I was really excited about it, but forgot to post a photo for the Feb photo challenge yesterday. So, here’s one for February 1st: An oldie from this past June - Mouth wide OPEN

“You want a balloon eye?”

He’s picked me a few flowers with help here and there, but this is the first one he stopped and picked for me on his own. 🍀🤍

I purchased this book a couple of months ago with the intention of using the illustrations as part of a lesson I put together for our little toddler homeschool group we’re apart of. I did end up briefly using it, but that was really just a good excuse to get my hands on it because for some reason it’s been on my wishlist (I LOVE children’s books). I mean, can you blame me, though? The artwork is wonderful! And the book is very informative. There are so many different approaches to trees rather than dialogue and pictures of only trees themselves. The book discusses leaves, roots, and seasons. It talks about seeds and species. There’s a large amount of history dispersed throughout the literature. There are spreads dedicated to what animals eat trees and which ones live in trees. And there is a lot of information about how trees are used to make things. All of the text is accompanied by beautiful, eye-catching illustrations that, in my opinion, are the driving force to purchase the book. I am so happy to have this as part of our personal library now, and I’m excited that it will be useful for many years to come. I’d honestly recommend this book for ALL ages.

Tried a yogurt + honey hair mask today (via Little Green Dot). My hair takes all night to dry, but looking forward to seeing how it feels in the morning.

“It’s a good day for a noothie (smoothie).”

Pretty much guaranteed I’ll open the car door to find her socks on the floor. Every time. ❤️ (Also, driving @mtt’s truck today and feeling like a big girl.)

I recently realized that I have a lot of small (and some bigger) collections of things. So, I’m on a totally unnecessary mission to discover and photograph (appreciate) all the little collections I have around the house.

First up, these old candlesticks.

I thrifted a few here and there, then found a big old box of them one time at Goodwill. I like the impact they make all together. On a shelf. As a table centerpiece. Etcetera. But I also occasionally like to pull one and place solo with a candle as a little statement. Speaking of candles, I’m in the process of switching over to non-toxic and fragrant free options. So if you have any good recommendations, send them my way.

Happy for a New Year over here!

A few thoughts about it: There are several things I want to stay the same, primary of which is spending time together as a family. At home, at church, with extended family, and in travel. There are also a few things I’d like to do differently, primary of which is planning meals better and following through with just some of my many ideas. And I want to give more.

And some pictures from New Year’s Day:

Pumpkins are still out at our house…for now.

They might actually stay out a while, but Christmas decor is coming soon. 🎄🤗

Speaking of Thanksgiving (well, technically 🎃🎃) AND Christmas, this Rifle Paper Co. recipe box would be such a good hostess gift or Christmas present!