Hide and Seek

She's good at this!!

Generations

 As you've probably noticed, I am very sentimental.  

Perhaps overly so, since I'm still hanging onto that bobblehead Yoda (still in the package) that J jokingly gave me to use as a focal point during my first natural childbirth.  I realize that bequeathing a head-bobbing, green Jedi to my children one day probably isn't going to fill their hearts with warm fuzzies and a connection to their roots.

Some things, however, are totally meant to be held onto!  

The dress Big Sis is wearing has been handed down to her by her grandma.

It was handmade by her great grandmother, for her grandma, who wore it when she was a little girl!

It now fits Big Sis perfectly.

The dress itself is gorgeous!  

The detail she put into the - (I don't even know the correct terms for the detail stuff) - is amazing.

What's also amazing to me is that it has stayed in pristine condition for more than half a century!!  

Clothing in this house rarely survives long enough to get passed down to the next kid.

(We are taking extra special care of this one!)

I so wish I had the ability to make something that would be enjoyed by generations of great grandchildren after me the way my grandmother has done.  But since I can't sew - at all - I thought I could at least capture our appreciation for this family heirloom in a special portrait session with Big Sis.

The fields of goldenrod at my friend's farm were perfect for the occasion!  It rained off and on and there were pop-up storms all around us, but I think we got what we set out to accomplish.

So here's to you, Grandma!

Thank you for all of the time I can imagine you spent sewing and stitching all of those years ago.  You've left us with something exceptionally cool - something that does give us warm fuzzies and a connection to our roots!

Meanwhile, bobblehead Yoda is still in my basement...

Evening Stroll

 Bubs and Baby Sis have been sick for the better part of a week now.  Of course, they don't look like it here - a bath does wonders for both appearance and disposition.  But nevertheless, they've had a rough week.  In an effort to ease them off to bed early, I decided to bathe them, jammie them up, and take them for an always-good-for-trance-inducing, evening stroller ride.

Can I just say, I am going to be seriously sad when my kids get too big to wear the traditional shirt and pant set toddler pjs.  They are my favorite!

So since I have a major soft spot for freshly bathed and jammied babes, the evening light was way too pretty, and I am - me - I had to take a few pictures along the way.

:)

I didn't realize my stroller driving was this intense. 

She got conditioner in her curls for the first time tonight.

He just realized there's a full moon.

   ~sleepiness~

~summer toes~

I made myself put the camera away after this shot (I really do make an effort to spend as much time just being present as I do taking pictures, even though it probably doesn't seem like it) and we strolled around until it got dark.

Bubs thinks it's hilarious how the moon looks like it's moving when we walk, so we spent the rest of the time playing hide and seek with the moon and seeing if it would follow us home.  

It did.  ;)

He also learned the poem:

"I see the moon.

And the moon sees me.

God bless the moon.

And God bless me."

I love my babies so much.  They absolutely exhaust me to my core.  But I sort of wish they could stay this small forever.

~

Toddler Proverbs

Yesterday morning, I spent a little extra time just watching Baby Sis move about her world in all of her toddler glory.  Okay, let's be real, there's hardly time to do anything but keep your eyes on a toddler - every second of every minute of every waking hour.

But that aside, I do find these curious little developing humans quite fascinating - even if it's in a laugh so you don't cry sort of way.

Listed below are the nuggets of toddler wisdom I gleaned from our time together:

On Pet Care:

Dogs need company while they eat.  

They also prefer to have their food presented buffet-style in order to enjoy each kibble, one at a time.

On Helpfulness:

If you see Mom using bags to pick up dog poop in the yard, expedite her work by bringing the poop to her in your hands and placing it in the bag.

On Gardening:

Don't discriminate; vegetables come in all shapes and sizes.  

Green tomatoes want to be picked too.

On Being a Clean Plater:

The most efficient way to clear your plate is to pack every piece of food on it into your mouth at the same time...

and then deposit it in the trashcan behind the island.

On Comedy:

Fake sneezing and launching sunglasses off of your face is hilarious every time.  It's recommended to borrow someone else's sunglasses.

         Big brothers can "fix" sunglasses.

On IT:

Push as many keys as possible; computers love that.

On Independence:

Why wait for assistance with getting things out of the refrigerator when you can assist yourself?

It's the considerate thing to do, really, when you consider that this process must be repeated multiple times throughout the day for no apparent reason.

The same applies to sinks.

On Personal Space:

Just kidding.

Personal space isn't really a "thing" around here.

On School Supplies:

Pencils go on the wall.  Markers go in the pencil sharpener.  And scissors are best used with a rapid, double-fisted, snapping motion akin to trimming shrubs.

On Being a Mom:

Exhausted.  Completely exhausted.

Mentally.  Physically.

And love 

with the ferocity to level mountains.

Nap sweetly, Baby Sis!
We'll do it all over again in 2 hours.
Or 27 minutes.
~
"See that you do not look down an any of these little ones.  For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."
Matthew 18:10

Better Business Bureau

When you're running a concession stand and your sisters disagree with your business practices...

Almost Two

Watching Baby Sis tonight as she finished her ice cream cone and stood catching the summer breeze on her belly, I thought to myself, "I'm pretty sure two in the summertime is one of the very best things to be!"

Wednesday

 This basically sums up my life.