Embrace the Ordinary: Sweetness

Sharing this little sweetness with y'all today for Embrace the Ordinary.

A few days ago, Bigfoot called me into the living room where he and his brother were waiting for me to start a little cartoon for them. 

Bigfoot: Mama, come here! Come here, mama! Hurry! COME!

 Me (walk into the room): What sweetheart?

 Bigfoot: Look mama! We're being sweet! We're snuggling and hugging! So sthweet!

Me: Aw, baby that is so sweet. Mind if I grab my camera to snap a couple photos of you two and your sweetness?

Bigfoot: Sure mama!!!

Love the sweetness these two share. Any sweet moments in your life lately?

Linking-up with Gina for Embrace the Ordinary.

finding beauty // bedtime

It's Friday! Where did the week go? Pray you've had a good week filled with lots of fun and love!

Today I'm co-hosting (First time to co-host with someone! So exciting!) Finding Beauty Friday with the incredibly talented Aimee who is over at This Darling Day. If you have any beauty finds from this week or a beautiful photo stowed away in a file on your computer somewhere, join in on this fun and inspiring link-up! 

Onto my beauty find.

Bedtime routines have been the same since Linus (our youngest) was born. We all gather in the boys' bedrooms, have family prayer time, then give hugs, kisses, and ugga-muggas. It's one of my most favorite things! Ever since Linus was itty-bitty, Bigfoot has been smothering him with hugs and kisses. And now, they just go to each other, instinctively, after prayer is done. Every night they share hugs and kisses no matter what spat they just had or if they were on cloud nine, they just go and love on each other. It's the sweetest!

These brothers. Gosh, I love them and their beautiful brotherhood.

So excited to see y'alls Beauty Finds! And if this is new to you, like I mentioned earlier, join in on the fun!

An InLinkz Link-up

Embrace the Ordinary: These Brothers

“Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and can be of service to him. And blessed is he who loves his brother as well when he is afar off as when he is by his side, and who would say nothing behind his back he might not, in love, say before his face.” 

― Francis of Assisi

 These brothers...

 enjoy family movie night together,

 play time together,

 nap time together,

 and wake time together.

These brothers. I love them. I love their friendship. I love how they look out for each other and look for each other. I love how they love each other. I love their togetherness in all these moments and more.

And, even though they drive me bonkers in the crazy-boy rough play that always makes me feel I am moments from making a rush to a nearby ER, I love how they are growing together.

Linking-up with the lovely Gina for Embrace the Ordinary.

Out of the Mouths of Littles: Googi-oggers and Lee-lee

These boys they are a growing and I'm trying to capture their sweetness as much as possible. Here's what they were saying a few months ago, because that's how long this post has been on draft-mode (Fail!). Better late than never!

Hopefully I'll have more of their silliness to share in the coming weeks. The things that come out of these kids mouth is just gold and I really want to remember!!!

Enjoy!

Mama: I want you to know love and serve Jesus.

Bigfoot: I saw Jesus all mow-ning mama.

Mama: Oh yah, what'd he say or do?

Bigfoot: He was singing alleluia like this (raises arms)

Mama: Oh yah?

Bigfoot: Yah. And he was playing the guitar!

During prayer.
Bigfoot: I'm thank-you fa faaaileee!!!
Translation: I'm thankful for family!!!
Every night. Since this time he's been adding all sorts of things. Friends, family, outside, time with daddy, dinosaurs in da house...

Bigfoot: I love your heart, mama.(talking about my necklace! lol)
Mama: Thank you, baby.

Bigfoot: Mama, that's a gweaattt I-Dee-uhhh! (Anytime I suggest to do something to his liking.)
Mama: Mama, that's a great idea!

Mama: Bigfoot, mind [Insert whatever request, small chore, I have for him at the moment.]
Bigfoot: (on his good days while in good toddler humor) Sure, mama, I can dooo dat!

If I wear a different necklace that doesn't have a heart/sacred heart on it.
Bigfoot: Ohhh noo...Mama! Where's your heart??

Bigfoot: Mama, Where are my googi-oggers?
Translation: Mama, where are my binoculars?

Linus: Eh.
or
Linus: Ehhh.
or
Linus: Eh!!!
Translation: It means everything under the sun in the spoken language. (English, Spanish, and Italian included).

Linus has been saying a few more words lately though and it's been pretty sweet.
Linus: Ma...ma. Ma..ma. Da.dee. Da..deeeE!

Linus: Pah..pahhh. Pah...pahhh.
Translation: Papa!

