One Last Day

Today's the last day of the giveaway over at Mama Loves Papa... she's got lots of great stuff and not too many names in the bag right now, so go over there now and register... maybe you'll win the $20 shop credit to my store. You never know! And speaking of my shop if you read through the post, you'll notice you can get 15% off in my store using the coupon code she has. Really, go check it out! What are you waiting for?

i am i am i am

Halloween is just a few weeks away! What will the kiddos be? That's still to be seen.

In the mean time, here's Diego's first Halloween.

Costume: mama made (that's the best kind i can think of!)

What are costume ideas do you have for this year?

Go check out Small Style at Mama Loves Papa and see other adorable kids in their sweet clothes:

This Girl

Can be so bold and sassy and outspoken at home.

 And then horrifically shy when out and about.

Now that Diego's moved to a different area, I'm having a hard time getting her to go to Sunday School.

Evie wasn't at BSF last week, so this week she didn't want to go back.

"I don't like anyone except Evie," she told me. "I don't know them."

And when there's more than one other playmate, she's usually the one left behind to play at mama's feet. She shies away and doesn't join the other two.

And this mama's heart is worried. 

Worried that she'll hang back and always be the one left behind. 

Worried that she sometimes seems sad.

Worried that tonight she'd rather sit by Mama than her Yaya.

Worried that her tender little heart has been somehow hurt. 

Worried that I'm a little to worried.

Am I missing something obvious that I need to do with her?

Any advise from the experienced mommas out there?

Sure love to hear it!

(PS- If you haven't been to Mama Loves Papa to register for the giveaway, there's still time to sign up! Plus, you can find a coupon code for my etsy shop for 15% through the rest of the month!)

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

A Giveaway at Mama Loves Papa

Head on over to Mama Loves Papa for your chance to win a $20 shop credit to the Little Vintage Me shop and all sorts of other super fun stuff!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

It's Black and White.

I love, LOVE Clare Turlay Newberry's books! Need I say more? Are you familiar with her works?

Take a long look, they're gorgeous! Then, invest in at least one for your kids' library! Seriously, you don't get four Caldecott Honors for nothing!

 

April's Kittens

Barkis

Mittens

Widget

Her black charcoal illustrations are nothing short of magical! I must be on a black and white kick right now. (I have those from time to time.) Here's some more black and white found on etsy. Enjoy!

Have a Marvelous Monday!

Autumn Falling

Happy First Day of Autumn! Yea! It's here and we all survived the nastiness of the summer. Leaves really haven't begun to turn and change color around here yet, but I'm eagerly awaiting. In the meantime, go check out some of these beauties on etsy!

Have a Fabulous Friday!

On Owning a Vintage Shop

The worst thing about it is, wanting to keep everything I buy for myself. "It's mine, all mine!" a dark small voice cries inside. Not good, crazy little vintage monster, not good.

Especially when I try stuff on my kids... and it looks this super cute!

The best part, is my daughter beginning to break out of her shell in front of the camera. I love how she's finally relaxing and...

woah! posing? Where did she get that from? Must be those Florida cousins we saw a couple weeks ago.

When the greedy vintage monster starts to rear it's ugly head, I try to remind myself that I'm not buying anything that far in advance for Cruz and it won't fit Eliana for much longer. 

 And if it doesn't sell? Well then! I suppose Cruz may have a chance to wear it after all.

(plaid wool romper: vintage- headed to the little vintage me shop very soon!)

Go check out more Small Style here:

And Little Vintage Style here:

Isaac

A few months ago I mentioned how Jesse's big job had come to an end; then mine did too. Within a month of each other. I know, right? So, I was worried; and I tried to cast my cares upon the Lord the best that I could and muddle through. I thought it might be time for an update on that subject and to thank you for all your prayers and support. I'm not sure if I've mentioned on here before that Jesse works for himself in the construction/remodeling industry. It's actually been good for us for the most part. He's in school part time and he's able to set his own hours so that he can work around his crazy class schedule. I'd love to tell you that he's landed a ginormous remodeling job that'll keep him busy until he's graduated, but that's not the case.

What I can say though, is that God's been taking care of us. There have been weeks without work, and then weeks with work. There was a freak accident in which a moving company ran over newly laid sod which, in turn, has led to more jobs with the accident-prone moving company. There have been friends that have kindly thought of Jesse when they've needed work done and there have been a couple of times when family has blessed us with groceries.

