{pretty}

 

 

Cecilia in her flower girl dress - she's going to be performing the role of her life on Saturday and is sooooo excited!  But I'm betting she'll freeze up or throw a tantrum when it comes time to perform - that's just her style :P

 

We went out today for special girl time while the twins napped (And John Paul "napped") - hair cut & Trader Joe's, super-exciting!  It felt really weird just having one child with me, and all attention was on her, with many a random stranger complimenting her on how cute she is, and how good she was being, and how talkative she is.  Normally the babies are the ones who attract all the attention when we're out, so she definitely wasn't sure how to react!

 

{happy}

 

 

These two really do love to pose for the camera!  They're extremely proud of their newfound ability to pull up on pretty much any furniture item, although it does get rather tedious having to spot them...  Mostly I try to pile blankets and pillows around them so that when they fall, at least they have a soft landing!

 

{funny}

 

 I had a headache and these two did NOT want to nap during afternoon naptime...  So I was a really good mom and gave them crackers to munch on.  You'll notice I didn't take a picture of the floor afterwards...  But it was pretty funny watching them swipe crackers from each other and eat the crumbs off the floor - no discrimination here!  Come to think of it, no discrimination from John Paul and Cecilia, who happily ate the remnants that they found...

 

{real}

 

 

Four years old.  FOUR.  And he looks like he's practically an adult here...  Okay, with pants that are way too long, I'll give you that!  I'm struck far too frequently these days by just how old he has gotten! 

 

 

 Also real...  Do you see Elizabeth's very very sharp bottom teeth?  Yes, I have the marks on my fingers to prove it.  Someone's favorite game is to grab a finger (preferably mine or Andrew's) and chow down!

 

 

And I just got a kick out of this simultaneous toy grab while we were taking pictures!

 

Check out more posts at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Summer Fun!

I think you know by now that we rarely leave the house...  I mean, I suppose we go outside, but we don't go all the places that most people seem to hit up during the summer.  It's a LOT of work to time naps just right so that we can get out of the house together - we're pretty much limited to the 10-12 time slot (IF the babies have taken morning naps at a normal time) or maybe 3-5, but that's only if I don't really need to make much for dinner. 

 

And since we're still transitioning the babies from 3 naps/day to 2, half the time one of them (usually Elizabeth) desperately needs a late afternoon nap, or just wakes up ridiculously early and has to nap early, so our entire day is spent waiting for a baby to wake up and we can't leave.

 

So we've taken to creating our own fun in the yard!

 

 

A sprinkler inside a wading pool

Total control of the water!

The occasional sibling conversation

Hanging out with Aunt Sister!

And of course, attempting to consume fists full of grass (Elizabeth was napping, or she would have joined in)!

Discovering what the rainwater has done to the sand...

And "painting" her swimsuit with it.

Of  course, the tummy needed a little love, too!

"You mean I wasn't supposed to do that?"

How are you staying entertained at home?  Obviously one of our favorite activities is collecting bug bites (sarcasm)...  What are your favorite stay-at-home summer activities?

WIWS - In Motion!

Someone reeeeally loves pressing the button on the camera...

 

Dress:  eShakti (a little too big, but it'll be good for early pregnancy/post partum and let's be honest, I've got a LOT more of that ahead of me...)

Register now and get $25 OFF your first order (affiliate link!)

Shirt:  forever 21

Shoes:  DSW

 

Above we have the Blessed Virgin Cecilia admiring a very large fuzzy caterpillar with spikes on its back!  She then fell on it and stunned it saying, "Oh.  It died."  But don't worry, it lived on!

The kids were average during Mass - John Paul was decent enough to get a doughnut afterwards (although he almost succeeded into tricking the EM into giving him his first communion...), Cecilia had to be satisfied with half of a mini bagel plus whatever the babies dropped of their shared half (toddlers are better than dogs!).  Mary Claire and Elizabeth were chatty but not fussy, so I suppose it could have been worse!  Once again, Elizabeth entertained herself for quite a while sucking on my hair and veil...

And that's all for today - we're having a blast outside in this beautiful weather and there's only so much of a nursing break that I get!

Linking up with Fine Linen & Purple and the adorably pregnant Kendra - go check out more Sunday styles!

7 Quick Takes: More Kiddo Quotes

Because I don't really feel like typing up all the things that are going through my head...  Here are some things the kids said that I've been saving up for you!

--1--

 

Me:  Cecilia, what did you dream about last night?

Cecilia:  A bubble!  And a fish was bwowin' it!  And den it popped.

Me:  John Paul, what did you dream about?

