{ Proof of Play }

{ Celebrating the first day of spring,

with a picnic and egg hunt at the park. }

{the perfect antidote to the craziness that has been our life, was just to be together and do something just the four of us, just for the fun of it}

{ deep breath }

{ Oppsy Daisy ( as Annabelle would say ) to those of you who already commented, I apologize...somehow my post went up before I was finished with it...}

  We moved out of our rental house into our big fixer-upper, with the sweet help of David's Mama, sisters and brothers. They were serious box moving/scrubbing any and all surface angels. This is the fourth move in 10 months for us.

We didn't see that coming a year ago. At the end of each day God's goodness and grace towards us, continues to blow me away. As does that husband of mine and the miracle he has worked on this old, dilapidated house.

Three days after we moved I left for the long/planned/ anticipated weekend away with " the girls" at Seabrook.
Many beauitful posts came out of our precious time together. And many beautiful faces were missing from the house that weekend. And you know you who are. And know this as well, you + your sweet babies were missed with much love. Very much.

  Rumor has it that jumped out of a moving vehicle to get to hug  + her and then later her and her, for the first time and that was such a dream come true for me. While away in the pouring sunshine, by the sea in our darling little rental cottage,  we showered and celebrated, hugged and prayed over this beautiful friend, who worked very hard and came such a very, very long way to be with us. The food was seriously heavenly. All of it. As was the company. I can't tell you how many time over the weekend, the inside-out beauty of those 10 women took my breath away. I have never cried or laughed so much or slept so little as I did in those 5 days.

We were ever so lucky for the privilege of bringing some lovely friends home with us. Fairlight + Rosie for a few short days and Miss Mac from Down Under, for a almost a week. Having them in our home was the biggest, biggest treat. It was so much fun to think of something I wanted to tell them and instead of having to sit down and type up and email or pick up the phone, I could just run up the stairs or shout it across the room. It's probably a good thing we only had those few days with Fairlight or our heads might have exploded in the aftermath of our collective brainstorming sessions.  It woudl take several lifetimes to follow up, let alone through on all our bright ideas. The girls were super gracious under our rather rough and tumble accomadations...with half of the house still under construction and mostly unpacked. I treasure our time with them here and only regret that I couldn't have documented every special day with dozens of photos. It was so very sweet to have them meet our little family and to watch those extended bonds of friendship grow.  And the only hard part of being together in real life is how much greater the distance feels now between us.

Things are getting back to some sense of normalcy around here. Friday night was the first time that just the four of us had spent an evening " at home " in longer than we can remember. Down-time has seriously been lacking in our lives for months now and it was just what we needed to reconnect, to stay home, sleep in, take multiple walks to the park, have a picnic, and a egg hunt to celebrate the first day of Spring, dance in the kitchen, and just be.

Today my dining room is getting painted " Robin's Nest. " I am excited to start sharing pictures of the house soon. I have told many of you this already but being in my kitchen feels like I am living in a Country Living article. "  My friend Andi said it best the night she told me " Chelle, it's totally a Tumblr kitchen! "  
  I cannot and will not stop singing the praises of a certain man + his best friend ( my brother in law David ). They have breathed another 150+ years into this house and done an truly stunning job on it's renovation.
As my Aunt commented the other night. After who knows how many years, maybe even decades..." it's a happy house again. "

Show and tell is next, I promise.

{ image source from here }

{ sweet serendipity }

Serendipity, definition n.

is the effect by which one accidentally stumbles upon something fortunate,

especially while looking for something entirely unrelated.

All my birthday girl requested after I asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday, was a trip to the park to feed the ducks. Don't you love how easy to please small children can be? The simple fact that she is just as delighted or more so, with a pair of orange fairy slippers from the dollar store than something you spent $50.00 on, thrills me to no end. We were delighted to have Poppy and Nana join us for our little birthday outing and while we were there feeding the ducks at the park, something very magical happened. Like something straight out of a fairytale, the big tower clock above us struck four. She and I both listened with delight as the bells rang out their little tune and I quickly whispered into her ear, " oh honey, let's count " After a short pause it started in...Dong..." one." Dong...." two." Dong..." three." Dong..." four."

And look of amazement on her face was so precious, I'll never forget it.

" Mommy, mommy! The bells ringed four times, four just like me."

And right then I decided something. I decided that the bells would make a perfect new birthday tradition, until they turn thirteen anyway. So every birthday from now on, we are going to find bells, on the hour that coincides with the year of their birth and set apart that particular time of the day to pause, and celebrate them.

You've already heard what her favorite thing about her birthday was.

That was my favorite thing about her birthday.

That and watching my Mom go down the slide with her.

{ Dreaming Up A Kitchen}

( the color palette is inspired by this lady/ creative genius )

Here are some other elements in the mix. We are going for a crisp vintage look.

