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)

Conversations with Søren: On Being Rich

Over afternoon tea Mama addresses her eldest son, "Søren, I was so proud of the way you held the door today at church for everyone to come in. You were a gentleman"

Søren, smiling and all proud of himself, "I was a gentleman?!"

Mama answered, "Yes, you were a gentleman."

Søren declares, "I am a gentleman; I will be rich!"

Mama, amused and confused, asks, "You will be rich? What does that have to do with being a gentleman?"

Søren explains, "I will be rich! I will put on red shirts every day!"

At this Mama has a hearty belly laugh as she recalls the conversation from earlier in the morning when Søren, wanting to wear his "Sunday red" like Tiger Woods (who always wears red shirts on the Sunday of a golf tournament) was disappointed when Mama said that she did not want him to wear the same shirt to church every single Sunday (as he has done for the past two months or more, and actually, there are three red shirts, but two of them are not really suitable for the cooler weather). When Søren told her that Tiger did, Mama informed him that Tiger actually wore a different red shirt every Sunday and must have said something about his being able to do so being related to him being rich. Mama remained a little confused about the "gentleman" connection except to assume that at some point she and her husband must have referred to Tiger Woods as a gentleman in some previous conversation.

Søren then grabs bubble wrap and drapes it over his head and tucks his napkin into the top of his shirt (which his brother from across the table quickly imitates) and proclaims, "This is rich! We are rich!" at which Mama was completely confused, but still amused, and the whole table dissolved into giggles amidst the boys declarations of their richness.

----

(Aha, Søren just elaborated further that during family movie night - on Friday - we watched an episode of Little House on the Prairie where Laura thinks she has found gold and that the family will be rich. She has a series of dreams about her family being all fancy and rich. We must have said that her Pa looked like a gentleman. That explains the bubble wrap and napkin a bit better than Tiger Woods and his Sunday red - but Tiger must be the only other person Søren has heard us refer to as rich. I love the riddles of trying to follow a 4-yr-old's logic!)

The Epic of Ted Williams

If you are like me, you would not ordinarily know the name Ted Williams. Does it sound remotely familiar? Would "Teddy Ballgame" help? Yes, I am writing about a dead baseball player, I suppose I should say "legally dead" baseball player. One who played for the Boston Red Sox from 1939-1960, perhaps earning the title of the greatest hitter of all time. In 2002 he was placed in "cryogenic suspension" in case technology ever develops that could revive him. Yes, I'm serious. This is the kind of stuff you get to know if your husband watches Sports Center. All of you readers who are married to nerds-like-myself rather than jocks-like-my-husband, you do not know what you are missing.

This stuff is wild and crazy. The problem with the way my brain works is that last night my husband mentions that there is some uproar about a new book coming out from an ex-executive of this cryogenics suspension company who claims Mr. William's head was grossly mistreated and then I spend a good part of today deep in crazy cryogenics research.

All I really wanted to do was write a meaningful post about how there is nothing new under the sun and how we all have eternity in our hearts and thus there has always been a quest for immortality such that most of our human endeavors throughout history can dissolve back into The Epic of Gilgamesh, even though the real fulfillment of that desire is offered through the promise of everlasting life in the final age ("heaven") to those who have faith. Ted Williams and the Cryogenic suspension project, crazy as it is, is just a symptom of that larger human longing.

However, I decided to do a little research into this cryogenics stuff and the company who will gladly freeze you as as terminally ill "patient" once legally dead in the event that future generations develop technologies that could revive you. Then I got side-tracked into considering the implications of if technology really could do such a thing in the future and what the theological implications might be. I read articles that questioned the definition and meaning of death and on and on and on, and now I cannot separate the crazy in order to make a meaningful post, so instead you get this brain dump.

Sorry. Maybe I'll have something better tomorrow.

Conversations with the Kids: Foreign Languages

Søren, climbs into bed with Penelope and says gleefully, "Penny babe, I can come lay right here with you and stare up at the ceiling together...and we can talk about things...like baseball."

Penelope coos, "gnahh."

Søren shouts, "Mommy! Penny said 'baseball'!"

Mommy says, amused, "Oh, she did?"

Penelope gargles, "ahhhgr."

Søren shouts, "Mommy! Penny said 'mitt'!"

Mommy, with eyebrows raised, "Hmm."

Penelope coos excitedly, "aahhmmraa!"

Mommy speculates, "I think Penny said 'home run'."

Søren, matter-of-factly, "No, mommy, she just said 'aahhmmraa'."

Mommy sighs, "Oh, silly me."


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Søren is reading "The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night" to Elliot (Elliot's current favorite book and song).

Søren sings, "He didn't mind the quack, quack and the legs all dangling down-o."

Elliot asks, "Bruder, what is 'down-o'?"

Søren replies, "It's just that the legs are hanging down and then an 'O' on the end."

Elliot asks, "Why?"

Søren answers, "Just for song."

If Looks Could Kill

"The tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. " James 3:4

"No one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." - James 3:8


To kill a person with words is the most difficult of assassinations.

It cannot be done from a distance.
It cannot be done at random.

Your object must be known.
You must have studied well.
You must choose your words with precision and watch so that your timing delivers the blows in just the right succession to obliterate their heart.
You must look them in the eye as they die, as you kill them.

This can be done, but to do so you must have once loved them, and transformed that love into hatred.
For words to be able to kill they can only come from lips that once uttered words of love.

Only then can your words kill and do so quickly.


"Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." 1 John 3:15