trey's tall tale ~

before heading in to work the other day i presented miss halley with a potato and some paints and TAH - DAH!

trey's first literary masterpiece.

consumption challenge - one week down

no major obstacles to speak of so far. we've had a couple of close calls but nothing we haven't been able to come back from.

friday evening we spent with our dear friends the gasts. with 5 kiddos combined we opted to stay in and keep it simple. and in this case simple ended up being perfect. so good to catch up.

saturday kate and i were discussing going to movies but pete caught the comment and quickly reminded us of our pledge. so instead kate invited a friend over for the day and we just hung out at home and enjoyed all being together for a splendily low key weekend.

this afternoon we took advantage of a our "locals pass" and spent a couple of hours hiking around the biltmore estate FOR FREE. packed a couple of sandwiches and called it a picnic. the kids had a ball running around in the warm sunshine. hours of entertainment and so many more there just waiting for us.

eat UP ladies!

"a few foods are truly super, packing in more than their share of nutrients and phytochemicals that lower women’s risk for diseases such as breast cancer and heart disease, helping prolong our lives, keep our minds sharp, and at the same time - tasting divine"

take from the TODAY show

extra- lean red meat

salmon

spinach (added some to my soup today - YUM)

berries

wheat germ (any suggestions for this one)

tomato past (had homemade mini pizzas last night --YUM)

nonfat yogurt

sweet potatoes

oranges (i wonder if clementines count)

old fashioned oatmeal

curry (used some in the chic salad i made 2 days ago - super YUMMY)

black beans (will have in our tacos tonight)

fresh herbs

dark chocolate (no thanks)

thougths for the new year

This was written By Regina Brett of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio


1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
1 0. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11 . Make peace with your past so it won't screw up
the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no
idea what their Journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't
be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no
oneelse.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

one last gift of the season ~

SNOW

WNC was covered in a glistening blanket of snow as we woke this morning. our day was filled with sledding, hot coco and a roaring fire. kids head back to school tomorrow. a perfect end to super holiday break.

day #1

the con$umption challenge:

woke to the thought of a yummy brunch with just my little brood at over easy. as my feet hit the cold floor i realized that today was in fact the first day of our month long consumption challenge. errrrrrrrr! a quick attitude adjustment and it was smooth sailing from there.

i did find myself longing for some more organization artillery as we took on the playroom and cleaned out. i put it on the list to revisit come February 1st.

one funny note to add. kate opened a fantastic gift shortly after waking from her "aunt mellie" and "uncle jeff" that included a Target gift card. She curiously looked at it and asked what it was. after we explained to her that she could use it to pick out anything she wanted she quickly replied not this month. even the kids appear to be on board.

more to come-

happy birthday to you!

a big warm shout out to one of my dearest on her 35th!!!

know that i will once again give thanks for you this year.

lot of love from asheville

ps - thanks for the great gifts. they were all a huge hit. my lips are thanking you too!

persistence, patience and a little bit of popcorn...

that's right it took a bit of all three to set kate sailing around the ice rink while grandma and grandpa swenson visisted upon our return from folley beach.

PERSISTENCE = way to go kater

PATIENCE = thanks grandma and grandpa

POPCORN = trey :>)

the fun on folley continues ~

molly-moo, could she be any more beautiful?

trey and moo having some fun in the boat


kate - huh?

aunt allyson and aunt bethie being sisters

being silly sisters

meme -slaving over her yummy yorkshire pudding

a moment with gaw

kate and ella taking gaw for a spin

kate and moo

trey trying hard not to touch...

folley beach ~

and then came PETE-MAS ~

big pete turns 60 and little pete turns 38

the nasons traveled from maine while john, allyson and mike all came from california. we gathered in the south to celebrate , commemorate and frolic in the sun and sand.

luxury accommodations;

opening gifts on the front porch while the sun warms your back;

a long walk on the beach;

pete's infamous southern style ham biscuits, made fresh from scratch;

a in home chef to prepare a family style meal for us all;

an evening spent with those you love;

PETE-MAS is all good!

looks like we'll be hosting the 40th celebration in a few short years.

suggestions?

another fine memory goes down in roes history!

he came!!!

i love witnessing the magic of christmas through the eyes of a child;

i love pretending that i am asleep while i wait with great anticipation for the kids to wake;

i love how the coffee smells brewing on christmas morning, it always seems to smell better;

i love hearing kate come down the stairs;

i love how she asks if he came;

i love how she asks if she can scope everything out;

i love making her wait until 7am to wake her dad and brother;

i love seeing all pretty wrap before the frenzy starts;

i love how trey still just stares at the piles and doesn't quite know what to do with himself for a moment or two;

i love that the fruit in their stockings still excites them;

i love how every gift they open is "the best";

i love allowing chocolate consumption long before most people wake;

i love all the hugs and kisses pete and i receive;

i love the look in pete's eye when he seeing his children in all their glory;

i love knowing that we'll soon be gathering with family;

i love knowing that when it is all over we have it to look forward to again next year;

and i love all the amazing memories that we are left with.