The prize for silliest child is awarded to...

... nah, too close to call! ;)

snapshots

little moments to treasure...

 

Summer

Summer!  Ah, summer...it's here!  Time to put the chocolate chips in the freezer so they don't melt in the cupboard.  Time for popsicles!  Of all flavors.  Including chocolate.

Time for blueberry picking!

...and blueberry lemonade!

With the heat spiking rapidly, we also needed more inside activities.  I never would have guessed these letter worksheets would have been such a big hit!

We have been doing pretty well at keeping a few tomato plants alive this year. We decided not to try again at a big garden this year, and just have some tomatoes, basil, and pepper plants.  Much more manageable!  Since we have so few they all fit in the flower beds in front of the house, so it's so easy to take care of them!  I realized that previous gardens suffered from the "out of sight, out of mind" location that we put them in...oops!

I hope you are all having a wonderful summertime full of watermelon, sprinkler play, popsicles... and maybe some firefly catching? :)
 

atmosphere

"The way to test which books have a good flavor, Lewis says, is to ask which books you reread. Having read a book once, you know the plot, so you know what's going to happen.  Then why bother to read it again? You bother to read it again if you enjoy the atmosphere. You like being part of that imagined world. You can't be surprised by the events of the story, but you can be enthralled by its taste. In that sense, the atmosphere is much more important than the plot."
— Michael Ward, in The Narnia Code: C.S. Lewis and the Secret of the Seven Heavens 

So powerful.  

 

 I see how this is true for places as well... I don't just love the comfyness of the hammock, I love the essence of what a hammock is.  I swing in the hammock and feel like I'm on the beach.  I like shopping at Target over Walmart (although due to price and convenience I rarely get to indulge that preference), but it's because of the atmosphere.  Marketers of course use that knowledge to their advantage.  It makes me think about the atmosphere of the home.  Obviously we should have an atmosphere of love and joy.  But what physical things can we do to create an atmosphere that is welcoming and aesthetically comforting and homelike? Obviously the first place my mind goes is decor.  But most of the beautiful pictures I see are not really welcoming to real life.  They embody it in a condensed form, sometimes...lots of beautiful foods and plates on a staged table, or a couch so full of beautiful pillows there isn't room for a toddler.  So it isn't just a beautiful home that I'm thinking of.  It's a relaxing one.  One you want to be in. 

We've been working on some renovations and decluttering (mainly that means we've demolished the downstairs bathroom and office...) and I'm really excited about intentionally quieting and simplifying and unifying our home this summer.

And painting it all a relaxing, peaceful color. Like this one...? :)

Source: postcardfromparis.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Can We Just Live Outside?

(I don't mean that seriously, but only because of ticks & mosquitoes & tornadoes & thunderstorms.  Everything else about outside is great.)

Changing Seasons

Rejoice with me, for the grand sorting and switching and trying on and packing away of clothing in preparation for the warmer weather is DONE.  Thank goodness.  Except for hauling seven rubbermaid tubs (ALL the tubs needed sorted, since I hadn't thoroughly since Levi was born) back up the stairs and stowing them away in storage, that is, and I can't do that until tomorrow since it would wake up all the sleeping children!  Oh, and I still have to check to see if I have any summer sandals in the box of kid's shoes in storage, but THAT sounds manageable.  That sounds like a breeze comparatively.

Miriam has been in heaven - she loves switching outfits four times a day, so having an entire box of summer clothing to try on made her SO happy.  Between having her loving all the bright summer dresses, and sorting through all the adorable little rompers for Levi, I'm getting excited for summer!  Although... it is rather rainy out this week.  It looks more like rubber boot and umbrella weather.  I'm ignoring that for the moment, though!

( Note to self: you will think that sorting out and switching out the clothes is the task of a day, but it is NOT. It is the task of a week, with helpful small children asking questions and trying things on (or declining to try things on when needful), and needing bottoms wiped and breakfast/lunch/dinner made.  Next time, prepare your mind accordingly, and pick up a few frozen pizzas and new DVDs from the library.  Trust me on this! )

Avett Brothers Concert

So, the Avett Brothers came to town.  My sweet husband ordered tickets at the soonest possible moment and looked forward to it like it was Christmas morning.  Or better.

We dropped off the big kids with Grandma and Grandpa and headed into town.  Dates for us always involve a LOT of driving - usually at least 2 hours - which is kind of nice in a way because it's good talk time, but kind of not nice when it's late and you're ready to be home and you still need to pick up kids and take them home.  But we were super blessed because one of their aunts brought them home and put them to bed for us, since we weren't going to make it back until at least midnight, with a 8pm show, so that did make things a lot easier!