Through all of this, I can see God's hand. I can truly say now, in the midst of financial struggles, that God does own the cattle on a thousand hills and that He surely has us in His hands. This is not the prosperity gospel. We do not believe that God has to help us make our house payment in order to somehow reward us for trusting Him with our future/tithing/being obedient, good little Christians. And I suppose that tomorrow (okay, perhaps the day after tomorrow... don't worry too much, Mom!) the bottom could fall out and we could have to sell our home or be foreclosed on. But for right now, He is supplying all our needs and even some of our wants from time to time.

Have we struggled? Absolutely! Have I questioned my calling to be a full-time stay-at-home mama? At times. But only for a few brief seconds. I do realize that if God calls us to something, He will provide. Today I sat through BSF and heard yet again "God will empower you to do the work He has called you to." And certainly He has. He has called me to train my children in Him and He is providing us with the means to do so. Sometimes, one day at a time, but nevertheless, He is literally giving us our daily bread.

It is something I have never wanted to do... pray that prayer so literally but one I am learning to love. It has been fun to watch and see just how He's going to do it, and then sometimes, He just blows us away by His generosity toward us. One of those times has something to do with the dress. (I hope to one day explain more about it. But for right now, I'm just watching and waiting to see what God does with it.) Still, it's laugh out loud amazement at how God works whenever I think of this dress. I could name this dress Isaac, I suppose.

I've been hearing a lot about suffering over the past month. All over the place. It's gotten to the point I find myself laughing when I read or hear something new. At first, I thought, "Oh, I really needed this because it's timely." But I've grown to realize the trials that our family is experiencing are minimal compared to other families. Now I sometimes, think, "Here's that same thread again about suffering... is there a bigger trial coming my way?" Some might say that's not a good question to ask as though somehow you're asking for it when you say that. But here's the kicker: If necessary, I am. I'm willing for more trials if it will bring me closer to Him.

That's what life is all about- Christ. Knowing Him, glorifying Him, making His Name great is what it's all about. And so, if I can some how know Him more in the midst of suffering shouldn't I ask for suffering? If His Name is glorified through a trial I face, should I not go beyond the step of just looking for the good He's working through it and ask for more? No, not: "Send me more trials, God." But: "Use whatever means necessary to grow me closer to You and to bring glory to Yourself."

Do I dare to pray it? Do I dare not? Well, as I was reminded today, Jesus is returning and I should act like it. So, pour it on, God! I want to grow closer to You through whatever means necessary. I want You to be able to say, "Well done, good and faithful servant" upon Your return!

Back to School

I know, I know, it's mid-September and we're just now starting school. But hey! one of the benefits of homeschooling is arranging school around your family's needs; that allowed us to vacation at a time when there was fewer people. (Always a bonus in my book!)

I left a bag of school supplies on each kids' place mat for them to discover this morning at breakfast; they loved it! You would have thought it was Christmas hearing them squeal over 25 cent glue sticks. It set a really good mood for the morning and they were stoked to start school. This year, I decided to start Eliana in Pre-K. I wasn't exactly sure how ready she'd be. But I found some curriculum books for super cheap that she could use while Diego is working on his book work, and she's thrilled that she has her own books that Diego isn't allowed to touch!

I decided to continue with our picture tradition. Here's last year's. It's amazing how much they've grown. I love how this picture captures their personalities at this time so well. I do not love how grainy it is. Oh well.

Jesse put up our chicken wire wall this morning. The kids are already about to fill it up with stuff. I'm glad to have the space so I can figure out what to do with some of their work. This gives us plenty of room to display at least for a day or two before I take it down and trash it. That's the hard part for me... trashing their work. I'd love to be able to keep every piece forever. That would be a bit much though. I know. Diego insisted that one of his most recent Thomas pictures be in the shot with him. Love this boy!

Eliana, was spinning in circles and was in a really great mood for photo taking. Wish my baby camera would have caught it... but it's all a blur. I finally got her to stay still for long enough for this. She's getting so big!

And Cruz; he was so good and slept during the time we did our seat work. Phew! He stayed in his jumper during story time. Perhaps I should hold him, but seriously, he is known to destroy books within seconds. He's not joking when he says he's here to eat paperwork! And me, well, I'm not joking either. There are times when I think to myself: "What am I doing? Put him in school right now!" But more days are good than not, and this is one of the good ones. I want to seal today in my memory for the days that are a challenge.

