christmas remembered

it was a quiet holiday this year; warm. a visit from santa, then one from dad later that morning. a turkey, some candles, homemade bread and leisurely naps; reveling in a day off and our many blessings. no rushing or stress, just buttermilk pancakes, movies and handmade pajamas.

{click to enlarge}

pj turns 9! {11/29}

out to lunch, party with the cousins, skype with grandparents and my first successful ice cream cake.
the last year of single digits has begun!

our thanksgiving in pictures

thought i ought to catch up on the last few weeks before my series of christmas posts begins

can't explain it

i just really like this commercial...

Trip to Wapato: Part III...The Family

I am running short on time, so I'll just post this picture and describe more later. But let me just say that on this Thanksgiving Eve as I mull over my greatest blessings and what I give most thanks for, I realize that this picture encompasses so much of what I cherish the absolute most. There are several incredibly important people missing, but I can't help but be so thankful for this handful. I am one lucky lady.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours...

Trip to Wapato: Part II...Grandma

i've been sitting here for 15 minutes trying to put into words what this woman means to me. i just think she's the bees knees. i have been in awe of her my whole life,but watching her grace throughout the funeral of her lifelong companion just stirred something inside me i can't describe. she has literally spent her entire life in the service of others and i will forever be humbled by her selflessness and gratitude.

Trip to Wapato: Part 1...Grandpa

Last month we said goodbye to our dear Grandpa Stimpson. All of my Stimpson cousins sans one missionary were able to attend and the reunion was a cherished one I will not soon forget.

...some memories of our Grandpa in photos...

you're a wiz'uhd harry

this was a halloween of firsts; some great, some...well, just different.

::first time pumpkin patching in 90 degree weather, but first time with our cousins.

::first time NOT carving said pumpkins. usually we have too many choices and end up with 2 pumpkins per diaz. but this year, the pickin's were scarce and we only left the patch with 2 total! shortly after patching, i left on a last minute trip to seattle and didn't get my act together in time to carve when i returned.

::first time letting pj do his trick or treating with friends. e and i were feeling a little cheated, but made up for it by heading to hollywood and eating dinner accompanied by {a suprise visit from} Jonah and serenaded by thai elvis. no complaints.

::first homemade wizard robe.

::first {and last...at least until next year} dye job for peej. we started growing out his hair in august, so naturally it needed to be black. he was the spitten image. success.

bloggers anonymous

hi, my name is lauren. (hi, lauren) it's been over 2 months since my last post.

what the? i have more excuses than fingers, so i won't even bother.

it is, however almost 3am and krista will be on her way in a couple hours to pick me up so i best be getting to bed or into the shower. i'll let you guess which one it's going to be, but it's not the shower, lemme tell ya.

delirious, i am.

buuuuuut....here's a couple pictures of the patch. krista said there was no patch in southern california. i said puh-shaw. turns out, not the most impressive patch, but it takes a lot to impress a NW girl. in the end, it was worth the 2 hour drive.

introducing!!!

birds in skirts
www.birdsinskirts.etsy.com

sassy duds for your short people.

who are we?
two sisters who grew up sewing with our mother

what do we like?
fabrics that feel good, wash well and look great. and birds.

what else?
in order to reduce our carbon footprint, we ship using recycled and reused materials
*temporary free shipping to celebrate our grand opening*

for sizing inquiries or custom requests, email us!
birdsinskirts.la@gmail.com

stunning

interior design is not my #1 passion, it's more like my 8th, maybe 10th. but. it does not mean i do not become speechless when i see inspiring beauty. my evening bloghopping brought me through this guy's website. i love.

i stole this from a friend's blog. awesome.

i just happened upon a great new blog called daydream lily and she posts a link to a site she found where you can enlarge your images in your post but keep the image quality. i've been wanting to do this for some time now, but assumed i needed to do it in photoshop. here's the link in case you're interested.

i want to go to there

do you ever get the travel bug so badly that it's all you can do not to sell everything you own and buy a ticket? i am dreaming of...



i am happy, oh so happy, to be living in california. but if money were endless, well....

i want to:

keep a cleaner house.
be more content with how things are right.now.
break out of the t-shirt and jeans rut i've been in my whole life.
do more for other people and quit thinking of myself all the stuuuuupid time.
be more adventurous.
wake up earlier.
eat healthier.
be more courageous.
accomplish more in a day.
want to cook dinner and be decent at it.
follow through with more ideas.
work harder.


be a better parent.
be a better wife.
be a better person.


sigh.

everydaaaaay....in the wooooooorld

even though sister stole most of my good reunion pictures, i s'pose i could put a few more. i'm pretty sure there are only about 2 1/2 people outside my family that read this blog that don't know i went to a ranch in washington and reunited with these great individuals. this here's for you. sister and i packed up the 3 short rounds and drove up to sacramendi for the wedding of

this beautiful cousin.

after which we caught an airplane up to seattle and picked up this one, drove the remaining distance to the ranch and commenced reunitation. t'was lovely. some highlights:

the 4 cousins birthed of 4 sisters within one year (and one day). we're all married now and we can begin our plot to take over the world.

cousins unite! (if you were one of us you'd be hearing laser noises right now)

the posing got a little weird, with the hand holding and such. not sure, don't ask.

autumn attempting her best trash talk. uh, huh. cute. maybe next year it'll help you win. snap!

and finally...this is what happens when you hand your camera to Kevin for some group pictures