Thought for Today: Knock on Wood

One Kid: Mind-blowingly changes your world.

Two Kids Under Two: Acceptance of undeniable motherhood sets in. Takes 9 months to figure out how to leave the house looking like humans.

Three Kids Under Four: Blinks....Nervously looks from side to side and asks, "Why is this so easy?!"

November Tradition: Thankfulness Tree

This tradition was started after the example of this darling family, but we love it.

Everyday we add more leaves declaring things of which we are grateful. This was taken several days ago, so it is heavier laden now. Søren even traced a leaf himself, cut it out, and told me exactly what to write on it. It sits conspicuously in the middle of the "tree" in bright pink declaring "The LORD I love," perhaps because we often start the day by singing This Is The Day That The LORD Has Made.

Our list so far:
All our individual names,
Friends (with names listed)
Family (with names listed)
Church - All
Symphonies - Søren
Warm soup with friends - Mom
Oatmeal with raisins - The boys
"Oceans are always pretty" - Søren
The garbage man - Elliot
Tools - Dad
Halloween - The boys
The farms where we get our milk, eggs, and produce - Mom
Watching baseball with Daddy - The boys
That Mommy lets me do things with her - Søren
Ducky - Søren
Walking through dry crunchy leaves - Mom
Reading Books - Elliot
Indoor Plumbing (well, Soren said toilets, but I thought indoor plumbing sounded nicer)
Our garden - Dad
Thankful for starting school - Søren
Good chicken broth - Mom
Our House - All
Gutenberg got full accreditation - Mom
"I love using tools with Daddy" - Søren

What are you thankful for? Do you have Thanksgiving traditions?

Fall Fashion: Day Six, The Weekend Edition

It seems fashion week has leaked into the weekend, however, I did not get any full body shots today and none of Penny! She slept all day wearing pink stripes and a polka-dotted hoodie.

I baked scones, cleaned my kitchen (actually, I cleaned first and all the shiny counter space seduced me into taking advantage of it) and had a delightful evening with some lovely ladies to celebrate Penelope. She now has some very cute little outfits that I am sure will show up here over the next few months and I now have more bits of paper and ribbons and such to save for a rainy day when I need to craft. (Speaking of which, my friend Abby wrote a great post about how crafting might be something that alleviates depression. Perhaps that would explain why every once in a while I need a project for nothing but the process' sake and especially when I am under stress).

I did manage to start taking some pictures just in case we kept playing fashion (or in case Summer asked me if I was going to post today...)

Hair Comb my mother gifted me several Christmases ago from an art show

Abalone necklace my husband gave me for my 28th birthday (acquired at an art show)

A quick photo on my way to the shower.
Outer Shirt: Gap, fall 2007
Under tank: Acquired from mother's closet in 2006, tag says Caslon (Nordstroms, I think?)
Leather Jacket acquired in high school (1998?) from the closet of a friend who now lives in AK (hi Michelle!)
Earrings....not really sure I've had them forever!

You can also visit Emery's blog to see the list of all the ladies still participating in fashion week.

Fall Fashion: Day Five

Soren took this shot of Penny. Kinda makes it look like her jeans are pulled up to her navel...but then they probably are.

Butterfly Print Long Sleeved "body suit" from Dwell Studio
The Cherokee jeans again (dealing with a limited amount of pants that fit that are not jamma-like)
Her Mary Janes from Bugaboo

Today I got my new glasses. However, I realized that something is wrong with one of the lenses, so I stopped wearing them shortly after I started. The left side makes everything tilted as if that side of the room is higher as well as squishing everything a bit so that nothing is square. Made me feel a little crazy!

