grandmother used to do this when I was a child. While I have scaled down the traditional Italian Christmas Eve of seven fishes, I do still cook whatever ocean treasures they find and bring home. We go to Mass as a family and come home to open presents. Then, my children sleep well and linger long in their pajamas Christmas morning. The celebration has just begun.

five and fancy

2011-12-19T14:12:00.000-06:00

happy birthday, dearest giavanna noelle!

look at you, so fancy in that dress your big brother gave you. and you are FIVE! wow. just wow.

mama is so, so, SO tired from a week of late nights dollhousing, so i'll just have to blog more detailed birthday wishes at another time. now time to drink a third cup of coffee so i can care for your sicky sick little brother.

we love you and thank our God for the gift of your life!

shabby apple giveaway winner

2011-12-19T13:36:00.002-06:00

hey chelsea thom,
you won a boogie woogie little black dress from shabby apple!
email me to claim your prize.
xoxo,
annalea

advent in the heart and home (guest post by Raising Arrows)

2011-12-15T05:00:00.001-06:00

amy from raising arrows is here today to encourage us to share Christmas outside our families this advent season.

When you think of Christmas, you think of family.

It's just natural to think of opening gifts under the tree with all the children around, eyes bright with the wonderment of it all.

In fact, in years past, I've guarded our Christmas from anyone outside our immediate family with mama bear hostility. Christmas morning is MINE! We will NOT be doing anything this season that might inconvenience us and we will NOT be sharing our festivities with anyone but our immediate family.

Last year, that changed. Not only did we have my widowed mother stay with us for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, but we also spent Christmas celebrations with someone completely outside of our family...our landlord!

Yale, our landlord from many moves ago, became quite dear to us during the 3 years we lived in his rental next door to his own home. My children climbed in his trees, we planted a garden together, and he became like another grandparent to me and my crew.

Last year, upon realizing Yale was getting older and we would never be able to turn back the hands of time, we chose to step outside the comfort zone of Family-Only and bring Yale, who is like family, into our Christmas celebrations.

It was such a precious time of fellowship with him that evening and I realized I had the wrong attitude when it came to keeping my Christmas season calm and simple.

It's not about me. It's about sharing.

Jesus came to this earth so that we could share in the fellowship we missed out on after the Fall of mankind. Sharing this season with other believers truly is sharing as a family. And sharing this season with non-believers is a chance to share the gift that is Christ with those who need it most.

Certainly, we want to guard against the chaos that can ensue during this time of year, but we must stop seeing other people as outsiders and start seeing them as God sees them...

For God so loved the world.

read more about amy and how her family celebrates advent. . .

advent calendar find meaning

our jesse tree tradition

toddler nativity toys

our annual christmas lights tour
a well-planned christmas

dollhouse-ing

2011-12-14T19:53:00.003-06:00

this is crunch week for finishing up gia's dollhouse. t-5 days until her birthday.

here's a little moodboard i put together.

in the last few days i have. . .

sanded and stained the four levels of floors.

applied 2 coats of floor sealer

sanded and primed the exterior

painted 2 coats of a most delicious pale turquoise (jack frost by benjamin moore) on the exterior

hemmed and hawed over scrapbook paper and finally made (almost) all decisions for the interior walls.

stained the stairs

then decided to paint over the stairs and applied a coat of primer to them

chose a striped dark pink ribbon for the stair runner
stained about a 1/4 of the roof shingles

cut the wallpaper for the lower three levels

tonight i plan on. . .

applying the wallpaper to the lower three levels

beginning actual construction of the house with jesse!!!

seriously, folks, this is SO much fun.

it is also where all of my free time is going. not to mention i am staying up way too late each night.

okay, gotta jet. i have a dollhouse to ~~play with~~ work on. :)

(pssst. . . don't forget to enter the shabby apple dress giveaway!)

advent in the heart and home (guest post by Naptime Diaries)

2011-12-13T05:00:00.007-06:00

Hi! I'm Jessi from Naptime Diaries & I'm so honored to share about Advent in my heart & home.

It's that time of year.

And this is what I keep thinking about Advent.

It's all a choice.

We can be glad it's over or we can squeeze it all out, till the last drop - looking back glad it happened and sad it's over and overjoyed that it will come again.

Can I get real vulnerable with you sweet ladies for a minute?

Last Christmas, last advent - this mama was a hot mess. I was living through some physical depression, some spiritual depression, and some just downright hard times.

And somehow, we made it through in one piece. Through advent and Christmas and the twinkling lights and everything.

And when it was over, I sighed in relief.

And after a full year of blessings and trials. Days that were wonderful and days that were hard.

We find ourselves in a precarious season, again. Lots of transition. Lots of the potential pain that none of us can escape when we live in this fallen world.

And this year, the only thing that is majorly different is that I'm making a choice.

This season, to the best of my ability, I want to lead my family in drawing near and soaking up the celebration of Jesus' birth so that no matter what - we feel like we've lived it to the full. I want to eradicate the things and the activities that will have us saying "glad that's over" and do all the things that make us think, "I can't wait to celebrate Jesus like that again".

We're doing advent in these hearts and these homes just like that.

Squeezing it out and begging for more and more and more of His presence.

More of His joy.

And when it's over, we'll hopefully sigh with a contented fullness.

Ready for next year.

advent snapshots (days 4-10)

2011-12-12T23:30:00.000-06:00

shabby apple dress giveaway

2011-12-12T11:00:00.001-06:00

let's start off the week in style. vintage-inspired style, courtesy of shabby apple that is.

are you familiar with this company? they're an online dress boutique selling women’s dresses, skirts, maternity dresses, and little girl's dresses, as well as jewelry & accessories. if you have a fancy occasion to dress for this winter,the newest collection, tinsel town, would be a great resource. personally, i am an admirer of the roamin holiday and academia collections. such pretty stuff!

the kind folks at shabby apple would like to offer one of you the chance to win your own little black dress. called the boogie woogie, it is described as "a luxe jersey cap sleeve top is gathered at the waist with a wide satin sash, and a veritable bouquet of appliquéd, ruched flowers and leaves adorns the full sateen skirt that swirls just below your knee," and is part of the all that jazz boutique collection.

to enter the giveaway, you must be a follower of this blog.

please leave a comment on this post telling us where you might wear the boogie woogie.

for additional entries...

like shabby apple on facebook
like annalea hart on facebook
share this giveaway on facebook
follow shabby apple on twitter
follow annalea on twitter
share this giveaway on twitter

remember to leave a separate comment for each.
(wow, that is 7 possible entries per reader!)
the giveaway will end friday, 12/16 at noon CST.

and shabby apple is also offering 10% off to annalea hart readers. just use coupon code "annaleahart10off" at checkout.

i'll be back later tonight with our advent snapshots from last week.
happy monday, friends!

end o' week random (and happy birthday grandma!)

