365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 46

My week started out with a long drive to the hospital (long only because I went to the wrong place first... woops!) to meet this little sweetie. So worth getting lost to see her darling, chubby little self!

And then there's this face. This is after Daniel tried the first sip of his home brewed beer... except the kit made an American light beer, which really isn't his favorite. But still, lots of fun! 

 

Remember Miss Anni's room in our last apartment? We've moved since then, and I keep meaning to do another post on their room, but it was never "perfect", so I never did. The other day I decided to take a photo when it was mostly cleaned up, even if it wasn't perfect (it never is). So, yes, the humidifier sits on a step stool, and Anni's letters need to hung up again (the string got shredded), but, still, I love this little room. It's cozy and sweet, and already has some good memories wrapped up in it in the past year. It's going to go through a whole new set of changes pretty soon as Anni is almost too big for the toddler bed (well, she really is too big), and we're looking at a bunk bed that Anni would sleep on the bottom of until Colette moves out of her crib. 

That weekend, I went to visit my sister and her son in OKC while her husband was at the Nebraska game and my sainted husband was taking care of the littles... including the one being weaned. She pointed out all the fun mid-century architecture (and then we later googled all of Frank Lloyd Wright we could handle.) My favorite part of the visit was getting to sit up late chatting and scheming with my big sister. My second favorite part; though, was getting to go wander an art gallery. So much fun! While I'm a bit of a disgrace to my degree with how little I recall in art history (one of my absolute favorite things to study), it just felt right. My nephew's favorite thing was the Chihuly glass exhibit... with good reason. It was amazing! Below is the entrance to it. 

And then there are two photos of this little beauty, from one day, because, well, I missed a day. We had a little cookie time, and then later, when the girls were playing quietly, I peeked around the corner to catch her sitting in a toy bin, just hanging out.

Thanksgiving

Happy week-after Thanksgiving! Our weekend was lovely, filled with family, food, and a visiting puppy named Tinkerbelle. The food? A 24 lb turkey my friends. My sister and her husband raised it, and by golly... it was delicious! It was, in fact, larger than Miss Colette. And the puppy? The girls were obsessed. It was probably the highlight of their holiday... well, Anni says it was the turkey, so maybe all of the of above.

Amy's Birth Blessing Party

Last year, I attended a beautiful birth blessing for a friend. As soon as I found out my sweet friend Amy was pregnant with her second darling, I hoped she would let me host a birth blessing to celebrate little Molly's life. Obviously, she said yes! We had a whole lot of brunchy food (this casserole was a big hit), and a few other things for the blessing.



There was a list for the "labor call", and candles to take home and light to remind them to pray while Amy labored.

I also had a frame ready for a photo of sweet baby girl, with the matte out to sign.

During the actual prayer part of the party, each woman filled out one of these cards and then read them aloud. Amy tucked them into a simple 4x6 album so she could keep them to read.

As each person read their prayers for Amy and her baby, they held one of the beads, and then slipped it onto a piece of stretchy string to form a bracelet for her to wear and remember that she had a whole community praying for her.

All the lovely ladies! It was such fun to get to host a group of such sweet, loving women.

In fact... sweet baby girl was born just last Wednesday, and our prayers traveled with them! My girls loved having a candle lit and praying for one of their favorite people... and having that reminder to pray for them gave me something to do rather than being anxious. If you want more information on throwing your own Birth Blessing Party, Lisa over at Catholic Missionary Family has everything you need.

365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 45

Snow. Blueberries. Tickle fights. More snow. Cuddles with grandma. Then cuddles with Daddy after grandma had left annnnd finally, date night with the hubby. The last week in a nutshell.

365 Photos in 365 Days: Week 44

As you've probably noticed, I've missed a few weeks. And in the midst of those few weeks, I missed a few days of photos, so then I got all panicky as I tried to figure out how I'd post those weeks. Whelp, life happens, so we're just moving on to this past week for now. I think we've finally gotten our groove back after all the traveling... just in time for the holidays... in which we'll probably get things all snarled up again. Such is life. I like it anyway.

These two sitting next to each other on a chair has been rare as of late. There has been an awful lot of, "She has that/is doing that/has Mom's attention and therefore I want that/to do that/to have ALL of Mom's attention to myself." I keep reminding myself that my siblings are some of my very best friends now, especially my sisters... and we fought terribly.

 

 This is one of those tricks of illusion. As I took this picture of her little feet all balanced and ready to help me cook, she was throwing a fit (I don't remember what it was about, but there was much wailing). So. Cute feet. Shattered preconceptions. You're welcome. 

 

We met some friends for a very quick end-of-the-day photoshoot of a friend's very full-term baby belly. While we waited for them, the girls and I stayed warm by running up and down the (rather lovely) paths.

We pulled out a much-loved but recently forgotten "only at Nonna and Papa's" toy, and Colette got to spend our visit quite happily discovering "the castle".

As I sit shivering just thinking about the snow and negative temps outside, it's hard to believe how warm it was just this past weekend!

 

Annnnnd, I had a birthday. It was lovely, like really, really lovely. My husband took the day off, and I was spoiled absolutely rotten. What a sweet life I live! 

Then came the snow. Usually our first snow comes much earlier in October, so we've been ready and waiting for this. Well, as long as ready means not having a coat or gloves for the littlest, or snow pants for anyone, or boots, or, well, I wasn't actually ready so much as expectant. We have since bought snow pants for the eldest, borrowed a coat for the little one, and the rest will have to come as money and searching permits. Right now, no one is spending time out in it, as fun as it looks, because it really is too cold to play in. The end of the week is supposed to be warmer; though, so there's hope!