Linus: Uh, tou, teeeee, oh, eh. 
Translation: One, two, three, four, five.

Linus: Uuuu.
Translation: Up.
Linus: Dooowww.
Translation: Down.

Linus: Haa dawww! Haaa Dawwwww! Deee dawwwww!!!
Translation: Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog! Always while dancing. Always.

Linus: Aaapoooh.
Translation: Apple (priorities)

Linus: Leee....leee!
Translation: Lily (our pup)

Linus: Staaaaaaaa!!!
Translation: STOPPPPPP!!!!! (Wonder where that one came from?)


If you are ever in need of Ogre translation lessons, just give me a call. I am fairly well versed in the world and language of Ogre, thanks to me sweet grunting Linus.

Gifts that Sustain: Part 2

Continuing with some photo-fun of our weekend away.

To recap, every year we take a small trip with our friends from bible study. It's a great time, every time, for the kids and the adults. It's like a big family sleepover that I will say yes to again and again. Seeing the boys get to play with their friends and make new memories with each other is wonderful. And, getting the chance to parent alongside friends who are in the thick of parenthood is affirming, encouraging, supportive, and nourishing for our young parenting hearts.

Onto our fun. There was a loft above the gameroom that was perfect for the elementary aged kids, equipped with chalkboard, dolls, building blocks, bean bags, and a television for movie time.

 Meanwhile in the game room, these boys loved all of it: the pool table because of the Big sticks, the drum set (Oh, the drum set! So awesome!), piano, fuzzball, air hockey, and a stand-alone arcade with all the old goodies!

Every time I lost my husband, I just had to come here to find him sitting in front of this bad boy. The boys seemed to enjoy it too.

Air-hockey. I didn't get to challenge my husband on this one. Wish I would have made time for that because playing games like this with him is fun. But, I'm glad the little ones got to enjoy it!

Oh, and remember that kiddie-playhouse that was outside fully equipped with electricity and a functioning AC? This is that little loft it had inside. How cute is this??

Amazing little dream world filled with friends, your sibling, and little-sized everything!

Haha, okay, this next shot had me cracking up so much! My husband was playing with a little toy propeller. The kids were loving how high he was twirling it! Meanwhile, out of no-where, a little butterfly landed on his butt! 

ot only did it land on his bum, it lingered! And lingered. And lingered!

Then he shewed it off only for it to come back to the same spot! The exact same spot! I went to grab a shot but in between landings one of our friends called out,

What are you?? A flower??!

And, I could not. stop. laughing! My husband. The walking flower. And, the location of where this beautiful little butterfly is just what killed me. This is far from flower land if you ask me. Love you, babe!

Check out this next shot. It's one of my favorites. All the kids scattering. The big trees. The sun. So much toy-propeller-fun!

The boys were loving the fun with the toy propeller. They would just run around crouching over, laughing hysterically, wondering if the propeller would land on them. It was hilarious.

I can't say enough how much I love these little trips and how grateful I am that we get to share these awesome times with our boys. 

So many good memories are made. The boys are still talking about all the fun. Or, at least my talking Bigfoot is. Linus is still mostly grunting, but I think if he weren't, he'd also be talking about it.

Thanks for enjoying this little trip with us through these photos! I love that I can share them here and pray that any and all families with littles gather some family friends and get yourself a little trip nearby booked! Cost of places and food spread among many families really can be worked out if you find the right place and plan ahead enough!

This time together is nourishing and I promise you won't regret a second of it!

Have you ever taken a trip with a number of friends who also have littles? What was your favorite part?

Linking-up with Jen for Quick-Takes and with Aimee for Beauty Find Friday.

embrace the ordinary // saturday beauty + love

I have been loving our weekends at home. As much as I itch to get out and about, I do love the family flow that happens when we stay home or at the very least, nearby.

I think the boys love it too. I know my husband loves it. And, that makes embracing the goodness so much easier.

 Daddy and Bigfoot went to a kids workshop at our nearby Home Depot.

Bigfoot loved it. Absolutely loved it.

 Daddy loved his time with his son too. They both came home pretty excited to share about their experience.

 Meanwhile, Nana spent the morning with myself and Linus. We had some love-filled conversations while she squeezed in as much quality time with Linus as she could.

 After nap time we've been heading outside.

 I love this part. And, I know the boys do too.

 The weather was just as perfect as the moments.

 Seriously. A great time was had.

The boys squeezed in some "flying" sessions with Daddy in between running fast like cheetahs.

 And, Daddy joined in on the cheetah speed chases too.

Saturday was good and beautiful and filled with sunbeams. Thanks be to God.

