Now is a good a time as any

I am going to start to jumpstart my blog again. I realize as much as Instagram is so handy dandy, I really am missing out on documenting stories, feelings, and the darn cutest things or not so cute things said by my kids. I also feel frustrated that I am not a good writer, I love reading blogs that I can hear their personality in what they write. Well this is me. Not a pro writer. But a girl who needs a a lot less reasons to not do something, and more reasons to say why the hell not.

So lets start, shall we?

Our Magical Pumpkin Patch

Last week we ventured back to our
favorite pumpkin patch (its not a tradition until you have repeated the trip, now we have, now its a "tradition" Yay!) from our last magical visit last October. The wonderful magical thing about this place is that has "homemade" written all over it. It's the kind of spot that you hope to find, the kind of sweetness you see in movies. It's like the first sip of the best hot cocoa. You can't quite pin point why it so delicious, all you know, is that you want to drink it all up and not give a tiny smidging sip to anyone else. I give you, Kadee Farms folks.

Watching our children run around this place made us so happy. I kept grabbing onto Jack, linking my arm in his arm, resting my head on his shoulder, and then giving out the most content sigh I would say, "isn't this just so perfect? So much better than those overpopulated, over priced places." or "Oh, I just love supporting places like this" etc.  Jack just loves how gushy and mushy these places make me. I can't help it. Places like this speak so deeply to my soul. Almost as if  I ran a place like this in another life. Oh, I just love it so. 

We left Kadee Farms with four happy little children, each with a face full of art for the first time. They had a Pony ride, a hayride, a train ride, ran through a maze, swung on homemade swings from old tall trees, and the vey favorite spot was the old 1960's Fire engine truck. We loaded up the back of the trunk with as much pine and oak wood that we could muster. Now, every time we build a fire this winter, we can remember that beautiful place we call "Ours"

Food. Food. Food.

FOOD, Our lives revolve around it right? ;) I love this sweet potato & black bean recipe, it's So so yummy! As much as i'd like to claim it as my own :)  you can go Here for the recipe. Also tonight I paired it with This Spanish Rice recipe from Paula Dean, Thank you, thank you, to Paula!

Sweet potato & black bean Enchiladas!

Enjoy friends!!!

--Sarah 

Two drifters off to see the world

Jane. What can I say about Jane? How do I describe her personality? I can honestly say I have never met a girl like her.

Jane is love

Jane is gentleness

Jane is quirky 

Jane is independent 

Jane is cuddly 

Jane is stubborn 

Jane is unpredictable

Jane is goofy 

Stubborn

Stubborn 

Stubborn

Some days I have the hardest time parenting this girl. She doesn't get into things. She doesn't make messes (thank goodness!) But she is very particular in what I can teach her....scratch that, She won't let me teach her anything, especially when it comes to letters and numbers (she is convinced that there is no "J" in her name, I know, I've tried, I've failed...sigh....someday).

However, Jane loves art. She loves playing house. She loves puzzles. So that's what we do. We play, we paint, we explore, and when we do those things together we have pure love and joy. 

That's parenting

That is Happiness 

I love this unique girl with the cutest little voice and the funniest facial expressions. 

Janie lane, You and I will travel the world someday. 

Love,

Mom

Flowers will grow

It's amazing how something as small as fresh flowers in your home can be a Really big deal! It's started two weeks ago when I bought a bundle of purple carnations and then gingerly placed them  around the house. Instant medicine. 

Carnations! 

Carnations have a very special meaning to me. Every ballet performance growing up my Mom and Dad would buy me a single carnation with an added sprig of babies breathe. At first I really wanted roses (because all the other girls got roses, oh, the years of youth and insecurities) But then I realized I loved being the only one to have carnations. It made me unique. It made me proud. I always loved seeing my single carnation on my dresser in its little vase (pronounced, vaaaassss). Therefore my favorite flower is and always will be the carnation. 

I picked these beauties up on the same day I came down with a 6 day wretched cold flu. I think I was prompted to do so. 

