Happy Sunday!

We're finally out of our stretch of gloriously warm February temperatures, but we took advantage of them while we could!

A playdate at the winery on Friday afternoon...

Week by Week, 7/52: Fountains and Seedlings

 Sweet Edith's hair is growing fastest at the top (but not around her face!), so I couldn't help but put it in a little fountain - you can only see if you look very closely, because it's right by John Paul's face and dwarfed by his unruly hair! I promise I'll give him a nice short cut *very* soon.

My Sunday Best, Volume 42: My Legs are Not This Color

Happy Sunday!

We're enjoying yet another unseasonably warm stretch this weekend, which is lovely but leaves me worried about crops, especially fruit trees... Say a prayer for all farmers, would you? The local peach crop took a serious beating last year because of a late frost, and I'd hate for the same to happen this year! It's an inconvenience for us, but a terrible blow to those whose livelihood depends on good production. St. Isidore the farmer , pray for us!

He insisted on the suspenders and bow tie, and switched out the khaki socks I'd chosen for argyle socks. #winning

Morse Code, Cyrillics, and Baby Bruises {7 Quick Takes}

--1--

The very best Valentine I received was made completely unprompted by John Paul:

Nobody has ever said they love me in Morse code before!

--2--

I might like the one he made for Andrew better:

--3--

I used some thredUp credit to get John Paul a sweater vest to wear to Mass, and the kids were so excited that there were valentines in the package!

Turns out it's a shopping credit - I don't know if you can combine it with the usual $10 credit for first-time customers, but it's worth a shot! Click through here and use the code 20FORPUN - let me know if it lets you use the $10 AND $20 credit? I'm curious...

--4--

If you've been waiting to try Stitch Fix, now is the perfect time!! Now they're offering men's clothing AND plus sizes if you have a friend or a husband who's interested! Here's my referral link 😊:

--5--

Do you follow Zelie and Co. on Instagram? They're having a craft retreat in April and it looks so, so fun! If you're in the Michigan area (or willing to travel) you've gotta check it out so I can live vicariously through you!

--6--

Can you tell that these takes are entirely composed from my phone? Edith is currently sitting on my lap sucking on her fingers and refusing to fall asleep, so I might as well get something done, right?  There's only so much you can just gaze at your adorable baby...

Plus gazing is dangerous! I had her on the floor earlier and Peter tripped over a pillow and whacked her in the forehead with a toy phone! 

So she's sporting a nice large bruise, even though I was literally hovering RIGHT over her while she smiled and cooed at me! We'll just call it a badge of honor...

--7--

I'm going to call it quits - check out more takes at Kelly's!

Chapter Books for Young Readers: Timeless Favorites for Boys AND Girls

Months ago we hit a spell where both of the older kids (5 and 6 at the time) were absolutely insatiable when it came to chapter books. Cecilia especially would read a book, adore it, and then read it again 2 or 3 times in the same day! So I knew it was time to branch out, but there are so many completely lame chapter books out there and I wanted to stock our shelves with *good* material that I wouldn't regret in the long run.

I turned to my wonderful list of Facebook friends to ask for their recommendations and discovered a HUGE treasure trove full of wonderful chapter books that are sure to please young readers!