Christmas Fun

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We had a very busy week. Carrie and David and the boys got here very early on Christmas Eve, and we went to my grandparents on Christmas Eve and had pizza. Ryan and Katie got here Christmas Eve night. Christmas Day we had a nice relaxing morning of presents and blueberry muffins and then went to my parents house for the rest of the day (with everybody above and the Bratchers). It was a fun day of presents, eating, playing Pounce/Nerts, and just hanging out. Here are the customary pictures in front of the tree with presents. The only thing Violet realllllly wanted this year, and asked for quite often, was the Dora and flying horse that she is holding. She was very excited to open it.



When George and Nolan are here the four of them come in as a group deal....we'll call them "The Crew". They play sooo well together, there is a lot of hugging, playing, laughing, screaming, and occasionally crying (mainly by Hazel). I am glad they like eachother so much, cousins are great people to have in your life! Here are some more Christmas pictures....

Here is The Crew...getting ready to open presents Christmas day

....being read to by "The Crews Biggest Fan", Grandma

......The Crew with Aunt Katie

Violet taking a break from The Crew to get a book read by Grandpa

Violet and Hazel dancing with Uncle Ryan

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm looking forward to 2009, as I think it will be a good year for Illustrated Ink. I have many new ideas that I can't wait to get started on! I always love the feeling of a fresh start that a new year brings. I hope to do more festivals this year and I'm going to put more time and love into my Etsy store. Here's to a rockin' 2009!!

Let it stop, let it stop, let it stop

As you all probably know already we have been up to our necks in snow around here. OK maybe not our necks, but it has sure been a pain in the neck to have all this snow. It is lovely and makes the house feel very cozy, but after a while you start to go stir crazy, and you ask your husband to put the chains on the car so you can go to the store just to get out of the house. (thank you honey!) Here is our back yard, this was after the first good snow we got, we got about 6 more inches after this.

Hazel was NOT a big fan of the cold white stuff. She was kind of snotty and goopey so we debated if we should even take them outside. But how often do we actually get snow, much less 18 inches of snow. So we bundled them up and took them outside. She didn't want to walk in it or touch it.
Violet on the other hand loved it. She likes to eat it, as you can tell. It was like a yard full of popcicles. This is a child after my own heart. She is sitting in front of her space heater wearing a sweatshirt, and her cheeks just got redder and redder. I LOVE space heaters and electric blankets!!! This is how Hazel passes the time being cooped up. Just kick back with a book on the stairs. Good times.
I just want you to know that this picture was my girls' idea. They said "mommy take a picture". They are really wanting Santa to know they are being good.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

CORAZON

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"El hombre tiene lugares en su
pobre corazón que no existen
todavía y donde el dolor
penetra a fin de que sean"


Leon Bloy





iustración: Craig Larotonda - óleo

EL DUELO II

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....... " Importa resaltar que todo proceso de duelo normal va acompañado de un afecto, que en este caso es la pena o la tristeza. Como este afecto, particularmente doloroso es muy difícil de tolerar tanto en uno mismo como en los demás, podemos estar tentados a intervenir para modificar su evolución natural."
........."Quiero resaltar que este proceso (el duelo) no es patológico, por el contrario, es saludable, y como profesionales debemos abstenernos de intervenir, pues podríamos influir negativamente en su desarrollo. Es aconsejable no utilizar psicofármacos, que pueden ser especialmente perjudiciales. Ni apurarlo, ni exigirlo en cada paso del proceso. Al duelo no hay que tratarlo, hay que acompañarlo. "

Leopoldo Salvarezza. Buenos Aires 1988
fotografía: “Africa en el horizonte” de Sergio Canadè, Tenerife 2008

Christmas Spririt

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Here is your Christmas card. I hope you are not disappointed about not getting a card in the mail this year. But I know that this reaches a great number of people who we love and want to give holiday wishes to. We hope that your Christmas is filled with family and friends and giving. We love you all!

Troy, Laura, Violet, and Hazel K
We are being showered with snow and very cold weather right now. Brrrr! Apparently freezing temperatures make children cooperate with mommies for the camera. They actually listned whe I said "give your sister a hug".

We went for a short walk around our block last night, just enough time to freeze our faces so we couldn't talk properly.

A rare picture of me on the blog. The snow has helped me get in the Christmas spirit. It has come slowly for me this year. But having the girls is helping me to remember what it is all about. I love to see the excitement in their eyes when they see lights and Santa!

Laura Needs (yes i stole this idea)

I stole this from Katies blog...I typed in "Laura needs" into google, and got some pretty funny things.......

1. Laura Needs....you to come eat ( not at my house though, we'll go out)
2.Laura Needs....some post toddler love (This an article about surviving toddlers, how appropriate)
3. Laura Needs....a home. (apparenty there is a dog named Laura in Taiwan. How sweet)
4. Laura Needs...25 cents and 2 fingers ( I'm hoping that this isn't a bad thing)
5.Laura Needs....to get out more(AMEN)
6.Laura Needs.....3000 pounds (as in european money) more for new legs (only if they are skinnier)
7. Laura Needs.....A clue
8. Laura Needs....to save at risk kids (I would love to, but they can't all live with me)
9. Yer mom knows what Laura needs

This was really fun . Tell me what you need according to google.