there’s something so sweet about watching pure joy on the face of your child.

example a (at breakfast):

 

i mean, how could she not be excited with a breakfast like that? let’s just say i saw the effects of said breakfast while we were grocery shopping.

cause=birthday breakfast effect=gyrating on the floor and running in circles whilst quacking like a duck.

but hey, it was her birthday. not the day to deny a girl sugar.

 

example b: dinner

 

 

 

 

that last one kills me. look at her little eyes.

i have to say, it’s days like yesterday that give ME pure joy. i’m so happy j is home for milestones like these this year.

it’s just so nice having him in our everyday lives. the newness of it still hasn’t worn off. sometimes i walk into scenes like the one below, and it just makes me teary.

 

and right at that moment (well, right before this moment), i closed my eyes and said a silent prayer. it only had two words…

thank you.

i hope you have a sweet moment in your day today.

xoxo

s

in the 2 years since you came along,

i’m 2 times as tired

life’s 2 times as wild

2 times as loud

as it was before.

my heart is 2 times bigger

i feel 2 times more vulnerable

more scared

more happy

more complete.

sometimes it feels like it’s you and me kid…we have a special bond.

no matter how fiercely independent you may be, there’s nowhere you’d rather be than in my arms. that half drives me crazy and half makes my heart sing.

you came into this world in one push.

sounded like a champagne cork popping.

and that was weird. and wonderful. and turns out…so YOU.

daddy wasn’t there. i held you and cried. and you looked at me with those beautiful eyes and cried, and the cleft in your chin was his. and i fell in love with you.

each day i’m learning with you.

you’re wild.

my little sadie bug

monkey

wild child.

i love you with all of my heart.

happy 2nd birthday, baby!

hey guys- just a SUPER quick post w/ something i forgot to mention the other day.

you may remember that we went to NYC back in october and on our trip happened to get a chance to meet the NBC gang that covered the Viper Company story during jimmy’s deployment

everybody was beyond nice. but the biggest surprise? brian williams.

he was down to earth, kind, and there were NO walls around him  like you expect with a “famous person”. he was just lovely. with us AND the girls. he told me all about his children and what they were doing..and asked about us. and really listened.

and the whole team was like that. they have our christmas card framed on the desk there.

genuine…nice people, you know?

regardless of political affiliations or opinions it’s possible to be friends. to carry on an intelligent discussion.  and some people don’t seem to understand that. but it’s true.

so anyway, brian did a fantastic blog the other night on the topic of obituaries, how he writes them, and his belief in respecting those who have passed.

i left a comment, i was compelled to do so. mind you i’ve NEVER done so before and i did not in any way, shape or form expect a response. i just felt like saying something.

 

Brian-
I knew you were a good egg before I met you. You and your team covered Viper Company with such thoughtfulness and compassion. The time my family spent with you confirmed this. This blog entry doubly confirms my feelings. Thanks for your sincerity, kindness, and integrity.
stephanie howell

Then I went about my merry way and a day or so later i got an email from ML Flynn, a producer at NBC who has become a friend…and she sent me a link.

 

and then? i peed my pants. not really, but i freaked. and then i calmed down and realized “Hey! maybe this kindness stuff really does work!” even with someone like him- it doesn’t go unnoticed. glad i made that choice. and glad that i’m sticking to it.

brief sidenote- i never handed him a picture of j, not sure what that’s all about?!?!!?!?!? myyyystery.

alright. random post over.

thanks for your sweet words on the post below. a friend told me that the wife always out-ranks the husband b/c of all the hard work they do at home,

so i’m signing this

LTC Howell heeeeee

xxoox

this post very well may be boring to lots of you. i’m cool with that. ha!

but i’m (SHOCKINGLY) over the moon proud of J and wanted to share some photos of his promotion ceremony today.

little miss h was SO excited. she wanted to wear her “crewcuts” skirt and fancy shoes. and pearls. and cashmere. and she wanted to wear her hair DOWN LIKE A PRINCESS, MOMMY!!

we took sadie to hourly child care here on post…she would have been all over the place, to say the least. she’s two for pete’s sake! not the appropriate venue for her.

harper is so well-behaved and old enough to go to something like this…and she was so proud of her daddy.

can you tell???

