blessed day.

 

Today is a blessed day for two reasons...
Easter outfits are complete. Fitted, hemmed, and buttons attached. Which means no stress to hurry and finish them last minute! I love sewing Oliver + S patterns. They sew together beautifully, and are finished inside and out. I can't wait to see my babies (sorry Lizzy, but you'll always be my baby) in their handmade clothes on Sunday. I feel like such a domestic mother, and I live for that feeling. I love carrying on tradition, and I will continue to as long and she will let me. We are 10 years and running!

Now, for the second reason. This is the first day that Lizzy has fixed her own hair for school!!!! She is maturing, and becoming more opinionated about how she wants her hair. We don't always agree. Many days I will fix her hair the way she asks, only to see that she has taken it out when I pick her up from school. (which is totally okay, I remember doing the same thing)

This morning was no different. We were both trying to be agreeable, but it just wasn't working. I asked (politely) "Would you like to do your own hair this morning?" To my surprise she said "YES!" I left her to do whatever she wished, and she completely surprised me when she walked downstairs with two braids! I am so proud of her! Oh the JOY! 

And that is why today is a blessed day in my book.

sick days.

My poor boy has been sick since Monday. Though I would never know it until diaper changing time. I finally called the doctor today and they said there is a 7 day stomach flu going around. He's got it. And my Mr. too. But, I don't mind pampering my family and playing nurse for a while. I especially love the extra snuggles! 

Yesterday was our first time taking Charlie to the park this year! He loved it! He's lucky to have such a wonderful big sister. She was right with him, protecting him every second. Makes the mama proud! Right now, she and daddy are at the STEaM Expo at school. Charlie and I stayed home where we can privately change his entire outfit every time he needs a diaper change...

Mr. W and I are slightly addicted to Downton Abbey at the moment. We haven't watched any of it until the past few weeks, so it's been a marathon watching all 3 seasons at once! A very good marathon I might add. (we are currently watching season 3, so no spoilers please!!!) It's our little treat every night after we tuck the children in bed! I can't wait to see what happens tonight...

And oh yes, I finished both Easter outfits this week. Now to finish preparing for the Easter Bunny to fill those baskets!

happenings ::

time gets away from me too quickly anymore. i find myself using instagram to capture "moments" in our lives. probably not the best idea for printing, but it's better than nothing. we've had many moments the past few weeks. lizzy loves to "sleepover" in our room. we bring the mattress up, and she camps beside our bed. we have our time to talk about the day, then invite her in. this time we left her reading on the couch. when we went to get her, she had fallen asleep with her earmuffs on. too sweet this girl is!

 she was in the spelling bee again this year. she misspelled the word "debutante." (i'm glad i had spell check for that one myself) i'm proud of the way she practiced and prepared. she was faithful.

she earned herself a visit to aggie ice cream. one of her favorite places!

this little man is growing up faster than any baby ever! i love this expression. everyday is about learning and growing. everything is new and exciting. what an adventure life is with a 1 year old!

 instagram keeps him entertained while we are waiting for lizzy at school...

 and as far as making in my life...this was the most rewarding project in a long time! every easter our dining table was decorated with the most beautiful sugar eggs. i loved to smell them, and look inside and imagine what it would be like to live in a sugary land with chicks and bunnies! every moment of making them was nostalgic for me. they even smell exactly how i remember. they put a smile on my face! i love passing traditions from my childhood on to my children. there is something about it that feels so sacred to me. and i must say, my mother is amazing for doing such activities with 9 children! that's right, NINE! she is amazing.

this is so my children will remember that i fed them nutritious food. and because i think it's beautiful. dinner is the highlight of my day. there's nothing like sitting around the dinner table as a family and talking and eating yummy food. nothing like it in the world!

valentine pixy arrows!

 2013 valentine's complete! yippee!!!

the monster and the boot.

our girl was in the annual monster concert at usu on saturday! i'm so proud of her, and so is her daddy. many moons ago it was him on this very stage, performing in this very concert. awesome!