A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.

-St. Francis of Assisi

Happy belated Feast of St. Francis of Assisi! How did you spend your Saturday?

Linking up with Gina for Embrace the Ordinary.

&

Joining Aimee at This Darling Day for Find Beauty Friday. It's my first time joining. I love the concept. I love finding beauty and love even more when I get to capture it. The light and moment of the last photo were definitely a heart capture for me. :)

Little tasks and donuts

We're doing a little bit of embracing my ordinary and sharing a little tidbit of extraordinary today.

Ordinary

To start, there are some things I really enjoy given the right ambiance. For instance, I will fold clothes all day if I can do it uninterrupted, to Ella Fitzgerald, and to it's completion. I actually enjoy it. It's a little task that allows me to be still and focus on the little ways I can serve my family and home.

Now, to be honest, with two little monkeys running around on the daily, uninterrupted is just not something that happens. And, to completion, is yet another one of those challenging non-happenings in our home on a consistent basis. For the most part, I've come to terms that our home is going to not be "put-away" all day, everyday. It just is what it is right now. 

Even though this is our little place in life right now, I have managed to carve out a little bit of sweet mostly uninterrupted time in my day to do kitchen duties that I find relaxing.

See, I love being in the kitchen. Cooking, And, even tidying it up. Lately, after lunch, the boys will watch a short show before nap time. Say, 20-30 minutes. During that time, I get myself to the kitchen and do any dinner prep that may be needed, clean up after lunch, and do the dishes all the while listening to fabulous Ella Fitzgerald and all her friends that grace my Pandora station. It is such a nice time! This little bit of ordinary is fairly easy to embrace. I think there's grace in that. And, I think there is just something to uninterrupted time that is just golden after having kids.

Extraordinary

My boys. Oh my boys! 

For the last 17-months of Linus' life, I think it'd be fair to say that we have spent quite a good bit of time in the cry room. The boy has a very determined personality and for whatever reason he has asked to nurse during almost every Mass he has ever attended. Don't get me wrong, I don't find there to be a problem with nursing in Mass at all, but to have to nurse a baby gone toddler during every Mass can get to be a little much. Even daily Mass (but because I know we have less time I was able to distract him there).

Linus + Mass = Tears, tantrums, crying, fussing, and cry room trips.

Older brother on the other hand was always amazing in Mass till the days of being potty-trained. All of a sudden, we had a boy who apparently needed to go to the bathroom 10 different times during Mass. Mind you, we didn't take him 10 different times, but the constant need to encourage him to only ask when he indefinitely needed to go got a little tiring.

Bigfoot + Mass = Constant requests to go Potty! and constant requests for Donuts!!

Fast forward to last weekend and we had our first no-nurse and no-cry-room-trips Mass. It was amazing! But, we chalked it up to a miracle that God allowed to happen to remind us He is wonderful and all-powerful.

 And, then fast-forward again to today, and wouldn't you know?! They were amazing! Only one trip (before Mass started) to go to the bathroom. No nursing. No cry-rooms necessary.

Linus not only was amazing but completely extraordinary. He mumbled his way through almost all the prayers. Played with his little Lego rosary, gave Mama Mary kisses (my heart melts!), and sang along in his own little Linus way to almost every hymn! Extraordinary, I tell you!

While, Bigfoot made it through all of Mass saying prayers, a little bit of sing-a-long with hymns, knelt and said a prayer to Jesus, as well as did some quiet reading in Daddy's lap! Incredible! Towards the end he started getting a little fussy, but was redirectable and we made it through!

 Miracle of miracles for this mama has now happened two weekends in a row! I think we have turned a corner, friends, and I am so thankful!

Today, extraordinary got them some delicious donuts and kolaches. They were pretty excited. Hopefully they'll remember the treat and repeat next week.

Proud of my two little guys! I imagine it's not easy to sit through Mass with all the energy that lives within them, but today, they were Rockstars in the self-discipline department and that is definitely extraordinary in my book!

Linking-up with Gina for Embrace the Ordinary.

the present moment // found some sunshine

Thinking about // Nell over at Whole Family Parenting was talking about getting things done. I loved her energy and how she shared about her dad being known as a human doing rather than just a human being.

I need to take notes. My mom is a human doing. I am not. It's not so much in my nature, but I need to take note. I'm pretty lackadaisical and enjoy finding rhythm in my day-to-day than having plans and schedules. But, this approach often allows for some of the smaller daily duties to get lost.

I'd like to be more of a doer as well as enjoy our daily rhythms. Thankfully, there has been grace today and a lot of doing has been happening. Pray that I learn/figure out a little way for me to be fruitful in consistency.