 

yes, she is wearing mommy’s lip gloss. not worth the battle. 😉

 

total daddy’s girl. i wanted to cry when i saw how excited she was to see him and how special she knew this was!

 

she kinda thought the party was for *her*.

dancing for the rangers:

 

trying to get daddy to dance, too:

 

 

pinning his new oak leaf on (well velcroing)…love the look on his face. harper got to help me.

 

 

very serious in my facial expressions. HA! he gave a little speech and thanked me and of course it made me teary.

 

 

 

i had j take some shots of me and my girl, she was being a total ham.

and maybe i was too???? wonder where she gets it.

and then it was back to the posing.

 

so…major howell it is.

when he came home harper yelled HEY MAJOR HOWELL!!! and i totally didn’t tell her to do it. swear.

so proud. of him and all that he stands for. he has my heart and protects it, too.

xoxox

 

last night the studio calico february kit (baker’s dozen) and add-ons went on sale.

unfortunately, they are sold out of almost everything at this point, but there are still some goodies left-

like more SC patterned paper (my favorite they’ve ever made)

more patterned paper (the colors are heaven)

and add on patterned paper.

i think if you combine the papers with some of the shop goodies, you’ll be close to recreating the kits.

i got all three add-ons this time. and i have to tell you, i loved every bit of it. it was a joy to create with, and i still have lots left and plan to do more projects when i have time.

here are my layouts and some words about each one. there won’t be as long of an explanation this time b/c i did way more than usual. 😉

please leave any questions in the comment section and i’ll happily answer them there!

 

made using the main kit.– yes i know i’m not so good at cards. or using the computer on cards. HA! i love how some of these are the wrong sizes and how the text isn’t really in the right place. but you know what? they make me happy. and i will actually use them.

i also used the martha stewart scalloped dot border punch – i’m back to using this one on EVERYTHING!!

 

made using tea cakes add-on, martha stewart doily edge punch, and uniball signo white pen.

ha! love this old photo of me as a teenager. i loved that flapper dress.

and- miracle of miracles- a stamp! haa!!

 

mish-mash of main kit, all addons, and shop extras. there’s that SC doily banner paper i adore so much. punch used- martha stewart triple butterfly

had to document these photos of my wild child. i mean, seriously? she looks like she’s on a baby harley, wearing a tiara, jewels, and heels. that? is classic sadie.

 

made using petit fours– there’s that doily banner paper again!

for sure my favorite this month. i’ve been holding on to these photos, they are so dear to me.

and this addon just was perfect. those doilies matched their hats…and it’s so bright and happy. i swear i took these photos before i knew what was in the add-on!

 

another one made with the tea cakes add-on.

i’ve been thinking about this so much lately. i don’t remember harper at all when she was sadie’s age. what she was like…her little personality, likes/dislikes…anything. i was so tired. with a new baby, and fear about J leaving…i just draw a blank when i look back. and i feel a bit bad about that. hence this layout.

the flowers are cut from the basicgrey doily paper.

i know the journaling isn’t spaced evenly, but yet again…that’s me. and kind of relates to the topic of the page anyway.

 

made with the main kit

oh, look how beautiful and grown up she looks. this prompted lots of thoughts on her growing up. i wanted the page to be delicate and feminine.

 

made with scones.- using martha stewart large monarch butterfly punch.

i’m adopted. and proud to be adopted. what a precious gift. it’s one of my favorite facts about myself. lots of times people think i must have some sob story. or feel different. and that’s simply not the case. i wanted to get those emotions down on paper.

that’s it for today, i hope you are having a wonderful day!

xoxo