... and now on to the boot. this is fun. my foot started hurting saturday, and by sunday i couldn't walk. the dr. thinks it's a stress fracture. i do have a bone out of place, but he is not certain if that is a old or new injury.  he will check again after a week in the boot. lovely. doesn't he know what a routine oriented person i am? running with this thing on is, needless to say, impossible. but i did manage the elliptical this morning. i do not have a good relationship with that thing. i hate it in fact. but it will have to do.

so, luckily, i had plenty of projects going to keep me sane. i started sourdough starter a week ago, and have been experimenting with it's possibilities. so far the sourdough pancakes are a hit. the bread was a rock, but i'll keep trying.

 i finished this "bonnet" for charlie. it's amazing how quickly you can knit something up when all you can do is sit. i enjoyed it really. i don't let myself do that very often, but i think that needs to change.

 i borrowed my mother-in-law's dehydrator and have been drying apples and banana chips. YUM! *need to get my own asap*
now i will finish designing lizzy's valentine's. i promised her i would have everything printed and ready to assemble when she gets home... i know what she'll be doing all night long!

making.

 everyday while charlie naps i make him fresh squeezed orange juice. and a nutritious lunch. this dairy allergy throws quite a wrench into our diet, but it has forced me to study and learn more about nutrition and how to make every meal count. trying to decide what to feed him can be consuming at times. thankfully, he likes a variety of foods, but that can be challenging too. restricting dairy from my diet has helped me know what he needs. i figure what my body feels it needs, his does too. i hope this allergy goes away sooner than later.

i love making charlie clothes from mr. w's hand-me-downs. i think it's the sweetest ever. what's not to love about a little boy in daddy's repurposed clothes?! 

desperation...

his eyes say it all. poor max. happy baby.

more white love, and hearts

we are still painting this house. with every wall that gets painted, i love it more!  *still painting a wall a day, or whatever can be done during nap time* white is beautiful. it feels so good. everything looks beautiful next to it. did i mention i love it??!

hearts are popping up around here. lizzy and i made the garland for the fireplace last year. {tutorial found here} we will hang more hearts in the windows this afternoon. *i must wait for my little helper* what would i do without holidays?... thanks mom for always making them special and being a keeper of tradition. i hope i can do the same for my children.

smiles.

*riding the escalator with grandpa*

we had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday in slc. we shopped, and bought, and were all exhausted the following day. 

it was so nice to visit with dad during his layover. he brought gifts for the children, which melted my heart a little. for lizzy, a glass flower necklace he bought her in oregon and "samples" from his hotel. an "i love you" flap book for charlie, and conversation hearts for all of us. we ate at a&w, dad and lizzy's favorite place. we missed seeing grandma this time.

 i love this girl. even when she's smirking at me...

35.

today i celebrate my thirty-fifth birthday as a happy woman! really and truly, i feel blessed. as i have anticipated this birthday, i've been thinking about my life. the choices i've made, and the consequences (good or bad) that have followed. overall i feel proud. i still have a to-do list that i will get to one day. but for now, this is why i feel happy and proud of my life:

* i married the right person. how thankful i am at this stage in my life that i got that RIGHT. my Mr. is mine! he is so kind, gentle by nature, and the most incredible father. he is an amazing husband, provider, pianist, student, and teacher. and the list goes on and on... i cannot imagine my life without him. he is my life.

* i am a mother. i love my beautiful children. they have always been my children. they make us complete. they fill me with life and laughter. i have learned more from them than they will ever learn from me.

* my home. nothing is more satisfying than making our home happy. i love the feeling in our home. everyday i look forward to the evening when we are all home together. home is where life's lessons are taught, love is fostered, and where every person is safe.

* i am healthy. after battling itp and infertility, i am so thankful for my healthy body and mind. i am proud of myself for literally wearing out my treadmill. seriously! i don't think my body feels 35. (at least from what i hear other people complain about)

* i have good, loving relationships with my family. too often i take this for granted. i am so thankful for a father i can look up to, a mother i can always talk to, sisters to do the same, and brothers that are always good for a laugh.

*real friends. true friends. that i can completely be myself around. that accept me for who i am. friends that i know are not coincidental. 

*my talents. there, i said it. (why is that difficult to say?) my hobbies, gifts, talents, whatever you want to label them, make me happy! i love to create anything. absolutely anything. sewing, knitting, cooking, decorating, it doesn't matter the avenue, but no day feels complete until i have made something. i love to look back on my day and see something beautiful i created. 

i could keep going, but nap time is ticking away and i need to delete some of the 16,000 photos on this computer. 

making my birthday (carrot) cake! how sweet are they?! blessed.

i am thankful this is what my house looks like everyday. it is better than incredible.
i am blessed. i am happy. it's going to be a great day.