Small Style – just a regular Wednesday

Joining up again with

A friend passed down this dress to Arianna, which I think it came from a local lady that does handmade customs. She called it “a little quirky” and had to know I’d love it. Shoes are Gracious May.

(She’s been doing this thing recently where she holds her hand out, palm up, while she’s “talking” to you. Hilarious.)

Adelaide’s dress is a Misha Lulu that she’s had forever. (Also seen here and here.) Striped top is from Target several years ago, skinny jeans are Old Navy, and red maryjanes are Kid Express.

(Whining to me about how she got hurt outside.)

Madeline’s top is Tea Collection, skinny jeans are Old Navy, and shoes are Simple.

Drew’s scooter tee is Tea Collection from a couple of years ago, jeans are Old Navy, and shoes are New Balance.

For more fashion-minis, visit Small Style at Mama Loves Papa.

jump!

A couple of weeks ago our Living Social deal was for a local party bounce house arena place. Three friends signed up under my referral link so ours ended up being free. We tried to go during spring break but it just didn’t happen. We went with some friends a couple of weeks ago and my kids thought it was pretty much the coolest thing ever.

Arianna kept trying to push Emily’s carseat around like it was a stroller. (Nearly dumped her out a few times, too, while she was at it.)

And yes, they’ve been asking to go back ever since!

(starting fresh)

(This one’s for the non-locals…)

Well last week was one for the history books. Easter was fabulous. Monday evening two of my kids felt feverish so they stayed home from school Tuesday. And then Wednesday the storms hit. It’s really kind of twilight-zonish to sit in a hallway with your kids on a mattress with the doors shut riding out tornadoes. What is this, Kansas?

We don’t really have any trees close enough to damage our house but we have several friends with significant damage (house and auto) and the entire surrounding southeastern area has pockets of complete destruction. So sad.

While that was all going on, Andy’s high-school-aged cousin was hit by a drunk driver and killed – he had gone with his parents to the funeral and wasn’t home for most of the storm AND the 2 1/2 days we ended up being without power (LUCKY HIM). Doesn’t all this make you just long for heaven and lasting peace???

My mom said “my book” would be a best-seller and I said “yeah, you’re not going to be laughing when my roof blows off.” Thankfully it didn’t. But just to give you an idea, we have random bits of debris and insulation in our yard blown in from Alabama or who-knows-where. Strong winds, indeed.

Friday a little before noon our power came back on, Andy was back home and life was looking a little brighter. His parents stayed to visit for the day and in the afternoon everyone but Arianna and me went to the zoo. Madeline came home toting the biggest stuffed cheetah you’ve ever seen. I mean, HUGE.

Saturday was another pretty good day – Andy and one of his buddies took all their older kids on a waterfall hike and then we all met up later for a picnic dinner at the park (three families total). I told Andy chasing Arianna around a park at the end of the day did not sound like fun and he committed to watch her. So I sat my preggy rear on the picnic blanket and did nothing but eat and hang out with the other moms.

My kids are now back in school and here’s praying for a calmer week.

small style – playground edition

I actually had the little girls buckled into their carseats on Monday in plenty of time to go pick up carpool.  And then I realized the van battery was dead.  Why does stuff like that ALWAYS happen to me?!

Andy wasn’t answering his phone, neighbors weren’t home… I felt so stuck.  Oh, and the church office is closed on Mondays so I couldn’t get a hold of anyone at the school to tell them why I wasn’t there.  Finally I called my sister and she went over and I was able to talk to Madeline’s teacher.  She decided she could get some extra work done and the kids could all wait in her classroom.  I finally got a hold of Andy and he came home and jumped the van and then I was on my way.  Drama.

ANYway, we took the afternoon “off” and relaxed at the playground. I’m using those photos for today’s Small Style at Mama Loves Papa.

Arianna’s dress is Old Navy from last year and shoes are Pedipeds.

Madeline’s tank and shorts are Old Navy and shoes are from Simple.

Drew’s tee is from Old Navy, athletic shorts from Target, shoes are New Balance (from Shoe Carnival). Adelaide’s dress is Tea Collection (another of my favorites).

