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Stephanie Howell

reading, organizing, shopping, momming too close to the sun. Home is wherever the Army sends us.

December Truths.

 

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1. I don’t know where our tree is.

2. I haven’t finished shopping.

3. No Christmas cards this year.

4. Turtle the elf barely remembered to make an appearance today and he is NOT clever or inventive. He was sitting in a chair. 🙂

5. I haven’t dug out the Christmas decor.

6. I only did the title page of my December Daily and (I’ll share soon) and I didn’t take a picture at all today.

7. I don’t know where our 25 Christmas books are (they are spread all over the house) and I certainly didn’t wrap them this year.

8. No creative Advent calendar- though we did get a cute Lego one.

9. I have not a clue what I’m doing for teacher gifts.

10. I probably won’t do any Christmas baking this year because my Italian oven stinks.

 

And yet…we are together. And I couldn’t ask for anything more.

As for the rest? Well…

Here’s to doing it the half-assed way. WOOOHOOO! Happy December!!

Wordless (ish?!?!?) Wednesday

We were driving to Tuscany a couple of weekends ago and things kept flying into the passenger seat randomly. A sock, a piece of trash, a pretzel.

I said/hollered (in my best mom bellow) “WHO IS DOING THAT?”

And turned around and this is what I found.

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J happened to catch it in the rear view mirror and he was laughing so hard I thought he was going to drive off the road.

Cate clearly thought it was funny too:

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And now every time I look at that top photo I laugh until I cry.

Man, I love kids.

xo

S

four

The day I first saw them on the ultrasound screen I couldn’t really focus on their hearts beating or the blobs on the screen.

I was shaking so hard that the entire exam table was shaking. Clattering. I was grinning but I had tears streaming down my face. And they were tears of shock.

Not Jimmy. He had the biggest ear to ear grin I’d ever seen. A grin of pure joy.

For about 24 hours I couldn’t really talk to anyone, I was still shaking. Twins? Four children?

Let’s be honest. Four years later…I might still be in shock. HA!

But I got over the fear and read everything I could get my hands on. We bought 2 pack and plays, a double nursing pillow, boxes and boxes of diapers, binkies in 2 different colors, bottles galore…and prayed. Prayed that my pregnancy would be a healthy and safe one. And it was.

We prayed that they would stay in my belly for as long as possible. And they did. 36 weeks.

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And the first year was a BLUR. Seriously…I look at photos from the first year and I don’t even remember being there. I’m not exaggerating. J was gone for most of the time and the first year was a frenzy of feeding and burping and swaddling and rocking and spit up and SO MUCH POOP and …truthfully…lots of crying. From them and from me. And from Harper and Sadie.

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From the moment they were born they have stolen our hearts. They have changed our lives and our family in so many ways. Some we could have imagined and so many that we never in a million years could have suspected.

And today they are four.

We are so in love with them. They fill this home with pure joy.

I am in awe of the way that God shaped our lives in a way that we never could have seen. He had bigger and better plans than any we had.

This life is so full. Full of laughter and screaming and hair elastics and Barbie shoes and love. It’s so full of love.

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Happy, happy birthday darling girls.

You are our sunshines.

xo

Christmas Wish List

If you’re like me, you are thinking about kids, friends, husbands, family…but what about you?

Here’s what I’m wishing for this Christmas. What are you dreaming of? Share in the comments!

TGIF!

xoxo

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1.Kate Spade watch // 2.J Crew sweatshirt // 3.John Derian tray // 4.Mod Cloth weekender tote // 5.Schwinn Fairbook Cruiser // 6.Hot Stuff thermal mug // 7.Lace Monogram Necklace // 8.Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette // 9.Metallic Nike Frees // 10.Rifle Paper Company iPhone case // 11.J Crew passport case // 12.Kate Spade “Heart of Gold” idiom bangle

Exploring Italy | Tuscany

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Italian Adventure

I just wanted to share some photos from our recent trip to Tuscany. We rented a house about 40 minutes outside of Florence (in Pontassieve) and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

Airbnb came through and yet again I stayed in a dream home. I won’t travel another way ever again!

I’ll be counting the days until we can go back.

 

#Tuscany // via Stephanie Howell

#Tuscany // via Stephanie Howell

#Tuscany // via Stephanie Howell

#Tuscany // via Stephanie Howell

#Tuscany // via Stephanie Howell

#Tuscany // via Stephanie Howell

#Tuscany // via Stephanie Howell

we explored San Gimignano:

San Gimignano, #Tuscany // Via Stephanie Howell

San Gimignano, #Tuscany // Via Stephanie Howell

And of course…our beloved Florence.

#Florence // via Stephanie Howell#Florence // via Stephanie HowellI dream of the truffle fries at Zaza’s. Yum.

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The best part of the trip was that we got to spend it not only with each other…but with another family that we love dearly.

Many late nights filled with wine, laughter, and so much talking.

It was a beautiful experience.

I know that we need many more trips to Tuscany in the next year an a half. Next I want to visit Lucca, Volterra, San Marino, Saturnia, and Siena. I think Tuscany officially has my heart and wins the “favorite part of Italy” award.

Happy Thursday, y’all!

xoo