The Little Things...

Right now I'm loving:

Sisterly love, and our newly painted guest room. I want to paint everything grey now, I love it!

Colette's face after finally figuring out how to move the scooter on her own. So proud and excited! 

Anni's imagination. I love watching her think and create her own little games. 

Red boots. Every day, every way. 

Band-aids on every scratch, imaginary and real. Jane Austen Band-aids only make it better.

Walks around the block, the girls picking dandelions, and practicing all of their moves (marching, chasse-ing, running, skipping and all that good stuff.)

Walking out to see this. 

and, finally, getting to watch our beauties grow. I am far from the perfect parent, but I am so grateful for the chance to be a mother to two sweet girls.

St. Patrick's Day and a Baptism Anniversary

St. Patrick's Day was definitely not what I had planned this year. Colette spent at least half of the night previous throwing up (or rather, trying desperately not to throw up, and forcefully shoving the bowl away with a, "NO. I don't WANT it") so my plans to make Bangers and Mash again this year got put on hold. And these, this was the one of the few photos we nabbed. Anni cheerfully smiled for the photo, and Colette mostly just wanted to crawl back onto the couch with the ipad so that she could forget that Mommy wouldn't let her eat all the things she wanted. Let's be honest, that shouldn't even be an argument after the night she had, so we quickly moved onto the ipad (yes, they gave up screen time for Lent. Yes, grand distraction defeats Lenten resolution when you're two and sick.)

Today was also Colette's baptism anniversary. While this usually includes her pick of a meal and a fun dessert... tonight it included plain noodles with a sprinkle of cheese, "Happy Baptism Anniversary to You" and blowing out her baptism candle. She was satisfied, and I won't mention that I snuck some of the frozen chocolate chip cookie cake out of the freezer while the girls weren't looking.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, even if it wasn't the way you envisioned it.

A Piglet Party at Two

Yesterday we had Miss Colette's second birthday party, complete with three wonderful grandparents, and a slew of sweet little friends. While I know that she isn't too particular about the details: planning simple, but fun parties is something I really like to do. We're celebrating this darling little life, and we've managed to help her survive a whole two years (plus the 41 weeks she hung out in my belly)! 

The girls are both pretty into Winnie-the-Pooh right now, so we had a lot of fun crafting her party around that theme. We had a smattering of classic Pooh, as well as pieces from all of the recreations since, so I can't claim to have too much rhyme or reason in that, except that all of them are fun! The food was all a hit, and thanks to my mom being in town for several days before, included a couple of things I otherwise wouldn't have gotten around to.

 One of the fun things about the variety between the vintage Pooh and more modern Pooh, is both of my girls know who he is, no matter which version it is.

Several years ago, my eldest sister gave Anni a whole set of Winnie-the-Pooh books, sooo voila! Easy decorations, indeed. Of course, Colette nabbed them off the table throughout the party so we could read them to her, but useful and easy decorations are the best kind anyway.

While the little lady of the hour took a too-short nap, we set everything up. She was pretty stoic when we woke her up, but not upset, just taking everything in. (She knew that her party was coming, as she had told us, in a very two-year-old fashion that she didn't want to take her nap, she wanted her party!)

As all her buddies arrived, she started to liven up. Plus... food! 

With her homage-to-Piglet dress, and sweet little birthday crown, the cuteness factor was pretty high. (Anni's outfit was supposed to be a Pooh reference, I kind of adored it!)

When it came time to blow out her candles, she did it like a pro! Only a few days previous, on the actual date of her birthday, she hadn't been able to do so... growing up so fast!

Then came a pile of really sweet gifts. I loved how perfect they were for her this year! Her Baba and Deda (great-grandparents) sent her a beautiful crocheted blanket and the cutest stuffed puppy ever. Anni sleeps under the blanket she got when she was little(r) every night, so I can attest to how heavy and lovely they are. It's such a beautiful tradition that she makes one for each of the babies. And the puppy? Well, Colette is obsessed with them, and since we won't/can't have a real one, this is a darling little substitution.

There were dress-up clothes, and normal clothes galore, which she immediately had to try on.

Just all kinds of fun, sweet, things: perfect for a two year old. We also had itty bitty honey jars and dippers with some yummy honey candy for our guests. We ended up with one for ourselves as a reminder of the day, so I think that will be tucked into someone's memory box.

Even more than the gifts; though, I'm so grateful for all the people who celebrated with us, both at the party and from afar. We are surrounded with such a loving community, and I'm so grateful that my girls will grow up knowing that.

Seven Quick Takes XIX: Snow and Inspiration

Things have been quiet on the business end around here. While I enjoy the lull, lulls always make me worry that there won't be an end to the lull. That may sound a little crazy, but it's okay, I fully accept that I am a worrier, and that it's just part of who I am. Anyway, I've been digging in deep, looking for some inspiration, and here are my current forerunners:

-One-

Cherish This Day, a blog full of those everyday moments. While I'm not doing a 365 project this year, I think it's important to still recognize that each day has it's own importance, despite the fact that us stay-at-home parents often feel like we're just slogging through to the "next" thing. This time that feels like an in-between time to us, is the childhood our babies will carry into adulthood.

-Two-

Snow. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with snow. I don't like being cold or slogging through mush in parking lots, but I love how beautiful it is, how much my girls love playing in it, and how ridiculously adorable those little girls are in a mountain of backyard snow.

-Three-

Traveling plans. In the distant future (but hopefully before our tenth anniversary), Daniel and I are hoping to make our next big trip to the Czech Republic. My family is from a small village outside Prague, and I have always wanted to spend some time connecting with that past. In the less distant future, I am planning a trip to the South, and hopefully photographing a sweet family for a little "Day in the Life" narrative/shoot. 

-Four-

Two years ago, this petite little lady came into the outside world in the midst of the blizzard. This year, her birthday week has pushed this month into the snowiest February in 103 years. She is hilarious, adorable, and an absolute joy. I am so grateful for her presence in our lives. We have a sweet little Winnie-the-Pooh party coming up this weekend, because I'm all about celebrating these little lives we've been entrusted with, and she already gets super excited when she sees a decoration or piece for her party hanging out.

-Five-

Good food. While visiting my Oklahoma sister, I got back on the meal planning train. My food is nowhere near as exciting or varied as hers, but just having a plan with a few things we haven't put in rotation in a while has been refreshing. I do need to get better at actually getting things out to thaw or dough ready to rise on time, but it's been a happy week full of warm, yummy food.

-Six-

My mom is here! While I adore living in Colorado, the one thing that makes me regret leaving Kansas is the fact that my parents and so much of my family are still there. I am incredibly blessed in that my mom is willing to make the drive out here multiple times a year. There is an actual real possibility that the house will be clean and in order for Colette's party, thanks to this wonderful woman. Plus, everyone needs their mommy sometimes.

-Seven-

Spring. It's still a month off, at least (March is our snowiest month, usually), but it will bring Easter, a garden, roses by Mary, Anni's first big dance recital, the ordination of a dear friend, and more lovely, lovely things. I'm okay with the anticipation of it all, I wouldn't wish it sooner. Just knowing it's on the horizon brings hope and a willingness to settle into this lull with a cozy blanket and a cup of hot chocolate.

Check out more Seven Quick Takes at This Ain't the Lyceum.

Two.