New Vision

Notice Chloe's new glitter hipster glasses?

I got her glasses her at puglypixel.

Tis the Season...

The Christmas Season has officially arrived here at the Huffman house. A few decorations have come out, Christmas movies and music has been playing and the eggnog has been poured.

But you know the season has really started when Chloe starts singing "Jingle Bells" everywhere. It's so much fun to watch a toddler experience the magic of this Christmas season.

Thankfulness

Being thankful feels like a trend right now. Because of Thanksgiving everyone is posting things they are thankful for on facebook and it annoys me a bit. And while that's good to recognize things and people we are thankful for, because so many people are doing it, I tend to push it away.

 But, I have been feeling thankful for so many things in my life and have felt the urge to compile all together. So, I will do it, I will hop on the bandwagon. So, without further ado...

 

No. 1: This man.

Ok, I realize he looks a little mean, but don't let that beard fool ya. He's a pretty nice guy, and he puts up with me. I'm thankful that my husband is a man of God. Cory is always trying to be the best husband and father he can be. He loves God, me and Chloe with all his heart. Cory is my best friend, plus he works hard for the money which allows me to be thankful for No. 4 as well. And he can be funny...at times.

No. 2: Chloe Monster.

Chloe has changed my life forever. I love her dearly. As we struggle to try for another baby (more on that in another post) I realize that Chloe's life is a true miracle and gift from God. Even when she gets into my make-up, art supplies, nail polish and everything else that isn't hers, I still love the little monster and never want to take her for granted.

No. 3: Coffee

I doubt this need further explanation, but in case you do. I LOVE coffee, I LOVE good coffee. I can drink it all the time. Some people may even call me a coffee snob, and I say, "yep I am".  After moving to Colorado from Oregon I can to the harsh realization that coffee IS NOT the same as it is in the great Pacific Northwest. People here settle for crap, like Dunkin' Donuts. Can you feel my passion?

All that to say, I am thankful for great coffee and slightly less thankful for crappy coffee, but still thankful. And, Chloe is following in my footsteps. She loves her americanos too.

No. 4: Being a stay at home mom.

Having Cory be my sugar daddy has allowed me to be a stay at home mom. I love it. I knew before Chloe was born that I would love it. Being a stay at home mom has it's own frustrations and sacrifices, but even with that it's what is right for us as a family.

No. 5: Family

After moving to Colorado almost a year ago, I miss our family so much. I wish Chloe could see all her grandmas, grandpas and aunties more often. I miss being able to spend holidays, birthdays and just everyday life together. Both Cory and my family is who we can be real with, accepted and loved.

No. 6: Friends.

I'm thankful for all our friends, especially the ones in Oregon who know me and love me for who I am. I am thankful for the friends that Cory and I have shared so much of our life with and who let us be apart of their families. I'm so sad that we have to watch our kids grow up from so far away.

No. 7: Friends in Colorado.

God has blessed me with some great friends who are the real deal. I am thankful that after living in Colorado for two days, a friend grabbed me from piles of boxes and took me out to meet other moms who have now become friends. I'm thankful for friends in Colorado that we can grow and share our lives together in way that is real. This is something I thought would take years to find, but took less than one.

No. 8: God's provision, grace and love.

God had provided in numerous ways in our marriage and especially in the last year. He has provided us with an apartment that is pretty dang nice, a car that runs (but who knows for how long), we have food that nutritious and some that isn't (Ben and Jerry's), and God is provided in so many more ways, some that we may never know about. I am also thankful for His continual grace and love in our lives. Without it, who knows where or who I would be.

I never intended for this to be so long, but it is. And, I guess I change my mind on publicizing our thankfulness. It is good and I'm thankful that I did it. Get it? Thankful for being thankful! Ok enough.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Skidamarink

I always sing Skidamarink to Chloe. I'm glad she has caught on and finally sang for the camera. If you watch all the way through, you'll be one of the lucky people that get to hear me sing. I don't just let my wonderful voice be heard by anyone.

 

When I hear this song, I always think of my sister, Beth and I, and how we would watch the Wee Sing videos together. Here is a sample.

 Ahh, memories or the '80s and early '90s.

Silly Slime

A while ago I learned a big lesson:

I made silly slime for Chloe. It was an easy project that was fun, fast and free. A triple "F".

What in the world could go wrong?

But then "it" happened.  While playing, the slime made its way onto Chloe's head. Note: I was probably on Pinterest or Facebook (darn you social media!). I remember seeing her do it and thinking nothing was wrong with it, but maybe it would be a little messy, then a minute later I thought, "what the crap, that stuff is going to take forever to get out."

She is all smiles at this point because she thought it was funny. It was funny...at first.

I was right. That silly slime was no longer something fun. It was a pain in the butt. I spent at least an hour with a comb, a crying Chloe and lots of shampoo, trying to get it out.

I also have dried silly slime stuck to the baseboards behind the toilet. I haven't taken the time to scrub that up. I will probably get to it when we move out.

Lesson: Put the silly slime out of Chloe's reach, or just pay more attention.

Last Days

We are coming up on our last days of being in Oregon and have been here for almost a month. Cah-ray-zee! I have loved all the time we have spent with friends and family, and there have been lots of late nights, yummy northwest coffee, laughing and just sharing life. It's hard to say good-bye, but I can't wait to come home to Colorado, see our Colorado friends and get Chloe on a regular sleep schedule.

All In

Since moving to the Denver area. I have had a few opportunities to do some freelance work with YFC. I thought this would be a good place to share some of my work.

This was the cover for Campus Life's High School Club curriculum. The theme is "Campus Life All In".

I love the theme. It's a good reminder for myself to live my life all in for God, to take advantage of every moment. As a stay-at-home mom, it's easy to slip into a mentality that life will present the same opportunities tomorrow as today. But, that's not true. So today, I will live all in.