Want to see a trick? WATCH!!!

So. Strong.

Her too!

And clearly John Paul needs more training if he's going to be my photographer...

This week we were a little crazy getting ready for Mass and I couldn't remember which twin's turn it was to go with us. I thought Elizabeth? Midway through Mass when she was face down on the floor blowing raspberries, I remembered that it was actually Mary Claire's turn. Whoops.

At least when she was blowing spit bubbles and trying to get me to pop them, it was a quiet activity?

This outfit is an oldie but a goodie - here are a couple pictures of the same one from the archives:

2-year-old Cecilia! 

Anyway, this skirt and shirt are one reason why I've been trying harder to purchase more woven clothing rather than knits in the past couple years - it just holds up SO much better in the long run. I've had that top since I was pregnant with Cecilia 5 years ago and it's still in practically new condition. And the skirt, also, is holding up great! It's not available anymore but this one on modcloth is pretty similar. And the shirt is H&M, obviously long gone since it's so old but I'm digging this one from Madewell or this one (only $16!).

Linking up with Fine Linen & Purple for What I Wore Sunday!

Can we all just appreciate our immaculate walls right there? Thanks, twins. Magic Eraser can't touch that anymore...

But look above! I made a decoration! John Paul's birthday party was yesterday and even though:

Pshaw. @RosieHill425 and I just had a birthday party with 28 kids under age 9 :-P https://t.co/sOhtB4OPGa

— Andrew P. Hill (@SediaGestatoria) July 19, 2015

It actually didn't seem crazy at ALL - I got a surprising amount of adult conversation because the majority of the kids were just off playing on their own in the back yard while we all sat around eating and drinking! I think the most kids we had around at one time was only 23, since people were coming and going.

Meanwhile the neighbors were ALSO having a birthday party, but theirs involved a moonbounce and loud music... Luckily nobody noticed the moonbounce. And when Cecilia heard them shooting off fireworks she just told me, "Mom? I think they must know it's John Paul's birthday and they're setting off fireworks for him!"

Yup. That's what we'll go with.

(And here I am *finally* linking up with Erica for her Summer Stitching Stash Blast!)

Hope you have a beautiful and relaxing Sunday!

Salt Licks, Late Crownings, and Flowers {7QT}

--1--

I posted this yesterday but it displeased the Facebook filters and they hardly showed it to anyone...

So if you're on Facebook, would you hop on over and click "Like" if you haven't already? I promise the romper post will be epic! Plus it means I've beaten the Facebook system, because they emailed me this morning to be like, "Hey! You should pay us to promote your page!" So help me stick it to the man!!!

--2--

Andrew doesn't like having his picture taken. But Peter's too adorable not to post this picture anyway... Sorry not sorry!

--3--

We planted mini sunflowers this year and I LOVE them (even though shortly after I took this picture something ate many of the leaves and petals of the plant...). So this is a reminder to myself to plant them again next year - real sunflowers are fun but gosh they get so awkwardly tall... These are way more contained!

--4--

And we have more wildflowers blooming in the Mary garden, some of which are TOTALLY crazy-looking. What in the world IS this? Awesome, that's what.

--5--

Speaking of Mary, we never got around to doing a May crowning and the kids asked to do one the other day because the zinnias are blooming like crazy. Think she liked it?

--6--

I let John Paul and Cecilia do some salt painting a while back and the pictures have been hanging on the playroom windows since then... Until today.

Why did I take them down? Because I found the twins climbing on the furniture, licking the salt off the paper.

"It's our dog food!" defended Mary Claire.

Nothing like a little snack of salt and glue.

--7--

This super-quick post brought to you c/o both twins actually sleeping during naps (third time this week!!!) and Peter eating Cheerios in his high chair. Time to clock out! Check out Kelly's place for more Quick Takes!

John Paul, Age 6

Let's just pretend I gushed marvelously about the fact that I now have a 6-year-old, and look at all these wonderful things I've learned from the child who made me a mother!

There we go.

John Paul is 6. He's been anticipating this date for approximately 364 days. Particularly because we gave a friend a set of snap circuits (BEST EVER) as a birthday present in February and John Paul hasn't stopped talking about how HE would be getting a set when HE turned 6 since then.

Me: Hi John Paul! How does it feel to be 6 years old?
JP: Oh, grrrreat!
Me: What's the best thing about being 6?
JP: That I get to play chess!

Andrew's mom got him this chess game which is AMAZING because the girls can play it with him since the cards tell you what to do, and he has the rules memorized so he can tell them if their moves work or not.

I think one of my favorite things about John Paul is just how much he absolutely adores babies. ALL babies. Especially our own, but everybody else has awesome babies too, in his eyes!

Never mind the mouth full of food...

He was like this with Cecilia and the twins, and his love for Peter hasn't faded! It will, I'm sure, once Peter's walking and talking and stealing all his things. But for now? Best friends!

8 AM: Snap Circuits.

6 PM: Snap Circuits.

John Paul had his absolutely best day ever today. He got his coveted snap circuits & played with them for HOURS. He got his favorite foods for breakfast and lunch (even though I had to force-feed him his breakfast because SNAP CIRCUITS).