2011-12-09T00:00:00.001-06:00

last weekend's crafting was pinterest inspired.
also, the gal who made that wreath is super cool. her blog is new to me and i am so with her on the thoughts of creating something out of nothing. all of the materials for my wreath came from the stash. crafting at its best, in my opinion.
did you catch ruth's and alicia's guest posts this week? i am oh so thankful for those mamas. joy forney (of grace full mama) and i also shared advent-y goodness at gracelaced. we have more great guests coming next week, so stay tuned.
the count is up to 821 in my 2011 in 2011 challenge. i am amazed that number changed at all, considering the week here at casita hart. having a goal is key.
in related news, my monica closet now has a visible floor.
this floor will now be the workspace for the great dollhouse build. we have 10 days to start and finish before the girlie turns five. that's doable, right? (don't tell me if you disagree. i prefer to remain naive on the subject of this deadline.)
and last, but certainly not least . . . today is my grandma's birthday! and i get to see her next week! i snagged a pic of the two of us at thanksgiving. it was a bit bright. we were all squinty. but it is a happy photo, nonetheless.

happy birthday, grandma!

advent in the heart and home (guest post by La Famille)

2011-12-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

Hi, Annalea peeps! It's me, Alicia, the other A.H.

I'm so happy to be here in Annalea's space. It's a such nice spot in blogland, right?

She has such a beautiful heart. I just love her.

She asked me to come over today and talk about advent....

well, here's how I really, truly feel about the four precious weeks leading up to the hap hap happiest time of the year....

it is StReSsFuL on a mama!! Can I get an *amen*, sistas??

It just is. The goal for most of us is to create this lovely, memorable, fun, meaningful time for our kids and it really is a lot of pressure.

Plus there's the planning and wrapping and shopping and spending a bajillion dollars...

am I making you feel anxious?

I'm sorry...wait for it...there is a point to this post.

My mom is really smart. Like really wise. And she's always telling me I'm making things too hard and trying to do it all perfect instead of just flowing with the go...

so I thought maybe with our life changes as of late, that I'd try her simpler, less crazy approach.

What I did this year was take all the fun things I wanted to do, simplified them, and mushed them all up into a fun snowball...

here's what we're doing this advent:

One Fun and Simple Christmas Activity a Day

We've done a little advent calendar for the last few years, but this seemed simpler because then I didn't have to remember little treats for their calendar PLUS a fun activity per day. SO everyday when the kids get up I have an envelope ready for them to open...and on it is an activity to do that day. I found this idea here and made it my own.

Last night we got hot chocolate at Starbucks after dinner. Something we never do and cheap...the kids cocoas are $1.25. Simple, but fun.

The other day we painted pottery. This is expensive and something we only do once a year, so it's special. They each painted a Christmas mug for hot chocolate.

Tomorrow it's cut out snowflakes. Easy, but fun and Christmassy.

Other ideas?

make a snowman

wrap gifts (you're gonna do it anyway, right? might as well make it an activity :))

buy gifts for each other

make a gingerbread house

Christmas crafts

get Christmas tree

put lights up outside

bake cookies

bring cookies to a neighbor

eat breakfast for dinner

make snow angels

This is a picture of the advent boxes I made and used in years past. You could do this idea with boxes or a traditional calendar, just with activities written on paper in each box.

The Jesse Tree

We've done this for years and years. You can read more about our Jesse Tree tradition HERE.

Christmas Stories

We have so many Christmas books and we would be reading one each night anyway, so how's about wrapping up 25 of them with newspaper and have your kids take turns opening them so they think it's super fun and special?? Great idea!

Christmas Crafting

We do a few Christmas crafts every year. Sometimes I go crazy planning, but this year? Not so much. We're keeping it simple...using stuff we already have on hand.

A few years ago I did a series on Christmas crafts...you can find some ideas HERE.

Bottom line, girlies...let's keep it simple. For real. Let's not just say, "yes!" let's actually DO IT! I don't want to feel stressed right now because for my kids, it's the best time of the year EVER! Let's follow suit, huh? If we're out of wrapping paper and it's December 22nd...don't go to the store. Get some newspaper and do it up recycled style. Let's not try to be Martha's or even half Marthas. I'd like to think back of Christmases at our house and remember joyous days and snuggly nights.

Wishing you all a truly simple, beautiful Christmas.

time for a tailgate

2011-12-07T15:51:00.003-06:00

the littlest hart turned two in late november and we celebrated tailgate style. our boy LOVES playing ball and zooming his trucks. mama loves vintage-y plaid goodness. we all loved eeking out the last remnant of fall weather in the backyard and spending an afternoon surrounded by friends and family in honor of sweet enzo.

cheesy but cute invitations.

as our guests walked up the driveway, a hot cocoa station greeted them - in a tailgate, of course. served in vintage thermoses (thank you to our kind neighbors for the loan!) and complete with mini marshmallows to top off your cup.

on the menu
two kinds of chili (and the veggie version was ah-mazing!) and toppings
cornbread
hot dogs
nachos
veggies with dip
apples, clementines, and fruit salad
bottled root beer
bottled "adult" beer

the cake topper, part of a secondhand football trophy, was found at one of my fave local places - the I.D.E.A. store in champaign.

the handmade pinata was made using this tutorial. it was a labor of love. and a fun project to take on with luca. good thing it came in handy as a great photo prop, because the amount of time it took to make compared to that needed to beat it apart is crazy silly. :)

you can read how we incorporated operation christmas child into the festivities here.

i had no clue the back of the cake was so wonky until sorting through the photos. frosting at 11pm the night before might account for it. oh well. :)

enzo was very shy during the singing but was excited to blow out the candles. look at those lips! in the end, he needed a little papi help.

curls, eyes, cheeks, fingers - j'adore this photo.

and a couple other cakes for the rest of us. it was out of the box cake mix, but the homemade frosting was so tasty, no one could tell the difference. (even the friends who have tasted my from scratch wedding cakes.)

other than general frolicking about in the backyard and eating lots of yummy food, we had a mini trampoline and a bags set available. there was even some climbing on the yet-to-be-completed tree fort. i had hoped for a game of flag football to start up, but there was only so much time. in the future, i need to remember to assign those kind of tasks. little brothers (aka cool uncles) are good candidates.

it has been quite a year for our family and this party felt like a way of saying we are not defeated. that might sound weird, but it was such a joy to host and be with those who make us smile. it was a joy to celebrate the precious life of our not-a-baby-but-i-will-keep-calling-him-that boy. so thankful for him.

we love you, enzo!!!

advent in the heart and home (guest post by GraceLaced)

2011-12-06T11:00:00.002-06:00

Hi there! I'm Ruth from over at GraceLaced. I'm a pastor's wife and a mom to five little boys.

Annalea and I are excited to bring you a month of inspiring posts about Advent in both our homes and in the hearts of our families. Today I'm welcoming you into my home, so come on in!

I can vividly recall years gone by, when my greatest intentions for a Christ-centered Christmas was disappointingly squelched by the hectic and frantic chasing after the "magic" of Christmas. That promise of warmth, cozy, festive, good-will, and joy...if you do, make, buy, give, or decorate in just the "right" way. Christmas and the Advent season became burdensome and stressful. I rarely felt magic...or joy.

Our family is simplifying this year. For years and years, we've had an enormous open house to celebrate Christmas each year. While we love a grown-up, dress-up, hors d'oeurves and chocolate-fountain party, we knew it was time to make memories with our kids---to leave them with a Christmas impression of peace, reflection, and simplicity. It's so easy to get caught up with impressing others, when the only impression that really matters is that of Christ upon our kids.

We're celebrating the Advent season by doing The Advent Jesse Tree
this year. A devotional reading and symbolic ornament each day serves to commemorate the coming of the Lord Jesus. 25 days of meditating on the Gospel story ushers in the true gift of Christmas Day. It's not just for the kids--it's for me too!

