0 + one....

My god do I love me a baby.

You know how mothers all have different ages that they are particuliarly good at or just fond of?

When I was preggo with Gabrielle a close friend was also having a little girl.  We had babies a week apart.  I used to laugh because she was alomst totally bored with a new born, hoping that it would get bigger quick and do something already.

Not me though.

I loved it and wanted it to last forever.

But now I have big kids.  The ones I cursed at the play ground for running past my sweet toddler and being TO CRAZY.  These play grounds aren't for you, don't you have school or something?  

And now I laugh at those ridiculous mothers who think their toddler owns the play ground... sheesh!  

And now I  love having big kids.  But they got big too fast and I wish I could have two more little ones, for old times sake.  But that isn't going to happen... 

So I feel so very privledged when I am invited to hang out with smaller ones!  And last night a certain smaller friend turned one.  We celebrated with the perfect taco (not soggy at all), amazing guacamole (mine of course), and song plus cake too...

Sweet older brother kept his eye on the cake the entire evening.  I am sure he was making sure it was safe and sound for dear Samantha.

and he did a great job!

and Samantha took her very fist bite of cake.  handmade by brother of course.

and Henry approved of the outcome...

and we let Mister Witt have some too!

Happy birthday small friend, can't wait to watch you grow!

The house is ours...

There are no words that can truly capture my feelings today. 

it is almost a silent joy.  the kind that lets that space in your heart that has been all tight and nervous, just relax.  to relax in the knowing that everything will in fact, be okay.  to know that all that sacrifice made for a greater good was in fact, for a greater good.  the sleepless nights are in fact, over.

it is time now to let the joy fully sink in.

We chose Vermont, but this Village chose us.  And I love it so.

Silo Sessions...

When I used to spend a lot of the summer back east for a few years, I would dream about the day we lived here... where I could walk in the woods everyday, go to concerts all summer long, ride my bike, lay in the grass and play in the snow... I never considered that my real life chores would not stay in Arizona and let me move to vacation land all by myself!

The fact is...

laundry followed

grocery shopping followed

a dirty house followed

homework followed

dinner making followed

the dog came 

the kids came

the work came.

I don't mind the work.  It is living. 

However...

Sometimes you have to go to the concert and leave the paint cans, flooring project, proper bedtime, math flashcards, dirty bathtub behind and do what is right.

So we had the pleasure of arriving to a farm dinner...

to eat with these fine folks...

and then hit the farm bakery for an intmate night of music... check out that awesome apron hanging up!!  I wonder who makes those??

and last but not least, the man of the hour, Mister Chris Dorman.  Delightful storyteller, singer songwriter, kind friend...

He put these silo sessions on all winter.  You can read about them HERE.  Sadly they are over for the winter but will pick back up when the summer air starts to chill.  They are oh so special so I recommend you join in!  For now, summer time is around the corner and Burger Night starts again!  Hope to see all you beautiful people there!!

PS: We traded with Chris and Corie, our couch for some kale!  And now we have our very own CSA card!  Their kale and other amazing products are fantastic so if you are in the area I suggest you join, you won't be sorry!  The info on that is HERE!

And if you don't live here but are dying to buy some beautiful kale I totally accept donations ;-)

a love story...

 ...that dates back thousands of years.

It has just recently become clear to me that I have known my husband far longer than I had previously thought.  I sincerely believe that this love is eternal and we have been together in this world many times before.  And as much as I want to tell you those ancient tales today, sadly I am not privy to their details...

So I will stick with this lifetime.

The above statement does play a role here.  This union is no accident.  First of all, we look just alike, in the eyes.  And I believe that was our first hint at true love.

This story begins in early adolescence.  A quick romance of long evening phone calls squashed by a move to the East.  Letters kept him close while I gained my footing so far away.  Many words exchanged at first and fewer as time went on. Eight years slowly went by...

Both of us still posses all the letters that were written. 

I came to visit the desert many times over those years and I called him every single one.  I never went with intentions to see him, but intuition played as a reminder and checking in was part of this plot.  His number had been branded into my brain from the gazillion preteen phone calls made during those first fateful months.

Then came the year.  Neither of us new it would be the year until it became quite clear that that was exactly what it was.  And had always been.  

It happened at a record store.  

A glance was all that was needed.  An evening visit.  We spoke of books and the world, under the Arizona sky.

