breakfast in bed

Mondays around here typically hit hard and mercilessly.
Today, we seized the day with breakfast in bed!
I invited all of my littles back to bed, to enjoy our breakfast together.
Much giggling ensued, and we started the day in a cheery mood!
What a wonderful way to usher in a new week!
It also happened to be "sheet day" in my laundry routine! ☺
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I won't mention the meltdowns that occurred later in the day, from Mama and babies. . . ;)

Mother's Day 2011

I was awakened from a deep sleep by My Girl... She smiled brightly, and declared that breakfast was ready! In fact it was "right here!"
She proudly presented a tray with heart-shaped pancakes, butter, syrup and a copy of the "Mom's Gazette."
She had made the pancakes all by herself with only minimal help from Daddy when the batter was not exactly pour-able. ;)
What a wonderful way to wake up.
Something I've been waiting 10 years for! :)

I enjoyed sipping my coffee on the patio in my hammock chair, with my loves in view. I also received a very lovely Lisa Leonard Designs necklace from my wonderful hubby! I've been wanting one of her pieces for a long time!

vacation [day two]

Day two was fairly relaxed...no agenda as it should be with little ones. We started the day with donuts and playtime at the beach house...

then we threw on our beach clothes sans-showers and hit the sand and waves...

after we had all gotten a little sun, and worked up quite an appetite, we satisfied our hungry tummies with some food from
Fins Grill and Icehouse. We had to visit this restaurant. ;)

After lunch I wasn't feeling to well (too much sun I think) and Baby Boy needed a nap, so we headed back to the beach house to get cleaned up and rest a bit.
Later on we headed to a cute coffee shop (you knew I would find one right?!) for some coffee, free Wi-Fi, and gelato! YUM!

That evening the beach was calling to us, so we went back again for a stroll in the fading evening light...


After the light faded, we headed back to the beach house for something My Girl had been anticipating all day...
A NIGHT SWIM!
I put Baby Boy to bed, while My Girl and her Daddy took a swim in the dark.

vacation [day one]

-Frank Borman

After barely escaping Hermine's wrath we drove down to the coast, praying the rain would abate for the few days we were there...
It did, and we had a glorious time!
We arrived at the coast in the evening with enough light to explore the beach before bedtime!

my sis came to visit! :)

♥small town farmers market ♥coffee shop ♥joyful laughter ♥crazy antics ♥mud buddies ♥IKEA ♥water park fun ♥Chipotle ♥playing in the hose ♥making hula hoops ♥sitting on the porch ♥making chocolate chip cookies ♥and peanut butter too!☺♥slip n' slide ♥sidewalk chalk ♥homemade lattes ♥iPods/iPhone fun ♥Lego Indiana Jones ♥popcorn ♥donuts ♥Littlest Pet Shop ♥deep conversation ♥hugs ♥sunshine


It was a fast 6 nights, but some of the best yet this Summer! I am so glad my sister made the 3,306 mile road trip to my house to visit us! And I'm also SO glad she brought along my youngest niece (my brother's daughter) and her sweet Mama! It was the first time I had met this little sweetie, and she's TWO! I see a lot of my brother in her, but she is a lot like her Mama, and just as beautiful!
My sister was my first best friend, and I admire her so much!
She is ♥REAL ♥FUNNY ♥HONEST ♥STRONG ♥CONFIDENT ♥LOYAL ♥GENEROUS
Anyone that meets her can't help but fall in love with her. She has amazing kiddos as well, and they had me in stitches with their antics many times! Love this crazy bunch and miss them already!

grey monday

It's rainy and grey outside, but bright and colorful inside...
Made this soup for dinner...

I was brave and started a fire...with David on the phone walking me through it... ;)

We lazed about on the floor in front of the fire eating cookies, sipping coffee (only Mama of course) knitting, weaving a pot holder and coloring. Baby boy spent his time chattering to us and rolling over like a big boy!



There may be dishes in the sink and floors to be swept, but I will go to sleep tonight with a full heart, and happy memories...

ticket to ride

Conversation at dinner tonight on how our lives are about to change once the baby arrives...

she says... "It’s going to be SO different...I always thought it would be just you and me and Daddy...”
I say:.. “It’s going to be one wild ride...”
she says... “Yeah...one I didn’t want tickets for!”

oh. boy. where does she come up with this stuff!?

(disclaimer: she is really excited to meet her baby brother, but I am sure things will be different and new for her for a while. I KNOW she’s going to be the most excellent big sister EVER!)