My boys love our annual reading through Jotham's Journey, a deeply engaging storybook for the Advent season. Some of us get teary-eyed when The Preacher brings the story to life in his nightly reading. :)

The Preacher built me a simple mantle this year over the fireplace. Though Santa doesn't get the credit for the special tucked-in goodies, we have fun putting up our homemade stockings anyway! Man-cub Number 5 has yet to get one of his own--Mama needs to get on the sewing machine!

My favorite piece of decor this year didn't cost me a thing! It's a piece of dead juniper from Grandma and Grandpa's house in the mountains, enlivened with two precious little repurposed cardinals. Don't you love it?

A large jar with a string of white lights serves as an alternative to a lamp this month--what ambience!

And...just a little tip about taking photos of lighted Christmas trees at night: Turn up your ISO-- waaay up! I shot this at f2.2, 1/20, ISO 4000.

I think if there's anything I've learned in recent years, it's that when my heart is fixed on the right things, my feelings will follow suit. While it may seem that what my heart desires most is warmth and the beauty of the season, it is ultimately the condescension and glorification of Christ that truly satisfies my deepest longings. May your Christmas be meaningful, and simply significant in every way.

Blessings to you this Christmas!

(where you'll find a guest post from me.)

winter DIY round-up

2011-12-05T11:32:00.001-06:00

just in case you missed them then, here are a handful of posts from last winter that you might enjoy.

fabulous lace snowflake pillows

nutcracker ballet birthday party

and nutcracker ballet party invitations

snow ice cream

upcycled leg warmers

indoor snow play

snowday breakfast

are you feeling winter-y now?

(and did you catch the tea collection winner announcement? it might be you!)

tea collection giveaway winner

2011-12-05T11:17:00.000-06:00

I'll be in touch with your gift certificate information shortly.

thanks for those sweet words about how adorable my kiddos looked in their new clothes.

it's true. they are beyond cute.

and thank you, tea collection, for offering this fun giveaway!

advent snapshots (days 1-3)

2011-12-04T16:16:00.000-06:00

decluttering of all sorts

2011-12-02T20:30:00.001-06:00

so, how does she look?

with the absence of the sponsors and a desire for something simple and clean, we get this new streamlined one-column design. i LOVE it. i am just in a decluttering sort of mood.

my count is now at 600 in the 2011 in 2011 challenge, but i should admit that it is not very hard. we have way too much stuff. i donated 84 gift bags. at least a dozen were from my wedding showers. TWELVE YEARS AGO.

i still need to work on the footer and figure out the setup down there. any opinions? i am open to suggestions. but did you notice my new favicon. i have a fascination with them. probably because they are tiny.
tiny things are cool.

also, remember to enter the tea collection giveaway.

it closes sunday night, so don't delay now.

now it is time for a little date night at home with jesse. thank you God.

advent in the heart and home (an introduction)

2011-12-01T05:00:00.001-06:00

It's the first day of December, the beginning of the Advent season.

Did you know that the word "Advent" comes from the Latin word adventus, which means "coming." (We love us some Latin around here! :) ) Despite what it may feel like at the mall, Advent is the commemoration of the coming of Christ--the Messiah, and the anticipation of the Second Coming of our Lord! It's what all the hustle and bustle is ultimately all about--it's what we are preparing for...in our hearts and in our homes.

Have you ever wanted to sneak a peek into someone else's home for Christmas--their traditions, their decorations, their strategies for focusing the hearts of their children on the true meaning of Christmas? Starting next Tuesday, I'm teaming up with the lovely Ruth of GraceLaced to do just that! We are bringing to you inspiring and wonderful guest posters throughout December, that will welcome you into their homes, their celebrations, how they are anticipating the coming of Christmas. There will be a different blogger each Tuesday and Thursday, on each of our blogs. Simply follow the link at the end of each post to take you to the other's site--double the fun!

You won't want to miss it...both Ruth and I have some amazing bloggers lined up for you to enjoy. Our hope is that you will be encouraged, refreshed, and perhaps even inspired to start new traditions during the Advent season.

C.S. Lewis once said, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”

Let us be among those who are anticipating, preparing, meditating upon the Coming, the Advent of Christ!

tea collection (review + giveaway)

2011-11-30T20:30:00.001-06:00

these kiddos are sporting some sweet new threads.
the friendly folks at tea collection offered us the chance to try out their gorgeous clothes. um, yes!

luca chose the ernesto stripe tee in moss.
gia is wearing the delightful dolman dress in maple paired with the skinny pointelle leggings in ochre.

tea travels to destinations all over the world for inspiration. what a neat concept! the current collection is called modern mexico - it is so colorful & fun. i love the wide variety of prints, as well as the cut of the pieces.

one of my favorite things about tea collection clothing? it is so soft. seriously.

luca wore the shirt for days when it arrived. after mentioning this to the rep at tea, i was told parents of children with sensory issues tend to love tea clothes because they are so comfortable yet also stylish. as one of those parents, i agree on all counts.

the girls clothes easily pull double duty in keeping those little ones dressed adorably but ready to play. since miss gia insists on daily dresses or skirts, but also wants to keep up with her brothers, this is a huge plus.

pouty face.

maybe a blanket will help.

there we go.

(now to decide where to frame this photo.)

little brother joins in. yes, the boys have matching shirts.
luca was adamant about it. :)
BUT, if that opinion hadn't been so strong, i would have loved to mix and match their tops from the great boys clothes available. the happy hoodies are a particular favorite. what great layering pieces for both boys and girls.

and this is why taking a photo of these three is so difficult. he just wants to run, run, run. last week i sat him on the table. . .hmmm. . . i think i need to plan ahead better. the bag of mini marshmallows i had in my left hand just wasn't cutting it.

this face says, "we're about to go inside and have hot cocoa."

this was actually photoshoot attempt number two. here are a few outtakes from our first try on thanksgiving. it was just too cold and they were too eager to see family, so it kinda bombed. not the best idea on my part, but i did capture this gia sweetness. seriously now.

tea collection also offers a lovely range of baby girl and baby boy clothing.
and their women's line is just beautiful.

thank you tea collection for offering us this opportunity!

and guess what?

wahoo! i love sharing the fun!

you have the chance to win a $75 gift certificate to tea by simply leaving a comment on this post.
to enter you must be a follower of this blog (google, bloglovin, rss feed, etc.)

for extra entries:
like tea collection on facebook
like annalea hart on facebook
(leave a separate comment for each)

the giveaway will close sunday, 12/4.
one winner will be announced monday, 12/5.

2011 in 2011 challenge and one little change

2011-11-29T23:30:00.001-06:00

about a week and half ago i had the brilliant and simultaneously harebrained idea to rid our home of 2011 items before the end of 2011. yep.

this was brilliant because i work well under pressure and with short-term goals. and brilliant because my schedule right now allows time for purging. also brilliant because i am motivated. there's nothing like the prospect of being indoors with three children during a long illinois winter to make you want get rid of clutter. tell me you understand.

there's also the inevitable increase of gifted goods that come with generous family during the holidays. i have learned, my friends, i have learned.

it has been an excellent way to clear the way for advent. our family can focus on what we have and what we need, what we have been given and what we can give.

since last tuesday, we have donated, returned, recycled or tossed four hundred and eighty seven items.

487!!!

pretty good, right?

now the harebrained part comes in when i realize there are only 32 days left in the year. but the numbers add up surprisingly quick, especially since we have decided no more yard sales for the hart clan. too much work and too little pay-out.

now just 1524 to go. . .

