From Tacoma to Nashville

In case you missed the announcement... We are moving! I cant really believe it. I mean, look at that map! Look at how far that is! This is not the first time I've made a big move. I went to college about 1,000 miles away in Edmonton, Alberta. Dan and I lived in Grenoble, France for a year. Both scenarios were temporary and, in a way, Tennessee feels like an even bigger move - and kind of like a foreign country. I'm such a Pacific Northwesterner. I own a fleece jacket (just in case...for the hiking or whatever) and a part of me dies when there's nowhere to recycle an aluminum can or a piece of paper. However, I am looking forward to living in a city where just about everyone is a transplant from somewhere else.

The hardest part has been telling our friends. Most were supportive, some saw it coming, but there were a few who straight-up do not want us to go. Dan and I both hated it so much that we would take turns. We bartered, "Okay, if you tell ____ at dinner tonight, I'll tell _____ at the party next week." It wasn't easy. When were thinking about moving to Nashville we thought we'd have months to prepare for our move. That we'd have time to say our goodbyes, to plan an adoption party, to plan a going away party. But, we don't. And I feel terrible that we waited so long to tell our dearest friends. We didn't have a plan then and we still don't have a plan now. But the great thing about being a follower of Jesus is that I don't have to worry. We haven't ordered the moving boxes, we don't have a forwarding address, I dont have a job. But, I know that the Lord has a plan for us and, therefore, I cannot worry because God's plan is always better than mine.

That doesn't mean that I'm not stressed! Each day is a battle, an internal monologue telling myself that it's going to be okay, that it's too early to apply for jobs and email about that adorable townhome I saw on Craigslist.

We dont have a date yet. But it's soon. Prepare yourselves.

Happy 2014!!!

Twenty Thirteen

This year FLEW BY. I thought life with kids was supposed to slow down - and in many ways, it has - but holy cow I feel like I was just throwing BB's 1st birthday party and now he's almost 2 and a half.

This year was one of our most incredible, remarkable, disappointing and unforgettable years yet! 

JAN// We sold our house and I finished my Narnia tattoo. Also, I cant believe that THIS was January. He has grown up so much this year.

FEB// We celebrated one year with our sweet boy.

MAR// We renewed our vows. Dan did over 5,000 miles of touring: through the Midwest to California and back home.

APR// We took a road trip to California to record some of Dan's personal songs. I went to my second PNW blogger meet-up and I made my first (from scratch) French Silk Pie.

MAY// The Great Gatsby came out and I lost my mind. Loved that book/movie and had a BLAST with my lady friends at the midnight premier.

JUN// In June we did a ton of hiking! The weather was perfect.

JUL// My little brother got engaged! We visited our family in the Midwest and I went to the Dells for the first time ever. Loved it!

AUG// Dan and I celebrated 10 years of marriage. I turned 30 and we had a pool party!

SEP// BB turned 2 and we started the still-not-resolved-hurry-up-and-wait process regarding his permanency. 

OCT// Dan and I took off for 10 days in the Mediterranean to celebrate our 10 years together. 

NOV// My brother married an awesome girl, BB was the most adorable ring bearer. I went to another PNW Blogger party and we had a nice, little Thanksgiving in Vancouver with my family.

DEC// We announced our move to Nashville and have started making plans to get there. We took our boy to see our entire family in Chicago: 2 grandparents, 8 aunts and uncles and 12 cousins (all under the age of 11). We got to see all of our immediate family this Christmas and it was a wonderful whirlwind. BB did great on both flights so we're looking forward to some more stress-free flying in his future! Dan played 143 shows this year, played some of their biggest shows ever, toured to many new cities, & was nominated CFA Indie Artist of the Year.

Dan's entire family. His parents, 2 sisters and 2 brothers, their spouses and (13!) children.

With our move to Nashville coming up (soon!) I'm sure 2014 will be even more unforgettable!

The Online World

Do you want to know how lazy I've gotten? I use talk-to-text on my Android all - the - time. So much so, that when I go to type an email or write a blog I allllmost start to speak it. "Technology has made us all crazy exclamation point I think I've lost my mind period" ... Anyway...

When we decided to become foster parents we had a difficult choice to make about our online presence. We could choose to be anonymous and post freely about our situation - but not post any photos (and, duh, I'm obsessed with photos). We could continue using social media as we please and leave out any real details about our child. But somehow we found ourselves in some type of strange middle ground. We are parents and that's all that we can share. I truly wish we could share more but legally and for everyone's safety we can't. Its such a scary thing having a child in today's society and I've tried to be very careful about protecting certain information.

