We’ve been really enjoying a lot of family time lately, and since the winter weather has been so crazy mild here we’ve been outside a good bit. My youngest brother was visiting after Christmas and we took the kids hiking on Graybeard trail in Montreat where Brandon and I spent so many of our college days hiking and exploring.
Noah also got his first fishing pole for Christmas and was so excited to go fishing with Daddy on the lake in our neighborhood. He caught his first fish, too!
Last weekend we were able to take an impromptu trip to South Carolina to visit Brandon’s parents as they are prepping their house to put it on the market. We had such a relaxing and quiet/restful weekend with them. The kids absolutely love them and their house. Noah had his first opportunity to sleep in a big boy room set up just for him, and he did so well and was so excited about it being just for boys. He and Phoebe seem to love sharing a room but I’m thinking he may be getting ready for his own space and it may be time to move the girls in together. All the kids are obsessed with the grandparents’ dogs, which are tiny little mikki’s. Philippa kept calling them “ba-ba,” which is her word for baby. Brandon and I were able to get out for a good run together while the kids napped on Sunday. I was able to spend hours knitting. We were all a bit sad to say goodbye, and when we pulled into our neighborhood late Sunday night Phoebe and Noah both started whimpering and Noah said “I hate home.” So apparently, they had a great time. 🙂
This week has been colder, we even saw some flurries earlier in the week! I realize I’ve been really feeling off without a good cold winter and no signs of snow. As much as I am savoring the milder weather with little ones who get cooped up indoors, it just feels so strange to see wisteria blooming and daffodils springing up through the dirt in January. I read on a friend’s blog a week or so ago that “winter is a time for dreaming” and I’ve thought about it so often since. think it’s important for us to have a season where we are forced to live more quiet, small, and slow because the days are short and cold. It’s been a hard week, in some ways, working on a lot of projects, cleaning, and our budget (read: gag me with ruffage). But Brandon did surprise me on New Year’s Eve with those sweet pink roses. And there has been time for reading hand-written cards and knitting baby socks. So life is good.
“winter is the time for comfort,
for good food and warmth,
for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:
it is the time for home.”
– edith sitwell
and for knitting + reading + watching “When Calls the Heart” + “Life Below Zero,” I might add.
Happy wintering, friends!
everything He gives 
What a beautiful family you have! Such precious memories captured here. I read Janette Oak’s books over and over again when I was in high school. I’ve thought to read them again after all these years, but I’m a little afraid I won’t like them as much and maybe it will ruin my sweet memory of loving them so much. That probably sounds silly!
Thank you, Kimberly! I loved perusing your blog the other day. So much beauty and light and I love your style! Did you know that the Hallmark Channel has a series (the third season starts in February) of Janette Oak’s “When Calls the Heart?” I’m ADDICTED. I can’t remember if I read the books when I was younger, I know we had them and I think my sister read them. You should check out the show!
You’re sweet, Martha – thank you! Oh no, don’t tell me how you love the series! I can’t knit while watching TV!! If they’re that good though, I’ll have to check them out.