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were you around during the first part of this year, when i set up the one little change series? well, it bugged me to not follow through with that. the thing was i wasn't making little changes. in fact, i was either making big sweeping ones or holding on to the rest of life by my fingertips. the storm that was 2011 swept away so many plans. that's okay. in fact, living with a chronic illness has prepared me well for swept away plans. God has others.

but i really love the idea behind little changes. baby steps. recently, i have been up for considering a few new changes. the kind that only take an initial decision and effort - the pruning sort, rather than the habit forming sort.

one of them that will be quite noticeable come thursday? no more lovely blog sponsors in the sidebar. in the pursuit of scaling back non-essentials, this was an good choice for the immediate future.

tell me, do you have any end of the year goals?
are you (still) making any little changes?

my (not so) storybook life :: a book review

2011-11-28T21:00:00.001-06:00

liz wrote a book! and it is just as smart and funny as her blog mabel's house. i mean, have you been over there? she just has a gift with words. the kind of gal who makes a story ten times more interesting than i ever could. a gift, i tell you.

Fresh, funny, and poignant, My (not so) Storybook Life is old-fashioned humor mashed with literary spoofery. Elizabeth thinks of herself and her husband, Matt, as a modern day Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. Together they’ve endured paint-color mishaps, sewage disasters, pest infestations, and a schnauzer that poops at tornado sirens. It was hardly the domestic perfection a young Liz imagined while reading Anne of Green Gables and Pride and Prejudice. Could it be that these literary stalwarts had led her astray?

Liz tells the story of her own path to happiness, along the way seeking revenge on her literary heroes: Jo March has to cope with a soul-sucking job, Elizabeth Bennett shepherds a Duggar-size brood of kids, and Anne Shirley deals with a penny-pinching husband. But every comedy is balanced by tragedy. Angela was one of Liz’s closest friends, a kindred spirit who at age of 33 was diagnosed with cancer. Before Angela, Liz was discontent. But it was the journey she took with this friend that made her realize that her house and its decorations and plumbing and dirty-clothes-covered Man Cave were not burdens to be tweaked and perfected, but blessings to be thankful for.

i was honored to receive a copy of my (not so) storybook life and spent a lovely afternoon absorbed in this tale of friendship and faith. each chapter had me chuckling over the modern spin on some of our favorite heroines - gilbert moves anne to a ranch subdivision!!! as a classic book junkie, these were terribly amusing.

there were so many gems in these pages. . .

the little bit on english majors, their job prospects and bruised (and beaten) egos? my newly graduated brother is living that in full force while he works as a local barrista. yes, i called my mom and read her that paragraph.
the descriptions of falsely named paint colors? good to know i am not the only one.
the sleeping with the enemy scenes? laugh out loud funny. yes. and a little painful to imagine. :)

but liz also had me all weepy as she struggled through her end of watching a dear friend battle cancer. it is real and raw. it is obvious that her life was changed by angela.

the best part of the book has to be the final pages. she gets it. contentment and joy have nothing to do with perfection. they are found in Him alone.

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this would make an excellent friend-sister-self gift this upcoming holiday season.
click here to purchase my (not so) storybook life.

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november sponsor - the letter 4

2011-11-28T06:00:00.005-06:00

please welcome the sisters of the letter 4

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When did I not choose joy this month? Just kidding. But it has been a month full of laughing at myself and trying to see the upside of things. Being around family certainly makes it easier. Everyone has chosen to lift eachother up this month and I feel incredibly blessed to have such amazing people in my life.

During the fall season I always dread the inevitable cold that comes with it. I hate being cold. A week ago though, I walked around in the brisk air with snow on the ground with my new winter boots and my camera and marveled at all the amazing colors and beauty around. I forgot the cold and dived into the wonder of the changing season.

We had the crazy awesome opportunity this month to be featured on the Martha Stewart Show! We can't believe we got to talk to Martha and Google's Senior VP Vic Gundotra. And our favorite part? Google surprised us by paying our way to New York so that we could be on the show AGAIN with Martha Stewart! We still can't believe it all!

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you can find the letter 4 sisters here. . .

blog

shop

facebook

november sponsor - along for the ride

2011-11-28T05:30:00.000-06:00

please welcome laura of along for the ride.

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I chose joy this month as I reflected on all my many blessings! This year as been a tough one in many ways, and I'm so thankful for all that God continues to provide.

I found beauty in my mom's hair! She finished up her breast cancer treatment in October, and although it's still super short, her hair sure is beautiful!

I'd like to share the story about why I journal. I'm going to be continuing this series throughout the new year.

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you can find laura here. . .

sponsor spotlights, cyber monday, and then some

2011-11-28T03:00:00.059-06:00

monday, monday, you always come too soon.

but man oh man was it a good four day weekend at casa hart.

except for the 6yo with a 102+ fever yesterday. thankfully, he slept lots and we all spent the day in jammies, making cookies, laughing at enzo's goofy antics, stringing more cranberry-popcorn garland and watching movies.

i also may be slightly obsessed with planning out gia's birthday dollhouse as i used much of my final vacation day dreaming of room plans and finding miniature furniture online. this is going to be so fun!

in bloggy news, i will be sharing two november sponsor spotlights this morning and a book review later this afternoon. starting the week off with a bang.

lastly, are you on the look-out for a few good cyber monday deals?

here are a few from my sponsors. . .

moriah makes: use code CYBERMONDAY20 for 20% off

pink lemonade: use code HOLIDAY40 for 40% off

just lovely things: use code CYBERMONDAY for 25% off

naptime diaries: use code BLACKFRIDAY for 30% off

along for the ride: use code CYBER40 for 40% off

and a few more from my friends. . .

deliajude: use code GIVE11 for 20% off

wild olive: use code MOLLIE29 for 29% off
la famille @ home: use code CYBERSALE for 25% off

happy shopping!

thanks-giving

2011-11-27T16:43:00.001-06:00

i once heard that thanksgiving is about having something to be thankful for and someone to thank.

well, yes. of course.

i have much to be thankful for.

i am called to give thanks in all circumstances. i believe it. even in life's hardest seasons, i have found gifts. an increased hope in what is eternal and true. more grace to cling to and revel in. the loveliness of a friend or a book or a drop of golden sun. i come away with more patience, more love, more compassion and more humility.

it is not fun. i don't have to love the mess.
but in it there can be joy and beauty.
i do not use the terms "joy chooser" and "beauty finder" loosely.
it is essential to give thanks right where i am.

and i have Someone to thank.
He gave me life and Life.

i can't even grasp that enormity.
but i can give thanks to the Giver.

every day can be one of thanks-giving. in fact, if i didn't seek out my blessings daily, my heart would not easily turn to gratitude in late november.

regardless of my mother's gorgeously set table.
and those sweet bird shakers.

weekend loveliness in progress

2011-11-26T12:13:00.002-06:00

it has been a good one, friends.

there have been days full of visiting family and jesse at home, eating yummy grandma-made food, picking out a luca-approved christmas tree, listening to sufjan stevens and bing crosby, and watching the gia-bee "play jesus."

and so much more loveliness, i just might burst.

this is the first time i have felt truly rested in months.

so thankful for His provision in the big and little things.

so thankful, indeed.

now it's time to pick up a groggy enzo from his crib and feed some hungry bellies.