Mad scientist funny face pancakes.

And THEN. Andrew came home early from work and took him to the park. He rode the carousel! He got shaved ice (GREEN, his favorite color, and the reason he has green lips in those pictures)! He got to go paddleboating with Dad. He got to go to the farmer's market and order his OWN special JUICE from the JUICE STAND!!! 

Kiwi-kale, which he chose because it was green. Mary Claire liked it, too. Cecilia thought it was gross and Elizabeth almost cried after she took a sip, waiting for me to bring something for her to spit it into... Meanwhile, Cecilia sobbed when she found out he got to go somewhere and not take her, until I bribed her with a princess movie because I'm a pushover.

And THEN, since the twins both slept during nap, we went out for dinner to the only place (aside from Chick Fil A) that I can really justify us going as a family, the pizza buffet! And he got to play an arcade game!!! And then we came home for ice cream cake!!!

It was amazing. Highlight of his life, I'm pretty sure. And now, if you're still reading for some reason, John Paul's 6-year-old survey answers:
1. What is your favorite color?  Green.
2. What is your favorite toy?  My secret agent cows journal (acquired yesterday at Chick Fil A, but we did the survey before he got his snap circuits so I'm preeeetty sure that's the new answer).
3. What is your favorite fruit?  Banana, because we can make banana chips out of them.
4. What is your favorite television show? Wild Kratts and The Magic School Bus.
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
6. What is your favorite outfit? My Patriot shirt (a red white & blue polo shirt) and my red white & blue shorts (plaid mixed with stripes. Fab.).
7. What is your favorite game? Chess.
8. What is your favorite snack? Raisins, craisins, banana chips, prunes. 
9. What is your favorite animal? Oh, probably the elephant. Why? Because it has a trunk and big ears.
10. What is your favorite song? Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above
11. What is your favorite book? My research books, including the United States Atlas.
12. Who is your best friend? *giggle* David!
13. What is your favorite cereal? *singing* Honey Unches of Boats Boats Boats (Honey Bunches of Oats. REALLY funny family joke.)
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play on the swings.
15. What is your favorite drink? Blueberry lemonade.
16. What is your favorite holiday? Ooh, Christmas! Why? 'Cuz I get to have presents. Any other reasons? NOPE. (#parentingfail)
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? A book.
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Pear, Honey Unches of Boats, banana...
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup! (That was the plan, but he was okay with going out!)
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Be a teacher. What kind of teacher? A music teacher!

Anything else you'd like to say? Well, I just love playing with my journal and reading my chess book.

On Being a Mother to This Girl

I think it might finally be catching up to me.

I'm not a sentimental person. My sister and I have had many a conversation referencing my "heart of stone" - it's just how I am.

But more and more lately with Cecilia, I'm finding myself caught a little breathless by the way the light hits her jaw, or the intensity of her gaze as she puzzles through a new word while reading, or the confidence mixed with apprehension as she decides whether to be friendly or shy at any given moment.

She is growing into a beauty, this girl.

We went to get frozen yogurt yesterday, and as the other children finished theirs (topped with every single clashing flavor imaginable) Cecilia (who chose nothing but fresh strawberries and half an oreo) dashed to the ledge across from the table and told me she would now be doing a dance for everybody in the shopping center.

Oh how my heart filled, nearly bursting, as she stood there untrained, but dancing for an uncaring audience. Toe pointed, arms outstretched, nervous hand twirling hair as she contemplated her next move. 

May you never lose that love of beauty, sweet girl, that fills you with such joy that you must share it with the world. May you always be that child who strives to make everyone you meet, whomever they might be, feel like they are utterly and completely loved. 

Effervescent, sparkly girl, whose casual theological observations leave me stunned, how is it that I've been tasked with raising you in a world that will do all it can to feed you lies and sell you emptiness? 

I don't know how I'll do this, how I'll preserve this you that is what the world so desperately needs. But I know that I see the complete goodness, the refreshing purity in you and have hope that it'll all turn out all right.

What I Wore (and What's On Sale!)

This week's behavior highlight during Mass was John Paul taking off his tie and trying to wear it around his head while Elizabeth blew raspberries and tried to squirm out of my arms while ripping my veil out of my hair. Man, we're pros. She also spent a little while lying on the floor, possibly licking the tiles. But she was quiet so...

(This is why I read the readings beforehand.)

The scarf was probably unnecessary, but it makes nursing discreetly possible!

After the Stitch Fix disaster, I got an email from Gap that everything is 40% off (using the code GOOD), including sale items! That makes some things REALLY inexpensive right now, so I ordered some things to replace items I have that have worn out, and I'm pretty excited to try them out. There's a TON available right now for great prices, so you should absolutely click over and check it out!

If you're curious about what I'm trying, you can click the pictures below directly - not those exact colors, but those same items. 

Linking up with Fine Linen & Purple for What I Wore Sunday! Go check out more Sunday Style!