Grateful

"I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual. It is surprising how contented one can be with nothing definite--only a sense of existence. My breath is sweet to me. O how I laugh when I think of my vague indefinite riches. No run on my bank can drain it, for my wealth is not possession but enjoyment." -Henry David Thoreau

Today's Memory

Nate and Juliana going to down to the garage tonight to try and find something:

Juliana: (as she leads the way) "I'll go with you into the garage Nate, don't worry!"

Nate: (Again, as Juliana leads the way) "Don't worry Juliana, I got it!" (uh, huh, sure you do...)

Juliana: Um, Nate, I can't reach the light switch."

Nate: "Hummm...oh well!" (as he turns around and runs back into the hallway and up the stairs-leaving his sister behind in the dark!)

Purging

Seriously, need I say more?

We've been busy here at the Agliata house, getting rid of STUFF, and more stuff. After two moves over the last few years, you would think that we would have been able to keep the clutter down, but I have learned that when you have kids the clutter just seems to keep on multiplying, almost on a daily basis!

This past Sunday, I spent nearly the entire day purging and de-cluttering, and sadly, never even made it past the kitchen! It was a lot of work, but at the end of the day, I ended up with two big boxes of stuff to go to the Goodwill, and a bit of stuff in the garbage as well.

We also keep a lot of the kid's art supplies in the kitchen, and as you can see, we (Jules) has issues with putting caps back on her markers. When I pulled out the bucket and saw how many markers were cap-less, she and I had a little talk. What a waste! Let's just say she has been banned from using markers for a while...

But in the end, ahhhhh...my kitchen feels like a good place to be, and that, I like very much.

Project 365

Last year, one of my New Year's goals was to become a better photographer. I worked on it here and there, but I still have a LOT to learn. This year, I am still hoping to learn the ins and outs of optimizing my photography skills, but I figured a little extra motivation would go a long way for me. So with that in mind, I created, 365 Days of Life, an additional blog meant solely to document each day of 2011 with a photo or two. The daily photo might be my way of sharing exciting news or a representation of a boring, non-eventful day, it might bring rise to laughter or make you weep with emotion...well, probably not, but either way the photos will be there,! And collectively, throughout the year, they will represent a year in this life.

Christmas 2010

Our Christmas was heartwarming, and alive the gifts of family, friends, and thankfulness. I feel honored to have so many wonderful people in my life!

Here are a few memories from this year's Christmas season:

Celebrating Uncle Michael's birthday

Cooking dinner with my mom

Spending time with family: my sister Krista and my dad

Nate spending time with Papa

Enjoying new Christmas gifts

Finding Santa's gifts!

Snow on Christmas Day in Birmingham!

Making Christmas cookies with Nate and Jules

Nate's class party- opening a box of Christmas bells sent from the North Pole!

Juliana's class party- exchanging books with one another.

Meeting Saint Nick-it was an interesting experience to say the least...!

Today's Memory

After Nate was asked if had had any good dreams last night, he responded (very frustrated might I add), "I just can't make dreams anymore... It just doesn't work!"