all part of the package that is our sweet, messy, and beautiful life.

operation christmas child 2011

2011-11-22T10:22:00.001-06:00

this year we combined operation christmas child with enzo's birthday festivities. at the party this past weeknd, we collected goodies to stuff the shoeboxes. in fact, we included this in our invitation:

At the party, we will have an Operation Christmas Child station. Instead of gifts, we would love for our guests to bring items to help stuff these shoeboxes, such as small toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and hard candy. For more information on OCC and a helpful video on what to include, please see the website: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/index/

the original plan was to have our guests help us pack the boxes at the party, but we ended up gathering the items in a large basket and putting each box together later that evening. i think a stuffing station with our friends and family would have been so great, but this mama was struggling with a mega headache and i needed to scale back a few things that afternoon. it was soul food, however, to spend that time amidst the post-party mess and focus on these gifts. my heart filled mightily as i whispered prayers for these children.

thanks to our generous guests, we were able to drop off seven boxes!!!

yesterday was the end of national collection week. this year, we will be using the new tracking system to find out where these boxes end up. the littles are super duper excited about that.

maybe you weren't able to do operation christmas child at home this year. guess what? you can still donate online and build a box to bless a child.

you can also be praying for the project and those involved. pray for the children. pray for the families. pray for those on both sides of the process.

today, he's two

2011-11-21T00:15:00.002-06:00

happy birthday, my littlest hart!

tired {defined}

2011-11-17T21:29:00.000-06:00

tired
adjective /tīrd/
in need of sleep or rest; weary

that might be the goo's picture up there, but i am the tired one.

a heart achingly kind of tired.
praying that this weariness does not take up residence.

i was in need of some rest and took a mini blog break.
and we aren't quite back to our regularly scheduled programming.

then again, maybe i will post that soup recipe tomorrow.
i am full of surprises.

ten on 10, 11, 12, & 13 (november 2011)

2011-11-13T23:15:00.004-06:00

this month's set spans four long days.

that's just the way it is for this tired mama.
correction: one tired family

seriously, would you pray for us?

we are weary and in need of more and more grace each hour.

i mixed up the days but kept the photos in their time-of-day order.

just for fun.

her creative space
the goo not eating crayons
geography lesson
the pet on the porch swing
my favorite lunch
my favorite soup
my favorite girl
the other pair of shoes
no more leaves hiding the fort
the kitchen windowsill

did you join in for ten on ten this month? will you leave a link in my comments, if so? i would love to stop by your place and check out your set.

don't forget to visit rebekah and check out the other ten on ten folk.

thursday thoughts in handy-dandy bullet points

2011-11-10T19:00:00.001-06:00

i bought two adorable pairs of shoes yesterday at kohls. 10.99/pair with an additional 15% off. i was only in the store for 20 minutes. it was a most unusual and satisfying shopping experience.
i usually do not like shopping for myself. it makes me tired and cranky. better if i avoid it. pretty good for the budget too.
i needed shoes, so i was forced to shop. open toed flats were not cutting it anymore.
also, i only wear flats. i know you were wondering that.
in other news, i may or may not be planning on moving the clocks ahead an hour so i get the kiddos in bed earlier tonight. they need the sleep. we wake up early on fridays. it is super dark. i am doing bedtime solo. the end.
depending on the success of that operation, i might just post a hodge podge of photos for ten on ten later tonight.
the day in the life of her posts have hit a bump in the road. due to completely unforeseen and serious circumstances in the last two guests lives, they were both unable to share their days when planned. my life has been too full of late to find last minute replacements. so, yeah. aiming for a relaunch next week, then a short holiday break and a fresh group of fab ladies in the new year.
but have you read the two posts already linked up in the day in the life of YOU series? so neat. have you written out a day yet? link it!
today, my studio/office is clean for the first time since mid-september. i pretty much rocked it.
also, my family now has clean clothes. thank you washer and dryer for getting through those loads with me. i could have a folding party tonight. sounds fun, right? or i could go to bed early.
ALSO, today was a very good day on the teaching my littles gig. seriously, we may be getting our groove back.
someone nominated me in the homeschool post awards for best photos blog. so nice. thanks cool person.
there are only two more weeks left in our cc semester. wow.
yesterday, i was the recipient of a most generous and thoughtful gift. this mama will now be taking ashley ann's nov/dec snapshop class!!!!!!! thank you, kind friend.
lastly, have you been following the compassion bloggers on the ecuador trip? go. read. be moved.

research, phone calls, and prayer

2011-11-09T14:08:00.000-06:00

that is what most of my free time has looked like lately.

research, phone calls, and prayer.

last week, we took that trip out to springfield and met new doctors and filled out more paperwork and listened to new answers. answers are good, but they bring new questions.

so i spend my snippets of free time doing research, making phone calls, and raising my voice or lifting my pen in prayer.

but then i took a needed break.

i made invitations for enzo's upcoming birthday party.

craft-therapy to the rescue.

just a small way He gives me comfort and heals my heart.

now back to the research and phone calls.

nashville public radio and me

2011-11-08T17:00:00.002-06:00

over the summer, i was approached by a rep from a marketing firm working on the latest press kit for nashville public radio. i was shocked to read her request for one of my photos to be included! seriously?

spend three days in a city and all of a sudden you are famous. well, not really. at all. but still cool. :)

um, i mega heart taking pictures. it is by far my easiest creative outlet in this season of life.

and my wish list right now includes a snapshot class, a tripod, and a second lens. a girl can dream.

halloween 2011

2011-11-07T08:00:00.001-06:00

can i introduce you to three creatures i met last week?

silly thing 3 is the long lost brother of things 1 and 2.
he had the most fabulous crazy blue hair.

this dancing dalmation was ridiculously adorable.

and an american crested black guinea pig scurried around the yard looking for treats.

together they make one sweet trio.

gia reused part of last year's costume making this mama very happy indeed. i spent some quality time last october adding those black spots to a white turtleneck and leggings. i am still quite proud of that hat, which was refashioned from an old white tee-shirt. i will never be able to give you a pattern for it. i can tell you that two side buns holding back her unruly hair make the ears pop out just right.

we added her dance recital costume on top paired with that shockingly pink head bow and thrifted black tap shoes (bought when she was 1 by my mom, just waiting for the right occasion!). the sequined belt turned into a collar, with a cardstock nametag attached.

i highly recommend the combination of bright white attire and clappity footwear on a dark halloween night. gia was by far the easiest kiddo to spot (yes, pun intended).

all we needed for thing 3 was a pair of red pajamas, white felt and black fabric paint. i loosely basted on the belly so i can easily remove it and use the pajamas all winter long. enzo's curls were brushed out and sprayed blue. he wasn't a huge fan of that process, but he was quite taken with the end product.

luca has a last minute change of heart about the animal protector costume. he desperately wanted to be something "cute" and his latest animal faves are rodents of all kinds. we chose the american crested black guinea pig after finding the fleece hat, pants, and pullover at target. two ears and a white tuft of fur trim later and he was complete.

also, guinea pigs pose best on the ground. :)

also, as expected, luca has worn this everyday since. :)

i believe the success of the night for dealing with luca's fears was traveling with this pack. as he put it, "things are not so scary with my friends."

do you spot the jesse-ninja in the back?

i am smiling. he is yawning.

and so ended my favorite month of the year.

in between the crazy

2011-11-03T23:06:00.002-05:00

sometimes i just want to post a photo or two and leave it at that. kind of a see-how-cute-my-girl-is-and-doesn't-it-make-you-feel-all-gushy type of post.

and then sometimes i just can't. sometimes i need to have a these-photos-are-cute-but-they-are-mere-minutes-in-a-crazy-life. did you get that? these snapshots of sweetness are just moments.

our life is feeling so crazy. very little feels ordinary about it right now. except that i still get to take photos of the gia-bee before dance class. and sometimes the little brother joins in.

so here is to finding the beauty in the ordinary moments that exist in between the crazy.

also, i crocheted my first cowl. somewhat unsuccessfully, until i decided it fit her just right. my sister will be receiving something else for christmas.

triple the winners

2011-11-02T11:50:00.001-05:00

sorry for that short delay. here are the winners for the october sponsor giveaway day.

if you are one the above, please email me soon with you contact info.

a big thank you to jessi, heather, and paige for this month's sweet treats!

halloween sneak peak, etc.