Diego: shirt and socks- gymboree (last year); shoes and pants- thrifted
Eliana: shirt- target, jumper- thrifted laura ashley; shoes (are on the wrong feet! ha!); thrifted stride rites
Cruz: shirt- hand-me-down old navy; pants- vintage rustlers shoes- vintage 

Hooking up with Embrace the Camera today:

And Small Style:

And Mini Mod:

Go check 'em out; you'll be glad you did!

Hitting the Ground Running

This is the mother of all weeks. Not only do I have the after-vacation explosion of suitcases to deal with (you mommas know what I'm talking about, right?), but this is the week that everything begins for us. BSF-tomorrow, school-Thursday, Diego's soccer practice Thursday evening, home school group- Friday, first soccer game- Saturday.

Am I ready? You bet not! Will we muddle through? Of course, but not without a complete revolt from my body. After writing the first week and a half of lesson plans in the car on the way home, installing the new printer that came in the mail yesterday, getting etsy stuff ready to ship off, and dealing with part of the mess that threatens to completely envelop us, my brain had enough. I woke up this morning with a stinkin' crazy migraine. Tried to make coffee, but couldn't see the cup and the jug well enough to pour and poured half a cup of milk on my pant leg and another half on the floor. Finally got it made and my stomach was doing too many flip-flops to actually drink it.  "Too late, too late!" my head screamed at me.

Fortunately, my super hero husband stepped in and took over the kids. Finally, after taking two, and then one more 'cause I couldn't remember taking the first two (woah! that's bad) Excedrin Migraine, and sleeping on the coach while the kids quietly ate their breakfast far away from me, I'm recovered. Apparently three and a nap is the trick for a super-speedy recovery. And we were ready to go for the afternoon. So, the zoo sounded good so I could escape the mess of clothing that still exists in my living room for a while. Now, off to conquer mount living room mess!

A Day at Disney

Little Man, you giggled through It's a Small World After All... loved all those chubby little faces! I loved watching your eyes shine with delight at the colors, sounds and sights all around. You were exceptionally good. But really didn't sleep the entire time you were there. Except while nursing. At which you took a couple of fifteen minute naps. There was just too much for you to take in and you refused to miss any of it if you could help it. By the end of the day, you were sick of your stroller... I think it was too conducive to sleep for your tastes at that moment. It was so much fun to watch you discover!

Eliana, your eyes sparkled at the princesses, but honestly, you just wanted to know about the castles. (I guess you love unique and large pieces real estate just like your mama.) You told me you loved all the princesses... except that one that threw trash on you and that next time you saw her you'd throw trash on her. "What?"... and then I realized you were talking about the fairy godmother that showered you with glitter confetti as she went by in the parade. When I tried to convince you that it was pixie dust, you quickly rebutted with: "I can't fly!" Little girl, you make me laugh so hard I cry! I love you!

Diego, your favorite part was the rides... you went on some pretty serious ones! You're growing up and met all height requirements for anything you thought you wanted to ride. You told me all of the rides were your favorite part, except for the "one with the Christmas song over and over" (it's a small world). That ride was too long and boring for you. You loved the Peter Pan's Flight and Splash Mountain rides though! You also monopolized the time with the princesses at the meet and greet session. Your uncle Josh thinks you'd be excellent at Speed Dating. Oh my! It was pretty ridiculous... I loved watching you with them. You are a funny guy!

This trip has been so much fun, but so difficult to make without your papi here. We are grateful to Yaya and Grandpa for taking us and it was so much fun to watch you play and experience Disney World with your cousins, but it will be good to be back home in a few more days and see him once again!

Sharing a Room

 

I'm sharing a room with my kiddos this week as we're in Florida together. I can't sleep. I'm just too thrilled listening to their little breaths in and out. The little whistle from Cruz's congested nose. Eliana's snore before she rolls to her back. The flutter of smiles (I wonder what their dreaming about). The little whimpers (prayers for peaceful sleep). All of it. Wonderful sounds. So thankful for these little ones who challenge me. Brighten my days. Make me exhausted. Fill me with wonder at the beauty and grace that God extended to Jesse and I when He allowed each of them to enter our lives.