{phfr}

~ capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

A few weeks past her big day but I finally completed this apron for my aunt's birthday.

{happy}

Love when I find my boys lost in a book, especially when they are sitting side-by-side.

{funny}

My husband finally did our taxes this week {leave it to the accountant to wait until the very last minute - though, in his defense, he's a forensic accountant so taxes are not his thing} and after announcing the amount our refund would be, we both immediately and simultaneously said: Sounds to me like a new {insert object we have each been pining for i.e. for me that would be a new lens}. Then we both laughed at our knee-jerk, selfish reactions because, well, what did our refund go towards in reality? A new supply of cloth diapers which you know you need to replace when your two-year-old points to the one you're about to put on him and says: Silly Mommy, that diaper is broken!

{real}

For whatever reason, getting over the hump of my babies turning one is hard for me. Sounds ridiculous, I know, but it's the truth. {It's no coincidence that I have gotten pregnant each time my youngest was about thirteen or fourteen months!} So, now that my youngest has passed that twelve month hurdle, I am trying to simply embrace these fleeting baby moments of holding him on my hip, nursing him to sleep, and watching him crawl around while they last.

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Linking up with Like Mother Like Daughter today:

{phfr}

~ capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~ 

{pretty}

The excitement on my oldest son's face as he announced to me that the yellow bush in the backyard was blooming is an image I never want to forget.

{happy}

I've been trying to adopt a slower pace around here which for right now means less schoolwork,  {my oldest is only 4 1/2 after all!} less meticulous cleaning and less unnecessary errands. Instead we've been filling our days with dinosaur hunts, pillow castles, coloring books, and duplo blocks.

{funny}

When you are a boy at the age of four or the age of two balancing two dinosaur tails in a third dinosaur's mouth is quite hilarious.

{real}

Since we had to cancel my littlest's 'Teddy Bear Picnic' birthday party because of a nasty cold we've been passing around, we found ways to make his big day special anyway. There were lots of indoor picnics, party games, sweet prizes, and, of course, birthday cakes with just the four of us {who needs guests when you have siblings!?}. My favorite 'cake' was this 'Track Cake with Train Frosting' made by my oldest.

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Linking up with Like Mother Like Daughter today:

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{pretty}

I found this casserole dish at Home Goods a few weeks ago and I love that it makes even the less attractive of dinners look beautiful.

{happy}

On Saturday evening my husband took me out for an impromptu date night. We went to one of our favorite spots to eat back before we were married: a tiny Italian Trattoria in a quaint little downtown area of a small beach town in the area where we both grew up. It was our first time going out together without our littlest and, though we had to keep it quick, we had SO much fun! I had almost forgotten how nice it is to converse with my husband while making eye contact and without distractions and interruptions.

{funny}

Dinosaurs are everywhere in my life at the moment. I chuckled to myself upon finding this little set-up during naps the other day. The past few days I've been listening to the boys play Land Before Time: my oldest is Little Foot, my middle guy is Sarah and my youngest is Ducky {because, as my four-year-old explained to me, she's cute like his baby brother}. They each carry around a pair of their 'favorite' dinosaurs everywhere, one clasped endearingly in each of their chubby, sweaty hands. 

{real}

Temperatures in the 70's this week have allowed me to spend lots of time sitting in that chair soaking up some sunshine while listening to the music of my boys' little voices as they dig in the dirt. Considering that last week at this time it was snowing, I'd be more than happy if this weather lasts!

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Linking up with Like Mother Like Daughter today:

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~ capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

This beautiful crucifix was a Christmas gift from my dad and I absolutely love having it hang in the center of our home.

{happy}

I just love finding my children lost in a book.

{funny}

He had to go fetch his tools before he could make Poppy's valentine. My father-in-law and my second son share their own, tool-oriented love language. 

{real}

My little guy has been sick this past week and everyone in our house has sorely missed his usually sunny disposition and contagious smile. Yesterday was the first day he started feeling better and we thoroughly appreciated having him and his chubby feet join us for our school day once again.

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Linking up with Like Mother Like Daughter today:

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~ capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

Beautiful snow. 

{happy}

Perfect impromptu craft/snack for our snow day.