2011-11-01T05:00:00.001-05:00

because i was way too tired after 1.5 hours of trick or treating after an already long monday, this is all you get in way of photos.

okay, i'll give you this too.

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yesterday i was reminded of this clip from parenthood. not because our night resembled anything close to this. in fact, i would probably be avoiding this house regardless. but i heart how this show covers these topics. good stuff.

and i heart the "squeeze my hand" part.

i am happy to report that last night was a good experience for our entire family.
yay for small successes!

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jesse and i are taking off on a day trip to springfield with luca this morning. while the main goal is an important doctor's appointment, we plan on making the most of the time in our state's capital. it will be such a gift to spend time alone with our firstborn babe.

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october sponsor giveaway winners will be announced tonight.

all right, folks.
have a lovely one.
xoxo,
annalea

not gonna lie

2011-10-30T23:41:00.000-05:00

i am super duper unsure about the next 24 hours.

will my 6yo with anxiety issues be able to handle the coming day and night of spookiness?

this entire month has been one long walk on pins and needles. the poor kid can't walk into a store without asking us to scope out the aisles for possible halloween scares. we don't drive down unknown streets if we can help it, because a house or three might have frightening decorations. we've avoided public gatherings if costumes may be worn. little sister's dance class is even a bit nerve wracking with that paper witch and ghost haunting the lobby.

arghhh.

we are hoping for some light trick and treating in the immediate neighborhood tomorrow, but we are also mentally prepared to stay home if needed.

i know this is not end of the world serious.

i know many people - maybe you - don't even celebrate halloween.

but we do.
we enjoy making costumes and carving pumpkins and handing out sweets and walking the streets with a group of friends on a cool autumn night.

it used to fun and games. now, it is something. . . different.

now it is something to make this mama pray for patience and compassion.
i'll wear a smile, because it is a gift i can offer his tender heart.
mama smiles and brother hugs make him feel better.

i just want my sweet boy to not be so scared.

that's all.

october sponsor giveaway

2011-10-28T03:00:00.001-05:00

today we have triple the treats and not a trick to be found.

do you like that halloween pun?

to begin, jessi from naptime diaries is offering a choice of three prints from her sweet shop. and so many great choices!

she's also offering a 15% discount of any order using coupon code ANNALEA.

next up, lovely heather of just lovely things is offering a $20 shop credit. seriously now.

and last, but certainly not least, pretty, pretty paige is offering a $10 gift certificate to her shop pink lemonade. how fun!

don't delay. enter now for a chance to win one of these sweet treats and leave a happy comment below.

(because i'd love a big ol' dose of happy when i read these.)

and you can have extra entries every time you share this giveaway.

facebook, twitter, blog, calling your bff, etc . . . just leave a comment for each.

a winner will be picked at 9pm CST on monday, october 31st.

yay for october sponsors!

xoxo,

annalea

the animal protector

2011-10-27T10:48:00.001-05:00

i'm going to go all around the world, mama. with a team. and i will learn all the different languages for i can talk to all the people and ask if they want to be on my team. we will protect animals - endangered ones, my favorite ones. most of the cute ones are endangered because people like them so much. the bad guys sell them so they can get rich. like golden lion tamarins and giant otters. i will be an animal protector.

luca, 6 and a half years old

operation tree fort (the framing, part 1)

2011-10-26T17:56:00.000-05:00

a (lengthy) look at last weekend's progress. sans words.

up next. . . the roof!

the practice of thankfulness

2011-10-25T17:45:00.002-05:00

originally posted at the homeschool village last fall.

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Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise . . .giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father.

Ephesians 5: 15, 20

When I was asked to write about how we can teach our children thankfulness, my mind initially jumped to creating a thankful tree, the yearly project of Operation Christmas Child or beginning a family gratitude journal. I actually started and stopped several posts on these topics. The problem was that none of them felt right. I was forcing out the words rather than sharing my heart. And while I think all of those things are fantastic traditions, I felt God wanted me to share the nitty gritty, everyday thankfulness. The "how I get through my day when the going is rough" thankfulness. Because if I can't model it at those times, it won't matter how pretty my journal cover or detailed my activity, right?

Let's set the stage. The math and reading lessons have been pushed to the side. The littles have turned on their selective listening. The laundry is breeding in the basement. I am frustrated and weary and defeated. Except, I don't have to be. I simply need to change my perspective.

We have been blessed by intelligently crafted curriculum that is available when needed and wanted.
We have been blessed with beautiful freedom to learn together at home in a manner that suits our family.
We have been blessed with gorgeous and amazing children that we have the privilege to train and teach.
We have been blessed with clothes to wear and a washing machine to clean those clothes.

The situation was exactly the same . . . except for me. I took the things that can discourage or depress and viewed them through a lens of gratitude. And that changes everything.

Passing down this habit to my children would be amazing. Instead of hearing me complain about the six loads of laundry waiting to be washed, I can thank God for His provision. Instead of yelling about disobedience, I can calmly tell them,

Mama loves you too much to allow you to act like this. I am so thankful God made me your mother and He has asked me to train you.

If I want them to be thankful, I need to be thankful.

I don't want to ignore the hard stuff - I can't ignore it - but I also don't want to be defined by it. We have been showered with gifts in a broken and messed up world. We can be thankful in all situations. Not faking it, not wearing rose colored glasses, but truly being thankful.

If we want an attitude of gratitude in our homes, we need to practice it. Everyday, in every situation. We can foster a spirit of thankfulness in this simple, yet powerful practice.

