Friday Favorites // Halloween Edition

Getting a group photo of the kiddos is near impossible. Wiggly worms.

And just when you think you've got one.. yup. nope.

This was my best shot. ha.

Anyhow, Emerson was a minion, if you couldn't tell. My MIL and BIL made it. Isn't it amazing? 

I decided I like Halloween when it involves kids and babies. Keep it safe everyone.

// Web Favs //

Friends + Netflix? The union of all unions!

Where kids eat free. Suddenly this matters.

The Christmas card of all Christmas cards. I want.

Travelogue: Larchmont Village

The other day A and I were headed to Salt and Straw. We heard one had opened in Los Angeles and after just having tasted the divine in Portland we were on a mission. We just happened upon Larchmont Village and fell in love. 

Think laid back hipster. A mini Portland if you will. There are many cool specialty shops, dessert places, and restaurants. There was even a tiny Herschel store accompanied by the cutest tiny herschel backpacks. This place was called "go get em tiger". Which made me laugh because that's what Blane's dad calls him - tiger.

I can't wait to go back. Check it out and tell me what you think.

Just A Little Piece

Starting with a tangent.. this morning Cakes was giving "Emma Girl" kisses through the phone. Adorbs!

Anyway, on to what's on my mind. I don't think it's a secret that Josh and I are looking to buy a home. A few months ago we actually were one signature away from buying a little bitty place and this circumstance led to that circumstance and we pulled out. I haven't regretted that one bit. 

But this morning the babes and I were power walking and I happened upon a cute neighborhood and a piece of me, not a big piece but a piece, wished we had a little place to call ours. Don't get me wrong, we have moved 5x in three years, one time I was pregnant and the other we had a baby, so it's not like I want to subject myself (or Josh's family) to that again, but still. 

 Just a little piece. 

Life is good.

A Promise I Intend To Keep

Josh and I, along with Blane and Aimee, dedicated our girls this past Sunday.

Me ugly crying.

Aimee ugly crying.

Blane being Blane.

The questions we answered stuck to me. They stick with me still.

Do  you, in the presence of God and this church, solemnly dedicated this child to the Lord?

Will you endeavor to live a life before this child which will give witness to your faith in Jesus Christ?

Do you accept the authority of the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God?

Out of them, will you endeavor diligently to teach this child the commandments and promises of the Most High God, so that your child may early come to personal faith in Jesus Christ?

This is quite a promise. And a promise I intent to keep.

Me And My Girl

Friday Favorites

Sometimes the best moments happen when you're sitting at a restaurant waiting for the rest of the table to finish eating.

/ / Web Favorites / /

If this isn't the scene in almost every family home in America.. certainly is in ours.

This came up in my news feed this week. What do you think?

An eye into the world of moms and sleepless nights.

This is what my husband does!

It is very reassuring to me that we are ahead of the rest.

We are dabbling into the solids for the little one. There's so much to learn...

A Simple Trip To Costco

Seconds before the izz hit the fan

Today I attempted to go to Costco. Itinerary? Simple. One new tire, picture pick up, and a few groceries. Of course what I thought was simple ended up with me almost crying in the middle of the frozen section and an emergency call to Aimee for a pep talk.

Just when you think you have the mom gig figured out..

I had to wait for someone to help us buy a tire. Paranoid about the intense tire smell. Walk back and forth to the car twice with the mechanic. It was hot. I was holding the baby. Already sweating. Paid for one tire - oh wait! Costco membership expired. Renew. Told it'll be an hour. Grab a cart, wipe it down, put baby in. She's fine sitting there for 2 minutes. Crying her eyes out. Take her out. Holding her, pushing cart. Cart getting too heavy to push with one hand. Cart too heavy to push with one hand. Will not maneuver. Hitting other carts, aisles, people. Finally make it to the checkout. Pay. Told the photo center is on the complete other side. Sweating profusely. Push cart to the photo center. Hitting carts, aisles, people. Baby hungry. Get photos. Push to the door. About to die. Checkout employee offers to push my cart to the tire center to wait. Feed baby. Look at the parking lot and see my car has not yet been taken. Toys in car, keys with mechanic. Entertain baby for 45 minutes outside of Costco. Starving. No cash for food, and food too far anyway. Car ready. Friendly mechanic offers to load my car with groceries, says he has a 5 month old while giving me a look of pity. I could kiss that mechanic. I didn't.

Every time I see a mom now who looks a little ragged out and about my heart goes out to them. The struggle is real!

33

It is my birthday today. It was a normal day sprinkled with little bouts of special. Baby class. A trip to Time Warner. Lunch with one turned into lunch with three. A peach tart. Laundry. Some hot chocolate.

Unlike last year, I'm not especially excited about my birthday but I'm not NOT excited either. It just is. I am particularly calm, not especially looking towards the future, or even tomorrow, but more thankful for what is now - my beautiful baby, my thoughtful husband, family, a comfortable place to live, and a big cup of hot hot chocolate.

Melissa gave me a birthday card at lunch. At the end she wrote, "Just think, when He was 33, Jesus became the Savior of the world...what's God got in store for you?" I don't think you need to be 33, or for it to be your birthday, for that to apply to you too. As someone put it on Instagram, "I know now that no matter what, life in any form is a blessing. And God is good." Yes.

The Introduction To Solids

We started solids yesterday.

She loved it and we loved watching her love it. There was a tentative first minute and then fifteen minutes of wanting more more more!

The inevitable baby eating food picture.

I always see wiser, more experienced parents, posting about how quickly time flies. "Enjoy the moment" they always say. Well. I am enjoying this moment. Every smile, squinch, gulp, grab, babble, gnaw, and swallow.

I am enjoying it very much.

Cole Turns 2... Again.

Earlier today we had an intimate belated birthday party for Cakes. My mom brought tiny ice cream cones and to say he was excited, well.. he was excited.

Emerson was a good sport too. I wonder how long she'll let me put silly birthday hats on her? :)

I haven't been able to get back on my feet healthwise since the move. Glad I rallied to celebrate the little guy.

Even though it has taken us till now to really feel settled since our move down, and even though we are beseeched with traffic headaches, and life is more expensive, and the weather isn't as nice, I've got to say - doing life with family, this is the perk of living in L.A. And it trumps everything else.

I am on a diet.

Every cliche about diets is my truth so I'll just give you a picture of my adorable daughter instead of telling you what's really on my mind. :p

rice, rice, rice ..