3rd Tooth

GONE! :) She lost it 3 weeks ago, and I've been meaning to share these photos ever since!

Angel Baby

Yesterday marked the day that we would be expecting our second baby to be born...
Last year, after two months of actively trying to conceive we were successful in December.
Two weeks after a positive home pregnancy test, I miscarried. Those two weeks were so exciting and happy! Because we learned right before Christmas, we thought we would wait a little bit to tell Gwyneth and others the happy news.
On Christmas morning Gwyneth opened her very last present that was merely a small note inside a little box that read:

Some of my family received an email with only the first picture in this post attached. Some got the message right away, others had to think a little about it...

Looking back, we realize we shared our happy news too soon. You never expect this to happen to you...
It was very hard for me, for two weeks or so. I didn't want to do anything but sit on my couch and watch mindless TV and movies while knitting. This is what I knit during that time...

I cried a lot...I didn't eat, shower, cook, clean. Nothing for about two weeks. (Well, I did shower...)
I am thankful that David was patient with me and let me be sad...
I never told myself I couldn't cry...I just let it out. I had random outbursts but was able to hide them from Gwyneth.
It about killed me having to tell my girl that we were not going to have a baby after all... She was confused...still is a bit to this day and occasionally remarks that she just doesn't get it, "Why did the baby die?" I think the same thing sweetie...
We will always remember that time and we trust that God has a great purpose for us going through something so sad...
We are also SO very thankful and happy that we did not remain sad...but that God blessed us with another positive test the very next month!!! We are excited to welcome our newest blessing in only 5 weeks!

good morning...

This morning I had the amazing privilege of snuggling with this little girl. We lazed about talking about the baby coming in 3 months time...how cozy and warm the bed was. It's rainy and cold here this week. Perfect weather for snuggling. She is excited to meet her baby brother.
Baby brother was participating in the snuggling just as a brother would...by wiggling around a LOT! G. got to feel him for the first time. She was so amazed, and kept saying "aw..."
When we finally got out of bed, we discovered we had laid there for 30 minutes, just talking about the baby...She said to me "That was a good chat!"
So sweet...I love this girl to death, and just know she is going to be the BEST big sister!
Our lazy morning continued with homemade waffles, and hot chocolate for her, and coffee for me...What a great start to the day!
P.S. She really does wear a sleep mask to bed...every night! Living in the land of the midnight sun!

Weave

We recently picked up a weaving loom for Gwyneth to nurture her creative urges. She is always drawing something, “Creating” something. Her mediums of choice are crayons, markers, paint, watercolors, paper, glue, tape, empty egg cartons, toilet paper rolls…you name it. If I am throwing it away, she will find a use for it, and create something masterful with it!

This loom, and taking the time to teach Gwyneth something creative, brought back many memories for me. I do not remember making these nylon potholders when I was little (David said he made one in 2nd grade)but am sure I did because my mom was always making stuff with us as kids. She is a natural crafts woman. She crochets, knits, cross-stitches, and sews. I wish I had half her natural ability to pick this stuff up. As far as I know, she learned most of her craft skills from books. I know she learned to sew from my Granny.

(My Granny making a flower garland out of the dandelions Gwyneth picked. -Spring 2005)

My Granny and my mom used to sew us little outfits. We had such fun picking out the patterns and fabric! One year the coveted item was a poodle skirt. My sister wanted one so bad! She convinced our Granny to make her one, and she loved that skirt very much! Granny also made Rachel her prom dress! I remember my Granny teaching my sister and me to sew. For a long time she had a sewing studio of sorts in the back of her house. My granddaddy had one-half for his wood shop, and she had the other half for her sewing. My granddaddy made us some amazing things as well. He made the desk I am sitting at, for me years ago. It is beautiful. Lovingly made, with wonderful little details. I still have the heart bookends he made for me as well. They are now a part of Gwyneth’s room.

I guess the creative gene runs strong in our family.
Scrapbooking is something all of my sisters and I do. Rachel has a very keen sense for decorating. My brother Jacob is musically inclined. He plays the guitar very well and has an awesome voice like my dad.
My mom taught me the basics of knitting when I was 10 years old. I can knit dishtowels. I wish I could knit items that were more interesting, but am so grateful that I have even learned this skill. I wish I lived closer to my mother, so that I could learn more from her.
My mother most recently made a beautiful afghan for me for Christmas. It is something I will treasure forever.