Living so close to the city, my world oftentimes feels busy and frantic. There are endless places to visit or things to see and do. Going on weekend adventures either up into the mountains or visiting quaint little towns helps to keep me sane the rest of the week. Our recent visit to Edison, WA demonstrated how charming and lovely a small town existence would be. In Edison they don't just yarn bomb, they wrap entire afghans around utility poles. In Edison, most stores operate a few days a week and are open for the most idyllic hours. 

Good morning! I hope you all enjoyed a lovely weekend. It was a wet one around here, which for those of us who enjoy mountain sports means we have been receiving buckets of snow!! The snow has been late to join the game this year, but it has been more than making up for lost time. This past Saturday while we were out snowshoeing Cameron had the brilliant idea to build a snow cave. Although it seems counter intuitive that something made of snow and ice can be warm and cozy, it truly was. 

As of late I have been making more of an effort to mail fun packages to my friends and family. I know how much I appreciate get something fun in the mail, so I have been trying my best to spread the love. For this simple birthday package I thought it would be fun to stick with the recipient's favorite color which is purple. 

A couple weeks ago, I was sitting in church when the teacher posed the question, "How many of you have children?" As I watched the hands dart up around me I was astonished to see how slowly and sheepishly I raised mine.  Although I gave birth to our beautiful son fourteen months ago because he is not here I find it difficult to identify with other mothers. The path to motherhood has not been a straight line for me. 

No matter how old you are is something inherently comforting about going to Grandma's house. Within the confines of those walls you can rely on things generally staying the same from year to year. The only recognizable change is as the wrinkles on their faces deepen the love between you grows. 

In an ever changing, world I was grateful for the consistency I found there. I looked forward to sitting on the couch gazing over at the table lamps and thinking the plastic dust covers were the strangest thing I had ever seen, being able to eat off of television trays while I watched t.v. or knowing there would be an endless assortment of sweet treats from morning until night. 

Deception Pass is the straight which separates Fidalgo Island from Whidbey Island. It connects Skagit Bay, part of the Puget Sound with the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There are beaches, trails and plenty of space to explore for an afternoon. Sometimes it can get really windy, but in the Spring and Summer it can be a lovely place for a picnic or a short hike. 

Today, I am honored to be guest posting over on Marie LeBaron's wonderful craft blog; Make and Takes. I share my pattern for a quick and easy crochet baby blanket. Depending on how fast you crochet, this blanket can easily be completed in a couple hours or days. 

These blankets are the combination of my two favorite things: being crafty and finding a way to honor my son's short life.

If you are in need of a last minute gift idea for Valetine's Day may I suggest one of the following...

Football has never been an important part of my life. No one I was close to ever played and I do not have the patience to sit in front of the television for hours on end. Frankly, the idea of grown men tackling each other kind of creeps me out. But when the Seahawks continued to play well and eventually made it to the Super Bowl Seattle came down with a serious case of Hawk fever. It all started with the 12th man, the notion that the enthusiasm and noise of the fans have a direct effect on the ability of Seahawks to win. New terms were coined like Hawkitecture, 12th man signs were put up all over the city, there was a run on Skittles and people around town seemingly appeared happier.

I challenge you to find a man more happy, content and fun to be around than my husband. He is everything I am not; funny, easy to get along with, makes friends easily, often is the life of the party and is good in groups.  Socially, I like to be his wing woman. As his other half, I like to bask in his kindness and good heart. 

If there is anything I have learned since loosing our son it is how important celebrating the moment is. I am so glad we had a big party to announce we were pregnant and then later hosted a gender reveal party. Those parties, although seemingly small things are some of my fondest memories of being pregnant. Had we not shared our joys with others, it would have been a missed opportunity.