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today, i needed this reminder. maybe you do to?

we are together in the battle, sisters and brothers.

xoxo,

annalea

weekend goodness

2011-10-23T23:21:00.076-05:00

baking these a second time. and yes, the topping does taste delish.
framing the tree fort!!!!!!!!!!
picking up the crochet hook again for the first time this autumn.
a full night's sleep
finalizing halloween costumes for the littles. few things give me greater relief. ;)
micro-derm abrasion treatment at a mary kay party. oh my soft skin!
and taking the rare opportunity to stay late after said party for heart-feeding conversation with old friends
watching the first two episodes of the new season of psych with jesse
chatting with neighbors outdoors
sunshine so bright it stings the eyes yet warms the soul
beginning the plans for the goo's second birthday party
emails of encouragement and love
gifts of freshly dug plants, dirt clinging to roots and the promise of vivid blooms next year
hearing the girl-child cry, "this is the bestest day ever!" two days in a row. :)

and while there were several not-so-fun times as well, they were no less of an opportunity to give thanks and remember Goodness.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 107:1

and so i begin with number one. counting my way through His gifts.

a feast of sorts

2011-10-19T19:43:00.001-05:00

it had been ages (or at least weeks) that i had created anything with my hands. for this creative mama, i was nearly starved. it is a way i worship the Creator.

making this little hoop art was food for my soul.

knowing that a dear friend will get to enjoy this sweet bird and these true words is the dessert at the end of the feast.

i used a scrap of anna maria horner fabric stretched in a wood embroidery hoop and simply free hand embroidered over the pattern. no plan or pattern. for the words, i took a permanent marker (yes, it was a bit risky!), wrote out the verse, and backstitched over the ink. a most excellent lap project and a good way to practice a variety of stitches.

i am entering this hoop art to the celebrate color contest over at stitched in color. check out all the other sweet needlepoint projects here.

operation tree fort (measuring twice)

2011-10-18T11:20:00.000-05:00

first off, i am still under the weather. scratch that. i am feeling even yuckier than yesterday. but luca can keep down fluids today, so today feels a bit more sane. this mama may need more rest, but her chicklets can build blanket forts, jump on the trampoline and visit with their pbs friends with minimal supervision. hooray!

here is a quick update on operation tree fort. we took some time off from the project to save up funds for more materials and because september was too full to fit in the work. if the current weather forecast holds up, you'll find us out back this weekend. double hooray!

last saturday, we took time to rework the design for the house. we needed to measure the actual size of the platform and mark where the trees and branches fell. there are some minor changes to the drawing, mostly window placement. a few branches were removed in anticipation of walls, loft, and roof, but most will be sawed off during the construction.

we previously thought the stairs would go up next, but there was concern that littles might find them to tempting to resist. and do we want them playing on that platform without rails? no siree. and if we put up rails now, the house building gets complicated. so wall framing is up next. exciting stuff, friends.

one way to stir a child's soul: allow them to play among the treetops.

we took a sick day

2011-10-17T21:38:00.000-05:00

maybe we'll be back tomorrow. . .

xoxo,

annalea

october sponsor - GraceLaced

2011-10-14T06:00:00.014-05:00

please welcome ruth of grace laced.

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Our family of seven were hit by a car that ran a red light. Though we may have lost our vehicle, all seven of us are safe and well. Can't help but rejoice in that!

I hate to fight with my husband. It's painful to work through disappointments, stresses, and sinful attitudes with the one you love. And yet, there is something so beautiful on the other side of repentance.

The Preacher and I finally completed our vintage-inspired bathroom remodel, complete with wall stenciling and creating a vanity from an old sewing machine base. There is nothing like trying to remodel with 5 boys running around!

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you can find ruth here. . .
blog
twitter
facebook

october sponsor - naptime diaries

2011-10-14T06:00:00.003-05:00

please welcome jessi of naptime diaries.

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I chose joy month on hilarious morning when it was pouring down rain and I was trying to get the kids into school and I'd had a horrible week and my hair was a hot mess. I realized I could have absolutely lost my junk or just laughed. Laughing was more fun.

I found beauty in our sweet little shack of a rental this month. I'm choosing to close the part of my heart that wants to live in comparison land and instead love the heck out of this sweet house.

A story I told this month is the truth about my prideful heart. My belief that I can really win at life, all on my own, as a wife, mom, blogger, shop owner, friend, and disciple.

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you can find jessi here. . .
shop

blog

jessi would like to offer annalea hart readers a 15% discount at her sweet shop, naptime diaries. Check out her fab prints and use code ANNALEA at checkout.

october sponsor goodness

2011-10-14T05:00:00.000-05:00

today you'll get a closer look at two of my october sponsors.

stay tuned for their feature posts.

have you looked over on the right sidebar lately? christmas gift lists are starting to form in my head and i will be perusing these sweet shops and (gasp!) starting in on shopping before the end of the month.

also, if you are interested in becoming a november sponsor for annalea hart {the blog}, please see here for details or email me with questions.

happy friday, friends.

a day in the life of jerusalem

2011-10-13T10:59:00.003-05:00

you are invited to spend a day in the life of her.

the gal who you might think has it all together. the mama who seems to do it all.
guess what? she doesn't.

let's fight those lies. this series is an effort to dispel the superwoman myth. it is a time to be encouraged and a place to be challenged.

come walk a bit in the shoes of another.

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When Annalea asked me to write a post for her Day in the Life series I was flattered and excited, and was confident it would be easy to do. Ha! I gave up trying to use the good camera and just used my phone, so the pictures are not the highest quality. Also, in full disclosure these pictures were taken over three days not one, but I tried to arrange them so that they could tell the story of a basic day in my life, what you would find if you followed me around on a regular ole Thursday.

Some details: We live in the Little Rock, Arkansas are a in a great old neighborhood in a 1940’s ranch cottage, We are hoping to move to a small farm in the country in the next year or so. My country boy husband has been gracious to this city girl for 15 years and now it is time to get him back to some wide open spaces. We have 1 dog, three chickens and a hedgehog. I am currently writing a cooking & crafting book for those who want to observe the liturgical year in their home, with their family. I also have a day job and I have been a pastor, but recently have taken some time off from that role to finish my book and spend more time with sweet family. You can find me blogging most days at jollygoodegal unless I am buried under a mountain of laundry.

5 days a week I work at a charter school in downtown Little Rock. I have to be at work at 7:15 in the morning, so I often drive in as the sun is rising. I used to think I was incapable of getting up so early, but after 3 years I don’t mind it so much. I try to get up early and write but these days it seems like more writing is getting done in the cracks of my day and late at night.

We park in a parking deck as our school does not have a parking lot and the kids love riding the glass elevator. Along for the ride are my two boys, Wylie (11) and Miles (7) and our good friend Lilly (12) who we have known since she was an infant and who carpools with us most days, and spends quite a bit of time at our house in the evenings. Together they are the three musketeers.

As soon as I get to my office (I am the Activity Coordinator for grades K-8) I hit the ground running. I have to have my coffee with milk and it doesn’t take long for my desk to get piled high with calendars, notes and other to-do items. I try to clean it off each day.

This is Lilly reading, waiting for classes to begin. I love that she loves books and crafting as much as I do and that we can recommend more “girlie” books to each other. She has a beautiful singing voice and energy for years, and she loves to laugh. It hasn’t been all sunshine and butterflies, as her home life has had some pretty big challenges over the years, but having her in our daily life has opened up some closed off places in my heart and for that I am so grateful, no matter the bumps along the way.

I love working at my kids school. I like to joke that it is as close as I will come to homeschooling. I was a home schooled child and I always assumed I would home school my kids, so this is a happy compromise. Because our school is in an urban area and we do not have space for a full library in our building, every student grades K-8 gets to go to the large public library just a few blocks away once every two weeks. We rely on parent volunteers to help walk the kids with the teachers, and occasionally I get to do double duty as a momma and an employee and help walk my kids classes.

In my job description there is a line that reads “and all other duties as needed” and these are the parts of my day that can be the most fun. Like subbing in a 6th grade writing class for twenty minutes. Discussing narratives with sixth graders is a pretty fun time if you ask me.

