A New Year

It's New Years Eve and Joshers and I have spent it watching this way cool flick. If you cats haven't checked it out yet, you gotta get it! I love a film that celebrates the abnormalities and dysfunction of adolescence and family life.

Watching this flick gently stirred the still pot of my memories. I found myself reliving awkward coming of age moments that have been safely stored away in the archives of Green family history... such as the impressive Green sibling catwalk debut at an Eastgate mall fashion show... or the calculated Green family departure of an overpriced Walt Disney restaurant orchestrated by Artsy after they had already seated us and distributed the hot towels (I can still hear him say "On the count of three everybody!")

I guess we all have those moments - It's funny how these memories get funny after the fact, right?!

Yes, I am apparently blogging into the New Year... it is a new year indeed!
Happy 2007!

christmas up north!!!

Did I mention that we had a blast up north??? Yes, yes... Christmas was truly a very merry and fun filled occasion for this lil' fam.

Josh's mom, Ginny and her husband, Kurt, made our Christmas so special by opening up their home not only to us but also to the Kriby's. Let's just say that our holiday was decked with lots of lovelies to spend it with!!!
It was nice to be able to spend time with Ginny & Kurt on their own turf and get an idea of their everyday lives, since they are always coming down to see us kids.

For those of you that haven't had the pleasure of experiencing it, Ginny's cooking is divine and I can't fully communicate how nice it was to have someone create such masterpieces for all of us day after day. I forgot where I was and a very big part of me just didn't want to leave. How nice it is to be pampered. smile!

To make things even betta, we got to hang with Cannon, Leah and the girls! What glorious chaos it is to have 3 little girls rambling around all over the place... playing, smiling, drooling, taking things, giggling, pulling hair, throwing food, crawling all over, climbing stairs (yes, i said climbing stairs... a new one for Lavender!) and all sorts of other spontaneous merry making!!! It was nice to see them all playing together and keeping us guessing. Kids are cool!

We also got to hang out with Matt, Jerah, Erin and Becky... and Lavender got to meet her match (he he), sweet little Perrin. I think these two kids are in a secret competition to see whose head is big enough to make it into the Guiness book of world records... just kiddin.... they really were cute together though... rambling around and staring at each other. So cute!!!

Can't get enough time with those New Yorkers!!! We went to the Philly Art Museum and that was super funski!!! Lavender got a Van Gogh action figure with an interchangable head (one head is normal and the other has a bandage over the ear) - funny.

I will post more on these things lata... see ya'll cats.

Hey becky.... If you're reading this... I had a really good time catching up with you! So glad to be able to spend a little time with you... give Devon my best!

Christmas wit da Greens

So we're back from enjoying a very merry christmas up north with Josh's momsy, kurt and the kirby crew. We had ever so much fun that I will blog on about when I get around to posting the Philly pics...
but this a long overdue posting all about the Greens... our 1st or 2nd christmas celebration while we were still in town.
I love having so much family around to share all the celebrating at holiday times.
We ended up having 3 christmas's total... one with David & Bonnie (Josh's Dad & his wife).... one with my fam... and yet another with Ginny & Kurt (Josh's mom & her husband) and the Kirbys.... so there were LOTS of peoples to rejoice with during the holidays for us!!!!
These are some snaps from Green christmas that I like a lot. I couldn't post all of the pics I like, so you cats will have to wait for more pics from this here holiday... I promise both Joshs were indeed present!

I could say many many things about the ins and outs of Green Christmas...
Here are just a few of the things that cross my mind... the wonderful cooking of Mimi... the frosty cheeked little ones playing on the Chicky town playground... the seemingly senseless string of Green family inside jokes that reach back decades... and the sounds of laughter echoing through a formerly empty southern house.

These "small recollections" are what seem to drift to the surface of a mind that is clouded with many sugary glazed holiday celebrations.... Perhaps these small echoes are the things I will probably remember when I'm 80.... and my heart is filled with thanks.

Grreat new flick

Yes, Yes, I know... snazzy movie poster here, right...
I just wanted to give a little shout out to this great little film we watched the other night.
I was pleasantly suprised and delighted to discover that this strangely titled piece was not only extremely well shot, edited and composed, but also that the characters were wonderfully unique and the acting talent really worked its magic on a truly distinctive story.