Friday morning, with muffins

This looked so bright and cheery on the kids’ breakfast table this morning. We’re expecting a storm today so I’ve got all the lights on and I’m staying in my comfy pants. I can’t go anywhere either, since our mechanic is attempting to slide our van past the state emissions test today. (Let’s all groan together now.)

In other news, Andy is LOVING his new work. He is sooooooo busy though. (Like came home from the office past midnight a few days last week.) I did text him one night and said “you better be working and not just shooting the breeze!!!!” He wrote back “ha!” (I’m always a little suspicious because he’s working with a good friend and they have a really great time together.) But, regardless, sooo thankful. Now if we can just eek by until the first closing (earlyish May). God is faithful and does provide. The end.

(Yep, still here)

(Alternate title: S-T-R-U-G-G-L-E)

Okay. I’m having a hard time. Yesterday was just plain out bad and my brain felt half asleep the whole day. I said yes to things for my kids that I never should have agreed to because clearly they were things I didn’t have the energy for. Being cooped up due to rain DID. NOT. HELP. (Have I ever mentioned my kids don’t have school on Wednesdays? I was loathing that policy right about 10 a.m.)

Today’s better. I feel better. I think I struggle more with ante-partum depression than post-partum. Once the baby’s out it’s party time, you know. Paint the cabinets, get going! Now? Yeah, notsomuch.

ANYwaaaaay, just didn’t want to leave anyone hanging. We had Adelaide’s little birthday party over the weekend (rained out, go figure!) and I’ve been trying to get around to finishing the photo editing ever since. I’ll get there. Someday, right?

A Lick and a Promise

That’s what my grandmother used to say when she had no time for housecleaning. She’d give it ‘a lick and a promise.’ My mom reminded me of that last night and it is SO fitting for my house AND my blog! I’ve been SWAMPED this week with spring break and the children’s spring consignment sale. (I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel but I still have to tag most of the hanging clothes.)

Sooo, we’ll catch up soon!

Welcome to springbreak

I feel like we already had our spring break last week (and now there’s no Grandmommy around to distract us). But we’ve got some fun things tentatively planned so it should work out okay. No beach trip, unfortunately. ;) (Although, Arianna at the beach sounds more like a nightmare.)

I haven’t mentioned this here yet but I’m sure a lot of you are wondering about the on-going status of Andy’s job search. He’s been in a real estate course these past couple of weeks and takes the state exam tomorrow. It’s been busy – he’s gone all day in class and then he studies all evening. I was SO glad my mom was here for the majority of it. They did a practice test at the school last Friday and he got a 98% – so I’m not too worried. The plan is for him to work as the buyers agent for a friend of ours (also a realtor but pretty much only sells.) They’ll be a team of two and I know it will be good. I told Andy I just want to eat and wear cute shoes.

Arianna’s finger – doing well! The stitches aren’t quite all dissolved so it still has to be wrapped up. (But we did ditch the splint after three weeks.) I tried to wrap just her finger but she had it pulled off in about 3 minutes. So hand it is.

The kids have been loving this weather, and are pretty much staying outside the entire day. Andy took Drew and Madeline on a long hike over the weekend and he said they did great with NO COMPLAINING! I’m pretty sure I’ve complained on every hike I’ve ever been on. (ha) Right now I can barely manage the grocery store without feeling completely sore afterwards (doesn’t help when I had to cross the store three times looking for lighter fluid). I’m definitely entering the uncomfortable stage of pregnancy.

Lighter fluid – yes, the Lewins came over for BBQ on Friday night. I love having them over because I don’t feel pressure to clean first. Love friends like that. We stayed outside mostly anyway, and ate on the deck. I love spring! (And I’ve been wishing all weekend I had taken her up on that offer to leave us some of her homemade chocolate pudding pie.)

Okay, the people are calling. Here’s to a good springbreak!

yeah, hi!

I’m having muffins and coffee and the only thing that could be better for a Saturday morning would be Andy back from the men’s retreat to enjoy them with me. (I’m glad he could go, though.)

