November Recap {Circus & Celebrating}

As November draws to a close, I can't help but think that the month just began. To kick things off I chaperoned Peanut's class trip to the arboretum. He requested that we share the "jumper seat" in the very back of the bus & this easily car sick momma didn't have the heart to say no. 

Later that same week the littles came home on a Friday afternoon to learn that we were headed to the circus. It was our first time taking them and to say they loved it would be quite an understatement. Bestie B & H's families joined us and we all enjoyed the evening out.

The unseasonably cool temps found us spending quite a few hours in the basement playroom. Finley was introduced to the magic of the bounce house.

And much more to his liking.....SNOW!

November also brought the celebration of our sweet M's Name Day. This year his feast fell on a Sunday so after Liturgy we took the littles and Grandparents out for lunch.

Hubby & I had the chance to leave the littles at home and enjoy some adult conversation at his colleague's wedding. It has been ages since we've attended a wedding sans kiddos!

The week of Thanksgiving the boys brought home countless turkey projects (3rd graders are too busy learning to produce cute keepsakes**tears**).

And finally, we are still awaiting the arrival of Baby P. This picture was snapped a few weeks ago at Mastro's when we were lucky enough to steal a night out pre-baby. All signs point to a December birthday for this little bundle.

Family Friday {Happenings: The P Edition}

With school winding down and Spring finally making its arrival, we have had quite a bit of hustle and bustle around these parts.

Play Ball

Peanut is officially old enough to start baseball and he hit the ground running. First game is May 13th and I'm crossing my fingers that the 40s and 50s are long gone by then.

Party Time

After Spring Break we had the whole family over to celebrate Hubby's new promotion. The baby couldn't figure out why there weren't candles on the "cake" and kept wanting to sing "Happy Burday".

Potty Talk

Speaking of M, he runs hot and cold with potty training. Some days he refuses a diaper and the next he refuses the potty. Truth be told, it is easier for me to have him in a diaper especially this summer as we have added swim team, tennis & golf to the schedule. I'm just following his lead for the time being.

Pretty, Pretty Princess

On Holy Saturday I took a few shots of Belle in her Easter dress YiaYia & Bopi bought her. I'm not sure how many more years I've got left of puffy dresses and big bows, but I am secretly thrilled that she still loves to wear them...she "oohhed and ahhhhed"while unwrapping them.

Plantings

On Earth Day I bundled up the Boys and we headed outside to plant seeds. Gardening is something both of them really enjoy (boys + dirt = true love) and they are enthralled watching the seedlings grow in our dining room window.

We also marked the day by climbing trees and making pipe cleaner & cherrios bird feeders. I turned my back for a moment and M emptied the entire contents of a Costco sized box onto the table...lesson learned.

Prize Patrol

This past Sunday Belle & I attended an American Girl doll tea. We were shocked and pleasantly surprised that Belle won the last raffle prize, Honey the pup. I'm trying to convince her that Honey is the perfect dog for our family. So far I've yet to succeed. 

Putt-Putt

The golf season officially began in the B house this week and Bestie H's text is a perfect way to mark the bromance brewing between our Hubbies as they take to the course together.

And with that we are ready to start an early weekend with a half day of school and two playdates. The rest of the weekend is filled with a girl's night out for moi, double header ballet rehearsal for Belle, baseball for Peanut, golf for Hubby, & M is just along for the ride. I think I need a weekend to relax from the weekend.

Manor Monday {Great Lent}

Today starts Great Lent for the B family. A time that calls on us to be more mindful of what we eat, how we act & what we think. For the first time in what seems like ages, I am at a point in my life where I can attempt to live the message of Lent. 

I can not fully take on this task without all my resources at hand. So for the next 40 days, I am going to suspend Manor Mondays & Want It Wednesdays as a way to help ground myself in what Lent truly means. I will continue to post on Family Friday as we have so many wonderful family times coming in March & April, but all decorating, instagram/ pinterest activity, and house purchases are suspended for the next 40 days (yikes I better stay out of "impulse buy" stores like Target & HomeGoods).

