Around These Parts

The summer is zipping on by. It has felt mostly like a foggy blur, but when I take a moment to breathe and reflect, we've actually achieved a lot during this season.

Our proudest family achievement: Silas graduating to underwear. ;) I am so proud of him, and there may have been a few happy/relieved tears on my end. (I hate toilet training and always hit that point of: "oh no, this one will never get it" before the big breakthrough happens.)

We've managed a few picnics, and more than a couple of made-by-scratch cakes have been made. This one and this one = MAJOR winners that you should try immediately.

Most of the time these three fight like cats and dogs. OCCASIONALLY, we get these brilliant moments of love, harmony and kumbayah. Like the morning last week when they put together their own "Sweet Shop" and sold $60 cupcakes to Matt. These are the moments I LIVE FOR.

We've had a lovely, welcome heat wave the last couple of weeks, which has meant lots of time playing in the yard with friends and water.

If I could have just one wish granted, it would be for more frequent date nights/mornings/afternoons with my husband. Dates have been few and far between, but I'm thankful for the evening we spent in Grand Rapids watching Josh Garrels at The Intersection, and for our almost-all-day jaunt to Detroit to pick up kitchen odds and ends at IKEA. Romance = holding hands, sipping hot coffees in a totally quiet minivan without anyone shrieking at us that they need to pee or "are we there YET?"

Michigan is so darn ugly in summer, you guys.

But seriously, I soak up every sunset I get to see - it never gets old. A favorite memory this summer was hiking Laketown Beach's dunes to watch a sunset with Grace. There's an exhilarating freedom in being able to drive to places like this on any given week night. We're spoiled rotten.

Freedom - I've felt more free this summer in several ways than I've ever felt in my adult life, and I'm grateful. I've done things that would have used to frighten me to even think about (like a paddleboarding class on Lake Macatawa, and barre classes at the gym!) For the first time as an adult, I've worn sleeveless shirts and dresses all season and didn't worry about what anyone else was thinking, (including my noisy inner critic.) I've put in countless miles with the kids walking all over town without ever feeling afraid. I've learned to love drinking my coffee black. I said "no" to things that I knew weren't going to be good for my family and I, and shoved the guilt out of my brain.

It hasn't been the easiest or most fun summer, but I think it's one that I will remember proudly.

A Day In The Doldrums

We begin every day with Chex. And coffee.

I had grand intentions of doing a "day in the life" photo post, imagining myself carrying my 50 pound Nikon around all day snapping beautifully composed pictures of my children doing their everyday normal things. Well, it was a beautiful dream. Things get too crazy around here for me to focus on that kind of a project all day, but here's what I did get over the last couple of days. Pieced together they give you an idea of what a normal day looks like around here...

Drive Olive to school.

Throw together a crock pot meal. Stare at dirty counters and dishes for 10 minutes.

Get dressed. 2 minutes later Silas walks by and uses the scarf as a tissue. Ditch the scarf. 

Hi Daniel Tiger. Thanks for giving me 5 minutes to use the bathroom in peace.

Hang some more Instagram pics on my wall.

Someone starts screaming...walk in on this scene.

Time for more coffee.

Naptime for Oona.

Silas pretends he doesn't see or hear me telling him it's nap time for him.

Time to go pick up Olive.

Hi Olive!

Time to get everyone outside to play!

*Not shown: the daily dinnertime routine where someone always hates and complains about what I made (unless it's pizza or hot dogs, which you'll be proud to know I don't do every day to save the peace, though it IS tempting...) 

Also not shown: getting everyone bathed and in bed, which seems to take 500 hours and leaves Matt and I hunched over, shaky and pale. 

Also not shown: Me lying prostrate on the floor in melodramatic exhaustion, begging Matt to go pick me up an ice cream sundae because "I deserrrrrrve iiiiiiiit."

Also not shown: Matt stepping over me saying "no, you'll complain about getting fat tomorrow." He's a wise man, that husband. Dang it.

Go to bed. Repeat all over again the next day. :) 

No News Is Good News

This has been a weird month. The bad has been really, really bad - BUT - the good has been really, REALLY good!

The bad: we've all been taking turns being sick. No one has escaped, and it seems like just when one bug ends and we all breathe a sigh of relief and say "whew, we survived," not a moment later someone is down with a new bug. Hi January - why you so mean to us? 

The good: January has been a good month in learning discipline, tackling bad habits and learning new things. I think it's more than just the full-steam-ahead excitement of following new resolutions - I can see in Matt and myself a strong desire to really be committed to health in 2015 - physically, spiritually and mentally. I think we're off to a good start. This month I've hit my yoga mat at home at least 3-4 times a week. I've learned that waiting for Olive in the school parking lot is the ideal, reliable quiet time I need to study the Bible on a regular basis (seriously, this has been a life changer for me.) And through it all I've been able to totally wean myself off a medication I had been taking for PPD that is really hard to wean off of - a HUGE answer to prayer. All in all, sickness and cabin fever be darned, I'd have to say January has been a good month...

...But it's also been a pretty uninspiring month. Blogging has fallen to the wayside in the midst of all this, and I'm missing it. Some inspiration is heading my way soon, however - did you catch the clue in the picture above? 

Next week I'm leaving the U.S. for the first time in my life! Matt is taking me with him on a work trip to London and we're taking an extra couple of days to go grab a quick peek of Paris. I'm still in shock that this is actually happening and something I get to do in this season of life. I'm having a bit of a hard time wrapping my brain around it. I'm planning on documenting the heck out of the whole trip, and you can count on me to over-share all of it when I get back!