I love my beautiful Tribe

The end.

You've got mail

I adore the movie "You've got mail" in fact, it's one that Jack and I never ever get tired of watching together. I mean, what is it about Tom Hanks? He can do and act ANYTHING how do you go from Joe Vs the Volcano to Captain Philips? Or Money Pit (one of my all time favorite Tom Hanks movies) to Forrest Gump? The man is amazing. Then there is Meg Ryan who although hasn't ever played extreme roles, is in her own right absolute perfection. I could Never ever ever get sick of Meg Ryan. She is Americas sweetheart and always will be. Okay, love that right? What I did there? I just showed my undying love for those two humans. Perfect movie matched magic. 

There is a different "You've got mail" I love. The actual mail. Not the mail through your gmail account (that mail is annoying). I am talking the walk out to your mail box with a skip in your step mail. I look forward to it everyday! The bills stink. But when there's a package, or a card from a friend. Really, Nothing better. 

It's the simple joys in life right? Like the perfect song on the radio on a beautiful sunny day. Or the sun streaming through an open window (you better believe you'll find me there curled up like a cat). 

Or as we speak this little beautiful (screaming) creature who is simply pleased to sit in this box rummaging through her collected loot. 

Back to life. It's a beautiful day. 

-Sarah 

There's a place for us

I am currently snuggled in a husband-less bed with two sickys. We have been sick here for a solid week now. Seriously? Since when is the flu not a 24 hr thing? It started with me, (lasted a week) then it moved to Jane and Kitty. Everett took his turn on Sunday and now Harry bear today and Jane is still feeling icky. I am telling you, nothing is worse than being sick yourself and then nursing your sick kids back to health, makes you so grateful for your health. Today despite the sickness everywhere the sun decided to shine bright and warm. As I ran a couple of errands getting vitamins for the Tribe I found myself belting out to Simon and Garfunkels "I am a Rock, I am and Island" with the windows rolled down, it felt oh so good! 

Then at 6:00 pm. All was quiet, all my sickys fell asleep in different places around the house, Harry cuddled up on the rug in Mommy's room, Jane on top of the coffee table with her pillow of course, Kitty up in her room, and Everett snuggled like a mummy on the sofa. 

My Household may be sick, but what a life this is. It's hard as hell don't get me wrong. But worth it right? All hard things are right? We keep telling that to ourselves right? ;)

As I closed down the house I headed outside to bring the garbage cans in from the curb (because I am trying so hard to be better at not procrastinating such tasks, and usually Jack does the garbage duty but he's been traveling so dang much) there it was. The most beautiful evening sky. 

 Goodnight 

-Sarah 

To leave this world a sweeter place

My Great Aunt Eleanor passed away while we were in Utah. My sister Megan, her husband Aaron, and I were able to go and see her before she left us. Megan and I stood by her bed, held her hand and sang "You are my sunshine". 

She passed away a few days later on Christmas Day. 

Her funeral was so sweet. Photos displayed on tables of her life along with a few of her favorite things. Also a slide show playing of her life in photos. She was an incredible woman. She never married, but she was a mother and grandmother to many of her nieces and nephews, including me. She was and incredible academic. She got her Masters and Doctorate and taught as a professor at BYU in fabrics and fashion. Her life was inspiring. She inspired and loved all who surrounded her. She will be greatly missed. 

My Grandpa Jorgensen is so dear to my heart. We stood together arm in arm watching photos flip by of his beautiful little sister, watching her extraordinary life. 

As we said our goodbyes with tears in both our eyes he said "I am all that's left. It's just me now", I returned by saying "all of us in this room is what's left, it will never be 'just you'"  

I love my grandpa. I can't imagine out living your entire family. My Grandma has been gone for 28 yrs. Breaks my heart. Funerals always leave me wanting to live more full. To hear my great aunt Eleanor's life read out was incredible. That's how we should leave this earth right? Leaving it sweeter. Leaving inspiring.