Our Thanksgiving has been most wonderful so far.
We got to sleep in, just a little bit.
We spent the morning lounging around together, laughing and giggling.

I'm now in the throws of making dessert for the Humbert Family Thanksgiving Feast this afternoon.
I'm making pumpkin and pumpkin apple pies.


Zoe likes to help me cook, but I was nervous for her help withe pies. They are more delicate than cookies or pancakes. So Ryan whisked Zoe off and returned when I had finished mixing the pies, with a Diet Coke even...he gets an extra Gold star for that one!

Zoe made this little turkey at daycare this week and we all adore it. She likes to carry it around like a baby.

My heart is so full today!

Thank you all so much for the congratulations, this has been something I've been working toward for a long time. Initially, this year, I had made it a goal to be published in a magazine, and when that happened, I told Ryan, "I guess it's time for a new goal." My next goal was then to make a design team. It looks like I need a new scrappy goal now.

I'm so thankful for the family and friends that are such a great support to us. With this pending move, I know I've spent a lot of hours worrying and whining to family, friends and anyone who will listen. But, I am assured this is the right move for us. Things just keep falling into place and all percieved obstacles are moved out of our way so easily.

When we first found out we were moving to Idaho, I was worried about moving into a place, sight unseen. I did some searching online, showed Ryan my favorites, called a few places. Boom! 2 days later we have an apartment. Then I was worried about a preschool/daycare for Zoe. Same as above, a little searching, a few calls, Boom! Done. So many other things have followed that same pattern, it's such a blessing.

Just last night we found out Ryan was awarded a partial tuition scholarship for Winter semester. We were totally taken by surprise.

We're getting anxious to go and sad to leave. But, happy we know we're going where we need to.

On a totally unrelated note....

Here's a page I finished last night.


I love the pictures the Meghan took of Zoe. Lots of cute facial expressions.
I'm in love with that embossed cardstock, I'd love to order a ream of it. Such a simple detail that adds so much!

You can see the full announcement here.
I'm so excited to finally announce that I'm part of the new Polka Dot Whimsy Design Team! I applied on a whim after drooling over the kits, and lo and behold, a dream came true!

It's weird seeing Idaho next to my name. Just a few more weeks and that will be home. Zoe is really excited about Idaho, at least she talks like she is. She loves telling people," I'm moving to Idaho, they have snowmen." I keep mentioning snow to her, as a reminder to myself that I need to get her some warmer clothes, the warmest thing she has right now is a cardigan. I'm excited to hopefully have snow this Christmas. I really miss that fluffy white stuff. (Although, my opinion might change considering we're moving in the middle of December.)

Funny Zoe story to share: Several weeks back, the kids were playing at daycare and the teacher's daughter got stung by a bee. Zoe cannot get rid of this vision of being stung by a bee. When we put her to sleep, and she wants to get up, she screams and cries, " The bee is getting me!", among other things. I have to reassure her, there is no bee in her room and turn on all the lights to show her before she'll go back to bed.

Well on Saturday we went to Target just Zoe and me. We were nearing the end of our shopping trip and out of no where, Zoe screams bloody murder. She's screaming and crying and flailing around. I have no idea what's wrong, I check the seat belt to see if it pinched her, I make sure there's no blood anywhere, etc etc. Finally, after the whole store is alerted by the shrieks, I get her to calm down and sure enough, "The bee got me." Yep, that imaginary bee must be stalking her. ( I think this one is going in the scrapbook, although it will have to be a pictureless page...hmmm...I think I'm up for the challenge.)

Hoping to do some baking tonight for FHE. I've been craving sugar cutout cookies that my mom makes. I really just like the dough, but the cookies are good too. Although I think my cookie cutters may be packed up and sitting in my parents garage :( Maybe I can convince Ryan he wants to make the dough this afternoon, so it's all ready when we get home.

Hope you're have a good Monday.
 I'll be sharing some cards this week and hopefully pictures of a new niece.

XOXO,
Holly & Co.