Until then, you can find me trying to read alllll the Rick Steves' guides while simultaneously watching You Tube videos on how to pack for 10 days in a carry on bag and not look like an American tourist in Europe. ;)

Because My Teeth Hurt...

...I haven't been able to think straight this week. I had the worst orthodontist adjustment recently, and have been having having a grand old pity party with me, myself and I ever since. Most of the time I forget I even have braces, (it's actually been, overall, a positive experience) and I know the discomfort will fade in the next few days - but for NOW, pass the ibuprofen and let the binge watching of Thomas the Tank Engine commence as I hide my head under a pillow and curse my crooked teeth genes.

And because this already sad post needs some pictures, here are some very random snapshots from the last couple of weeks. Back soon!

^ Our local power plant is feeling festive! ^ 

^ Enjoying trying new recipes through our Plated subscription! ^ 

^ Olive the other reindeer... ^

^ Wish I was here. ^

Hello October

Yesterday the temperature dropped rather suddenly and as I drove out early this morning to run errands with the little ones, it seemed all the trees had released their grasp on summer at last and changed overnight. The color this fall is already amazing and it hasn't even reached its peak yet. It makes the gloomy gray skies a little more enjoyable, as the trees really "pop" against a dark backdrop. It's a beautiful season, but a short one. Last year we started seeing snow at the end of October, so we know what's coming soon. 

October Goals: 

-Visit Art Prize in Grand Rapids

-Figure out Halloween costumes for my kids within a conservative budget

-Finish Whole 30 successfully (almost 3 weeks in now!)

-Complete two weavings.

-Get Silas a haircut (should have done this last month.)

-Visit pumpkin farm with kids

-Get picture taken for Christmas cards.

Other plans for this month - a quick trip to OH, making snacks for 42 kindergarteners next week, our first parent-teacher conference, a concert in Grand Rapids, preparing Sunday School lesson plans - busy busy busy! 

What are some of your October goals?

Lately...

^ New babies. I've been reading up on succulent/cacti care to give them a fighting chance against my notorious black thumb. ^

^ I organized a small baby shower for a good friend of mine from church. It was a lot of fun! We colored a bunch of onesies with fabric markers and they came out so cute! ^

^ Things are still blooming and colorful in our yard, which is so pleasant since we're enjoying some glorious, surprisingly warm weather! (Those roses have bloomed multiple times this year!) ^

^ I dedicated this past weekend to cleaning/organizing our bedroom. It has been the most neglected room in the house. It feels so much better now. We did the whole shebang, re-arranging the furniture and hanging curtains and even installing some new bedside lights. ^

^ Picking out curtains is intimidating. I think we rushed our decision in our haste to get our bedroom feeling "finished" (hint: rushing is never a good idea.) We picked these white Nate Berkus curtains up from Target, and while I like them... ^

^...I can't help but feel they look a little shower-curtain-y? Yes? No? Oh, and I finally finished off one of my weavings properly and we love the way it looks hanging on our dark wall. ^

^ Speaking of dark walls... Painting our bathroom is next on my to do list, and I'm painting it black. It will either be awesome or awesomely bad. Stay tuned. ^

^ Last Friday, before heading out to watch Olive's last swim class (we made it through!) Matt, the littlest two and I grabbed an early breakfast out. I don't know what felt more weird - being out, just with four of us, or being out before 8a.m. on a weekday morning. It was fun, anyway! ^

^ A new project in progress. Triangles are difficult (but I am determined to figure them out!) ^

^ When I get bored with my weaving projects, I pick up my knitting. This is a Hudson Bay inspired crib blanket in the works (my first time working with circular needles - they're not as confusing as they look, much to my relief!) I've been meeting with a group of ladies from church on Thursday nights to knit and chat. It is the BEST. ^

^ My days revolve around chasing Oona and making sure she doesn't permanently injure herself during her "adventuring." This baby is on the GO. She quickly got bored with her crawling skills, and is now pulling herself up to stand against furniture (and stairs when she's being sneaky!) I think she might be walking before she has any teeth, at this rate. Note to self: deep condition/trim those bangs ASAP, for goodness' sake.) ^

Happy Monday!

The Hangover

My kids' faces up there pretty much sum up how I feel about this week.

Not only are we still feeling grumpy about having to say goodbye to my parents and siblings this week, but...

I'm desperately trying to get my house, kids and life back on track after about two straight weeks of company, too many late nights, too much fun, too much ice cream and not enough sleep. I think at this point I've realized I'm probably never going to catch up, and I'm trying to be cool with that, but seriously *yawwwwn.*

I missed Oona's 6 month well checkup...for the second time. I'm pretty sure I'm our doctor's favorite person.

I did remember (in the nick of time) Olive and Silas' first dentist appointments - which happened at the same time. (Silas did a major poop right as the hygienist called us back, in case you wanted to know. And he bit the hygienist's finger. But hey, no cavities! *Happy dance!*)

I've got an ear infection. Whomp-whomp.

^ Even Oona's got a vacation-hangover. ^

Livin' on too much coffee and a prayer over here, and hoping things start getting easier once Olive starts kindergarten in a couple of weeks and life is forced into a more structured routine. 

Oh, and here's a "meh" photo of the cruise ship that docked in Holland last week. It wasn't quite as impressive as the mega-yacht, but it was still exciting to see.