{funny}

It's a good thing my Mother-in-Law brought these kid-size shovels up to my boys in time for the blizzard... I don't know how my husband would have managed to shovel all that snow without their help ;)

{real}

I snapped this photo just after my husband had peeked his head through that side door and announced: "I'm sending them back in!" Note: towel laid out, laundry basket in place, tea kettle boiling... I was ready for those cold, wet boys and their cold, wet gear.

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Linking up with Like Mother Like Daughter today:

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{pretty}

The icing on the cake is when my nails match my fabric. 

{happy}

Curling up on the couch with three boys and a blanket on my lap to read cozy, wintry books is the very best way to spend a snow day.

{funny}

I guess when your sons have no sisters it's up to their mother to expose them to the concept of hair bows. I have clearly failed in that department since my boys found it hilarious that this little girl had butterflies in her hair.

{real}

It takes more than a fall to the ice for our chicken egg membranes to break! Good thing since I'm sure I drop at least an egg every other day!

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Linking up with Like Mother Like Daughter today:

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{pretty}

I think I might love fabric more than sewing...

{happy}

Thank you Richard Scarry for giving our children hours of happiness!

{funny}

School in the bathroom while the littlest is in the tub.

{real}

It isn't often that the little ones and I leave the house for the day but when we do it is the best feeling in the world to come home to find a welcoming husband, dinner on the stove and a kitchen table looking like this. I am a very blest wife.

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Linking up with Like Mother Like Daughter today:

{phfr}

~ capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

My husband and I joined forces and made this jewelry rack for his little sister. He did the building, I did the designing, obviously and, not only do I love the way it turned out but the entire process was so much more fun with him by my side! Most importantly, my sister-in-law loved it too. And, I must mention that the purple dot in the bottom left corner was added at the insistence of my two little boys, much to my perfectionistic dismay! (I had to wrap it immediately after taking this photo because it annoyed me so much! ;)

{happy}

Today is the last day to enter my Baby Blanket Giveaway and I cannot wait to select and announce the winner tomorrow. Sewing truly brings me so much joy and I am beyond thrilled that by opening my very own little Etsy Shop I now have a perfectly justifiable excuse to devote more time to a hobby that I love. :)

{funny}

Good thing my four-year-old received a doctor kit stocked full of band-aids under the tree Christmas morning because this clumsy cook sliced a nice, big chunk out of her thumb a few days prior. Nothing like some polka-dot band-aids to draw attention...

{real}

This is what Christmas morning looked like in our house and for once in my neat-freak life, I forced myself to simply sit down and enjoy the chaos. My favorite part? The wet cloth diaper towards the bottom right. ;)

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{pretty}

Our living room, all decorated.

{happy}

I love watching my children gaze at the tree with wonder-filled, sleepy eyes in the early morning. And I love that my oldest is a morning person, just like me, so we get to enjoy the coziness of our Christmas Tree together on the weekends when everyone else is still sound asleep. 

{funny}

I found this little nest at Hobby Lobby for less than two dollars and knew my boys would get a kick out of seeing it in our Christmas Tree since they love birds. Well, my two-year-old thinks it's absolutely hilarious! Every time he notices it he says: "Eggs our tree!" And then proceeds to run around the house laughing hysterically. 

{real}

I'm kind of particular about my Christmas Tree and once we brought ours home this year I realized it was a bit too full for my liking. After struggling to fit all our ornaments and not quite liking the result, I grabbed the heavy-duty scissors and made my own nooks and crannies, exactly where I wanted them! Why hadn't I thought of this sooner!? And now I have a bag full of pine branches to scatter throughout the house for some extra festive cheer. 

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Linking up with Like Mother Like Daughter today:

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~ capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

My sister-in-law came up for the day yesterday and made these beautiful ornaments with my boys!

{happy}

M & M's, packaged cakes, candy canes, one dollar bills and fruit snacks brought giant smiles to my boys' faces Sunday morning. Watching them each drop their dollar bills into the collection basket at mass two hours later made my husband and me smile.

{funny}



What was funny about this? Keeping my boys away from their goodies until my husband woke up on Sunday morning. Definitely preferable when Saint Nicholas Day lands on a weekday.

{real}

Boys + Outside = Dirt! Dirty boots! Dirty socks! Dirty pants! Dirty coats! Dirty fingernails! I could go on... ;)

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