One more ...

While I'm on the topic of pretty things, here's one more. If I'm irresponsible in the mornings and don't scrape off my driver side window this is what I get. Isn't it great? I love the intricate details of each crystal. And really love how the crystals look as if they're leaves on the tree. I'm really not a morning person, but stuff like this at least takes the edge off a bit. 

One of these days I'll do a post without a picture. But don't hold your breath.

My mouse path

Saw this online other day and my inner nerd was intrigued. So I tried it. Here is my "mouse path" for half a day at work. The lines are movement and the dots are times where the mouse isn't moving at all. I think it's kinda ... pretty. And interesting. And makes me think about carpal tunnel yet again.

You can do your own here.

Ohhh .. sparkly!

So what happens when your sprinkling system freaks out in the middle of February? Well I'll tell you.

THIS

turns into THIS overnight

Looking for the silver lining in the situation, I have to say that it's all quite beautiful when the light hits it. See?

That is, beautiful until we get our water bill.

More little E

Who's tired of hearing about little Easton? ME EITHER! Over the last couple of weeks Karlee has been kind enough to let me barge in and take pictures of him in all his cuteness:

Things I've learned about Easton: he smells like vanilla (seriously -- not lotion), he's a master burper, and he REALLY wants me to be the first to see him smile. I can tell.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sounds like more of a threat than an expression of love ... but who I am to judge? Happy Valentine's!

Snow day!

Just a few things:

Well, FIRST THINGS FIRST: yesterday I met Easton for the first time! This kid is CUTE, people. He's so miniature and delicate yet he has the biggest feet. I think we're gonna have a tall one on our hands. Quite a change for the Venables :) His face has a thousand expressions and I saw about half of them in the span of 45 minutes. I fear I'm going to become That Annoying Sister who can't get enough of her nieces and nephews ... if I'm not already That Annoying Sister. But I can't help it! Stop giving me such cute nieces and nephews and then I'll think about stopping.

SECONDLY. It's a done deal -- guess where I'll be April 5, 2010? With these guys. And these guys. And I couldn't be happier about it. Don't be jealous. And if you are then get yourself a ticket and come with us. There's still time.

And LASTLY. As a recent convert to Nutella, I feel it my duty to let you know that February 5th is WORLD NUTELLA DAY! I plan to bake a nice Nutella treat tomorrow. Since I'm a little late catching the Nutella wagon anyway, I feel okay about being a day late with making my celebratory Nutella treat. And with this many options, it might take me that long to choose one anyway. Should we see how many times I can use the word "Nutella" in this paragraph?

That's all. For now.

Congrats Karlee & Nate!

"Everywhere in nature we are taught the lessons of patience and waiting. We want things a long time before we get them, and the fact that we want them a long time makes them all the more precious when they come."

Joseph F. Smith

10 second rule

via :: minor details

Only a glimpse.

Just a thought.

I'm not going to run out and get myself a tattoo. But in an alternate world where everyone came standard with one tattoo, I would hope and hope and hope that mine would be something beautiful like this:

via :: b dunlap

Weird. Just ... weird.

Curlie -- any chance we could train Fern to do this?

Happy New Year!

For New Year’s we took an impromptu trip to California which allowed me to cross something off my list: visit San Francisco. Oh and we did. We also got to hang out in beautiful Sutter Creek, do the last session of the year in the Sacramento temple, drive to H&M only to have them close right before we walked in, and pretty much eat EVERYTHING (highlights being clam chowder soup bowls, dessert crepes, enough Raisinettes to ruin me, ice cream, Ghirardelli caramel hot chocolate, and on and on). Oh and also a stunning night drive through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I’m not exaggerating – with the snow covered trees and the moonlight it was like something off a postcard. I was completely mesmerized and consider it right up there with my lightening bug Panama bus ride. It was killing me that my camera was buried in the back. Good thing I got some shots of the beautiful sunrise drive through on the way home.

Anyway. Considering I’ve overextended myself with projects this weekend, I’m not posting individual pictures but doing a slideshow instead. Which actually works out well because I find that I’m not very good with blogger and multiple pictures. So Marmie and Dad – if you’d like commentary call me while you’re watching this. Assuming you DO watch it, that is :)

3D Paper Art

How great is this artist's work? Talk about attention to detail. I'm getting carpal tunnel just thinking about it.

And one of my very favorites:

I always wanted to be a ballerina ... the healthy kind, though. Not eating disorder ballerina like Maureen on Center Stage. Last year during my really annoying FUN physical therapy stint I went to the same place as some of the Ballet West dancers did. I probably looked like a super creep, but it was interesting to watch them stretch out and practice certain things in front of the mirrors. They're all so graceful. I've always wanted to be graceful. This is about as far as I got with my ballerina career:

Guess I'll just ramp up the yoga and see what I can do about that "graceful" thing.

Oh, and we won't even talk about Josh's muscle man tank top in this pic. Or my patch of bangs. Or Jen's super authentic tamborine. Or Curlie's gingham faux suspenders. Nope.

A Venable Family Christmas - 1986 ... ish? Sure.

Things have changed a lot since these Christmas mornings on the stairs, one of those changes being the absence of Care Bear and GI Joe pajamas (or basically any pajama with built in feet). But even without footed pajamas the idea is still the same and I'm grateful for all the wonderful blessings in my life. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

P.S. We practiced our Guitar Hero skills again this Christmas. Our band, The Roman Irish, is a force to be reckoned with. I double dog dare you to challenge us. As long as we get to choose the set list :)