rainy days and thursdays

we had a great day!

maeve has a very long preschool day each thursday so i brought ezra home and he napped and i cleaned! it was awesome! it's so hard to get the upstairs put together during the day--i was so happy to be able to do it!

we had a peaceful afternoon at home and it's already bedtime--it absolutely flew by today!

i snapped 50 pictures of my precious children today:

these are the best *4*

they made me laugh!

in other news, amelie sang a solo in chapel today! i wish i could have been there! i heard through the grapevine that there is video--i can't wait to see it!

it was windy, rainy and cool today--isn't march supposed to go out like a lamb instead of coming in like one?!

oh well! it's gotta get warmer soon!!

=)

happy thursday!

Tuesday Tidbits

today was better than yesterday

by much

(thank goodness) 

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some quotes por vous:

He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts.  ~Samuel Johnson 

Every thought is a seed.  If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious.  ~Bill Meyer

A person will sometimes devote all his life to the development of one part of his body - the wishbone.  ~Robert Frost

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i dragged the wee ones out of the house today and we visited granny

it was a lovely visit and they weren't too crazy and i didn't have to make lunch and everyone took naps after we got home

amen.

=)

maeve is still a potty training champion.  WOOT!!

ezra was "singing" (correctly matching pitches) on some familiar songs

tdf!!!

amelie practiced her violin and is learning the basic notes! go amelie! 

it's amazing to me that my husband has been home for 4ish hours and we still haven't had a real conversation---ah! the life with little children! =)

i watched inception this afternoon.

some thoughts:

a) interesting, intense movie

b) joshephgordonlevitt = *le-sigh*
c)coolness:

anyways, goodnight! 
i hope your tuesday was as pleasant as mine was!

It was a long day.

A long *cold* day!

Brr. I'm totally done with winter!

Maeve did well with potty training all day--which was wonderful! We still have many days of training left but now that she's figuring things out I have a little more hope that someday she'll be trained! =)

Ezra is climbing everywhere and into everything--I can't believe how big he is! He tells us *i love you* now which is pretty much the sweetest thing ever!

Amelie came home from school with a black eye.

Oy.

Apparently there was a block accident of some sort.

=(

Anyways, this is ramble-y and accurately reflects my state of mind.

I'm thankful that tomorrow is another day and that I can start over again with a clean slate.

A verse I am thinking of tonight:

Psalm 90:14 

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 

Praying that my attitude changes and that I will be more than satisfied with LOVE from above and that I can find joy and gladness in the little things!

Goodnight!

Another New Favorite

A Handsome Guy I Know On Sunday Morning

This is the first weekend, in many, many weeks, that my husband is actually *home*!! It is so wonderful to have a normal, quiet weekend!!

I finished up some more painting projects today and was putting away my camera and when Ezra saw it in my hands--he started following me around saying, "Mamama" and flashing me smiles =)

And I couldn't resist his charm! =)

Seriously love this kid!!

I'm so thankful for my little family and our happy home!

Happy Saturday!

Living Room Redo

I was totally *positive* that I had pictures on my computer of our living room *before*. I remember taking them but then they disappeared and I looked everywhere and have officially given up =)

Here is a random picture that a child (Amelie? Maeve?) took with my camera that caught the side of the living room, also the laundry....=):

Here is the background wall color/artwork behind my family on the couch:

Lamest *Before* pictures ever! Ha!

Here's my inspiration picture:

Now, I didn't add a coffee table (too much of a hassle to have one with little kids!) and I didn't add extra chairs but I used the color scheme to jump off with and ended up with this:

I made the curtains, bought new darker couch covers because ours were stained and blah, bought the blinds at the Christmas Tree Shop, used some pillows I had in storage, bought some poster prints and frames with swagbucks...

 reframed artwork from my mother-in-law, painted all the trim white (still working on the small windows in this picture--there is a ton of criss-cross wood/fussy trim in them that need one more coat of paint before I can make the roman shades I want to put there.

And...

I'm still painting the doors that will be in front of the built in bookcases! They still need a few more coats of paint, to be trimmed out with plexiglass instead of the old, brittle glass that's in them now and a decorated with a few odds and ends I have laying around as well as a few pieces I picked up from Christmas Tree Shop.

I love changing things--I have painted the kitchen, living room, and toy room twice since we've lived here (less than 2 years =). I can't help it! =)

This is a newer song I heard on KLove the other day--love it!

I finished my crafting space a few weeks ago--but sadly with my husband's new schedule and all the *busy* that that has entailed I haven't gotten to use it.

So now instead of making me happy it just makes me nostalgic for the times when I used to be able to sit down and quietly work. =)

I wouldn't trade my noisy little ones for all the quiet time in the world though! I'll enjoy these busy moments, hours and days and remember that it's not going to be so wonderfully-busy here forever. =)

See? Even my inspiration boards are empty. Boo.

