Stripes.

I have always been a sucker for stripes.  But these days, they are
E-V-E-R-Ywhere & needless to say - it's hard to resist.

Tea time.

I have some sickies.  We've had a chill few days filled with massive amounts of cuddling, eating healthy, & kleenex boxes.

Today they tried some Throat Coat tea with honey.  Can't say that they loved it but, they drank it & off to bed they skipped.

All grown up.

You'd think I would have noticed...  after almost 5 years living in our home, I never thought of tossing up curtains or laying a rug.  It hit me one day & I couldn't get the idea out of my head, until it was done.  Huge thanks to my mom for helping me shop!  And, huge thanks to The Hubs who didn't freak when I came home with 5 bags of options...

We love our new room.  It's softer, more inviting & suits us well.

Before.  

After (with new lamp, rug, curtains).

Night night.

Happy Birthday, Grammy!

Happy Birthday to an amazing mother & grandmother to my kids.  She's always available to talk, babysit or invite us for a meal on just the evening I don't want to cook.

We had a little celebration for her at my brother's house.  Sadly, 2 of the 7 grandkids couldn't make it (they are represented on L's lap).  

Love you mom!!!

Ax's turn.

Ax has sat on the side-lines for a few years.  It's now his turn to be in a class.  He chose "gyn-astics-tumbling".

They bring in a teacher from a fancy gymnastics club to teach at our little community center.  Ax is the only boy, probably the oldest & is by far the most skilled (thankyouverymuch) so, he loves it.

Click on pic to zoom in - you don't want to miss this smile.  

Finger-pupet show.

Love catching these 2 playing well together.

Finger-pupet show at the foot of the bed...

Happy half!

My girl's officially 4 1/2.  We had a wonderful day filled with a music class, car wash (which my kids love), tuna melts (L's choice), ballet, & dinner / movie night with cousins.

She continues to fill my heart with such joy & pride.  She grows closer & closer to the Lord each day, cares deeply for her brother, has patiences with her inpatient parents & is as creative as they come.

Love you, sweet girl!

My sparkly oven vent filters.

My house faces west.  The sun comes up & shines in showing every smudge on the windows & every dust bunny on the floor.  It makes me want to clean everything!  My favorite cleaning project today?   Cleaning my oven vent filters.  I didn't realize how dirty they were until pulling them out & getting a closer look.  I'm embarrassed to say that they hadn't been cleaned in 4 1/2 years!

Gross.

What's my natural, super easy remedy?

• One large pot boiling water
• Add in 1/2 cup (give or take) of baking soda (S-L-O-W-L-Y - b/c it fizzes quite a bit)
• Toss in the filters for a few minutes (checking them now & then)
• You'll soon see a filmy grime on the top layer of your boiling water.  (This oil washes out easily after you're done.) 
• Pull out & rinse when sparkly clean.  

Bottom half was only dipped-in for 20 seconds & look how clean it's getting! 

TA-DA!  

I'm pretty sure one can get by cleaning the entire house (well!) with a vacuum, diluted white vinegar & baking soda.

Growth Chart.

I finally found a place in our house to start a growth chart.  But, I'm in serious need of some cute ideas.  I'd like to transfer this info onto a portable growth chart incase I want to move it around in the house. I'm thinking of making this.  However, I want to be able to write-on their names (not pin/nail anything to the board...) So, I'm not sure what I'd write with to help it show.  To be continued... 

Linens (& my 300th post!)

I have this thing about linens.  Post college I started collecting linens every trip I took.  It was an easy, small, useful souvenir to pack.   This has morphed into keeping the focus solely on dishtowels.  Word got out & I started receiving them as gifts.  I love using a towel and thinking:  "Vera gave me that one when I house-sat"; "I remember buying that in Nice & I couldn't decide on the color"; "we bought that at a great kitchen shop in Whistler"; "Melis gave that to me for my birthday"; "my aunt Livy brought that back from Sweden for me"; "this was my grandma Olsson's that she never used & it made it's way into my drawer"; "this was the first dishtowel I bought in Portugal"; "We had 10 Euros left in the Amsterdam airport & used it to buy this one". You get the idea...

Before kids I would iron my dishtowels.  However, that ended 4 years ago & the only time I add to my dishtowel collection now is if they are gifted to me or if I buy them on a "trip" to Anthro... (Both are equally exciting!)  I don't have 2 towels that are a like & they all have a story.

I'm now reinstating this ironing chore.  I love ironed dishtowels & you just don't see the cuteness of these towels if they're all wrinkled.  All is well in my kitchen when my towels are pressed (& there is Tillamook in the fridge).

Love you, mean it.

L thinks she's hilarious closing her eyes for pics... 

Adorbs.  

Dear Jesus,

Ax came home with an envelop from church that read:  "To Jesus  Love, Axel"

We opened it when we got home & he was so excited to show us a letter he decorated.

Baby H.

Mom & I threw a baby shower for my cousin & his wife today.  It was basically a family reunion with lots of cupcakes & pink.  CanNOT wait to meet this little dollie.

Love you Melis & Dalen!!! 

Family day.

This was the first day in a long time that we've all been home together.

We went & picked-up some donuts (thank you Bazan's!), we played at our favorite park, per L's request we went to watch the sunset, & before evening baths - we did a freezing family walk.  It was a great day.

*** Please note: I've now updated posts in October, November & December - knock yourself out. ***