Orangepoppy: Capturing our Blessings

so even though I have been away for the past month on what I am calling *maternity blog leave* ha - at least I actually have an excuse for neglecting my blog these days..anyway, even though I have been away from Orangepoppy I did indeed manage to participate in a little project Kristen and I cooked up over on the Ten on Ten blog during the month of November.

I wanted to find something to keep me busy documenting this crazy season with a new baby and when paired with the month dedicated to giving thanks, Capturing our Blessings was born. Kristen and I each took a photo and posted them side by side on the Ten on Ten blog as a diptych each day. Kristen's always on the left and mine always on the right.

It was a really fun project and I am happy to report that we both manage to do it every single day during the month, finding sweet blessings woven throughout our days. Kristen posted a little behind the scenes of her photos over on her personal blog so I thought I would join her and give you all a tiny glimpse of what we have been up to the past weeks.

::01::

this was an amazing meal of enchiladas brought to us by the sweet Sarah Wheeldreyer. She came a great distance so that our family could enjoy a hot delicious meal without having to lift a finger. It was delicious as were all the many many generous meals that so many friends have brought us over the past many weeks. - thank you all if you are among the group it has certainly been a BIG blessing!

::02::

Josie had a doctors appointment while the boys were at preschool.

::03::

my first peppermint soy mocha in the red cups at Starbucks - I know they make you giddy too!

::04::

a little at home pedicure...I am still wearing it and it does not look so hot anymore - ha!

::05::

Chris beginning prep for the humongous painting project he did on our piano - I will share photos I promise!

::06::

the most a-mazing homemade chicken noodle soup that Noah and Julie Jane brought one day when we were feeling under the weather. No kidding the best I have ever had, the noodles are even homemade!

::07::

an amazing baby shower for Josie and I with tons of cute little girly things and the most incredible words of blessing shared. Paula and Jenny did an awesome job, I was completley overwhelmed!

::08::

my MIL lending her incredible hands as we settled in as a family of five! I could have easily done half of my photos with pictures of this dear woman in them!

::09::

my sweet Levi dancing in the curtains, a little blessing he is.

::10::

Josie's first nap in her crib. Can you see the cute crib sheet made out of vintage linens? My Mom helped me make two and they are so adorable I love them!

::11::

this is a photo I very deliberatley took of a card that a friend, Kim gave me that says it's a girl on it. I found out that morning that she had just delivered her third daughter but the announcement hadn't been made yet so it was a little documentation of how happy my heart was that day for she and her family!

::12::

a nice crisp fall walk with the boys on their bikes, the leaves were gorgeous and we stopped and talked to neighbors while we were out.

::13::

Simon had his first "drop off" birthday party for his new little girl friend Savvy (I am telling you they won't leave class to go home unless they are holding hands so Savvy's Mom and I are becoming good friends, he was the only boy at the party) so Chris and I took Levi and Josie for a coffee date at the delicious Besalu in Ballard and had such a lovely conversation with two women about child rearing and the blessings that our kids are! It was a Saturday so we were lucky to get a little table tucked in the corner!

::14::

Celebrating the cutest little two year old ever! Wesley turned two and had a gymnastics party at SGA - the boys had a great time celebrating their adorable cousin!

::15::

Chris working on his 2k piece puzzle, I think it helps him unwind and I am just happy when he is happy. There were many nights he was up through the night bouncing our colicy baby and working on this puzzle!

::16::

A trip into the city on our way to dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's. We stopped to look at an office space for TNS.

::17::

this morning I could tell my boys needed their Mom to give them some extra lovin so I bravely took my three alone to our favorite donught shop. As you can see Simon was especially "blessed" by that huge chocolate bar. I got a few stares too which are more common now that I have three kids. I felt very proud to have gone and even braved the bathroom with all three of them.

::18::

a fun thrifted find that was perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday, $2.99 for this handmade masterpiece!

::19::

our dog Renton out in the backyard while the kids played with Chris

::20::

an ebvelskiver morning. A family tradition my Mother gave me a special pan many christmases ago to make them and our boys think they are quite fun!

::21::

the first gorgeous snowfall of the winter season - although it is still techniqully fall. that orange tree in our yard looked beauitul in the snow!

::22::

Josie's first snow experience, she slept through the whole thing in the Moby but she looked so cute in her snow hat!

::23::

a true snowday, Chris stayed home from work but the sleep deprevation got to me that morning and I was a grump. I drew a little heart in the snow as a peace offering while he was out for hours sleding with the boys. it worked :)

::24::

one of my favorite captures. Chris and I were talking at the table and looked into the playroom to find the boys reading together with that stack of books on the couch. I just love this picture of them - soooo sweet!

::25::

Jenny, Kristen and I trying out the second annual photo booth at Thanksgiving. Chris and I built a teepee for it this year!

::26::

our Christmas tree! It was actually quite dark when I took this but it was our second tree lot for the day. The first one only had three trees in the size we wanted so we had to leave. This one was just right for us!

::27::

a family "christmas cheers" over breakfast, getting into the christmas spirit!

::28::

Chris and I lead worship at our church's north seattle church plant this day with our friend Adam. I love it when Chris plays his mandolin on classic christmas carols, we had a lot of fun!

::29::

santa photo day with all seven of the Gough cousins! I loved this moment when Simon and Levi saw Kristen's boys Evan and Miles. They screamed with glee at each other and her boys ran to catch up with huge grins spread on their sweet faces!

::30::

the lights on our christmas tree the evening of November 30th. A truly amazing month full to the brim with so many blessings!

And because Kristen and I had such an incredible time doing this project together we decided to unfold a new on going series called The Beauty Collective - a monthly collaborative project hosted by Ten on Ten, featuring two photographers and the beauty found in their everyday lives. This month we are featuring the photos of Stacy Bostrom and Casey Visser who are both incredible photographers. Check out all the details HERE!!

you can see the full Capturing our Blessings project HERE if you want!

ps. this Friday is December tenth so be sure to charge your camera batteries and join in some Ten on Ten fun!!