This Morning In Pictures

Ezra took a morning nap today 

(as well he should since he was up at 5:30!!!) 

and I got a lot of cleaning accomplished upstairs 

(which is impossible to do when he is awake!). 

After I sorted and took care of the laundry I tackled Maeve's crib--she has a way of transporting toys in secret and stashing them in her bed--this is the rather large haul I took out of it! 

I clean her crib out every couple of days and am always amazed she can sleep which so much stuff in there!

The sad thing is I didn't take all of it! 

Whatta girl! =)

Also, a picture of the saddest sight in the world:

Husbandless medicine cabinet!

He'll be home today though so my toothbrush won't be lonely for much longer!

i like to 

*crack*

open a new can of

paint

and slather it on my walls

it makes me happy

like

cracking

open a new book

or a christmas present

or a pepsi

life is full of big and little happy!

=)

What I've Been Up To...

So. Yawny.

It's another long mostly-husbandless-because-he's-working-at-his-new-part-time(but feels like all the time)-job.

Also he was out with music team this morning at another church so the kids and I braved our church on our own--we were mostly fine aside from Ezra's screaming/melting nursery fit. 

Oy.

The show my husband is playing for ends today (Yay!) but he leaves early in the morning to chaperone the senior trip so....he'll STILL be busy.

Which means, of course, that *I'll* be super busy with the Wonderful Three! =)

To "reward" myself for braving the realm of married-but-mostly-single-parenting I'm redoing the living room!

New Paint

A neutral beige-y-ness to replace the blue

New Trim Paint (Fresh paint put on the trim in the play room--used to be dark wood)

New Curtains (Yay for JoAnns and 40% off coupons)

New Art (Gifted from Granny and matching pieces bought with Swagbucks and Amazon =) I haven't decided if I'm going to paint the frames? I have some Nickel-colored-paint laying around from our bedroom redo.....hmm...

So that's what I've started working on and will continue to work on in my "Free Time"

You know...the time that isn't involved with caring/feeding/dressing/changing/carting/playing with the children and cleaning/organizing/thehouse/thelaundry/theeverything.

My brain hurts.

Anyways, it's Sunday and sunny and I'm super thankful that we could go to church today, that my babies are healthy, that Ezra is taking an afternoon nap and that my husband will be home in the near-ish future. 

Happy First Day Of Spring!

 It was so lovely out today that I couldn't help but start thinking of what I'd like to plant in the back yard this year!

I'm not planning on doing a garden again as I realized too late into the growing season that my yard is about 95% full shade--which does NOT work for veggies. Boo.

I've been doing plant research and have found a lot of pretty varieties of hostas, hydrangeas and ground cover.

I focused solely on planting, cultivating and watering my precious baby grass last year--it will be a fun and refreshing change to be able to pick out flowers and shrubs!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I snapped a quick picture of the girls before Amelie left for school this morning! We're wearing green in honor of St. Patrick's Day and in memory of my Irish Great-Grandparents and Grandma Rose!

Have a happy day!

Wednesday Catch Up

This is a loooonggggg week for me as my husband is super busy this week!

He was gone until 9 last night and will be working a lot this week! I'm so thankful that he has a job and an extra job on the side but I really miss having him around!

*The kids were very good yesterday so even though the day was long it went well!

*In other news, I'm not sure how potty training is going. Maeve um...."holds it" (for lack of a better term) all day. She went ONCE yesterday. All day. In the potty and then didn't go again until after she was in bed (Pull Ups). I guess it's good that she knows how to "not go"-- i just wish I could get her to balance that with actually going once in a while! I guess this will come with time!

*This is the amaryllis in my kitchen--so pretty!

* We met friends for coffee this morning (it's a very short pre-k day and there isn't too much you can squeeze into it and coffee was perfect) and it was lovely!

*It's rainy today but not too cold--spring is coming--I can *feel* it! I'm thankful for rain and that my grass is getting greener and that my tulips are getting taller and that my grape hyacinths are up!

Have a happy Wednesday!

This weekend I resolved anew to potty train Maeve.

I've been putting it off since our first "failed" attempt and have seen many signs along the way that she's more emotionally/physically ready to start again.

So...we did!

She was more than willing as we started out this morning and although it took awhile for....things to happen....happen they did and we had a pleasant, accident-free day! Yay! 

It's a promising start! She was so excited and proud of herself and loved modeling her Dora underwear--while proudly proclaiming,

"Mama! I'm a big girl now!"

=)

Here's a picture of Ezra offering Maevey moral support! Ha!

We basically laid low today and did the potty thing.