We planned on having dinner at a little pub that specializes in local foods, since we had a gift certificate, but sadly they had too long of a wait for that to work out.  So we walked around the corner and found a fun little Asian restaurant.  Levi chowed down on the stir fried broccoli off my plate, and I really enjoyed my sweet and sour chicken - very good!  I love Asian food and it's not something I'm good at recreating at home, sadly...we also enjoy Mexican food, but I've had better luck at making that at home.

Anyway, after we ate we headed over to the show, where the doors had just opened.  We ran into a friend and chatted for a while before heading inside and finding our seats.  Levi was just along for the ride in the ring sling, and very much enjoying all the new things to look at.  He is usually a pretty regular baby as far as sleep time, so I was unsure how he'd do at a super loud concert at bedtime. As it turned out, with the aid of a pair of junior earmuffs, he did GREAT.  He had a little trouble going to sleep in the seats, since he was watching the lights and enjoying them, but I knew he had to be exhausted so I took him out and fed him and he was out like a light snuggled up to me in the ring sling.  And he stayed asleep... even through the super loud songs, even through the teenagers behind us screaming for an encore, even through ME singing along and whooping.  I was so thrilled!  The reviews had me hoping that these would be the ticket to protecting his ears and keeping him happy and able to sleep, and they certainly delivered. :)

Plus now that we have them, I am sure we'll be using them again.  Maybe for taking in a movie?  Or another concert?  Or for fireworks that might scare a small one?

(Note: I am truly this weirdly enthusiastic about these.  This is not a paid review, nor was I given these by the company.  No, as strange as it may seem, especially to those of you who are not yet parents, I genuinely just am tickled pink to own a pair of baby ear muffs.  True story.  Although, yes, that is an affiliate link.  But beyond that, I am not profiting by extolling the virtues of these things.  They're just that awesome.)

Shelving the topic of the ear muffs, it was a truly fantastic show.  The Avett Brothers gave it their all and really put on a wonderful performance.  They are one of our favorites, and we frequently listen to their music, so I loved recognizing their songs and enjoying the extra dimension that a live performance gives. It was absolutely great being able to see them live and hear them do our favorites.  They even came out and did a very generous encore, even though they must have been absolutely exhausted from doing such a high energy show already.

On a funny note, the crowd was a really interesting mix.  Hipsters, college students, teens, older folks, parents with kids (we were definitely not the only people with a child there, although I think Levi may have been the youngest!) - it was a fun and varied crowd.  Although I'm not sure when I've seen more plaid shirts and Tom's shoes in one place before! ;)

We hit the drive through for some coffee on the way home, and finally fell into bed at 1.30am.  Unfortunately, this all happened to be the weekend of the time change. Hahahahaha. So we lost an hour the next morning.  All I can say is the next day involved a whole lotta coffee.

But it was worth it!

Spring is here!

The daffodils are blooming, the grass is green, the wind is blowing, and spring has sprung!

We've been celebrating with lots and lots of time outside, and by breaking out the chalk and bubbles.  And we even hung the hammock today!

Now if I can find the missing pieces to the popscicle molds, we'll be set for warm weather. ;)




I got a haircut!  Sideswept bangs.  My stylist was super sweet, and asked me a million questions about what I usually do and what I wanted.  I showed her my pinterest board of what I wanted, and she gave me a great cut.  I was kind of nervous, since I haven't had a pro cut for a while and was worried that I would end up with something I didn't like, but thankfully that was not the case, and now I feel confident going back to her! :)

It was also a crazy day, because due to being up all night after a tornado warning a few days before, I totally thought it was a day earlier in the week than it was.  I felt SO silly when my sweet sister-in-law walked in the door (she went into town with me and sat with the kids while I had my hair cut) and I realized I had to leave in fifteen minutes!  Thankfully with her help we got everybody packed up and presentable and out the door in time. :)

Nathan has been enjoying a lot of new books from the library... I found a list somewhere of fun kids books and put a bunch on hold so they've been coming in gradually.  Paddington in the Garden, Frog and Toad Together, Where the Wild Things Are...and not from the library, but a fun new story for them nonetheless, we sat down one day and read nearly the whole first book of the Boxcar Children series.  That was especially fun since I have fond memories of reading those myself! I was a little surprised at how enthusiastic they were about a chapter book....I'll have to start reading more of those to them!

What fun read aloud books are your favorites? :)

Nine (and a half...) months

(I am terrible right now at writing down milestones or making records of what is happening with my kiddos!  I document it in a fashion, but I'm not sure posting pictures to Facebook is going to cut it as fulfilling my role as family historian.  Maybe if I shove them all in a photo book later?  Let's go with that plan!)