( Marble Countertops )

( Polished Nickle Bin Pulls )

( bright fiestaware accents )

( Farm House Sink + Open Shelving )

( the lights are going to be very similar to this with polished nickle pendants with the red stripe )

Fun Details:

( one of my most anticpated elements in the kitchen, is a painted red door )

(want to find a vintage tray to hang on my kitchen walls as a memo board )

Paint Colors:

Benjamin Moore, Linen White for cupboards + trim
Benjamin Moore, Soleil Yellow for kitchen walls
Benjamin Moore, Caliente Red for kitchen door ( unless I change my mind and go with a robins egg blue )

{ the befores }

I would like to introduce you to " Humpty Dumpty. " But consider yourself warned. The pictures to follow are not for the faint of heart.

( main bath )

( staircase )

( kitchen )

( upstairs )


( Annabelle's room )


( upstairs, also Annabelle's room )


This post and this post and this post tell more of the
story of our great big 101 year old project house.

There is a whirlwind of work going on this week to get us moved in by Sunday.

David's to-do list for the week:

1. 
   
   Install counter tops + cupboard doors + pulls + kitchen lights + all appliances
2. 
   
   Bathroom(s) needs toilets + sinks + vanity+ lights + bathtub oh and a floor. A tiled hexagon floor
3. 
   
   Living room and dining room need to be completely painted
4. 
   
   Bedrooms need light fixtures + curtain rods
5. 
   
   and those are only the big things

Thankfully David has help. He's complied an awesome team of guys making it possible for us to reach our goal of moving in four months after moving here.


Chelle's to-do list for the week:

1. 
   
   Pack up the house
2. 
   
   Clean this house and the new house
3. 
   
   Run any and all errands and help David in any way that I can
4. 
   
   And most of all in the coming week I am going to try to keep this in mind:

( print found here )

Come to think of it no one has called the

house humpty-dumpty for a while now.

A Birthday Interview with Annabelle Lucy...

What is your name? Annabelle Lucy, same as my Granniebelle's
What are some of your nicknames? Lucybelle, Sweet Heart, Sugar Plum, Sugar Plum Fairy, Twinkletoes, Beautiful, Sugs, Sparkle Pop, Baby Cakes, LovieHow old are you? today is my last day to be three and the next day is my birthday and I'll be this many on my birthday ( holds up four little fingers )Where do you live? with my brother my Daddy my Mommy, my Uncle
What are your favorite things to do? play dress up, snuggle, have my birthday, and play, to make people laugh by saying silly thingsDo you do them alone or with others? with other one people with my Mommy and Daddy and Audrey sometimesWhat do you like to eat? little cookies, shrimp, sushi, rice, pickled herring, licorice, potatoes, honey mustard dressing, rice
What do you think you will do when you grow up? a mommy to my childrenWhat do you do on your birthday? play with balloons, eat cake, and take candy out of little buckets, have treasure hunts, feed the ducks,
What is your favorite color? pink, green, yellowWhat is your favorite thing to wear? dressesWhat would be the best thing someone could give you? a kitten and a dolly, and a dogWhat do you do all day? play and play and snuggle
What is your favorite toy? the little lamb with a black woolly nose from Aunt LynneyWho loves you the most? Jesus, Mommy + Daddy , Poppy and Nana, Auntie Roo + Uncle Boo, Mor Mor, God my whole family loves me
What is your favorite book? Flicka Ricka and Dicka + Snip Snap and SnurrWhat is something that Mommy always says to you: I love you, good morning sunshine

Where is your favorite place to go? the park, library, pet store
What makes you happy? A big huge lollipop from Auntie Roo, my pink gloves, treasures, thinking about the kitty I am getting tomorrow called Creature.
What was your favorite thing about your 4th birthday? my Daddy-date at the pet store.

{ rainshine + sundrops }

Four beautiful years of you sweet girl. And how it has flown. You came to us on a bright and sunny springlike day in February and ever since then you filled our hearts to the brim with your sweet sugar and spice, deep love, spunk and passion for life, followed up by silly peels of laughter. You are rainshine and sundrops to us.

Anniebelle, as the song says, if God made you then He's in love with me.

I am so happy to get to be at your side as you to discover all the delights of being four years old. I have this little feeling, we'll call it a hunch, that it's going to be a grand year for you.

And can I just say, how very dearly I love being your Mommy.

It is one of my very most favorite things in the whole world.

All my love,
Mommy

{ you are almost there }

Gulp. 25 days from today, will find us living here.

I am really not sure that I think that is humanly possible. But he kisses my forehead and tells me to trust him and not to worry about a thing. It would take me pages and pages to tell you how proud I am of him and all he has accomplished in the last 3 months. For now I will tell you my admiration + respect for him has grown in leaps and bounds as I have watched this great man, take this great big project house we bought, and turn it into a beautiful home.

David, to you see you juggle this crazy life that we call ours...to watch you bravely step outside the comfort zone. Okay, so maybe blasted out would be more accurately describe it. To see you rise to the challenge, every day.

And while it has been far from easy, while it's been on many levels, the most challenging year we have faced together, I only have tears to tell you how thankful I am for all that you do, and for the tender way you have not let my/our hearts + needs be replaced by your massive to-do list.

As you, I , as we, all four of us together... learn, stretch and grow.

