problem,child.

Duuude.
Today started strong. It was raining so we went to the gym. Claire didn't want to go to the childwatch. No problem. I told her. We'd only be there an hour. After, there would be fruit leather and a trip to the craft store and finger painting.

By the time I was in the shower, I was feeling pretty great. I went to pick them up from the childwatch.

She was ready for snack. Only I forgot the leather. No problem. I told her. We could pick a special snack at the store. Just a quick trip to the mall for a return and then on to the craft store.

On the way to the mall, Mister Baby had covered himself in water. No problem. I would return the things that we didn't need, get him a new shirt and we'd be on our way.

Only Mister Baby was in the mood to run. And I forgot the stroller. I returned the items, shopped fast and headed for the escalator. Mister attempted to leap from my arms while his terrified sister stood paralyzed at the top and we headed down. No problem?!?!?!?!?

Panicked, I climbed to the top of the escalator while my wild monkey of a son tried to climb off of me. I grabbed her in one arm, him in the other and headed down. By the time he jumped out of my arms, I noticed that my shirt had come untied. In a split second I had to choose between modesty and saving the Mister. It was not an easy call. I exposed my (less than stellar) bra to the store whilst grabbing the Mister again, strategically placing him in front of me and bolting for the door. All the while, my girlie is absolutely thrilled with her purchase and at a volume somewhere around 11, describes in detail how much she LOVES HER NEW PANTIES, MAMA. I'M GOING TO WEAR THEM EVERYDAY. BUT FIRST WE WASH THEM. THAT'S THE RULES.

Somedays you just hang onto whoever is in front of you. Somedays, even if you find yourself standing in a field of flowers, you just can't fake a smile.

Unrelated: it's official: my kids hate tulips. I've always been more of a peony girl.

4!

Happy Birthday, Girlie Girl. Your pink and purple party was swell.
I can't believe you punks made me dress in a pink onesie.

spring fashion week: friday

She comes running into the kitchen.
Today is the last day I am this many, Mama.
She spreads three fingers wide.
Next I'll be this many and this many and this many and this many...

It was a Sunday, four years ago today. I had labored all night. We were checking into the hospital. We thought you'd come soon. You had different plans. Finally, the next day just after 5 AM you arrived. From the first moment of motherhood, nothing has gone exactly as I planned. How can you be four? I was planning on you being little for so much longer.

How appropriate that today she wanted to try on her "too big clothes."
Here's what she found:

More Trees Please T-shirt: Thrifted
Much too large Bongo capris: Thrifted
Pink & White Cowboy Boots: Handed down from Rose

spring fashion week: thursday

Today was spent in a flurry of pink and purple. Claire and I made a pink lady cake for a certain pink and purple loving little lady. Mister Baby awoke from his nap at the worst possible moment. Just as I was separating 8 egg whites he began to cry. Luckily, the girlie had three aprons at the ready and was able to help me get things mixed together quickly.

Brown flower shirt: Old Navy
Hawaiian Apron: Thrifted
Earthy Apron, worn backward: EZ Orchards
Polka Dot Child's Apron: Etsy
Neon pink and green floral pants, sadly, not pictured: Circo for Target

spring fashion week: wednesday

I'm cheating. This photo is from last week. We did the traditional trip to the tulips. This year, Claire was the easy kid and Mister Baby presented more of a challenge (he insisted on running everywhere, he ate a worm, he wanted to climb vintage tractors, he refused to pose). Claire picked out her own outfit.

Dress: Ross
Tights: Target
Guitar Boots: Thrifted

spring fashion week: tuesday

Claire's style influences are industrial (heavy doses of boots) and parental (accented with items stolen from her parents). This month also marked her first opportunity to pick several items at Old Navy. Usually, I give her choices between a few things (that I like). This time, I let her pick five shirts. Every. Single. One was purple.

Today's look:

Purple flower shirt: Old Navy
Plaid shorts: Osh Kosh, thrifted
Polka Dot boots: Fred Meyer, Borrowed from Mama

spring fashion week: monday

My girlie turns four on Saturday. To celebrate, I'm going to post photos of the unique fashion stylings of Claire, age almost 4.

Beanies: Various, Borrowed from the Dada

Dress: Circo, thrifted
Sleeve Tattoos: thankfully fading (from Easter)
Cozies: Target

on running like a mutha.

When I run I push a double jogging stroller. Don't call it jogging, even if it technically is: I run. I run with these two screeching, "Go Go, Mommy!"

Mister Baby isn't allowed anything in the stroller. He wears a ridiculous fleece suit that covers everything but his face. He doesn't get shoes. He would just chuck them at me. Sometimes I forget. I let him take his special Woofy or a snack. He sets up mini-obstacle courses for me. As if pushing their combined 70 pounds isn't enough. Crazy. All of it.

Sometimes it sounds easier to just throw everyone in the car and run on the treadmill at the gym. Sometimes I do that. Sometimes I just stay home in my jammies. But lately, she really really really wants to run. When we're close to home, I let her get out and we hold hands and run together while I push the stroller with my free hand.

And like so much of this time with them, it goes so much faster than I am able to run.

some things i like.

I like that this is the last picture of our old kitchen floor.

I like that Mister Baby has started helping in the kitchen. Claire has been baking since birth, but I took a little longer to invite the Mister to the party. He absolutely loves baking. Who doesn't?

I like that my boy asks for an apron for baking projects, for playing outside, for over his jammies.

what she said when we got home from our anniversary trip.

Mama: I missed your face.
Claire: I missed your whole body.

chubby thighs not included.

Last week, Nate finished the kitchen floor. I have been seeing rainbows and sparkly unicorns ever since. I spent 3 years hating my kitchen floor. Not sure what I'll spend my energy on now.

is this thing on?

Sometimes there is so much to say that you don't even know where to begin.

You forget that you even have this blog thing and weeks go by and your kids grow and change. Your baby starts hitting. Your big girl says mountains full of precious things. Friends move. Your kitchen floor gets replaced. You take an anniversary trip with your husband that involves a lot of napping and a lot of eating. Your kids wear matchy-match outfits for Easter.
Because our kids were hungry and we live in Oregon, we opted for lunch instead of a soggy outdoor photo shoot. I'll have to get photos of them together soon. Mister's tiny tie is hilarious.