John Paul, looking at the book shelf:  I was comfortable.  And I dreamed about books on a shelf.

And in a shocking turn of events, Cecilia has an imagination and John Paul doesn't!  Oh wait, that's nothing new... 

I just don't think this needs a caption...

--2--

Cecilia, with her hand down her pants:  I'm scwatching my booty.

So glad she told me...

9-month jammies.  Can't imagine why they don't fit.

Cecilia:  I'm all messed up...

Me:  Why are you all messed up?

Cecilia:  Because I...  dwinked milk.

Apparently she gets her fashion sense from Kaitlin's daughter...

Cecilia, picking her nose:  I found a booger.  Here you go, mom!

Again, so glad she shared...

--3--

John Paul:  Elizabeth's a dweeb.

Me:  Why is she a dweeb?

John Paul:  Yup, she's a dweeb.  She is.  She has two teeth, so she's a dweeb!

Poor little dweeb!

John Paul:  I want something special in my snack pack!

Me:  Like...  Raisins?  Or craisins?  Or banana chips?

John Paul:  Yeah!

Cecilia:  I want butterfwy chips...

And now please imagine dried butterflies being eaten by a 2-year-old.

John Paul, after our peach picking outing:  We're going to...  what next?

Me:  Um...  I don't know, where would you like to go?

John Paul:  Um...  The gas station?  And...  TJ Maxx?

An exciting life we lead, if that's the most fun outing he can imagine.

--4--

 John Paul, whispering to a woman leave Mass early:  How old are you?

Think we can teach him to say, "Mass isn't over yet!  Don't leave!" or maybe, "Where are you going???"

--5--

After an incredibly interesting discussion about how Andrew's office is getting new phones...

John Paul:  Oh, I'm getting a new phone at my office too!

Me:  Really?  And where is your office?

John Paul:  It's really far away.  Like, at 7010 like Dad's office!  (correct street number, thank you Rain Man)

Me:  And who are you going to call?

John Paul:  Dad.  And Elizabeth.  And Mary Claire.  And Mom.  And Cecilia.

Andrew:  What do you do at your office?

John Paul:  Oh, I make calls.

Me:  Does anyone work with you?

John Paul:  No, I'm just by myself.

Glad to know he's an aspiring telemarketer?

Just "tummy-timin'" on a pillow...

--6--

Cecilia, watching the babies nurse:  *Gasp*  Dey're eatin' deir BWEAKFAST!

Me:  Yup, this is their breakfast just like you ate YOUR breakfast!

Cecilia:  Dey're just havin' milk for bweakfast.  Not wike I!

Me:  Yeah, you got to have banana and pear and toast AND milk!

Cecilia, giggling:  No, dey're dwinkin' water!

Me:  Oh yeah?  How are they getting water from Mom?

Cecilia:  Oh.  Just milk.  *eying my chest*  And dose are deir CUPS!

Well, I guess now we know where the term "cup size" comes from...

--7--

John Paul, out of nowhere:  When will I be canonized?

Me:  ...Um...  I don't know, John Paul...

JP:  In what year?

Me:  

and later that day

JP:  Maybe I will be canonized in 2150!  And when will I become a bishop?

Me:  Well, I guess whenever the Pope makes you a bishop...

JP:  And how old will I be when I'm a seminarian?

Me:  ...Maybe 22 years old?

He has also been asking when he will die.  And how old I will be when I die.  And many other people... 

More Quicks for the Takin' at Conversion Diary!

How I Wear It: Maxi Skirts

Is she linking up to her own link up?

You bet I am!  Someone had to make it a little less lonely, right?

If you're new here, I spent all of July wearing nothing but skirts and dresses as a style experiment.  Check out my thoughts on that here - My Mom Style, the first link up here - A Pants-Free Link Up, and my summary post and link up.


And guess what?  Ain't No Mom Jeans and Life in Mod's July "How We Wear It" theme is maxi skirts!  So I'm linking up with them, too!

Let's be real - maxi skirts and dresses are one of the only articles of clothing that rival sweatpants in comfiness, and yet they actually look good enough to wear in public!

Here are a few of my favorite ways that I style maxi skirts (or dresses, which I often style as skirts!):

Add a chambray shirt

Lace and stripes

Simple t-shirt with scarf

Layer a slouchy shirt

Add a button-down, tied

Belt a blouse and cardi

Tuck and add a scarf

Hike up the maxi to change the length!

What about you?  Any good variations on a maxi dress or skirt?  I'd love more ideas to add to my repertoire!  I love the ANMJ knotted t-shirt with a maxi - might have to find a roomier shirt to try that with!