It started with me sleeping in until 10am. YIKES!
Followed by errands and a late lunch.
Zoe took a short nap.
We're having the missionaries over for dinner, so cooking starting at 4:30.
It's now 5:45 and pitch black out. It feels like 8pm.

I feel like the day wasn't even here, like it was a half day. I probably shouldn't have slept in that long.

Oh well.

Just a quick share today, I haven't taken pictures of Zoe in like a week and we haven't really done anything noteworthy, so layouts are all I have.

Have a great weekend.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.

My first Studio Calico kit arrived yesterday and what a beauty.
I had a bunch of errands to run last night and I brought Zoe along with me, so I didn't even get to dig into it until 9:00pm, but as soon as I did, the inspiration just flooded me! You're going to see lots of black and white of Zoe in the next coming pages, I've been saving them all for this kit.

Finally, it's cold!
We had rain this weekend, and fog this morning.
And when I went to the post office around noon, it was cold outside!

This week hasn't been my favorite.

The only good thing about packing is discovering hidden gems lost among junk. We found a picture from when Ryan and I were first dating, we look like babies. I found a song my sister wrote for me. (for the Morgan family members: it was the slash slash baby song!)
Ryan and I spent last night sorting through nine 20 gallon tupperware tubs in our living room. the goal was to whiddle down to what we can't live without, and well....live without the rest.
I happy to say we got rid of quite a bit. Although we found more to fill up those nine tubs. The task right now seems never ending, especially since we're doing a 2 step move. I guess whatever doesn't make it, we really don't need.

We had a whirlwind weekend, with lots of family. It was great to be all together.
Ryan's brother, Brok, is leaving this week on his mission to Mexico. It was our last weekend as a whole family for the next 2 years. We're so excited and proud of Brok, He'll be a great missionary.

Since it's our last weekend together, we got some family pictures taken, and they turned out great.


Zoe had a wonderful time with all her cousins this weekend.
Saturday, before we headed down to the bay area for pictures, we tried to put her down for a nap, and instead of sleeping she just cried in her bed, 'I want to go to Lukey's house!" For 45 minutes. So we got her up and just drove down early.
( She did sleep in the car, thankfully)


Because of all the cautious surrounding this weekend, Halloween kinda took a back burner. Zoe did wear her costume Saturday night to dinner. She was a pink skeleton. I didn't get a picture of her in full costume, I'm hoping to catch one this week, before we loose all the light in the evenings.

Hope you had a great halloween,

XOXO,
Holly & Co.

Sorry if this one looks a little green. I had to take the picture inside. I'd been waiting for 3 days to take it outside in good light and every night something has distracted or detained me from doing so. So I had to take it inside.
But the good news about that is that I'm finally starting to learn how to shoot my camera in manual mode, so I don't have to use the flash indoors. No where near good, but I'm improving :)

I finally caved and bought my first Studio Calico kit. I can't wait for those alphabet stamps. I love those Sassafras monthly cards too. I've got to find something great to do with those.

After searching and editing through more of the photos I took of Zoe, I have a few more to share. (They look way better when you click on them individually. I didn't sharpen them for the web before I posted them)











I'm looking forward to our family pictures this weekend. I bought Zoe a cute knit beanie to wear and she loves it. Now to decide about her hair, curly or straight? Thoughts?

Well I am beat. It's been a busy week and it's past my bedtime.'Night

XOXO,
Holly & Co.

I discovered tonight that we don't own a single mug...how is that even possible? Seriously?!? Doesn't every home have a surplus of mugs? We've been married 3.5 years and we don't own a mug. I feel a slight sense of failure.
So I'm drinking my hot beverage in a glass with 3 paper towels wrapped around it. Mug Fail.

I've been scrapping the past few nights and I'm really pleased with how my layouts have turned out. I have a new addiction to Bazzill Basics, orange peel textured, Wheat cardstock. It's becoming a close favorite to my usual Kraft.
Here's a couple sneak peeks until I get them photographed.


Isn't that cow paper the best? It's actually the back of an advertisement by Studio Calico. Pure genius.