He was accepted to The University of Jerusalem.  Received the letter that very day.  A major in classics with a passion for language, this was it for him.  But not really.  Because I came and reminded him that it was not.  

I was whimsical and spontaneous.  I was on my way to the pacific northwest.  I asked him to come along, the day after the night of the year....

"How do you know I should come along?" he asked.

"I don't know, but I promise to stay with you and I hope that you do." I said, not knowing that these words had always been written.

and he did. he came with me.

And then we grew and we grew and we grew. Sometimes seemingly apart, not knowing the roots were entwining the most during the hardest times.  And now it has been ten plus years and he is my best friend. my eternal soul mate.  my one true love.

and now were are living the happily ever after.

Dear Christmas Season,

I do love you, really I do.

So many joyful events and people coming together.

Lovely lights stung through trees.

Decoration to catch the eye.

Jolly music to lift the spirit.

Delicious food to tantalize the taste buds.

 

And the smell, the smell of Christmas.  

 

Nothing quite like a cold air blowing through the trees while you are warm, under a blanket, sitting by a tree in your living room!

Best holiday weekend ever...

I simply love spending time in New York and I am so grateful to have the chance to spend this thankful holiday running amuck through its streets, showing the kids what livin' is all about!

Funny I say that because on Wednesday night the Mister, Grandma Mindy and I decided we would prefer to watch the parade on the tube and sip coffee in our pj's. 

say whaaaat?

Well, if you haven't heard, east coast weather has been anything but frightful.  So after a lovely snooze and a leisurely morning we thought we would venture out for a walk... to the parade, with no expectations, to be with the people... in the mix.

We ran into a lady in blue who slipped us thru some barricades onto a side street giving us a wonderful view of the balloons and an earshot of the band...

Can you say awesome? 

We did, for the next hour, as snoopy, Kung fu panda, spongebob, and spiderman drifted by!

  The kids were so excited that they blacked out in the car...

We spent our Turkey part of the day, not eating Turkey, but enjoying the most delicious dinner prepared by my very talented Aunt Sherry.  Her meals never cease to amaze and she had so many veggies on the table that I managed to stuff myself without stuffing a bird ;-)  

My favorite part... sitting at the table for hours after eating, talking and listening.

Thank you Mom, for having us to the City apartment and thank you Marc and Sherry for having us to dinner!!  Already looking forward to next year!

...and this was only the very first day

Friday Fun Night...

So the fast few weeks have been a bear.  That saying,  "no rest for the weary"... that about sums it up. One task following another, sharing only mere glances with my Mr., and being all business with the children.  Homework, showers, consuming food, and bedtime.  This pretty much equals NO FUN AT ALL.

A family night was in order.  A celebration if you will...

for the love of fridays
for the love of pizza
for the love of a gigantic couch bed
for the love of redbox movies
for the love of cake
for the love of sparklers
for the love of the happy dance
for the love of family
for the love of cuddling
for the love of LOVE.

Pictures are grainy and dark, but I hope the happiness of the surprise Happy Friday Celebration shines bright through the not so great photos...

Witt family motto: Make Fridays Count!

My birthday surprise...

I am seldom surprised.

Mostly because I am a control freak.

I am unable to relax and let someone else (my Mr.) plan anything for me without being impossible. 

It is an illness really.

But he managed to totally surprise me.  it was great.

He handmade candle holders for my birthday candles out of egg cartons, which i LOVED.

and they lit up the whole room...

 and when we blew out the lights...

it was a full out Spongebob Squarepants Birthday Party.... 

Need I say more?

and the most lovely gift...

Life is... well, it is wonderful.

Certified...

I am not sure how many of you know that my husband, Mr. Matthew Witt, has been working his tail off to become CCNA Certified... What that means, you would have to ask him.

All I know is that everything he puts his mind to he completes with fierce determination and the utmost integrity.

This test was NOT easy...
 

and after almost a year of intense classroom time, labs, and oh so many study sessions into the early morning hours...

He is done.

He is certified.

He has again, put himself into a completely foreign land and undoubtedly spanked it!

Well done darling, well done.

So, of course, we went out to celebrate!!

And, of all things, he bought me a gift... for putting up with all the cramming, all the lonely nights sitting silently next to him, all the eye rolls and words of encouragement ;-)

fyi ~ certifications are not for lovers...

I finally got my.... and I am super excited!

Then, of course, we indulged in our favorite food at our most favorite place....

CHEERS to you my studious one. 

job well done...