and relax

I took quite a few pictures of the goings on Thanksgiving day.  With good reason, it was the best Thanksgiving we have had in years.

Oh, what a great day.  Let me count the ways:

1.  Baby Jack blessing our food along with Uncle Josh, "And bless the bulldozer, and the bulldozer, and bless the bulldozer."

2.  Mad game of Fraker vs. Orlandi ping-pong, leaving Chris half limping around like an 86 year old man.

3.  Great conversation with great family and friends.

4.  Great mashed potatoes, English style.

5.  Loud, hyper conversations..the only way the Carty family can talk.

6.  Sitting in a blue chair for 10 minutes because Jack ordered me to.

7.  Watching the kids enjoy the Thanksgiving day parade the way I used to when I was younger.

Our Favorites

Emerson: "Eating at the big table with everyone."

Ida: "Playing with everyone."

Josh: "Cherry pie."

Mellissa: "Gathering in the basement."

The comments declared

Alecia: "Ruthie's first jello courtesy of Emily."

Emily: Uncle Josh teaching Emerson to rub balloons on his head and stick them to the wall!

Emily: Ida telling Aunt Emily that she asked Uncle Chris why he likes watching football? Ida then telling Aunt Emily that football is boring.

Emily: Josh Fraker "Is it hot in here?"
Emily: Talking to Alicia about c-sections in the kitchen. :(

Emily: Her dad yelling at her for asking how old Justin is (i only asked because i was trying to remember if we were ever at any stake youth gatherings at the same time as teens).

making it fancy

Josh and I have hosted Thanksgiving for the last 5 years.  It is a tradition that we simply love doing.  This year Thanksgiving feels different.  I have begun feeling more like a true host, more grown up, and more whole after my parents divorce, wanting to make this holiday so special for our loved ones (friends and family) coming.  I think it is finally going to be.

It's a fancy Thanksgiving.  I made napkins.  

I spent about $4.00 on some muslin at JoAnns and jazzed it up a little with the scrap fabric lying around the house. 

Aren't cloth napkins fancy!?

I think 30 is a great year from me.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

fashion tuesday

I was laughing so hard I could barely snap this picture.  But I absolutely had to document Ida's superb problem solving skills.  The question I know wiggles around in her mind until she comes up with brilliant solutions like what you see above: How in the world do I wear both of my favorite things whilest being able to see that I am wearing both?  (Evidence of her favorite things as seen here, here, here, here, and here, and here, and here.  But also here, here, here, and here, and here.)  Do have some "go-to" items in your wardrobe, but don't have one of them be a bathing suit and please don't wear your swimsuit over anything but your skin!     

Dear Friday

Dear Future,
Hi, it's me, just writing to catch up.  Not that it has been long since I last wrote. I mean, I think about you all the time wondering what you have planned for my little family.  I know this won't come as a surprise to you, but I have some ideas of what you could throw our way, ya know, down the road.  Or right now, if you want.  Here's one:

We visited a really cool bog the other day that left us feeling even more determined than ever to live in the country.  But in more of the farm type of country, not the boggy type, please.  Having a bog would confuse the kids seeing as they left calling the afternoon they spent at the "blog" a fantastic adventure.  And we all know my fasication with barns and porches, so lets just kill two birds with one stone.  How perfect!  Can't wait to hear from you soon!

Anxiously waiting,

Mellissa

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Dear Living Room,

Thank you for allowing us endless hours of winter fun.  Riding bikes over your beautiful hardwood floors couldn't be any more entertaining and appreciated. 

We love you,

The Fraker Family

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To whom it may concern,

I love this picture!

Until I find another beautiful picture to share,

Mellissa

I don't remember where I saw this, sorry.

I finished, I made, I found

I finished the last order of dolls.  Bets is just the cutest!

 

I made this banner for my friend's design blog.  It was SO fun.  I think I found a new hobby.

I made another banner for this same awesome friend who overcame Lupus.  She shares her story on this blog.  Take a peek.

I found these pictures on the camera, taken by two little cuties. 

the bears

I collected and was obsessed with Berenstain Bear books when I was younger.  I didn't have all of them, but I had a pretty tall stack.  Every day after morning Kindergarten, I got off the bus, ate lunch, picked out my favorite Berenstain Bear book, either The New Baby or Back To School, and read it with my mom before my afternoon nap.

I sang a little song in my heart when I saw the little tikes sharing a Berenstain Bears book tucked away so nice and cozy.  I am so happy my mom gave me that big stack of books because the kids have loved them just as much as I used to.

*Just a side note....if you haven't ever tried this, please go get some.  It is delicious and I am hooked.*

fashion tuesday from 2008

I absolutely love that Schmidey loves fashion and has played dress up from the moment she could walk.  I will let her know in a few years that wearing socks with sandals in a complete no-no.

 

I like to play dress-up too.  Look what I found.
   

1.  Turleneck dress from Shade.

2.  Upper East Side from Shabby Apple.

3.  Bugle Boy by Shabby Apple.

4.  Maeshowe Shirtdress from Anthropologie.

5.  Madison Ave by Shabby Apple.

6.  Ingrid from Shabby Apple.

7.  Cynthia by Mikarose.

8.  Terra Paisley Shift Dress by JCrew.

Can you hear it?

I heard my sewing machine Saturday afternoon and it sounded awesome!  I made Ida and her Barbie doll, June, matching dresses using scrap fabric left over from her quilt.  I had so much fun just "sewing around" making whatever the fabric moved me to make.   

when your dad is dan conner

These pictures make me SO happy.  Happy like getting a hand written letter unexpectedly in the mail, like collecting pinecones to decorate your house, like coming home and smelling supper bubbling out the door, like standing in an empty barn while the sun glows through the cracks, like stalking and finally buying a HUGE dining room table, like putting a handful of fresh picked peonies in an old giner ale bottle, like wrapping your morning bed in a vintage quilt, or like eating potato salad and a slice of watermelon with your kids at the picnic table while enjoying the hot breeze.         

Dad is looking like Dan Conner in this picture.

Em and I....I have always loved this picture.

Chasing a donkey in Honduras.

Showing off the bikes with my sisters.  Em graduated to a 10 speed.  Jacob as we were used to seeing him in just a t-shirt and diaper cover.

One in a trash bag, one in a clown sheet, and one with a gun.....?  That's a Carty Halloween.

Engagement picture

The worst, yet best, trip ever.  In the word of the other car full of Cartys, written on my sister's Facebook page last night, "SLOW DOWN!"  If you are ever thinking about driving across the United States, in a car with your family for 27 hours straight, during the worst snow storm the West has seen in 10 years, remember to take walkie-talkies so one car full of family members can tell off the other car full of family members for driving too fast.  That was a great trip. 

Little brothers Jacob and Josh on their first day of school.

Me, Emily, and Laura

So proud of you, Josh!

Mason Memorial Day parade. 

Joshua and Gabe

Emily and Joshua