sign from fisher kids

 

it might seem strange that the real housewives franchise got me thinking.

well, it always makes me think “are you kidding me?”

the women on that show are the epitome of tacky. foul-mouthed, gossipy, selfish, narcissistic, co-dependent.

wow, can you tell i have strong feelings on this? ha!

really…i’ve been watching this show for years and i don’t know why. i suppose it’s a good escape. a guilty pleasure.

but it’s gotten to the point that i can’t watch because it’s sad. they really need some perspective.

and this is what really got me thinking.

i need some perspective too. my girls do as well.

there are bigger, more important things in this life than begging for a toy at target in the dollar spot. or tattling on each other. or fighting over who’s turn it is to sit in the front of the bathtub.

there are more important things than me worrying about how dirty my house is. or caring about what other people say to me. there are bigger things than me wanting to get in shape.or getting caught up in worrying about j.

there are people out there who are sick. who have nothing. people who are lonely. people who don’t have anyone to love them…see that’s the thing. i have someone to love me. he’s gone, but i have him. so many people don’t.

yesterday i decided the howell girls need some perspective.

so i called around, and next week we are going to start volunteering.

i think it’s high time i teach my girls how to serve others. and how to serve our community.

once a week we will be helping others in some way.

here’s what we have so far.

– making drawings and cards for the elderly

– delivering meals on wheels

– sterling rides- taking the elderly to grocery shop or run errands (yes, i’m crazy. but there’s room in the minivan for one more person, so why not?)

-friday night bingo at a nursing home here in town

-contributing to the local food pantry

-arts and crafts at a senior center (do you see a theme here, i think the elderly would LOVE my girls and vice versa).

clearly there are lots more options, but this is what we have so far. having four kiddos under 6 greatly minimizes what we can do. ha!

 

i’m hoping this will teach us all to be grateful for what we have. i’m thinking this is a good thing. and i’m wondering why we didn’t do this much sooner?

i know why- b/c sometimes i don’t look beyond me. beyond us.

here’s to changing that.

xxo

s

june kit- paper moon

addons i purchased-

star dust

countdown

 

for the love of sadie

12×12

 these photos make me LAUGH.i’m not exaggerating here, i laugh out loud when i look at them. especially the one of her in the jumparoo.

these kraft doilies (in star dust add-on) were hands down my favorite thing this month. you may notice, as i used them on all my layouts except for one.

i cropped the photos into circles in PSE. yes, i finally caved and got PSE 9. i love it, i cannot lie!

 

never in a million years

12×12

this is the second time in recent history i’ve used this sassafras starters paper as the base for a layout. it’s not “me” at first glance, but i really truly love it.

super cute tag by amy tan in the main kit this month. i love it, as i’m not a stitcher.

pssst- i’m determined to start hand embroidering. we’ll see when i get to it…but it will hopefully find its way onto my pages too!

i think this might be my favorite layout this month. just so ‘my life’ right now. 🙂

 

don’t you dare call her tiny

12×12

after i turned this one in to SC i added dots to the middle of the “d” and “o”. i reaaaallllly don’t like alphas w/out holes in them. that’s why i used the yellow buttons every other time i used these letters. oh well.

these photos are AWESOME. had to d a playful layout to match them!

 

so fancy

12×12

a layout about our date night! i did the patterned paper/number blocks on the right to mimic the floor in the photo of my “fancy shoes”.

this layout is very dark in color choices, but i am really drawn to it.

i cut a bunch of the kraft doilies in half to make a border. told you i loved those doilies! I NEED MOOOOOOORRRRREEE!

sooooo

there you have it, my june SC layouts.

hope you enjoy!

xo

s

sitting practice

 

teacher gifts (thanks for the idea lisa!)

school awards (i LOVED this)

and speaking of ‘ashion, is it odd that i love the outfit harper chose last night and want to wear it?

 

i’m pretty sure that this was not the reason she won “most fashionable” although you never know with four and five year olds. it’s very..um…monochromatic?

letters to daddy (that make mommy cry when she reads them)

homeade bubbles:

and laughing until we cry (really, tears were streaming down my face)at lucy’s reaction to pears.

girl’s got some meat on her bones, huh?

LOVE. 🙂

hope your weekend is filled with happiness and laugh until you cry kind of moments.

xxo

s

eta: the cupcake toppers i made for harper’s birthday party are on the SC Blog today. Go check it out!

 

(photo has nothing to do with the post, but these peonies are making me smile today and i can’t have a post without a photo, now can i? 🙂

 

when they say: “do you run a daycare or something?”

i say: “and this is only HALF of them!”