Because I am in a windowless offiice most of the day I try to get out and walk on my lunch break as often as I can. There is a lot of great architecture around downtown and there is always something interesting to look at. There are also several book stores around downtown that I love to visit and browse, and there is a labyrinth in the gymnasium of this church that I visit occasionally.

At 3:30 each day I have Carpool duty for our Early Release students which is about 200 kids (we have a long day option, so the majority of the student body leaves at 4:30.) My favorite part is using the bullhorn.and that I can match the kids to their car without being told. It obviously does not take much to entertain me, haha.

These are our cheerleaders practicing on the turf on our playground. They are usually outside during the dismissal time and it is fun to watch them do all their kicks and jumps. Also it is funny to be on this side of life. Somehow the cheerleaders are not as nearly as intimidating as they were when I was thirteen.

Two days a week the boys and Lilly have music lessons after school at a local church a few blocks away from the school. While they are in their lesson and theory classes I sneak off to the church library and work on my book. This little library is one of my most favorite places to write.

This year it worked out that we could keep all our extra-curricular activities on Tuesdays and Thursdays which means those days are long, but it is worth it to not be running in different directions four or five nights a week instead of just the two.On Tuesdays we go to Miles’ martial arts class, which is where we are here.

Since we go straight from music to martial arts, we have all learned to bring reading material, Wylie especially. I feel like I can’t get a candid shot of him these days without his nose being in a book. Not that I am complaining!

Almost every day I take a picture of my shoes. I started doing it last year at dismissal and that is generally when I take them, but if things are too hectic like they are on rainy days, I sometimes don’t get a shot till I get home from all of activities. Here are my new red rain boots. They make me so happy that sometimes I do a rain dance in hopes of a thunderstorm just I can wear them.

After we get home, if I have any energy at all I go hang out and hang or take down some laundry off our laundry line. I still use my dryer because we just make SO much laundry that I would never get it done just drying it on the line, but I try to hang one in three loads outside. Plus it is like therapy. No one bothers me at the laundry line because no one wants to help!

Two of our chickens. They started laying eggs last week and two of the three will let us hold them. They like to talk to me while I hang the laundry.

Way too often we go out for dinner, and again the boys bring their books along. Here is Miles reading his new Spiderwick Field Guide. He wasn’t too keen on our idea to move to the country till he realized that he might be able to find a lot more magical creatures on the fields and woods than he can in the city.

My Sweet Man. I adore him and he drives me crazy, but he “gets me” and for that I am eternally grateful. I think he will make an amazing farmer.

Recent reading before bed. If I have the mental energy I read and work on writing for a few hours before turning out the lights. If my brain is fried and fuzzy I like to decompress by watching British mystery shows and period pieces on Netflix. Currently I am obsessed with a series called Midsomer Murders. I am such a nerdy girl.

OK, so that is pretty much a typical day for me. My life is busy but not perfect. Sometimes there is more, sometimes there is less. Every now and then I fit in some yoga or a dinner date with a girlfriend, but the general rhythm of the day is the same, and as crazy as the edges of life can be, and believe me it is crazy, - my hair is often unkept, I take zoloft, go to therapy on as needed basis and there is always a strange smell in my kitchen when it gets hot outside - I am grateful to have a dependable center. Also, having school aged children suits me better than littles, so any shred of togetherness I have is only because I get to sleep through the night these days.

Thanks for reading, and I hope I didn’t bore you too much! And I hope that you know that no one is perfect, even in blogland. And that if you don't have a pinterest worthy fall wreath on your door or you forgot to send your child's school picture money in on time, you are not alone, you have me to keep you company. Oh, and one last thing: you are lovely. Just as you are.

Cheers and Blessings,

Jerusalem

the jolly goode gal

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i enjoyed this peak into your days, jerusalem. and that last part - TRUTH! we have plenty of company in the imperfect. thank you for taking time from the book writing and filling in a bit of the picture of how the jolly goode gal lives.
xoxo,
annalea

wednesday mash-up

2011-10-12T05:00:00.000-05:00

today i am over at naptime diaries sharing some thoughts on choosing the good portion. i think you might like it. but beware i went a bit overboard on the pruning analogy. :)

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for over six years, jesse and i lived in normal, illinois. our oldest babes were born there. best friends were made there. we helped plant a church there. we became homeowners for the first time there. it has a forever special place in our hearts

this video is a neat little look at the town we used to call home.

how adorable is that lady?

also, when we lived in normal, we drove a mitzubishi. true story.

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it occurred to me - i didn't mention that we bought a new laptop! the old one finally called it quits last week. this one is very basic, but it works. i am so thankful. the uploading/emailing/editing/blogging/computering stuff is all so much faster. what a difference in how much i can accomplish during those tiny amounts of available time.

have a lovely one, friends!
xoxo,
annalea

the porch {before and after}

2011-10-11T13:46:00.001-05:00

if you caught my home tour over at life made lovely last week, you also caught a glimpse of the completed porch makeover. here is a closer look with details and all that jazz.

before. . .

and after. . .

big change, right? once in awhile i actually buy things to make over a space. this was one of those times. thankfully, all of the new furniture was given or found. the outdoor rug was an end of season lowes' clearance find - $35!!! we were able to swing this cost and the other small expenses due to the profits from our yard sale.

the table and chairs are great for eating a solo meal outside or serving drinks to guests. or pastries. i am a fan of pastries. the table has a set of four matching chairs that are still at the back patio table. these pictured chairs (and two others we can bring out when needed) are officially my parents. they are storing them at our place. :)

the red bench was jesse's boyhood toy chest. his parents wrote a note to us on the inside when they handed it down.

for the love of ferns. my yearly birthday gift from my parents.

the three middle pillows were thrift store finds. the far left pillow used to be on the nursery daybed. the far right was found at lowe's end of season clearance. total of $10, purchased with yard sale profits.

my parents didn't need this little table anymore. score for us.
the red vase was bought at tjmaxx in 2003.

around the corner, you'll find the ever useful rain barrel for watering the thirsty ferns and other potted porch plants.

it seems we always have pockets and stroller baskets full of sticks acorns, rocks, etc. now we can keep our nature walk treasures on this tray, which i believe was a hobby lobby clearance find circa 2001, then spraypainted and distressed. before i knew others who actually spraypainted and distressed anything. :)

my mom was also going to sell this chair and table in the garage sale. um, yeah. i happily took it off her hands. i found the cushion at gordman's end of season clearance for $5. again purchased with yard sale profits.

this corner makes a great hiding place for barkley. he was not so happy to be away from my grandma last weekend. my kiddos were so very happy to be dogsitting, though.

more thrifted pillows purchased with yard sale profits. total of $3.50.

this beauty came with the place. i actually asked for it in the purchase agreement so the previous owners would leave it.

so, that's the porch. the makeover was completed for under $55. just in time to enjoy the gorgeous fall weather we have been having.

i could spend all day out here.

ten on ten (october 2011)

2011-10-10T23:04:00.000-05:00

1. occupational therapy at home
2. school with timeline cards
3. goofy boy
4. scootering through the path of history
5. makin' copies
6. root veggies for the crockpot
7. goofy girl
8. post swim lesson fatigue
9. playing outside at cece and grandpa's house
10. skater cam

after missing last month, i am glad to have these small reminders of the ordinary during this month of our life.

did you join in for ten on ten today? will you leave a link in my comments, if so? i would love to stop by your place and check out your set.

and stop by sweet rebekah's and visit the other ten on ten folk.