Friday, February 21, 2014

cake and cousins.






we were recently blessed with a visit from our chicago cousins. this so happens to include declan's bff so i am always glad to see those two reunited. they can hang all day, never stop finding adventures, playing army guys, guns, digging in the dirt and arguing like old men over who is right. it is hilarious to sit back and watch.

among the many get togethers we enjoyed we were able to do a little valentines/birthday party at my parents. all the cousins exchanged valentines and we celebrated three family birthdays. i took the opportunity to make some fancy cakes i've been wanting to try. fun and messy. still pondering how the sprinkles get all over the sides without all over your house. i will definitely post some recipes later but for now its back to work on laundry and yes, another cake...for the school carnival tomorrow! have a beautiful weekend. 

Monday, February 3, 2014

up to lately.

here there and everywhere. the weeks all roll together and time will not seem to slow down. it seems i was just thinking 'i can not believe another Christmas is coming' and yet here we are at the beginning of February awaiting valentines day and visits from Chicago cousins. 

i feel as though lately my mind is all over the place, attempting to land in some form of organized calmness and peace where each day will not feel so daunting; i am then comforted that this maybe is the way of life and motherhood; i am not alone in this. 

three kids, and one on the way in June. it is never simple. the moment you sit and breathe something spills, someone sneezes, or someone is hungry and wants something fancy like a lox bagel and all you can do is muster up the strength to stand and keep going, because you are the one they need. you try to remember what it was like before kids, before marriage, and it seems such a faint memory you can hardly grasp. whatever did i do with all that time? all you know is that it is one million times better the way it is now, because those were days of much loneliness and searching. i will take the present and all its greatness, no matter the trial. i am blessed beyond belief with what i have been given. a life of beauty. a life with rare a dull moment. 

so in a interest to be more present in this blog space i have created, and in an interest to write more, i am making some hopeful resolutions; hey the new year was not that long ago right?
i would love to blog more, be more consistent. i want to be a better mother. make fresh bread. be more attentive to my garden. watch an odd foreign or independent film on occasion. read more. check my instagram less. sew more. make a dress. reach out to friends more. write more.share more recipes here. give more. pray more. appreciate and love each and every moment much more. ah, and perhaps finish knitting that scarf that was supposed to be done by Christmas!



{le parc}

 {le library walls}


{le diggers}

Monday, January 6, 2014

bike riding.




with the lovely winters we have around here, and a nice break from school, these guys have been partaking in their fair share of bike rides. dec in particular could ride forever it seems. i cant blame him. it is one of my favorite things. 
btw, ruby's extra gear is b/c she received roller skates for christmas...needless to say she has a ways to go before they are actually rollin. haha.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

hunting for a tree. christmas part II.





the old evening whitfill nursery tree hunting tradition. 
one of my favortie things....
the warm fire, the endless cookies, the anticipation of a tree, 
the smell of fresh pine, and all the happy faces. 
simple but wonderful.

decorate.christmas part I.

 rolling out sugar cookies.


 full of determination.




 being the messiest, i resorted to letting her wear my apron dress, as she manages to get it EVERYWHERE, mostly on the sleeves and in her hair. 

 "why did dad give me this sharp knife to spread....and what am i doing?"

 notice the uber sprinkled green star by dec

taking it very seriously as always. no really.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

soccer.





so declan started his first sport (besides swimming) and he is pretty darn delicious out there. with four goals in his last game we are pretty proud of this guy! go dec...eat em up sharks!

halloween + all saints day.

a little bat-man.

pumpkin carving.


visits.

magic spells.

2 pirates and glinda the good witch.




trick or treats.

and a lovely st. agnes of rome.

a very busy but wonderful time of year!