 

when they say: “do they all have the same daddy?”

i say: “all except that one!” and point at one of the twins.snicker. this is very funny to me, since they look identical. also, it doesn’t take much to entertain me right now.

 

when they say:“your hands are FULL!”

i say: “yes, they are.literally.would you mind opening the door?”

 

when they say: “i feel sorry for you!”

i say: “oh, please don’t!”

 

when they say: “are you #&*$ing crazy?”- my personal favorite response i’ve gotten thus far!

i say: “yes i am. a little bit.” and then i make crazy eyes. and cate, well she’s always making crazy eyes. and then i laugh.

 

when they say: “how do you do it?”

i say: “prayer. constant prayer. oh, and wine doesn’t hurt!”

 

when they hold the door open for me or say “can i help you?” or tell me they are beautiful, or that i am lucky, or that they couldn’t do it, but that they wish they could

i say: simply…”thank you”. and sometimes i have to restrain myself from hugging them. especially these days when i have one foot in the loony bin. a little kindness goes a really really long way.

 

i used to not really think about what i said to people. i talk to EVERYONE. that’s just my personality. i can talk to a wall. i have on several occasions!

i think people want to try to connect, to start a conversation, but sometimes don’t know what to say. one thing having four children under 5.5 has taught me, is think before you speak.

when you see a mom with two baby carriers, hair in her face, sunglasses falling to the concrete, one foot stuck in the *&#* stroller while she tries to collapse it, groceries spilling out of the van, tears in her eyes (not that this has ever happened to me yeah right)…

it’s much kinder to simply smile, lend a hand, put a grocery bag in the trunk,

than it is to say “i’d kill myself if i was you”.

true story. that’s been said to me several times.

trial and error have taught me that the best response is a smile. and something like “i am one lucky girl”.

usually that works. in the case of the people that have said they’d kill themselves, i’m usually so taken aback i stop and say “why?”.

and they say something like “four girls? and twins? and a husband that is always gone? i’d die”. and i get they are trying to connect. but that ain’t the way to do it.

i truly feel that i am married to my hero. and i have four HEALTHY children. it’s a gift.

i know it’s not for everyone. it’s certainly not a path i thought i’d ever be on! but i’m on it, baby! and determined to take this path with a smile.

and some day tears. true story. but mostly smiles.

also, another thing that works is sadie saying something totally inappropriate at these times. last time she randomly said something about poop. which i would normally frown upon…but it just worked at that moment.

HA!

hope your day is gorgeous!

xo

s

 

 

**make sure you don’t miss out on the fantastic elle’s studio giveaway in the post below!**

 

 

 

lucy on left, cate on right.

LOOK AT THEM! six months old? SIX? HALF A YEAR?
no, that can’t be right…i’m sorry. i’m still in shock from the news that i was having twins. STILL! i still get surprised when i realize i have two babies! how can they be SIX MONTHS OLD?

i love this age. love love love. i really think it’s my favorite age with babies. there is a reason i get baby fever every time my children are around this age. don’t worry, it usually goes away once they start getting into everything. HA!

but oh, i love this time with them. they are so HAPPY. and interactive, and snuggly…well, they are just precious.

miss cate:

around 16 lbs (i think- this is from me holding them on the scale 🙂 we’ll know for sure at their 6 month checkup).

loves oatmeal

super squirmy and mobile. rolls front to back, back to front and scoots across the floor all day long. she SO would crawl if she could!

she has this impish quality about her that i LOVE. always a light in her eyes, squeal on her lips, legs always pumping.

sleeps on her tummy now

pitches a fit right before she falls asleep

despises the binkie except when she’s reeealllly tired and then she wants it.

likes to poke and prod her sister

loves the jumparoo

figuring out how to blow raspberries

loves to be talked to by her sisters

 

miss lucy:

18 lbs- super chunky. i love this.

snuggler (i LOVE the left picture above).

super laid-back and good natured. she is the happiest baby i’ve ever had.

she just smiles and coos all day.

can fall asleep anywhere.

loves peas (what??? i know)

is starting to push herself around the floor

still sleeps on her back and still prefers to be swaddled (look, i know she’s six months old, but it makes her happy and i’ve yet to see a kindergartener sent to school swaddled in a comforter. HA!).

shoots me the stink eye BIG time whenever i hold her sister

loves her binkie

always tries to hold cate’s hand

loves the exercauser

loves the car

lets her sister beat her up

it is SO fun to watch them starting to really interact. they look at eachother, suck one another’s hands, and smile at eachother.

it’s so cool to witness.

i know i wasn’t sure how i was going to do this,or IF i was going to be able to. but oh, what did i do before i had these babies? they have added so much love and happiness to our lives.

happy wednesday sweet friends!

xxo