***

Also, with all the Breastfeeding Awareness posts happening this week and month, I've been thinking about sharing about my breastfeeding journey. I've been through it all, bad latches, thrush (more times that I will ever care for), mastitis, engorgement, night nursing, day nursing, etc. etc. etc. I feel I have lots to share, mostly in the thrush department. Given that I've had some terrible and resistant bouts of it, I'm pretty sure I have healing down pat - also, all mostly using natural alternatives because taking oral antibiotics never did a thing for me.

Anyhow, hopefully next week I can organize my thoughts enough to share. Thrush is so incredibly painful, part of me wishes I had already shared on my go-to treatment, but as time and life would have it, I have not.

Reading // My Facebook feed. Honestly, with all the tragedy going on, a part of me just wants to step away from all things current events related. Doesn't mean I'd stop praying, but it would lighten my heart just a little bit. And, a lighter heart is good for me.

As for books, we've been going through lots of Dr. Seuss in our house. My tongue usually starts to feel a bit on the funny side towards the end of the day. Especially after Fox in Socks By Dr. Seuss. As Dr. Seuss warns at the start, Take it SLOWLY! This BOOK is DANGEROUS!

Loving // My family. Loving my boys. They are at a really sweet age. Playing together, fighting together, talking together, sharing together, exploring together. I am loving the together! It's so sweet! And, my husband. Last night at bible study he flirted with me in a way that made my heart skip a beat. I felt like I was back in college meeting him for the first time. Funny how the littlest thing can so easily take us back to such a fun and sweet time. Haha, he thought I was ridiculous, but my heart really did melt.

Thankful for // I'm thankful for so many things right now. As much as I complain about the lack of sleep, back pain, or now my wonderfully pulled muscle that makes me walk funny (Gee whiz! I am feeling old!), things are really great right now. We are blessed with wonderful family, wonderful friends, and a beautiful faith. God is good. And, I'm thankful.

In the Kitchen // Between a playdate yesterday, bible study last night, and leftovers for lunch and dinner today, I haven't needed to cook for two whole days! Yahoo! We had a chili soup that lasted well and coconut milk and lemongrass chicken that has also made it to our dinner table a couple times this week! The coconut milk and lemongrass chicken is this recipe I've mentioned before but this time I made it with only chicken breast and in the crockpot. I'm a fan. Less fatty/greasy. Still flavorful and wonderful. 

It's been awhile since I baked or made a fun dessert so I definitely do need to reconcile that. Hopefully with this amazing cake from Shower of Roses. It's a maple bacon upside-down cake! What??? I know. I really need an occasion and asap!

Praying // For all the turmoil in the world. For hearts to soften and heal. For wisdom for all in power to do what they can to make our world a better place. To protect. To serve when we can. There is so much tragedy right now. 

Also, praying for all women who have lost a baby recently, who are suffering with infertility/sub-fertility, and for all women who are striving to live a life in love with Our Lord so that He may be known more.

Praying for my family, near and far. Praying for friends, near and far. And, praying for all the intentions of my family and friends. 

O glorious prince St. Michael,
chief and commander of the heavenly hosts,
guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits,
servant in the house of the Divine King
and our admirable conductor,
you who shine with excellence
and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil
, who turn to you with confidence
and enable us by your gracious protection
to serve God more and more faithfully every day. 

St. Michael, pray for us. Amen.

Captured // With all that's going on in the world, I'm thankful I can walk outside our home and find sunshine. The beautiful glorious sun in all it's wonder. The same sun that lets us have our playtime and enjoy His simple Goodness.

Evening swing. He's getting ready for bed.

Bigfoot is getting to an age where he is engaging in more independent and creative play outside. Aside from him loving playing sports all the live long day, he is now venturing more. Fun times.

Love the sun!

Little sweetness.

Brother see, brother do.

Throwing rocks at the slide, because it's fun.

They both really enjoy this. Maybe it's all the noise.

My little climber. Woah! Woahhh! WoaahhHHHH! Now, every time he does something new or slightly daring you can here him saying these words over and over and...

Bold.

Summer fun.

Summer sun.

Time in his little fort. He always finds himself in this little space.

He is so stinkin' cute! I mean, really! I love his little face!

This little monkey is quite the cutie too! I share more pictures of his playground adventures here. He climbed up a level on the jungle gym. Something he's been trying to do for months!

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up with Jen and Jenna for 7 Quick-Takes and Currently. Click on the links to go enjoy other wonderful women!