Anyway, don't die of shock, but here's an actual update on our littlest person.

Levi is pulling up now, AND standing up in the middle of the room.  He triumphantly smacks his fat hands on the coffee table in triumph.  He also crawls VERY fast!

He is also getting pretty handy at this whole NOM NOM NOM thing.  See evidence of banana destroying abilities, to left.  Still totally variable whether/how much he's actually ingesting, but he's having a blast with it so his budding relationship with solid foodstuffs is going well. 

Favorites besides banana include green beans (frozen are fun too for the soothing feel on the gums), soft cooked squash Mama fished out of the soup, orange slices grabbed off the big kid's snack platter, roast beef pieces, and scrambled egg. 

(If you're curious about our approach to solids right now, it's a mish mash of Baby Led Eating and real food for babies.  Only, no liver.  *shudder*  If I won't eat it, he doesn't have to!)


We are really loving our used Didymos wrap we bought.  It is far and away getting the most love of any of our carriers right now.  Micah has always liked the mei tais best, but is very partial to the wrap as well.  He grabbed Levi the other morning to squeeze in some extra daddy/baby snuggle time while getting ready for work.

(Babywearing geeks, that is a back wrap cross carry with chestbelt.  Pretty much our favorite, although I am loving the rucksack carry more and more these days, especially when wrapping in public!)

Levi is a total joy right now - I forgot how much fun this age is!  He is a very happy baby and his funny expressions and giggles are beyond adorable.  I told Micah I think I am a babyholic - each baby seems cuter than the last and each babyhood seems more precious!   :)

BIG joys and {little} sorrows

{Small} in the grand scheme of things sorrow... I have a headache.

During naptime. 

On Friday. 

I feel like there should be some kind of law against this?


Also, it is cloudy and dreary and I feel lonely and blue. 

And I have accidentally overbaked two! pans! of my very favorite chocolate chip cookies. 

And! I tweaked the recipe and it doesn't taste as good. 

BLAH.  Woe is me.  (I know, I know. I am even annoying to myself.)  Moving on!

If my husband were home he would roll his eyes at me and put his thumb and forefinger together to make the world's smallest violin.  I would laugh and feel better. 

(He would also put the kettle on and suggest I take some ibuprofen.  Hold on a sec while I do that.)

Since he is NOT home, dear internet, I am instead sobbing on your shoulder.  You're welcome.  Or click the red X in the corner of the browser.  Either way.

And yes, I am indeed such a ditz that I have to be reminded to take something for my own headaches.  Frequently! Thank goodness for my husband!  He tells me to take something for my headaches, makes me laugh when I am mad (no small talent!), buys me spray paint and chocolate, and never complains.  He is my favorite.

And thank goodness (and a sweet friend) for new to us activities tucked away for dreary days such as this.  Added points if it is educational but they are having too much fun to notice!  They loved arranging the plastic shapes inside the pattern on the laminated sheets.  Kept wanting to keep going.  So fun watching them enjoy it and feel the pride of figuring it out.  They are becoming such smart little people!

Lord, I thank you for thrifted hoodies, cute handmedowns, my video monitor set up, Earl Grey tea, the afternoon sun that is just now bursting through the clouds and through my windows, and Saturday on the horizon. Amen.

And the ibuprofen/hot tea/sweet silence of naptime is kicking in and banishing the headache.  Yay!

Time for me to go wake up some sleeping kiddos {to make sure to have a smooth bedtime!} and maybe play some play dough! :)

Ta ta, friends, and happy weekend!

Keep your eyes out for the BIG joys and remember that the {little} sorrows will pass...

Happy Happy

Christmas Came Early

Source: crazycraftbugs.blogspot.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Guess what is sitting in my kitchen?

That I've never had before?

I'll give you a little hint... this is what I've been researching today.     <----

I'd love to hear from you on what you use, have tried, have not found success with as far as dishwasher detergents go.  We have extremely hard water, so I am a little concerned that the DIY versions may not work for us.  I've also been pricing dishwasher detergent on Amazon - Missy strongly advised me to go with the Finish Tabs since they're really effective, but I've also heard good things about the Seventh Generation. 

I'm so so so excited about this new household helper... totally kissed it after we started it last night!   Micah's family replaced their rolling unit with a built in, to save on space, so they gave us their rolling dishwasher. SO THANKFUL. :)

In an attempt to maximize productivity, I started the washer and dryer last night as soon as the dishwasher was started, intending to go to bed with all three of my favorite household servants hard at work... but apparently, dishwashers like water pressure.  Who knew, right?  Oops.  I had to laugh at myself, though, since that pleasant feeling of being productive while not actually doing anything is so nice.  ;)