Beatrice sandwich! And some of the very best pizza we have ever eaten behind us 🍕@pizzeriabianco
These two are obsessed with “Fancy Like” and mostly obsessed with watching @walkerhayes dance to Fancy Like with his family 😎😎 It’s currently their top pick for the bedtime song🎶 and here’s a snippet of what went down last night! #fancylike
“Mama— take a picture of this face…” he says. And I’m grabbing my camera and trying to contain my laughter as I think to myself, “I’m just the absolute luckiest to know this kid.” 💛 Everyone needs a mister Conrad in their life.
When you convince (bribe?) the entire family to take a family photo with the real camera 📸 ps- spot the camera remote😂
Sometimes I raise my voice. Sometimes I beg. Sometimes I make ultimatums. Sometimes I hate bedtime to the freaking goodnight moon and back.
But then they’ll grab my chin and cheeks and lean in close to tell me they love me. And they’ll thank Heavenly Father for “no witches and no robbers” during their bedtime prayers. And insist on giving each other 17 silly hugs before the lights go out because “I’m gonna miss her so much when I sleep.”
I’ll take the 48 minutes of squatting between their beds for back scratches and the unexpected trip to the potty 12 minutes after the last potty trip if it means they keep this bond forever. Witnessing their complete love and sisterhood changes me. Even when I say I hate bedtime with my three-year-olds, I’m such a sucker for this stage of life with them.
A few photos from life lately over here - enjoying family time and life in Arizona. Thanks for being here while I’ve kind of been away for a little while… haven’t been doing well physically (some health issues) but that doesn’t mean I haven’t stopped taking one too many photos☺️
The game of “Who Can Stand on Mama’s Back and Wiggle Their Feet Around Without Falling Off!” …which is really just code for “mama would like a back massage” but they think it’s crazy fun and my back knots are screaming happy so everyone wins. #momhacks
One wall and pipe at a time, the home renovation is coming together. 💛 #renovation #homedecor #wallpaper (wallpaper is @riflepaperco🌸)
Just over here holding all my (not-so-little) babies close and stepping away from pretty much everything else. Trying to cuss less and write more. Often feel on the cusp of big breakthroughs I want from my life (yay!) while simultaneously giving too much power to my anxiety (ugh). Clinging to my evening prayers and favorite yoga class and busting out the Christmas music a season early. My footing might be terribly wobbly at the moment and who wants to hear the girl on the verge of nervous tears dish out any kind of life advice, but for anyone else in a similar rut (I’m so sorry) – might I suggest the biggest serving of strawberry shortcake as a remedy. Plus standing outside during a warm rain (Arizona, you healer with a perfectly timed monsoon season, how’d you know?)… and maybe put the phone down more. Or whatever version of these three things might float your boat. I’m sure chocolate soufflé with a dose of sunshine instead of shortcake and rain could also do the trick. The phone one I’m sticking by though. Sending you lots of love.
Bringing our summer along with us forever by way of new freckles scattered across most of our faces! ✨ …you can see B’s first sprinkle of itty bitty dots across her little nose and cheeks in the 2nd pic and even with all the lathering of sunscreen and my blessed daily nagging about sun hats, I’m nothing but proud in this moment!🥳 #summer #motherhood #magic
We are slowly making our way back to Arizona this week (my kids school year begins August 2nd😱) and we’ve never been more out of routine (definitely missing black out curtains right about now) BUT we’ve clocked in so many striking sunsets and got to hold and hug so many loved ones, it’s been everything.
I meant to share earlier this week that Amazon is running a promo on my book right now through the end of the month (until 7/31)— use the code 3YELLOW for $3 off your book purchase!
If you’ve been considering purchasing, it’d mean so much to have you do so! Thank you for supporting me and my book and I hope you find it worth your while and time.
For those of you who have already purchased and read— if there was a takeaway or something that resonated with you as you read, would you consider sharing in the comments below for new potential readers to see?