For all you artists and creative people out there, you will greatly appreciate a film that focuses on excellence in craftsmanship and the creative process. Even though this film is about the development of manufacturing shoes and not "high art" I find it to be relevant to all creative people, whether they might be making candles or oil paintings.

I just really appreciated observing a person working their way through the creative process and trying to navigate their way around the delicate balance of form and function.

I feel like most of the time movies always show the artist as a flake and the artistic process as this highly dramatic and emotional upheaval, when most of the time my experience is quite the contrary... I find that most of my artist pals are quite pragmatic about themselves and their work, knowing what they want and searching until they find it... I think perhaps the artistic process is more about trial and error and trying things on until you find the perfect fit than about a dark and tortured soul.

Well now, I didn't mean for this post to be quite the rambly soap boxing it has become, but oh well, sometimes you suprise yourself by how many thoughts you have creeping around in there.

CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS

I love Christmas time... I love hearing all the Christmas music everywhere you go and all those wonderful holiday smells... like the smell of evergreen clippings... fur scented candles... coffee... scotch tape and wrapping paper. I love all those Christmas rituals like baking cookies and wrapping present after present... and my favorite - watching those you love open those beautiful packages after all the waiting waiting and anticipating! I just love it all!!!

Here are the Kring Christmas cards I've been working away on. I made two different kinds... one in a rectangular format and one in a square. I don't know which I like better, but nevertheless here they are!

I am not finished sending all of them yet, so don't get sad if you don't find one in your mailbox!!
And for those of you who have moved recently... I need those addresses, kids!

These pics turned out kinda dark, so use your photoshop imaginations, guys!!

3 Year Anniversary time

Each year our anniversary comes so close to Christmas that it makes for a bit of sweet chaos. Here is the evidence of such sweetness!

This first pic is of Josh's anniversary gift to me... you may say these boots look like wicked witch o the west boots, but really they were just the prop at the end of a delightful scavenger hunt.
Josh wrapped up this delightful little riddle in a pretty jewerly box... that led to another note, with another riddle and another spot with a great suprise....Money for a pair of lovely boots (the boots in the pic just symbolized the real gift)... lovely leather boots... of my own choosing... yay... I have to say I have been whining for MONTHS and MONTHS about wanting a pair. It was my hearts desire and now I can go and pick out the perfect pair that fit my toesies and taste just right!

I love how Josh just knows me thru and thru... what I like, what I don't... What is fun to me and what bores me to tears. I love him so. And he suprises me everyday. Thanks to the sweetest man in the world... you are treasured!

And here is a little pic of one of Josher's anniversary presents from me... (his big present is on its way from an artist in Austin... more on that lata).
Anyways... I know this pic just looks like jars, but for months and months I have been memory gathering. I write down little tiny moments when Josh does something kind... or funny... cute... generous ... . . . or ummm... sexy... and then I roll them up and hide them away in these little memory jars, so Josh can read them and remember them too.
I love reveling around in remembering or at least acknowledging so many of these seeming everyday simple acts that when you really look at them, you can see a person's soul.

I wrote a little diddy inspired by my sweet...

I love Josh Kring.
He rings my thing.
It makes me want to sing.
He already gave me some bling.,
so now I call him my king.

Peace out.

fruits o tha spirit tree

so i got kinda bummed about traditional christmas this year... i just did not want to see 1 santa in my house, ya know... so....
i thought why not hang scripture on my tree, since that's what i say i believe and all.
and what better things to think on than the fruits of the spirit? its strange how just seeing those words everyday changes little things you do or say. i like this way

and i like these pics of how it all turned out.
i think these pics are the best i've taken in a while. i hope you enjoy them too!

Thanksgivin wit da Girlz

Our wee thanksgiving was made so bright with the presence of the Kriby crew. Cannon & Leah were able to come up, so we got to revel in the pleasure of their company and the abundance of little girls runnin about. Sooo nice to have them all here.... Beautiful chaos... lots of laughter, cries, giggles, runny noses and suprises. Love em all !!!