I can hear my mom declaring me "frumpy" whenever I wore these pants (which I am pretty sure are from her), but for some reason I love them. What about you? Do I keep or toss?
Silk, Old Navy maternity tank from 2004
Wool, Eddie Bauer cardigan from....possibly the 80's? Handed down from my mother.
Pants from Jones New York circa 1999
DKNY green tights (yes, tights under pants, it's cold today)
Orange Keen flats (not great for the weather, but quite practical because I keep snuggling up on the couch with books and boys and kicking off my shoes)

Shirt Detail

Accessories (yes, fashion week has inspired me to look inside the dusty jewelry box):
New Glasses - The cutest ones I could grab off the "approved" shelf of ugly glasses that my insurance covers while my sons tried hard not to "explore" all the other shelves.
Earrings from Ann Taylor, gifted from my husband on my first mother's day (so, 2005?)
Necklace from Clair's, bought with this friend during a 2004 "20 for $10 sale" for all of 50 cents!

Fall Fashion: Day Four

So today started out with a skirt, tights and boots and ended in jeans and flats. There was a pediatrician appointment, "school" for Soren, and a Penny photo shoot inbetween. There was not much time for fashion. However, my husband did take the lovely photo below on his lunch break which did not manage to catch the boots (but that might be a good thing).

Short sleeved sweater from Banana Republic, bought in June 2002 in New York
Stripey tank from Old Navy summer of 2008
Necklace inscribed "ANCORA IMPARO"
Gap straight skirt from Spring 2001

Not Shown: Blue Tights from Hue, 3" boots thrifted for a Halloween costume in 2004

Penny went through a couple outfits too, but here is the one I captured:

All hand-me-down Gymboree outfit (shirt, sweater, pants and socks) from these gals again, and the "apple picking shoes" handed down from another friend.

Fall Fashion: Day Three

Søren did not seem interested in playing photographer today. So here is my best attempt to capture what I am wearing as my camera only has a 2-second delay which makes for awkward pictures. Believe me, I speak from experience.

Me:

Shoes handed down from a friend who bought them at the used goods sale at REI
Brand: J-41 (?). I think they have the word Jeep on them?

"Famous Golf Trophies" silk scarf thrifted ($1) at MECCA a reclaimed craft supply warehouse
These are the old faded Levi's from my mom (yesterday's were not - my bad!)

Gap, Silk, V-neck cardigan bought with a gift-certificate for Secretaries Day 2001
White, 3/4 sleeve, scoop neck, tee from Eddie Bauer - handed down from my mother in 2006

The red necklace from my husband than I love so much

Blue, sparkly, ribbon in my hair: Saved from a baby gift from Mel
The boys are in the background wearing shoes with their P.J.'s still on.
Yes, they are purposely missing from Fashion Week.

Penelope:
Gifted Pumpkin Hat, perfect for a rainy day like today
Cherokee Orange Polka dot Shirt
Cherokee Jeans
Purple pumpkin socks
Red checkered apple picking shoes.
This would be a perfect pumpkin patch outfit, but that is not on the schedule for today.

And yes, the front of the hat actually looks like this:

This has actually been really fun and is forcing me to take inventory of what is in my closet (it's like getting brand new clothes after 9 months of pregnancy!).

Here's the list of the other ladies playing along:
Laura @ Every Path. (The originator)
Mama Bird @ Three Birds.
Kalle @ Growing C's.
Marla @ Today is Mine. Tomorrow is not my Business.
Katy @ Trying to Live for Today, While Looking Towards the Future.
Jilian Dee @ Jilian Dee & Dexter too!
Jen @ Lost in Translation.
Amanda @ Lullabies to Terrorize.
Indy & Summer @ a shot in the dark.
Christina @ he.makes.all.things.new
Rita @ Me & My Shortloffs.
Mrs. Boo Radley @ just like camping.
Sarah @ the banshee tree

Fall Fashion: Day Two

One of my favorite things about fall are the warm days that dry up the leaves and actually make the house warm despite the chillier air outside.

It allows for vitamin D soaked belly time (see below) that requires sun hats indoors.