Thank you again for your support! This has been such a vulnerable and thrilling and challenging and exciting and scary endeavor and I’ve really appreciated the support. 💛
Just trying to keep up with these three on the mountain and ignore how sore my butt is from my saddle😅
On a boat! With a lot of laughs! And a few tears. Plus a whole lotta sunscreen and a couple of epic tube flips 🚤
Our summer adventures are getting a little jumbled when it comes to me sharing anything in chronological order (a part of my brain is freaking out right now but another part of my brain is feeling a little bit more free.) Sparklers are our family’s happy place so we continued our 4th of July celebrating tonight with a few on the deck. Of all the summer activities so far, a box of sparklers a few days post holiday was Samson’s favorite. He hugged me so tightly at bedtime as he told me for maybe the 18th time how much fun he had tonight. Somehow I forget anything else I loved this summer… his enthusiasm for an evening of sparklers brought sparklers to the top of my favorite summer activities list, too. 🧨
The BEST time learning all about bees 🐝 with the bee expert herself @mckayjo in Salt Lake City. We haven’t stopped talking about all the impressive things those hard working bees do each day and somehow honey has made its way into more of our meals this week 😋 Thank you for having us, @mckayjo!
Marshmallows? Fires in the fireplace? That sounds positively lovely! Enjoy!
we are house-hunting at the moment and "Fireplace" is on the list of must-haves. I was wearing hat, scarf, and two jackets for this morning's bootcamp class i taught.
I remember this photo! I loved it then and I love it now! Stay warm!
so jealous you have a fireplace!
What a precious pic!
xoxo, nicolette
http://www.simplycolette.blogspot.com
http://www.photographygetaways.com
Have I told you how much I LOVE your blog? I love it. And I love Kingsley. And I love getting to vicarously live in a winterland through it, since it's a whole lotta of hot in Miami 24-7.
Stay warm! :)
We just had s'mores last week to celebrate our sort-of anniversary! http://bluzel.blogspot.com/2010/10/smores-celebration.html
Of course, we had to go to Cosi because we don't have a fireplace. One day maybe we'll have a house with a lovely wood-burning fireplace!
Hooray for fire and s'mores season! I hope you get better soon. My husband has the flu… I guess the good of the season has to come with some bad – in this case icky sicknesses. Feel better soon!
Kingsley will be soooo excited! yay!
oh my gosh, do you know how badly i'm wishing for a fireplace in our townhouse? BADLY!!! lucky you :)
nawh completely adorable photo! we whacked on the fire a few weeks ago, it absolutely MAKES my winter x
Aww I miss having a fireplace! So cozy :) And I bet Kingsley loves to snuggle in front of yours.
And as long as you're starting to bundle up…stop by my shop! I've got lots of handmade crocheted items to keep you guys toasty!:
http://littlelove.bigcartel.com
xo,
Cassie
Kingsley was so little back then! wow
I love your mantle, always have. The green walls and pictures? So cute.
It's not quite that cold here in AL! But hopefully by January of February we can do something like that!
I miss our house back in my country with a really nice fireplace! Winters I've spent there were really cold and with lots of snow and fireplace was the thing that was gather all the family together just to talk and drink hot chocolate. Miss those times :)
Kingsley is such. a. doll.
Love your decorative style!
i wish it would finally get cold here. just for a s'mores night!
My gas fireplace prohibits me from roasting marshmallows over it. How fun would that be?!
The way he is looking up at you is melting my heart!
Yes, it's that time of the year to break out the fireplace wood and enjoy the fire. Our two cats Miina and Moses love snuggling up on the pillows in front of the fire place and staring at the fire. These are the good fall/winter days at home.
Adorable picture. Kingsley's little cocked head is so precious. And isn't it funny to look at this picture and think about how much has happened since it was taken? You traveled to a couple countries, got a new car, AND you're gonna be a mom!
Your blog really does make me smile every single time I read it. Thank you.
one of my requirements with my next apartment is that it HAS to have a fireplace. and a dishwasher.
then i'll be a happy camper.
p.s early morning fires in the fireplace are the BEST!
that is probably one of my favorite things about cold weather, turning on the fireplace. We have a gas one, so I am not sure if we could make smores..hmmm.
