the days grow short as the nights grow long

what she wore to school today.

And though all these things will change,

The memories will remain

As green to gold, and gold to brown

The leaves will fall to feed the ground

And in their falling, make no sound



Winter Birds by Ray LaMontagne (my current fav)

grateful Tuesday:)

Jake was saying, put this hand here and that one there--you can't tell--that shirt doesn't show your belly...and I was saying, just take the picture! So this is what we get. An awkward picture at 21 weeks pregnant with twins.

I try not to complain, because no one wants to hear a bunch of complaints, but I'm just going to for a second and then I'll try to redeem myself with gratitude. How's that for a plan?

I'm starting to feel it. Really feel it. Hormonally I am better than the previous pregnancies, but the pain! Ouch, the pain. Two people don't fit in there very well. My doctor keeps saying "humans aren't designed to have multiples" and now I understand what she means. My body is saying, "Seriously? You want to walk? Well...I guess we can try that." It's kind of embarassing. When I’m at home I can ignore the waddling but when there are people around, I try to hide it a bit, but it’s almost impossible for the first few steps. Okay, I could go on and on, but I think that’s enough for now.

Now for the grateful part. I was going to write a “grateful Friday” post, but I’ve been too busy. So I’ll do it today…

This is hard to find a way to write this without sounding whatever-ish, but I’m thankful for my family. Really. That is why I’m happy that it’s growing again. That says a lot—that I love my family that much that waiting for #4 and #5 can make me happy. I can’t say enough about my husband—he is more than I could have hoped for. He is my happily ever after. He works at our marriage and I feel blessed and lucky. My children are so lovely. They carry the innocence and purity of childhood and I feel blessed to have that in my life daily. They are forgiving and unconditional and I want to be more like them.


#3 still in jammies, kissing #1 and #2 goodbye while waiting for the schoolbus

I’m grateful for faith. For my personal faith. For the formal faith that I am taught when I study the teachings of my faith. For the fact that when faith is practiced it is reinforced and rewarded. For all the symbolism and depth that faith contains and for the simplicity that it forces upon my daily actions.

I’m grateful for Autumn in New England.



I’m grateful that I have friends and family that are taking care of me when I need help. (thank you!!!)

I’m grateful that I can find beauty anywhere if I look for it.

flower power

I am in the process of adding flowers and flower kits to my website and etsy page for purchasing, but I thought that it would be fun for you to see the process of the flower-making for those of you who would rather do it yourselves.


step #1: start with squares--the more squares, the fuller your flower will be. In this tutorial I am using 6 squares that measure 3 1/2 inches.


step #2: fold the square into quarters.


step #3: hold the folded end and cut the edge into a semi circle. It will look like an ice cream cone while it is folded.


This is what it will look like when you unfold it...


step #4: hand sew a circle in the middle of your scalloped square. I used dark thread in this example so you could see it easily. It doesn't have to be perfect.


step #5: pull your sewing tight and it will bunch up. tie a knot to secure it.


step #6: after doing this with all the pieces, sew them together by the little center bunchy parts:)


step #7: then pull it tight and it will start looking like a flower.


step #8: sew them all together and secure with a knot. You have your basic flower and you're ready to embellish it any way you choose!


step #9: sew on button details and hot glue felt and a brooch pin on the back. I used to hand sew the felt and clasp on, but recently have found that hot glue saves lots of time and energy.

*Remember, go here or here to pre-order your aprons now!

parenting parodies

She throws punches

We were at my son’s first soccer game ever. I was lost in the cheering section while the girls played with a multitude of children on the playground behind me. I kept turning and checking to make sure they were there, first of all, and secondly, seemed okay, and then would turn around to catch a glimpse of the miracle in front of me that is 6-8 year-olds playing a team sport. Later that night, (yes, he won and we all were proud) I found out that while the girls were playing, two 3rd grade boys were bullying my 4 year old. (For those of you without children, let me help you with the mental image: cute little girl, waist high with little bobbed hair on various toddler playground toys who has a hard time getting on a swing because she can’t quite reach, so she mostly swings on her stomach; and two boys a foot taller than her who have been riding the bus to school for 3 ½ years already.) What does she do? She punches one kid in the eye and the other in the mouth.


He misses the point

We had several casualties that made us late to church this morning. On the drive there I said, “Man, we’re going to miss the sacrament. That’s like the whole point of going in the first place!” Upon answering a couple questions that this sentence spurred, my son said, “What?! The sacrament is about JESUS? I thought it was just about the snack!”

She is perfect

The eldest is practically perfect in every way, so that must mean that I have some hope as a parent.

hello there.

ditched

Wow. The past couple weeks have been crazy busy. We’ve had family and more family and even more family and a wedding. There have been children and schoolwork and soccer and tantrums and birthdays with balloons and fishing and games. I’ve dealt with photo processing and hormones and a sore body. That doesn’t even sound that busy, but trust me, it was. Last night we went to the best show ever and today it is time to simplify. Today I’m going to rest my weary self and get work done that I can do while putting my feet up at the same time. I’m going to catch up and remember to breathe in the autumn air and listen when the wind rustles the leaves that will soon be fallen. And I think I’ll bake the chocolate chip cookie dough that is in the fridge too.

Happy Friday to you!