(this first pic of Fern lettin Lavender know whats up just cracks me up - makes me think of all those "how old are you" measuring up convos of long ago)

Of course, there was good food, good conversation and just good fun. I just can't say how much I love Thanksgiving... such a chill holiday... lots of family, lots of food, no worrying about presents, and generally just focusing on the many many ways God blesses our lives. Too bad we get so caught up with santas, bunnies and other festive entities during holidays, ya know!

Anyway, I'm in tha midst of christmas cookie madness here... I will pop out some more words when the sugar lets go of my system... smile!!!

Athens town

So, the fam took a little trip to Athens town this weekend to see sweet Amelia and Lee. How nice it was to have some time to catch up... to breathe... time to talk and be silly. We felt like we were on vacation... no pressure... no schedule... just fun and good food. I didn't want to leave... but I never really want to leave their company anyways. I guess everyone feels that way about their oldest friends... people who know ya and all your quirks... and love ya anyway!

Here are a few pics of Lee with our little one... I love these. Lavender fell in love with Lee the moment he scooped her up. She's been smiling at him ever since. I don't know what kind of special wooing skills Lee seems to have... but I can't attest to their power. So cute!

Some how I didn't get a good in focus pic of Lavender and Amelia... hmmm. sorry, girl.

And one last thing... for anyone taking a trip to Athens, GA anytime soon, I gotta a couple of tips... You absolutely must stop in at the Last Resort... a restuarant downtown with incredible food and charm to match. They make one mean cheesecake that is worth every calorie it packs. mmmmmmmmmmm. Also I am forever happy to shop around in couple of really unique spots... Helix and Toulas... so cute stuff!

SSScrunchy Face

When Lavender gets excited this gleeful scrunchy face appears... I luv it. Her dadda can evoke this response on a moments notice.... see.

It makes me smile.

Luv these ones.

Amusing Ourselves

sometimes on rainy days i like to take pictures of me and my girl. I can do this all by myself because I'm WonderJen and I like these big facey pictures... even if Josh thinks they're silly. I take pic after pic with the camera in the air... on the floor... in my very outstretched arm until Lavender cries enufff Ma! I know they are not these perfectly composed snapshots but I love em. Here they are...

Fun times with Palmer and Blakey

I forgot to tell you cats about a couple o thangs...
Blake S. (Josh's former guitar playing band mate from high school - for those non-Chatty native readers) came in town this past weekend and brought his sweet wittle girl, Palmer, over to see us.
It was a lot of fun to catch up on what's new and, of course, tell tales of old times. So fun to be with friends who you have history with, ya know!

Here is a pic of wee Palmer and Ella, who played together so well... and the other pic is Juden who sat all quiet and cozy (thanks to a severe case of doggie fear - txs Adel) with his papa for at least an entire half hour. What a monumental photo... take a good look cause you won't see this again!

Fabulous Fall

The more this season begins to fade the more I realize how much I adore it. I love the festivities in the Fall... searching for the perfect pumkin with the perfect stem... carving pumkins... and dressing up for Halloween.
Plus, there are all these special small things that make my heart swell... like wonderful orange and yellow colors everywhere... the smell of spices in coffee shops... and the beginning of eagerly awaiting the suprises of the holidays to come... especially Thanksgiving... I love a holiday centered on thankfulness and being together (minus all the giftgathering stress like at christmas)! Yep, I love it all!

Holidays make me want to make things, like this wreath or my little Tumbleweeds. This makes me happy.

Here are some pics of things that all make me smile... Lavender with a pumkin, Fall trees and handmade things.

Cakes for Mommas

My momma's B-Day is actually today... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!

We had a little ol' celebration this weekend with some local girlfriends while Dadda was a campin'. Apparently, I thought the occasion called for me to turn into Martha Stewart of Chicky town.
I just wanted to make a birthday cake that was beautiful for my sweet mom, who has made countless cakes in her time for her family... (and let's face it, most of the covenant college community). Unfortunately so many recipes I found require 2hours or even 1 freagin day! So, I decided to make a Chocolate Earl Grey Cake and here is the result! I think it turned out pretty cute. And Mom had candles to blow out. Check it out!

My hat is off to all the Moms out there who have spent countless hours on cakes, costumes, toys and generally making life not only more fun, but beautiful. Love ya'll! I wish I could muster the energy to make a cake for each one of you... just because.