I reached out to a social worker for some advice on online anonymity. Here is what she said:

You are assigning intuitiveness and savvy to your birth parents that they do not possess. You and I are more than able to manipulate the internet to find anything (literally, anything). But the culture that our birth parents come from (particularly lower-income, lower-IQ individuals) are simply not that savvy. When it comes down to it, the birth parents are usually humbled by the fact that they couldn't parent their own kids and grateful that someone else loves them and can do what they can't.

[HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF]. Thank God for good social workers! I really have nothing to worry about. That being said I'm not going to post my phone number, address, and social security number all over the web. BUT! I can relax. 

I'm private on Instagram at the moment... just until we get our lives in our own control. (Follow @lmrphotos and #adoptbb for more info on our future).

Keep it Simple

This season is always such a rush - and usually not a fun rush. It's the time of year to keep things simple. It's the time of year for peace, joy and thankfulness and, yet, we're all stressed out, over committed, broke and tired. You don't have to go to every party if you don't want to. (I'm giving you permission). Just enjoy your family, your friends, the magic and meaning of this season. I have to make my daily-Christmas-season mantra... Keep it Simple. So far, it's working.

Keep it simple....From the parties to the presents to my wardrobe. What's more simple than denim and black? Unkempt hair, wrinkled clothes and a complete lack of eye make-up actually made for some great photos. Thanks, husband. Merry Christmas, friends!

Boots: Forever 21, Tights: Forever 21 ($5! the best!), skirt: thrifted BCBG, chambray: Target, coat: France/2007?

We Are ______!

For the past few months I've been thinking about change. In this post about finding the space to dream I wrote: "Even if my life looks the same today as it does a year from now, if nothing comes to fruition, it still gives me hope to use my imagination." Well, my imagination has been working overtime and my life definitely wont look the same a year from now. We have an announcement we've been waiting to share...

After much prayer and deliberation we've decided to move our family to Nashville, Tennessee! We haven't known how to post this because the timeline is not in our control. I just couldn't wait any longer.

This is something we've been thinking about for a long, long time but it was not a simple decision to make. Washington has been our home for most of our lives. It will not be easy  to leave behind the state that made us who we are, our family, and our amazing friends.Why Nashville?  For Dan, there are so many opportunities to advance in his career, meet other musicians and support a family on a musician's wage. I love the weather and the culture and I want to raise a family where we can play outside year round. I am also eager to find support in other road widows! We have many friends there, my littlest sister lives there and we are about a 7 hour drive from our family in Illinois. It seems like such a good fit but that doesn't mean it will be easy. We are terrified and so excited. Wish us luck!Photos by 2 Sis Photos, Chicago, IL. Designs by LMR Photos.

Burlap Hand Print Wreath

This is a really cute, easy, somewhat messy project. A perfect Christmas gift for a grandparent!

What you'll need:

• 18x24" piece of burlap
• 1.5 - 2" wide ribbon (red, for the bow)
• skinny ribbon or twine (for hanging)
• red and white acryllic paint
• paintbrush or sponge brush
• 12" long dowel 
• hot glue
• needle/thread or sewing machine

Paint your child's hand and stamp handprints on the burlap in a circle. Let dry. With red paint, add the holly by dotting it on the hand prints. Along the top, fold the burlap back over the dowel, pin it, and sew it in. Create a bow from your ribbon and sew or hot glue it on. Then, glue the skinny ribbon or twine to the back, being sure that you affix it where the dowel is, no wider.

We also made a version like this!  Just some white hand prints, a green tree, a wooden star painted red and wood letters with ribbon. 

Top 10 Songs I am NOT Sick Of

You know when people get really sick of songs? The song that comes on and within seconds someone is wailing: "UGGGH, I HAAATE THIS SONG!". I am not that person. Maybe I dont listen to enough radio... I just dont get sick of 'em. So, just because it's Friday, here's a list of songs [with videos!] that I am still NOT sick of.

1. M.I.A. Paper Planes - A crazy girl and guns. Most definitely my official jam of 2008...and 2009...and 2010...and 2011...

2. Robin Thicke Blurred Lines - Nope, not sick of it yet. "hey,hey,hey"

3. Spice Girls Wannabe - If you dont like this song just a little bit, or at least appreciate it for what it is, I am not sure we can be friends. Get your act together we could be just fine. 

4. Miley Cyrus Cant Stop - I cannot in good conscience post the video because I dont want my readers to vomit ... or die of a heart attack ... however, this is a GREAT pop song and I'm not ashamed that I love it.

5. Macklemore Thrift Shop - I know, right!?! How am I not sick of Macklemore? I dunno.... Cuz he's awesome and I kind of love gingers. I know this song was overplayed but, again, dont overdo the radio listenage and you will still be able to love solid gold hits like this one...

6. Taylor Swift I Knew You Were Trouble - When we are in the car this is BB's #1 request in the worst way. We have it on repeat and I still haven't gotten sick of it. Loves me some T-Swift.