The fevers only lasted until Tuesday so we’ve been enjoying normal life and GREAT weather ever since. (Okay, so yesterday was kinda cloudy. But not freezing, which is the main point.)

Thursday I had a little Panera date with some friends and that was such a highlight after a long week. Highly recommend going out with your girlfriends regularly if you can swing it. Or have them over for coffee.  Pick up that phone!

Yesterday we got our house back in order and Adelaide was my best worker!  She’s hilarious – like the cleaning police.  (“Hey, Mom, there’s a big mess on your floor.  Are you going to clean it now?”)

Today we’re gonna bust out the homework and get the laundry done because my dad comes in town tonight and we have big fun plans for the evening.  Just wanted to check in here first and say we survived the week.  Hope you did, too.

raw honesty

WELL. Yesterday (the first half, anyway) was… well, just bad, bad, bad. Later I ended up hiding in Madeline’s top bunk and cried. (And if you don’t occasionally have those kinds of days too, I’m not sure we can still be friends.)

It started fine, then Arianna’s hand got smashed in the door and she spent the rest of the morning pretty cranky, following me around whining or demanding to be held. We were out of milk (her consoling naptime partner). I finally put my foot down and we all went to Wmart just to get the milk. In the rain.

When we got home she somehow got a hold of a sugar bag, got it open, and dumped it out on the floor between her legs and went to town. All while I was bringing in the groceries. (I would have gotten a sugar-coated photo if my head hadn’t been about ready to combust.) One huge gritty sticky mess. My kitchen floor is still a little crunchy. (That’s the part where I went and hid.)

SO THANKFUL Andy came home after a half-day and we pushed up our sleeves and scrubbed our house. I’m the kind of person that if my house is out of control, my life feels out of control. He’s been really busy with temporary construction-type work and I’d been sick, add in a few wild kids and you have a situation bordering on disaster.

Oh, and then the prong of my new(ish) vacuum plug broke. On Cleaning Day. Go figure.

ANYway. We did get things under some sort of order, I got a bag of toys ready for donation, and we have some momentum to finish things up today. I only tell you all that to say – THIS IS THE REAL DEAL, FOLKS. We all have terrible, no good days.

(And believe me, I put Arianna in the nursery last night at church so I could breathe in peace.)

Don’t be fooled by appearances

Here she is, in all her innocent-lookingness right before the unfortunate carseat episode.

(Blowing raspberries at Madeline.)

Don’t think I’ll be giving her string cheese for a while.

And then I got it. Was sick all night. So much for that! I’m feeling fine now, just on the weak side and can’t stand up too long.

clean sheets

(raise your hand if you read blogs on weekends)

Sooo Arianna and I stayed home this morning, just to be safe. She puked ALL over herself and her carseat yesterday afternoon while I was driving. Such a (stinky) disaster. The kids all had it – about a 12 hour bug, starting in the middle of Thursday night. I thought she was in the clear because she got it first and then had two days of normalcy. My washer has been getting a workout, is all I can say.

(A tip! I stripped the padding off the seat and then stuck all the straps, buckles, clips, everything in a zip-laundry bag and threw it all in the machine. Easiest way to wash carseats ever.)

Friday was sort of the respite day – everyone was still resting but definitely feeling better. I managed to get a shower/dressed, make it to the grocery store, AND got my van back from the shop (new axles, can you believe it?) on hardly ANY sleep. We even got a date that night. (We’d been joking all week how we were going to go out and split an ice cube. Close.)

Anyway, I could see over and over God’s little mercies throughout the entire weekend. Bright spots of sunshine on some very long days.

by request

Andy and Drew’s snowman.

I do a double-take every time I walk past my back door. I’m not used to a huge frozen man staring back at me from the backyard. (Which is a little creepy.)

Yesterday I spent the afternoon picking raisins off my socks and watching my kids crash sled down the hill. They were completely hilarious. I’m wishing I had gotten some video footage of the ditch-landings (happened almost every time.) My throat is still very sore, otherwise I might have gone out there myself.

lunch!