That sounds absolutely cozy and wonderful!
we tried lighting a fire in our fireplace a couple of weeks ago but we couldn't get it to light, and our apartment just got smoky. haha. we need a duraflame! and i think we're going to have the scouts over to roast marshmallows. that's teaching them to cook, right?
Someday I will have a REAL wood burning fireplace… Rather than our fake fireplace/space heater that we bought.
Sounds delightful. :)
gosh, such a cute picture!
and marshmallows sound just about perfect at the moment :)
hugs
http://lemontartsweetheart.blogspot.com/
oh how fun! and this is such a cute pic. love your outfit, girl. :)
You're such a cutey-patootey! Those gathered-at-the-bottom sweatpants are adorable.
your fireplace is lovely. Such a great asset to a HOME.
roasting marshmallows and making s'mores on the fire in the fire place… oh how I love this. I wish I had a fire place. =)
Love your picture by the way.
Sounds like a wonderful time. I would love to spend sometime by the fire tonight. :)
This is the most adorable picture!!
This is so lovely. Didn't already read your blog back then. This Kingsley pose is epic :)!
so so adorable! i want a fireplace …. lucky! ;)
naomi, you have such a knack! even your snapshots are so great because of the way you play with color (the wall/your hat/your pants). one of the reasons i love this blog
marshmallows?? so very jealous! it was pretty chilly here too today – hello soup and big woolen jumpers :)
http://misshannie.blogspot.com
xxxx
So jealous of the fireplace and marshmallows. Also loving how cute Kingsley looks and the colors you use and wear. You are so darling :)
GemsofGigi.blogspot.com
i love the smell and coziness of crackling fires :)…and s'mores…yum!! sounds like my kind of Wednesday night.
I recognize this picture! one of the first posts I read on your blog was when Kingsley was sitting in the fireplace behind the screen. So cute!
Until you said the photo was from last winter I just kept thinking how I couldn't believe you could possibly be pregnant! You don't look it at all! haha Guess that's cause you're not here. :) You are the cutest pregnant person ever, though.
mmm roasting marshmallows sounds just about perfect at this moment. yay for cooler weather! : )
The way he is sitting SO close! How sweet!
I love your pinecone owl! Where did you get that??
LOVE this photo. loved it the first time around and i love it the second time around. :o)
totally enjoy reading your blog everyday..
i wish Texas (DFW) had enough "cold" weather to need a fireplace.. sadly we don't have one – so no cozy nights by the fire making smores.. I'm living through you!!
I wish I had a fireplace!!! Aww kingsley was so lil here. Yeah for Smores!!!
Oh, I wish I had a fireplace! Not only because I love them and keeping warm but I LOVE s'mores!
what a cosy picture! i love the way he is looking at you.
and look how much smaller he is!
Yay for fires and coziness! I just figured out how to work the fireplace in our new apartment, and am so excited to use it. Also… making soup tonight for the first time this season! Excited. :)
You should try using a symphony bar or a reese's peanut butter cup for the chocolate instead of a regular chocolate bar. It's a whole new level of s'more goodness.
aaww, i forgot how small kingsley was! and how much he loves fire. haha.
mmmm, s'mores sound perfect right now. and i agree with ^^briauna, a reese's peanut butter cup is a whole different amazing level of goodness.
what a great shot of you and the sweet pooch!
Kingsley looks so small. Next year at this time you'll see a winter pic of your baby and wonder how he or she was ever so tiny!
I love this photo of you and Kingsley so much – it's so sweet! And I remember commenting on it last Feb, too.
I know exactly what you're talking about! I had to wear a jacket, scarf, and gloves to walk my pup this morning too. Must be cold weather time! lol
Sounds like so much fun!!!
i love being snowed in for days at a time. :) your house looks so cozy!
I love that kingsley is as close as he can possible get to the fire to be warm!
he was so so little! adorable photo!
a fire sounds so very good right now. hope you have a cozy weekend!
I love this picture! I wonder what this winter has in store for us?
what a great pic. how nice it is to have a fireplace to keep warm and make s'mores. i have always wanted to make s'mores that way, by the fireplace in my own home.
@j+k, the pine cone is actually a candle that's cut to look like a pine cone. it's from UO.