Sunday, February 28, 2016

20 | 21: Week 3 - The End and My Thoughts

Well, that went quickly.  I expected it to drag a bit, but not at all!  I think part of it is,the fact that I typically wear the same things anyway.  I'm kind of a creature of habit.  And, if I didn't have to photograph what I wore daily, I might wear even fewer pieces.  Who knows.  I did love the capsule wardrobe.  It was easy to quickly get dressed in the mornings, and to feel good in most of it. However, I will say I might need to invest in a full-length mirror.  Some things that I wore didn't look quite like I imagined they did, ha!  


Here's what I learned...as much as I love ankle boots, I think the taller boots look better on me.  I wear a lot of cardigans.  I think I'd have maybe another pair of jeans in the next capsule to add a bit more variety.  I think I needed a long fitted tee in this one.  There were a couple of days that I didn't get out of my workout clothes after the morning workout like I had hoped (mainly because the workout didn't end up happening in the morning and by the time it did, I said to heck with changing). I don't accessorize very much at all.  I think I change the pair of earrings I wear every few months, and that initial necklace hasn't come off since Christmas.  The gray sweater isn't as cute as it is comfy.  I think I've found my new favorite black dress.  

I'll probably add a few more pieces if I do a longer capsule...say a capsule for an entire season.  I think for Spring, I would add a few more dresses, a pair or two of sandals, and probably a couple more tops.  Spring around here is so unpredictable.  However, I do think I'll try to create a new capsule soon.  But...I won't be documenting it.  Not a huge fan of taking these photos - hats off to all of you fashion bloggers!

One of the workout days...


That was fun!  Have you tried it?  What are your staples?

Friday, February 26, 2016

Genevieve: 3 Months

This little dream is now three months old.  And, this is my record-keeping post.


She is...

smiling a lot.
just starting to wear 3-6 month clothes.
sleeping 11ish hours at night.
grunting all the time.
spitting up like crazy.
taking five bottles a day at 5 oz. each.
loving to cuddle still.


Gosh we love her.


Thursday, February 25, 2016

8/52: Their Features


There are so many things I love about my kids...their mannerisms, their hearts, the things they say, etc.  But this week I wanted to focus on a feature, so here they are...


Carter // 5 - He has these tiny little dimples right below his eyes when he smiles really big, and every part of his face just screams happiness.

Peter // 4 - He is the only one thus far who has gotten my dimples, and he just got one.  But, boy is it a good one!


John Paul // 3 - His freckles.  They've just started to show, and my grandma always calls them angel kisses.  When he gets excited or worked up, tiny little beads of sweat pop up on his freckle-covered nose.

Sophie // 1 - She is so expressive,  But, when she's really trying to get a point across, her lips look like this, and it's my very favorite.

Genevieve // 13 weeks - Speaking of lips, is there anything better than baby lips?!


Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Garden Planting with Peter

Jeremy was working around the house one day last week, so Peter skipped his nap to help (he's such a hard little worker).  At one point, he came in asking for the strawberries he had seen in the fridge. Thinking they needed a snack, I handed them to him but followed him to see what was going on.  

Little did I know he was helping his daddy prepare the garden for planting later, and he wanted to get an early start on some berries.



So, there may be a few berries in the dirt behind our house...and he might just be checking to see if they're growing.
Peter loves helping.  He is the quietest one we have, yet you always know how he's feeling.  He is more to himself, but when he lets you know he loves you, it is always very heartfelt.  Lately, he's developed a very deep Southern accent.  Honestly, I have no idea where it came from.  For instance he says this a lot: "Momma, ah rally loooove you."  He also talks in third person a lot, so I even get this, "Momma Pedah waaants some waaatah" - you get the picture.  Never a dull moment, I tell ya.

It's so neat how you can have five kids, (or any number) and they all are so very different.  Such a blessing, and sometimes a funny one :)

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Monday, February 22, 2016

Links and Randoms


Do you know why I love blogging and Instagram?  A lot of it is because of the people and the connections I get to make.  It's such a blessing to see other moms experiencing similar things at similar times...even though the connection isn't face-to-face, it feels strong, and it helps ease some of the doubts of motherhood.  All of that to say, one of the sweetest people I've met through Instagram sent my boys these moon pies a few weeks ago.  And, well, they loved them!!  Would you think I was a bad mom if I told you Carter had four in one day?  They're mini though!  So, it makes it okay.  Ha!

Have you seen the updated Sonnet James site?  I have the Winnie but kind of want the Coco-Cream or Stella.

A friend posted a photo of her new lipstick last week, and it is only $5!!

My aunt called the other day in tears (from laughing so hard) and told me to watch this Family Feud video.  If you need a good laugh, do the same!

I received Audrey Assad's new album Inheritance last week.  I cannot love it more!  It's a beautiful compilation of hymns, and it's perfect for this Lenten season.

My cousin send me some of this amazing hand cream for my birthday - it is wonderful, and I needed it so badly for this dry weather.  I have the sweet cream scent.

I think I've mentioned that I'm sooo slow to finish books, but I ordered this one, and I'm really looking forward to reading it once I finish the one I'm reading now....so, maybe next year?

I wish I'd never known this existed.

I cannot stop thinking about the homily by Justice Scalia's son.  So, so beautiful.  What a faithful man.

A friend of mine from high school, who nearly died in a tragic event as a toddler, is now is suffering from an incurable blood disease.  As a father of four, he needs all the support he can get.  If you feel so inclined, visit his page here.  




Thursday, February 18, 2016

7/52

Carter // 5 - Carter led a Mass practice this week.  He was the priest with the incense, and Sophie and John Paul were the alter servers-in-training.

Peter // 4 - Bacon is his favorite part of breakfast.
John Paul // 3 - I'm not sure what to title this...he has a welding hat, safety goggles and a gun..."Stick 'em up!"

Sophie // 1 - The kids helped Jeremy feed the heifers, and it was a bit chilly.  This was Sophie's face when she discovered I had made hot cocoa for them!


Genevieve // 12 weeks - She really is a smiley baby most of the time.


Wednesday, February 17, 2016

V-Day 2016

I mentioned before that when we were little, my parents would send us on a little scavenger hunt for Valentine's Day with a box of chocolate at the end of the hunt.  It was always so much fun.  Even though the kids can't read, we thought we could help them out and relive that little memory, so the night before, we made a few easy clues...

And, we set out some valentines they had received in the mail.


When they woke up they were so, so excited that someone had sent them mail!


Jeremy had decided that since it was a special day, we should all eat cake for breakfast...no one complained!


Then, we began the hunt (but before we did, they insisted on singing Happy Valentine's Day to Jesus to the tune of Happy Birthday)...

They found a clue in the hamper...


Sophie was a little confused.
The next clue was in the microwave...

Then in the place we keep the Winter hats and gloves...(he missed it at first)

Finally, the treasure was in the oven (but they had a harder time figuring that one out).  Originally it was in the bath tub, but some unmentioned three-year-old woke up super early and seemed to need to take a peek at the bath toys...luckily all of the treats had wrappers he couldn't quite get into...so the surprise had to find a new home for the hunt.






Sophie didn't let any time pass before she indulged in a bit of chocolate...
...then they painted for a bit.



It was such a fun morning...life with kids seems to be that way...especially on the holidays :)