Layering makes us both feel better about slipping outside to play with the boys.
(photo complements of Søren)

Penelope's Pretty in Pink:
Cheroke 9mo baby jeans cuffed (they fit her girth, but not length)
Dark pink Gerber onesie
Light pink 2T shirt with sparkles
(hand-me-down from some friends, "Chillipop" on the label)
Plain pink socks
Pink Robeez

Penelope's Mom (a.k.a. me)**:
Gap "1969" jeans (2007)
Blue shirt, from my mother, likely from Costco
Floral print tank top from Gap (Summer 2007) peaking out underneath

Keen tennis shoes lovingly bought for me this summer from a friend who knew my prego feet needed some real support.
Red necklace was a gift from my husband from a craft show.

**Laura, who originated this fashion idea told me I need to play along too.

Penny's Fall Fashion: Day One

Emery Jo is hosting a "Fall Fashion" blog carnival where you simply post a picture of your lovely fall fashions for this week. I am no fashionista. I wear clothes I can wear the knees out of crawling around on the floor, that I can nurse in comfortably, get spit-up, poop, sweat, and food on from all three kids. I know; it sounds sexy.

Yes, I wish I looked cute. Yes, I could use a complete wardrobe makeover. Yes, I am contemplating cutting my own hair because I am tired of my look. No, none of these things are happening (well, sometimes despite all of the above, I still manage some measure of cuteness. It is a blessing I do not take for granted).

Me today (photo complements of Søren)

Cardigan from Gap circa 1999
Peasant Top from Gap fall 2007
Cargo-esque pants from Eddie Bauer fall 2008

However, my little Penny has lots of new looks (since she seems to grow out of clothes every 10 days or so). So, I thought I'd enter her cuteyness into the fashion carnival.

Presenting Penelope (2 months old)

Simple pink baby hat worn straight (rather than folded back)

Embroidered dress from Target
Polka dotted socks with brown accents
Mary Janes from Bugaloo

Embroidery detail:

I think she knows she is cute!

So, I know some of you readers are quite fashionable, or at the least have fashionable kids.
Take the plunge and photograph it this week and let me know if you do.

P.S. - I forgot some things

A couple more updates for the record:

We are in serious seed saving mode.
I have taken to referring to each seed as "one of God's little miracles."
Truly, it is miraculous. The boys are fascinated at my fascination.

This is my first souffle in honor of my mother's (not telling you how old she is) birthday (No, I do not actually own a souffle pan). She was so kind as to drive all the way down here to let us celebrate with her.

This morning the boys helped give Penny her first bath.
(she has been washed and showered, just never an actual bath until now)

We broke out the 9-month clothing for our 8-week-old.

Who has started to get girly already with a shoe collection!
(thanks Mel and Axon!)

We have also began dipping our toes into the world of homeschool and weaning Søren (or more accurately ME) off naps. We are having fun so far but I am completely amazed at all you mothers who have gone before me juggling kids at different levels while babies abound.


Arriving in about one week will be a WHOLE NEW LOOK for me: Glasses.
I have always thought I might look cute in glasses.
We will soon find out if I still think so
(and whether you get to see the new me or not).

Photo/Video Update

Recently we have:

Visited family out of town

(this photo begs the question: Will Penny convince me to add color into my wardrobe?)

Good sleep in the car

Decided to be horrifying:
Soren

Elliot

Taken the plunge and sold all the Little People
in order to begin collecting these:

Plan Toys bedroom set

Bathroom set

Kitchen and accessories
(Soren had to ask me what the microwave was
and at first I didn't even know.
I thought it might be a small dishwasher...)

The current "house" shelf in their toy cabinet

The boys LOVE this stuff and it occupies them for hours and hours. I like it oodles better than all the colorful Fisher Price plastic (though I still love the vintage little people from my childhood).

Snuggled this girl A LOT

(um, while eating a lot so she can eat a lot)

Kept our hats on when we came in from walks:

Tried to suck our thumb:

And done lots of silly things like this:

(you'll have to ignore Andrew and my brief discussion of Pandora during the video)