7. The Lumineers Ho Hey - Another one of BB's faves. He says the "hey" and "ho" parts and it's sooo cute. This band is awesome and I love that there's still good music on pop radio. Pump up the jams!


8. Katy Perry Firework - Confession: I have actually cried watching this video. I am not sick of anything by Katy Perry. Deal with it.


9. Foster the People Pumped Up Kicks - I love these cute little California boys. They are friends of friends so I want to support them, no matter how sick of it some people may be. This song is rad.

10. K-Ci & JoJo All My Life - This song was so popular it was on the radio at the top of every hour because the DJs were sick of the requests. I still love this song. It instantly takes me back to jr high.

For the record, I am not a fan of the Macarena. That's one I can do without. What songs do you love?!

Black and White

Mirror self portrait, Oct 2011.

Well....winter is here. It's the time of year where all I want to wear is black. It's easy and, somehow, makes me feel warmer. In honor of winter and the "deep freeze" we're experiencing here in the PNW I've compiled a few of my favorite black and white themed photos along with my favorite Black or White video... One of the best music videos ever made. Way ahead of its time, amiright?!

leggings: Street Vendor in LA (a tour gift from Dan), socks: H&M, boots: Minnetonka

Self portrait with my bunny, Winston, forever a jackalope. RIP Winston. 2009-2011.

On a bridge in Nashville, Nov 2012. shirt: H&M.

sweater: H&M, jeans; GAP, shoes: Minnetonka

Cafe in San Diego, CA

Rain drops falling from the eaves

My feet on the dashboard, dirty windshield, road trip from AZ to CA in 2011.

drop-waist dress and leggings: Target

I Guess I Never Posted Anything About Thanksgiving

We went to my my Grandma Jan and my Grandpa John's house for Thanksgiving, my mom's parents. My mother grew up in this house so it's been a constant in my life. I love the history there. My mom has a very big family so the home was built to accommodate all of my aunts and uncles and it's full of old treasures. But the best part is the backyard. They have about an acre, full of enormous evergreens and at one time a peacock, and it's so fun to explore. That's where BB wanted to be before we sat down to eat. As you can see, he wasn't a big fan of Thanksgiving dinner.....

What a weirdo.

I Just Want Control

Sometimes you get thrown a curve ball and you can cry about it all morning and eat half a bar of chocolate for lunch. Or, you can dust yourself off and move on. We got some bad news yesterday when we were really, really hoping for good news. I just want control of my future. Is that too much to ask? I am sure God is trying to teach us something and I hope that will come to light once it's over.

Hearing that little boy call me "mama" and say "ruvv yuu" makes this crappy, stupid situation so much better.

I'm praying for an extra measure of patience during this nightmare but just in case I need to rant I'm going private on Instagram. Five more weeks until our bad news turns to good news. (We hope!)

First Haircut

BB got his first real haircut! I trimmed above his ears when he was 18 months old but this is the first time he's gotten a real cut and he looks so grown up! He stood on my lap while our friend, Madi, cut it. Another friend, Danielle, was there to make faces at him. That's what friends are for!

Madi has a new blog: Bedhead Diaries! Check it out for tips on products and style!

Christmas Gift Ideas

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

We're going to try and simplify this season based on the criteria in "The Christmas Conundrum" by Jen Hatmaker which kicked me in the face (or heart) and said, "Really? THAT'S how you're celebrating the Savior's birth?". If you're feeling like you want to experience the true meaning of Christmas, take the time to read what she has to say. I warn you that it may be a little extreme for some families. And, that's ok. 

We really dont need much this year but our boy is growing up so fast and outgrowing his clothes and toys. So, without further ado, I'm going to completely negate all of the things I just wrote and post a really selfish Christmas Wish List for my 2 year old. Ummm, sorrynotsorry. These are fun to make .... So, without further ado, here are some gift ideas for BB!

1. We're going to be doing some traveling and now that BB is 2 he gets his own ticket - which means he gets his own bag! I am considering this Trunki for a pre-Christmas gift since we're going to Chicago to be with Dan's side of the family. However, it has some seriously bi-polar reviews. Although, this thing has great reviews and also seems like a good time.
2. My little man loves to pretend and he loves to "help" in the kitchen. IKEA dish sets, work benches and play food are affordable and durable.
3. These tweed high tops from Old Navy kill me. (size 7)
4. "New Punk" Sweatshirt from Zara Kids because he's obviously new punk. (size 2 - 3)
5. Our evenings have been spent reading lots of books and we like bedtime books the best. Steam Train Dream Train sounds wonderful but any book will do!
6. It's about time to start potty training (eeek!) and these organic cotton training pants are so cute!

Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas!