Top Three. by Berkley Illustrations.

I may add Winnie Cooper as a close runner up,

but this is pretty much perfect.

I love you, Berkley Illustrations.

Find their Top Three print here.

Christmas Past. circa 1980 something.

Sorry, little bro.  I solemnly swear never to decorate you again.

the winner...

Hooray!!  I emailed, ya, Buggsby.

Thank you to everyone who entered, and pinned, and facebooked!!

this is it.

When you think your kids are watching a movie, but somewhere in the middle of dvd saturation they all become red carpet guests into DreamLand. {Except for the one upstairs who opted out of movie time}. Conan calls me in to see our kids, fast asleep. 

This is when you want to stare at them in the dark for a really long time.
because when you squint you see them differently.  Eternally.  As companions, gifted to me, here to teach me.  Somehow, as they sleep, their purpose is clear and powerful.  

This is when it's clear:
I need to learn.  I need to watch.  listen.
quiet.  still and humbled.

I grab my camera and we turn on the light to take a picture - because a picture lasts.
My patience and memory doesn't.

We carry them to bed.  

We carry on.

I forget, and I get busy, and I get frustrated.

Thank goodness for that moment when you randomly decide to browse iphoto because you just want to do something that takes no energy and no prisoners.  And you find the picture. And you want to stare for a really long time.

this is it.

This is what they teach me when they're asleep.

to watch.
and remember.

still.  quiet.
humbled.

grateful.

Merry Christmas in the shop.

I have just listed a whooey of stuff in that etsy shop.
And it's all marked down pretty good with free shipping!  hooray!!

This calls for a giveaway. -THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED-

Leave a comment with what you'd get from the shop if you had an extra free $30 laying around, and if your name is chosen {randomly} that's what you'll get....anything you want up to $30!
Including a custom order.  That means, let's say, if you really really want 4 Paper Cut Heart Quotes that say "I'm awesome" to hand out to your friends and family this holiday but all the heart quotes are sold out, it doesn't matter because you have that big red heart up there that says  anything you want.

And you will be awesome. for real.

Mention it on facebook and get another entry.
Pin something from the shop on Pinterest and get another entry.
Just leave extra comments telling me you did.
And please give me a way to get a hold of you in case you win.  Or else that would stink.

Giveaway closes 11:59pm Sunday, December 11th
winner will be announced Monday morning, December 12th.

Yippee!