Wish me luck gals and I do believe I hear Hubby's feet doing a happy dance at the guarantee of no home projects for nearly 2 months.

October & November Recap

Before November passes, I wanted to capture a few of the fond moments October and November brought.

Back in October Peanut earned enough stickers on his reward chart & selected a model pirate ship as his prize. He LOVES that boat!

After church a few weeks back I snapped a quick shot of Bear in Peanut's old Thanksgiving Day overalls…my lil gobbler. Then Belle got in on the portrait action.

This past Sunday we lit our first fire of the season and Peanut was beyond thrilled…kids favorite thing to do is light a fire & play board games.

We also got a glimpse of a double rainbow that same afternoon.

In this shot the boys were creative and Peanut devised a dry way to pick up Belle from the bus stop.

Bear's newest past time…air hockey on his belly, puck & mallet in hand.

Pretty sure this will be the last year I'll be able to get away with knit animal hats…sniff, sniff.
And isn't that giant pumpkin a rock star…it is one of two monsters YiaYia grew in her garden!

We continued our annual Halloween Party tradition at Bestie H's house earlier in the month. When we held the first party Belle was an only child…how things have changed.

Oh how I love having little helpers. This is the first year where their version of "help" and our version actually were the same.

Peanut's preschool pictures…seriously when did he turn 14!?!

This crazy cardinal has been attacking our back windows since the spring. We've tried everything to deter him to no avail. I've now surrendered to the constant banging. Truthfully, I'm surprised he has accidentally killed himself.

And finally, Tuesday was mustache day for Spirit week at Belle's school; she got a real kick out of taking a prop to school.

And with that we are entering into the Christmas season around here. We officially kicked things off with Christmas hot chocolate this past weekend. Let the Holly Jolly begin!

Remembering & Starting Anew

Thank you so much to all of you who posted and emailed your sympathies. My aunt's loss is a hard one for our immediate family. Through her battle with cancer, she proved that the human spirit and will to preserver can out perform any circumstance. Upon diagnosis, the doctors gave my aunt 90 days to live….she defied the odds living well over 2,100 days after her diagnosis! It was her determination and unbridled love of her family (4 children & 14 grandchildren) that I will carry with me always and call upon for inspiration when the demands of motherhood seem daunting or downright dull (because seriously, potty training the 3rd time around just doesn't have any ups). 

I shared this prayer above with my cousins as they start the journey to discovering a new life without their mother. It is most pertinent for them, but I think we all can benefit from the words. For me, I know that I need to do a better job evaluating where I spend my time. I enjoy blogging, but the time consumed between writing/photographing/linking is quite large. So I've decided that after nearly a year of blogging I'm going to reevaluate how often I post and most likely narrow it down to 2 times a week. This will allow me to better focus my time on the friends and family outside of the blogging space who need me present in their lives right now. Perhaps when my baby bear is off to school full-time (wipe tears..both of joy & sadness) I can return to blogging in full force. 

XO

Amelia

Parade & Possibility

2013 Costume Parade

Today Peanut had his Halloween Parade at school. He swam his way through the hallway truly enjoying the chance to FINALLY wear his costume.

After school I did my best to quickly throw together a spooky lunch. Given I had a 20 month old appendage for most of the day, this wasn't too shabby.

Possibility

And the reason for the cutie pie on the hip…..Bear woke up with a fever. After a visit to the doctor, and a temp of nearly 103, we were diagnosed with the "possibility of roseola". 

That means we are in for 3 days of a fever followed by a rash and according to my fabulous pedi, "he'll be crabby as sin."  Sick baby + 2 sugar high kiddies = need for large quantities of wine and a few extra miles on the treadmill. Fingers crossed our pedi is wrong this go around.