I have all these MANYMANY things to show ya'll. I got really far behind in postin' stuff due to a case of computa itis... that's what I call it when the thought of loosin' an hour or so on techy devices makes my eyes itch. I hope I'm not the only cat out there that has a love hate relationship with technology... so fickle is my heart!

Anyway, there are many more snippety snips of my days to come, so check back soon.

HALLOWEEEEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is our Hallowed night of spookiness! Little Lavender and Ella were transformed into acorns, thanks to the hard work of their Mimi... Nice work!!! Don't they just look so adorable! The girls handled all the costuming and Tricking and Treatting like champs... so little fussin'- just a happy little twosome!
Now to the rest of the St. E posse... we have almost the entire crew of the Wizard of Oz with Dorothy, the Lion and the Scarecrow (also know as Meadow, Dove and Oak). How perfectly they fit their parts, eh?!!!
And last, but never least... Here is a wee wittle cowboy also known as Juden, who rode in literally from the WILD WILD West!!! Crazy boy... runnin and jumpin and going full speed ahead in pursuit of CANDY CANDY CANDY!!! Juden was hilarious making the neighborhood rounds... when someone would open their door, Juden would yell "Trick or Treat" and walk right in! So funny to watch that bold little guy! He also did this one hysterical thing I have to mention... He pointed his plastic orange cowboy gun at Scott's tummy and said "Bang!... Does that feel better?" It was so fun to watch all the kiddos running about in little costumes smiling and out of breath from the candy conquest. It brings up all those memories of past Halloweens and costumes that Mom tirelessly labored over without much of a thank you.

To all moms out there... THANKS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK!!! Holidays (and everydays) would never sparkle without your presence and dedication. We love ya!

Baptismal Bliss

Yes, yes... we got little Lavy baptized this Sunday. I found the whole experience to be quite moving. It seemed like so many very different emotions were flowing right across me wave by wave... Here we were standing in a church Josh was baptized in... that we just joined... (which was quite a big thing for little non commital Jen) with our little daughter who was sitting pleasantly unaware in a christening gown that I wore when I was a babe.
It seemed like time was so long and short all at once... How come all the big things in life make time move this way? I dunno... but I tried not to cry.
I am so thankful and happy to be part of a community of believers where we feel so at home (but challenged too) and to have the support as our little family gets bigger and stronger. God is good... His blessing abound to us!

Blue Skies

This weekend was so nice... and so chill.
me likey this way of things.

here is a little snippet of Joshers flying little Lavy around the yard. They looked so purty against the big blue sky it just had to memorexed.
aaaaaaaaaaa blue sky... we miss you....
tooo much rainsie.

and another thing... Lavender's shirt says "I'm definately up to something"... so cute... thanks mimi!

My New Favorite

so my The Science of Sleep is my new favorite movie. Joshie and I went out on a date this weekend (thanks to Mom!) and we saw this wonderful little film. It is magical, creative and ever so inspiring... I love movies about characters who make things. Seeing this movie made me want to go home and make little people out of oatmeal boxes and toilet paper rolls.... like we did when we were kids. I guess that is it... This movie made me feel like a wee kiddo that only needed cardboard and a bit of duck tape to make one delightful evening fly by.
This movie is by the same director that did The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind...which i like too.

Hope you guys get a chance to see it... it's well worth it! Smiles to yous

Shushi??

so Jess and I decided to have a little picnic lunchy with in the park with the girls yestaday. sushi just sounded too good to pass up, so we went over to Sushi Nabe ordered a few rolls and took em over to Coolidge.

I haven't visited Sushi Nabe since it relocated to Coolidge Park. I have to say that it was quite amusing to check out the eclectic (...not quite sure what else to call it) decor smattered across the space. Jess and I about peed in our pants when we discovered that not only was there an autographed drawing of the good ol' Alabama boys hanging on the wall, but that one of the boyz dedicated the signage to "Shushi Nabe" ... eh eh eh - so funny! Gotta love country music icons!

I think Lavender and little Lou had a pretty good time playing and sticking leaves, keys and such in their mouths. he he...

So nice to carve out a little time with my girl Jess... thank goodness for friends and little calm moments like these.

I liked this frosted winder pic. Hope you do too.

More lata