Ezra surprised me by taking a morning nap! This time change has us all out of whack! He's been so cute at naptime though--he's recently become attached to his little blanky (my friend from college makes them--so cute you should check them out!) and when I picked him up from nap he whimpered and motioned for his little blanket! 

Oh my soul that boy is sweet and cute!!

We enjoyed a peaceful night as a family. My husband is working evenings for the rest of the week so I'm sure it will prove to be a long one--but it's the last week like this for the foreseeable future--Woot!

Happy Monday!

Hannah Andersson Cuteness

I received the Hannah Andersson catalog in the mail the other day and I fell in love with these pillowcase dresses! And at $19 that's almost free as far as HA prices go! Ha!

Yesterday: Playing Outside With My Favorite Littles

Saturday, You're Leaving So Suddenly?

The day has been a blur.

Kids up early (as always =).

Morning errands (and a large stack of coupons brought to Target =)

and 

a visit with Granny and Pop

My favorite lunch picked up from Wegmans 

"naps" (term used loosely as only the boys got any sleep!)

Screening my porch!

Almost done with Part 1!!

Contemplating Paint for the Living Room

Kids to bed

Coupon Matchups (boring) for Grocery shopping tomorrow

Takeout snacks and the husband watching some random movie with a friend

Me? Blogging and using erratic punctuation and capitalization because 

i

am

tire

d

Goodnight!

In Bible Study yesterday (still Beth Moore's *Breaking Free*) our pastor's wife was discussing Ephesians, and as an aside remarked how much she loved the book. 

So, I thought last night in my reading I would go through it slowly and only read the first two chapters. Honestly, it never ceases to amaze me how new and different each chapter of the Bible is every time I read them--I always get something from my reading even if I've read it time and time again--there is always something great to take away.

 Amazing. 

There is no other book like The WORD!

The first part of Ephesians chapter 2 discusses that we have been saved by God's grace from the punishment we all deserve for sinning (death, hell, separation from Him). And the second half Ephesians Chapter 2 really spoke to my heart specifically last night discusses how we ALL can have confident access to God. I can't even explain how these verses made my heart sing last night--even though I *know* this and have studied it--I'm so thankful to be reminded of God's promises to us!

************************************ 

2: ¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 

¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 

 ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

 ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,  

¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,  

¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.  

¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 

¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

 ¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 

²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 

²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. 

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What a blessing to know that we can have a hope and a future with God, in Heaven because of Christ and his death on the cross. 

I'm so thankful that I am no foreigner to the covenants of the promise! 

That I have hope! 

That I *belong*! 

That I have relationship with God! 

Amazing. 

Thank you Lord for reminding me at just the right moments that I belong to You!

*today*

today we were early to pick up maeve from 

preschool

it was rainy and a little dreary so 

ezra and i 

waited in the car

it was boring.

so i reached back a finger to see if he would grab it

and he did

and he squeezed my finger tight and 

promptly

fell

asleep

it was the most beautiful little moment

my little sleeping angel

(there won't be many more months of spontaneous napping--these times are so sweet)

gripping my finger like a vise

and when i pried it away to go grab maeve

he wailed

and i thought

*he loves me*

it's so wonderful, that for a little while, 
to our children 
*we are the whole world*

remind me of this next time i am tired

and weary

exhausted

and 

*done*

these moments are sweet and fleeting and beautiful

did you have any beautiful moments today?

Because I'm Totally A Broken Record

I've been busy reminiscing about my childrens younger days since many of my family and friends have recently had, or will be having very soon, new little ones! 

Just a short year or so ago my little ones were indeed very little! (A newly *2* Maeve, a still *4* Amelie and a brand new little Ezra pictured below.)

This is the day I brought our Ezra-boy home from the hospital!

It was so nerve-wracking and stressful to realize I now had *three* little ones to take care of! And although it was hard at first--little by little we found our groove. 

I'm so thankful for my babies! All the work and worry and wondering slowly turned to happy and harmonious!

Really. So. Very. Thankful!

*************************************

James 1:17

¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Miscellaneous and Sundry Items

The days have been getting longer and "warmer" (relatively so, that is! hovering in the upper 40s lower 50s).

Guess what my eye spied?

My favorite sign of impending spring--Tulips!!!!

Thank you Mom for planting these--they are a joy to see poking out of the ground!

I heard the birds singing this week too--what a welcome sound!

In other news, I forced myself to sit and blog today because

a) my house is clean

b) the dishes and laundry are done and put away

c) and so are the toys

d) i've taken a nap and had a cup of coffee (with whipped cream) in peace

It's a March Miracle!

And to prove that the laundry is so rarely fully done--here is a picture of my children playing with empty laundry baskets.

They weren't sure what to do first, as the baskets are rarely empty and available for playtime, but they figured out how to make a cage.

I liked that game! =) Ha!

Cuties!