We had chicken soft tacos one day last week. I finely shred the cooked chicken in my food processor and mix in either fresh salsa or taco seasonings. Also, whipping in pureed (drained) fresh spinach is a MUST.

Anyway, the next day we had the leftovers on a huge plate of nachos. I mixed the chicken into leftover refried beans, and topped with more fresh salsa and a plop of sour cream.

Yum.

and then there was snow

My neighbor said she measured almost 7 inches. No school today, no school tomorrow (and our kids don’t even go on Wednesdays!).

We need some actual, real snow gear. Because apparently the South is turning into Alaska.

They are using the skim board we bought at the beach last year. SUPER FAST.

I pretty much froze my rear off taking these photos (in my slippers) and then ran back inside. You know, where it was WARM.

a quiet Saturday morning

Well. This is a post I’ve dreaded writing. We found out yesterday Andy did not get the job with the insurance company we were really hopeful about. I’m trying my best not to feel panicky, can’t help but feel discouraged. Start over at Square 1.

Andy is out with the middle girls; they met the tow truck to have his car re-towed, this time to the dealer. Apparently his car’s computer system is still under warranty (says the mechanic). Then they were going to run a few errands and pick up Madeline’s stuffed animals she sleeps with that she left at our friends’ last night. The baby is asleep and Drew is playing outside with our new neighbors (three boys!). So it’s quiet in here as I clean. And try not to cry.

(Just being honest.)

hey there

It’s funny, I haven’t blogged because I have this little project I keep meaning to get to (and never do) and was thinking I’d share it next. Well, clearly that hasn’t happened so here we are.

The kids started back at school today. We are a little rusty on the early morning thing. Andy had his final interview yesterday (went very well) and if he gets this job with normal hours we’re going to have to finally adjust to getting up earlyish just like everybody else. Internal clocks are hard to re-set.

I suppose it doesn’t help that I stayed up and read

this book start to finish. It’s such a happy, encouraging, wise book. Highly, highly recommend. I even have a copy you can borrow.

Oooh tonight I’m meeting girlfriends at Panera. Which is just nice to have at the back of one’s mind all day, you know?

snuggle day

We had a crazy time making it back from our Christmas trip, cutting our stay short so we could beat that big northeast snowstorm. Like, we decided to leave that morning. Andy went to church while I frantically packed, the kids “helping” (which is not, um, exactly helpful), and I tossed stuff in the van as the first snow fell. We said quick good-byes, slammed the doors and were off, needing to be past DC by 4 p.m. (We were.)

Also? We forgot a few things.

The roads were mostly okay – not slippery, mostly just snow-dusted. The worst problem was our windshield sprayers gave up the ghost. They were finicky to begin with but then when Andy tried to clean one side out the whole frozen thing snapped. So the wipers pretty much just spread around wet dirt and salt the whole time. Which is so terribly clear to see through, you know? Needless to say, we had to stop just to clean the windows. (And to stock up on Starbucks.)

The rush was Andy’s interview, set for Tuesday afternoon. WE COULD NOT MISS IT, come hell or high water. (Or snow, as the case may be.) And it went great, totally worth the fuss. His words were “it could not have gone better.”  So now we wait on the Lord.

Oh, also, I turned up sick(ish) on Monday and pretty much laid around all day, staring holes into those ginormous suitcases that would not unpack themselves. My kids ran wild and helped themselves to the watercolors. (Which, I have to admit, was great entertainment, if a little messy.) Yesterday was much better and I managed to unload the clothes onto the couch. (Ha.)

We’re now down to random miscellaneous Christmas toys (which always come with pieces that multiply when you’re not looking) and randomly strewn coats and shoes. I don’t care. At least the suitcases are in the attic and the clothes put away. Ooh, I also made it to the grocery store.

That was urgent because today Andy started working/helping a church friend with his new investment property. We’re still down to one car, meaning the kids and I were house-bound today. I’m still in my pajamas.

I think I brushed my teeth.

(I’ll post the last of the trip photos after I go through all fifty-billion of them.)