Theme Thursday: Black and White

Joining Cari of Clan Donaldson for Theme Thursday:

Playing with Instagram while Lisbeth & Liam played in our front yard earlier this week and voila:

Please head over to Clan Donaldson for more Theme Thursday

5 favorites: vol 6

1. Sunscreen Stick: I try hard to avoid outside play 11 to 1; and carry one of these in my purse and diaper bag for faces for when we hit the playground.  One less thing to remember leaving the house: Love!

2. Coffee ice cubes: Leftover morning coffee converted into ice cubes for afternoon ice coffee ~ genius! Thank you Pinterest!

3. Diners, Drive-in & Dives: funny host, homey diners and creative cooks; a new favorite show for some low-key evening brain candy.

4. My New Bathroom

5. Blogger Mom Nation: Take one amazing, kind and generous blogger amidst an epic battle for life with a lousy laundry room ~ add a couple wonderful bloggers with a great idea how to help = Greatness!!  Check it out!

Please head over to Moxie Wife for more favorites!

The ABC's of first foods

A ~ avocado

B ~ banana (frozen for the teething baby)

or maybe Bib

C ~ Cereal 

And from these humble beginnings ...

Theme Thursday: Water

Joining up with Cari of Clan Donaldson for Theme Thursday: Water

As any reader of anytime of this blog can tell you ~ I luv the ocean ~ but for this week's theme I thought I go another way.

We have a small backyard, but kids and water play in the summer is like Bread & Butter, so a few years ago we bought this water table with much fun had by all.

Toddler Lisbeth with her new table

Course nothing beats a pool for true stay cool ~ get wet fun.  Maybe someday!

Please head now to Clan Donaldson for more Theme Thursday fun.

New bathroom: The reveal

Old 50's bathroom transformed

 with a new vanity and cabinet above (not pictured, a light above the cabinet),

 a new tub surround done in a cottage-y wainscoating pattern,

 enclosed behind the toilet since dust loved to collect there, things stored on the toilet top loved to fall back there but was never useful storage space.  Still deciding how best to use the shelve space and what sort of doors to put there.  Ideas welcome.

New floor and threshhold; chosen on the spur of the moment and I love it almost as much as the surround we researched and talked about for months.

Now a matter of moving ourselves and our stuff back in and enjoying!!!

Quick Takes #137

1. Baptism went very well, the older kids had fun with their cousins and despite having just fallen asleep Caitlin did not grouse too much at the shock of the water.
2. However I only have a couple pictures because at the church I was largely holding Caitlin the whole time and once we got home we changed her out of the gown due to the heat ~ so come-on family and friends who took pictures; help a Mama out and share your pictures.
3. Lisbeth started swimming lessons this week. Having not had any classes since the end of the  summer I was a bit concerned how she would do.  No worries; it definitely helped to have again a favorite teacher from last summer, but she jumped right in ~ really excited for the progress she might make this summer towards swimming independently.
4. While it currently only last a few seconds Caitlin is beginning to sit-up on her own and I'm experiencing my first strong urge to slow down time.
5. VBS starts next week, Lisbeth had a good time last year but probably didn't learn anything lasting; higher hopes for this year along with some curiosity about the difference a year makes.
6. As in when you are living it day by day it is sometimes hard to see the change in your kids understanding of something or learning style ~ but look back over a year and the change is obvious.  For example 11 months ago we started speech therapy because Liam could say maybe 15 words ~ he is now well over 50 and putting them together in two and three words phrases.
7. Good Weekend and Happy Father's Day!!

Please head over to Conversion Diary for the rest of this week's Quick Take round-up.

Theme Thursday: Dad

Linking up with Cari of Clan Donaldson for another Theme Thursday.

I have long considered myself blessed in the friend and partner God brought into my life in the person of my husband and I have passed that blessing on to my kids in who they get for a Dad.

Elisabeth ~ 1 day old; happy if tired new dad

Introducing Liam to Caitlin

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Sunday Best: Sacrament Edition

Hi
  Joining up with Grace of Camp Patton for this new link-up ~ celebrating mothering, fashion and raising little saints.

This week we all headed to Church to initiate our littlest lady into the faith:

My short sleeve sweater & skirt were both from Christopher & Banks
Caitlin wore her Great- grandfather's gown, also worn by her grandmother, mother, aunts, and her sister.

Elisabeth ~ A, mostly due to getting to sit with a favorite cousin
Liam ~ B-, due to wanting me to hold him at about the worst moment
Caitlin ~ A, issued only the most minor protest for being woken from a nap with cold water!

Please head over the Camp Patton for more discussions of aiming for our Sunday Best

Quick Takes #136

1. Bathroom is 80% complete, woo hoo! The process never goes exactly as planned but overall am happy and will post pictures soon.
2. Yesterday was the anniversary of the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy.  Really enjoyed this article by Elizabeth Scalia of The Anchoress.  Will we see his like again? Hope so.
3. World Day of the Priest is today, Sarah of With a Hopeful Heart has a great list of suggestions.  We are coloring pictures to deliver Sunday and I'll be sending some texts.
4. Upon seeing that her brother had rearranged some of her Legos Lisbeth said "I am so peeved at him" Okay then! Thank you Word Girl!
5. Cherry Lemonade cupcakes, yummy!
6. While I have struggled in the past settling on a Patron Saint for the kids, this time I've known since the pregnancy whose intercession I would seek if the baby was a girl; Saint Therese de Lisieux ~ her 'simple way' so speaks to me and what I want for my kids as they hopefully grow in faith.
7. Do you know this song "Simple Prayer"? Either way ~ enjoy!

Theme Thursday: Girls

Joining Cari of Clan Donaldson for Theme Thursday

Having grown up with sisters I'm so excited/curious to watch the sisterly relationship between my girls.

First good snuggle, had only been able to see thru nursery window at hospital

Please head over to Clan Donaldson for more Theme Thursday

It was a banner day!!

Finally thanks to the wonderful design talent and skill of Megan Stout my little blog is sporting a lovely in living color banner!!


To see more of Megan's work head over to Justin's Shop.