I had a little taste of freedom today--Maeve was at preschool for two hours this morning so Ezra and I tackled our long to do list. We got a TON done and he was a super cooperative and cheerful companion! 

It is so much easier to run errands when there is only one child to unbuckle/buckle/tote with you!

Even if they are well behaved, having 2 or 3 along slows things down a bit! It was great to accomplish so much in so little time--we even had a chance to come back home for some playtime before we had to pick Maeve back up!!

It was a nice little break, but honestly, I still have a hard time sending Maeve to preschool and love having her back home with me! These years with my babies are so precious--they have been mostly peaceful and very blessed.

Thank you God for my Family!

*********************************************

This is the first week we've had with Mr. Wonderful at home during the night since his opera production is over with--only thing is--he starts a new production with the same company on Thursday. It is such a wonderful opportunity but it is definitely going to continue to take me some time to adjust to *days that never end.*
Thankfully we have many dear friends who have been spending our night hours with us and it's been a wonderful respite!!

I am very thankful for my husband's new job and for professionals who appreciate him and his talent and enjoy working with him!

Oh! I almost forgot! His music team was accepted into the Finals for the International Competition of Acappella in NYC again this year! Yay! They totally deserve to be there and I can't wait to see how they do! 

***********************************************

Nothing else is new--I hear my Maeve is up from nap!

It's Sunday Night

And

I Wish

So Much

That It Were Friday Night

Instead.

Happy Weekend

Naps

Family Time

Naps

Cleaning

Eating

Outdoor-ing

Over Too Soon!

So Thankful For Peace, Love and Togetherness.

Even If Those Peaceful, Happy Days Fly By So Quickly!

Ah...

Remember Summer?

I'm trying to! I miss warmth so much!

It was actually quite a lovely day here today--60ish and sunny!

We straightened and organized the basement and raked and straightened the backyard--the kids played on the swing and on their bikes/scooters/etc.

And we all got some fresh air.

Woot.

My husband and I finished some painting projects (so many left to do though!) and

Granny and Pop stopped by for a bit.

Oh! And a new and handsome nephew was born last night!

*Alexander*

Isn't that wonderful!?

I haven't seen him yet and don't want to steal his picture for my blog so I'll post it when I get a chance to lay eyes and camera on him! =)

8 pounds 14 ounces

Ouch.

That's over a pound bigger than Ezra--I can't imagine!

That's it. =)

Nothing else very exciting--but honestly--a quiet day at home for my little family is my absolute favorite kind of day! I hope you had a happy Saturday!

Goodnight! =)

Wishful Thinking & Window(s) Shopping

Oh. My. Heart.

!!!

I love these swimsuits from Gymboree! I know it isn't summer-swim-season yet--but would you look at the ruffle suit WITH matching swim cap?

TDF!

The big girl swimsuits are cute too--although there really isn't any way for them to compete with that swim cap! Ha!

So Much Old

Yesterday was my birthday! 

I'm getting old. =)

Seriously.

I had a great day with my little ones and grabbed my favorite treats from Wegmans for lunch! For dinner my husband treated us to Cheesecake Factory so there was a lot of awesome food involved. =)

I spent the evening putting my feet up and reading through the big stack of magazines that came in the mail--all in all a lovely day!

Here's a cute picture (looks like a million years old) that my Aunt Theresa sent me of baby Shelly!

Notice the Hershey's chocolate box I'm holding in my hands--a sign of things to come! Ha! This picture makes me miss those old days playing at Grandma's house--Grandma's house is so awesome when you're a kid! That's it for now--I have to pry Maeve away from the awesome dollhouse we inherited today--it's not going to be pretty trying to get her up for nap!
Happy Friday!!

A Terrific Tuesday

It was so sunny and lovely out today--a bit chilly still but sun is so much happier than the rain we suffered through yesterday! (Although, I'll take rain over snow right now any day!).

We were lucky enough to be able to go to the children's museum with friends and even ran into some family there! =)

The kids had a great time and didn't fall asleep in the car on the way back which is always a huge victory!

During their nap I worked on putting together our bedroom again--we had it all torn apart so the new ceiling could be installed--I made good progress but am not done yet!

Not much else is new--my husband is home in the evening now which is awesome. I love having him here! It's my favorite!

Here's a few pictures of the kids from the last couple of days--this is what Ezra looks like with *clean* hair. =) He's channeling Alton Brown from the food network--proof below:

See? =)

Alton Brown in all of his crazy-hair-glory!

Less Crazy Hair =)

Maeve has been wearing the same winter hat for the last three days (even to bed and to nap!). 

She's a little different!

We still love her though! Ha!

I miss getting pictures of Amelie since she's gone all day! I'll have to make up for it this summer by taking twice as many pictures of her! Good night!