~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
{pretty}
(These pictures are from last weekend, which was unseasonably warm and beautiful.)
After we talked earlier this week about Lent and Ash Wednesday and why we were eating All the Good Things before then (I posted a sampling, including bacon cheeseburger and homemade doughnuts on Instagram, in case you missed that excitement), Pippo spent much of Monday and Tuesday periodically saying (with no little urgency in his voice), “Wait! We have to eat all the treats before Lent starts!” We did our best, trust me.
And then we did our best on Ash Wednesday, too, though we were thwarted in our attempt to get to Mass. (We went on a little wild goose chase trying to figure out the military chapel schedule changes, and ended up in a standing-room only crowd 20 feet from the door to the hospital chapel. And my kids, holy and disciplined as they are, can't quite handle going to Mass in a hospital hallway while they're hungry for lunch.) And fasting just doesn't look very impressive when most of the people doing it are either small children or a very pregnant lady. But we still managed to have plenty to offer up. I hope you did too.
{happy}
I know my mom and I keep talking about our stash-busting efforts. Are you tired of it yet? I hope not, because we are certainly still going strong. On a mission, you might say. I finally got around to tackling my crafting shelves the other afternoon, and after getting rid of some things and organizing the rest, it's looking much more reasonable. (Look, I even have empty space on that shelf! What in the…?!)
I appreciated all the feedback about my strips of little bits of quilt blocks — both the encouraging comments to keep at it, and the ones gently suggesting I was suffering from what dear Kate pinpointed as Project Failure Denial! I did keep plugging along and pieced them together into a quilt top that I don't hate. And then I folded it up and put it away for now. We'll see.
Now I've picked up a quilt that I started… right before I got pregnant with Pippo (who just turned four). In the last week I've gotten the top almost entirely pieced together AND found fabric for the backing. Very exciting. I'm on a mission.
{funny}
A friend of mine foisted off several rolls of cheap, random wrapping paper on us a few months ago, wrapping paper that we just don't have the gift-giving to support. Mostly my kids just used them as swords, and then stuck them messily back in the closet. As part of my organizing whirlwind of the last week, I handed the rolls over to the kids with no conditions, which led to some fun unrolling/crinkling/wrapping games. Finally, as a last hurrah, we turned the kids into presents right as Daddy was walking in the door, and then called it quits. I threw that paper away with no guilt whatsoever.
Doesn't everyone always say little kids have more fun with the wrapping paper than the present, anyway?
{real}
I don't really have a good {real} picture this week, but here's one of Molly in her crib after naptime. Lately she doesn't want to get out of bed either in the morning or after she wakes up in the afternoon — she wants Pippo to come in and play with her and me to come hang out in their room while they play and read books. But I am not to take her out of her crib. Silly girl. Or else smart. I mean, it's actually really cozy and fun.
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Lindsey G says
Great idea with the wrapping paper! I really need to organize and tidy my office/craft space. It’s one of my goals for February. And it’s nice to see some children enjoying warm weather. . . we are digging out after a big snowstorm on the weekend!
Denise T. says
Ya know, when you think about it, being in a crib WOULD be cozy! Your own little space. That picture is great! Have a good week!
Katie says
Do you mind me asking if Molly has had a haircut, and if so, where and how? In that photo by the water, it looks so even and tidy in the back. =) My own blonde toddler girl (who sports the very same sneakers!) is finally getting enough length and straggles to make me think it’s time. I’m experienced with clippers on my husband’s hair, but I hesitate to try my hand at the fine, wispy baby locks of a wiggly little person. Any pointers?
Rosie says
Yes – she doesn’t have much hair, but what she did have was rapidly turning into quite a mullet. My husband was rather attached to it, but the second he relented and gave me the green light over Christmas, I sat her down and trimmed it up. 🙂 Just sit her down in her high chair or daddy’s lap where she’s relatively contained, get her hair just a little bit damp, comb it straight in sections, and just a few snips ought to do it. It helps to have someone (or, in a pinch, a YouTube video) to sit in front of the squirmer and keep her attention forward. But if her hair is like Molly’s was, it probably won’t take long at all!
Katie says
Thanks! This is encouraging. I sympathize with the Capt. about the endearing randomness of how it initially grows, but I think I will give it a go. Next is to decide: bangs or no bangs. My sister and I had some unfortunate ones as kiddos, so I’ve always thought, “No way!”, but a quick all-around trim might be cute and refreshing . . . not to mention reducing the number of snap clips to be found on my person or around the house at any given time. =)
Rosie says
Molly still doesn’t have much/any hair in front, so we haven’t had to tackle the bangs question yet. 🙂
Michele says
Molly is a smart girl…and I’m kind of jealous of her!
Lorraine says
Rosie, Rosie, Rosie, you are an amatuer. I started a quilt for my son when he was 16, so he could take it to college. It is still on the quilting frame waiting to be completed and my son is 48.
He, on the other hand, turned out very well.
Rosie says
Lol!
Jill Foley says
Your kids are adorable – love the photo of them wrapped up!
Jenn says
The wrapping paper! Oh my! 🙂
And as far as quilting projects … I promised my sister a quilt as a wedding gift. Had her pick a pattern, bought the fabric, cut it all out, even started piecing it together. But then I hit a tricky part of the pattern and set it down. My sister celebrated her fifth anniversary last summer. And her quilt is still in pieces in my closet. Sigh.
Jennifer says
That is a great idea with the wrapping paper. Crafting items and wrapping paper are the hardest for me to purge, but I am trying extra hard to use up what I have instead of buying more. Even if that means turning Christmas paper inside out so we can decorate with birthday doodles.
Laura says
I love when my babies play in their crib for a little when they wake up because I cherish getting to hear their little voice playing or singing.
And your sewing area looks great!
Sarah says
Looks like you made good use of the nice weather! I’m still hanging onto an unfinished quilt I started when I was…12. At this point, I don’t even like it, but am having a hard time severing the emotional attachment of “oh, but this was my first full-sized quilt attempt!”
Mary says
Molly’s expression wrapped as a present- just precious!
Maurisa says
Beautiful pictures from your weekend.
Oh, the wrapping paper photo! Hilarious and fun!
Molly is a doll!
Woman of the House says
Oh, your outside pictures make me wish that spring would hurry! It looks wonderful! Your kids are so adorable. I bet Daddy was excited to receive his “presents” when he got home!