please don't eat the whole bowl of icing, joey

barbara got a little cookie kit before christmas, but never got around to getting it out and actually doing it. so yesterday, being a biting cold and windy day, the sort that makes you want to bake, we made and decorated gingerbread cookies. 

here are barbara's and the little boys'. can you guess whose is whose?

a hint for you: cord fell in love with the mini chocolate chips and got a little carried away.

the two left cookies are mine, and the right one is joey's.

christmas is long gone and valentine's day is just around the corner, so we decided to turn them into love cookies. 

since our creations had such life and sparkle, joey and i gave them personalities.
the gingerbread boy on the left is the smart, preppy son with a can-do attitude. the one on the right is the slobby, deranged son who stays at home all day and plays video games.

the end.

more

the snow is falling, the wind is blowing...

the view of mount leconte from our top deck

a house in the distance. bright spot

we basically all stood around and looked off the back porch for the first day

pipe tobacco is one of the most wonderful smells in the world

we fit 7 people in this telephone booth. that's right. 7.

aand this picture wouldn't turn right side up. but that's 7. 

creepers in the fir tree

guess who i went to see last night...

The Weepies!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!

the venue was a really cool restored art deco theater from the 60s called Lakewood Theater

they're a very happy couple. a couple of happies.

soooo amazing

i'll definitely be going to see them again

dear mr. man,

- - - i hope you like love {among other things} - - -

all my best friends

good music

tasty asparagus

singing

green

sheet tents

old movies

art films

picnics

the mountains

creamy mashed potato goodness

rain 

dancing
color

bicycles 

musicals

fishing

chick-fil-a

the weepies

staying up late

going places

motorcycles
roller coasters

church meetings

italian arias

sunshine 

vintage clothing

breakfast

music to fit the mood

scotland

hiking

driving with the windows down

going to art galleries

good smells

and me.

with love,

girl

summer? i think i love you. harmony hill? i know i love you.

i'm so indecisive. 

when it's winter, winter is my favorite season.

when it's summer, summer is my favorite season.

so right now, summer is my favorite.

but don't quote me on that.

it could change.

so far, it has been...everything i wanted.

and lots i didn't want. 

lots i tried to avoid.

oh well.

that's life.

it doesn't ever really feel like summer has started until Harmony Hill (and Camp Moriah (or in this case, this year, Harmony Highlands)) happens. but then once it's over, there is only 1 & 1/2 months left! NOT very appreciated by the graduated class of the current year who are trying to complete a certain amount of priorities before the school time comes again.

oh well.

it's incredibly worth it.

saw the sunrise every morning for a week. 

that right there will make you love God even more.

...and the singing was heavenly...

most of the time...

except for that one time when the basses in the girls' ensemble got off. :)

my brother kinda rocks.

"just sayin'..."

i'm pretty sure this is one of very few pictures that C and i have together. ...maaan! i wish Louisiana wasn't in the way. but while i'm wishing, i might as well just go ahead and wish for teleportation abilities. psh.

yay john and catie! i'm rootin' for y'all! 

...aaaand y'all have pretty eyes. 

the Ns.

i just want to say...it makes me very happy that there are people out there with which one can feel an instant connection. i think they just might be some of my new favorite people. 

no joke.

kneeeees!! aaaa!!! ...i promise it was unintentional and just that once. promise.

this is my "little buddy." ok. i don't like to use precious when it comes to kids because it sounds like those cheesy people who are always talking about how they remember when you were born and how they just "loooove" babies and all that good junk...

BUT...

she was precious. straight up. precious.

and now i will leave you. not to return for...probably a while. i haven't been that inspired lately. obviously. hence the lack of posts. but i'll be back! never fear, younglings. i'll be back. (i know you were all waiting with bated breath for that proclamation.) 

ok. now i'm just rambling. 

peace out.

{photo credit: beatrice and chelsea miller...and moi}

this summer

i believe in going to bed with wet hair. in spur-of-the-moment trips and surprise visits. in french love songs, produce stands, and breakfast. and i believe in dancing when and where you feel like it whether music is playing or not. i believe in early morning walks, in stopping the car on the side of the road and climbing that rocky cliff. and walking through the field of beautiful weeds even though you know you'll get bitten by critters. i believe in tomato sandwiches that are so juicy it drips down your arm. especially in driving with all the windows rolled down.

i believe in open windows.

cute

...almost...here!

it's coming.

 it's coming faster than we realize. 

i can almost taste the popsicles.

i'm gonna pick a blue one. 

'cause the blue ones are my favorite.

which one will you pick?

"No! Really?" you say.

"I'm completely serious." I return.

(You shake your head and turn away. 

"Silly child. She obviously didn't note the sarcasm dripping from my voice.")

But really. I do. Like this paper I'm writing? (You've probably read about it if you keep up with Katie at all.) It has my stomach twisted up in all sorts of crazy sailor knots. 

Oh, and our puppy? I'm so concerned that she'll grow up to be a horse of a St. Bernard and bite people all the time and have to be put down.

Oh, and Katie's recital that's on Mother's Day? Yeah. I'm freakin' out about that, too. Will we mess up?! I'm positive we will at least a tad! AAAAA!

And you'd think I wouldn't worry that much about things like how tall our grass is and how much it needs to be mowed, but you know what? It's really bothering me. Like...crazily much.

I need to learn a lesson, though. Choose your battles, Ellie. If you're going to worry (even though you shouldn't), choose something worth worrying over! In a couple of years (heck, in six months) you won't even remember these worries existed!

And you too, you hear me? Be happy! Stop worrying! The world is too beautiful to be worrying about the little things.

Here are some pictures to help you out. They made me smile.

 

Comment and list three things you're happy about and let them soak into you with all their might.

Happy. Not grateful, not satisfied, not complacent, but things you're happy about. 

Texas spring

I'm on a roadtrip. In Texas. With Molly and Kathryn. Super fun.

Finally...