And those shoulders of yours, well they only get broader.

I know we've still got a long way to go but I had to stop and thank you today.

For today. And for every day you have loved us, for every day you will love us, loved us so well.

And babes, thanks to you, and the perfect grace of God,

I think we are going to come out shining.

{ Reassured }

Last night as I was snuggled up nose to nose with her,

smiling into her pretty twinkle-blue eyes and running my fingers through her tangled curls,

you know, the usual bedtime routine.

The sweet version of it, that is.

She had my face cupped in her hands and she whispered to me:

" Mommy, it's a pretty face that Jesus made for you. "

And I sighed and teared up and marveled at the absolute lovliness of her heart.

And His.

{ Topping off 2009 }

{ this is what Christmas looks like in our cozy little rental house }

Tonight is for being together, just the four of us.

To eat pizza.

To have a tea party with tiny cups of hot cocoa +

towers of whipped cream and crushed candy cane sprinkles on top...

To do crazy things. Annabelle just ran outside to make snow angels in her swimsuit...

after Daddy dared her.

To snuggle in front of the fireplace.

Isn't he cute grinning from ear to ear like that?

Still to come:

Tom + Jerry

A game of Operation

Popcorn + ice cold sparking cider

Pot and pan banging ( even if we ring in the new year a few hours early )

With a whole lot of giggles in between.

After the happy flurry of family and coming + going over the holidays, this is just perfect.

I don't have words to tell you how thankful I am for all the grace and blessings and love that have been poured into our lives in the last year. But it hit us hard today, out of the blue David and I just had to sit down and cry, as we were in that moment overwhelmed by God's goodness to us. May the New Year bring us each days of growth, joy, gratitude. And most of all, more of you, Lord Jesus.

{ Blog Guilt + Giddiness + Birthday Girls }

I get into this silly little cycle of guilt when I haven't blogged for a while. I feel bad about all the things that I have not recorded...and in the back of my mind there is this little tug, over all the sweet times my kids won't be able to read back on, because I did not write them down. And I always plan + hope to "catch up " on them eventually while the weeks fly by and in the meantime I've failed to jot down today's joys, because I still haven't " made up " for two weeks ago. Like I said, so silly. Great if ( and highly unlikely ) I ever get back to filling in the blanks of the last month, but for now I am going to pick up where I left of and even skip over some unwritten posts in my head and start fresh list of joys for today:

I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying and inspired by these two amazing friends who are blogging daily in the month of November. It's called 30 days of Gratefulness. Or how excited I am to tell you about another beautiful friend of mine...meet Nikki ( who rather prefers being called Mrs. Mike ) one of my dearest, since we were little girls with long braids and dramatic pen names, our heads in the clouds and the like friends. She's started a lovely little blog. Pop in and tell her hello. . you'll come away with your heart warmed, I promise. That and a good giggle.

Jack's had is half birthday Nov. 1st. And Annabelle and I celebrated by making a big batch of cinnamon rolls ( most of which David took to work to share with the guys on his crew, as a final, farewell from us treat ) complete with cream cheese frosting which we let Jack have generous licks of. Me oh my, do we ever adore the boy. He really has the best grin. We gush over it. And these stout legs, complete with chunky thighs. Which we tickle. And the kissiest cheeks. Which we squish up and smooch away on, all day long. And his funny baby antics ( growls, squawks, chuckles, chortles and coos ) are hilarious . I can already tell he loves making people laugh. Just last night he had me cracking up so hard. He would start laughing when I would stop, just get me going again. We are all also a little in awe of him...He's weighs, and I am not kidding...18 1/2 lbs...and I have to squeeze him into size 12 mo clothes. Just ask his Dad, and he'll tell you, " the kid already eats like a horse." And to think that Annabelle only weighed 18 lbs when she turned one. He's crawling all over the place and is making many attempts to pull him self up on things. Oh and he snuggles right into you, when you hold him. That melts me. Annabelle was never like that. She has always been too on the go, for that sort of thing.

The back and forth of giggles coming from the couch tonight where Daddy + daughter are cuddled up watching old cartoons together.

Reading out loud + loving all of E.B White's books. First Charlotte's Web, then Stuart Little, and now we are half way through Trumpet of the Swan. And I am reading + loving A Tree Grows in Brooklyn , for the very first time.
Playing together outside. And Annabelle's pleading, " oh Mommy, can we go outside and throw leaves at each other, again...please? "

All of the things we are doing for the last time this week. After which, I may or may not sit in the car and cry a little. As Granniebelle told me last night..."honey, moving is a very emotional experience. "

Saturday we move. In just two days. And I am giddy. It feels so surreal. As we take off on what is certain to be a grand adventure, I anticipate and welcome all that the future holds for us, especially knowing Who holds both it + us, in His perfect love. Excited to enter this new season, as I pray it's one that brings great growth to my life and soul and a deeper knowing of Love. One that will make my heart more like His. So I can love better as a wife, mommy, sister, daughter, neighbor + friend.

Celebrating this dear friend ( and wishing so badly it could have been in-person ) today as she joins ranks with the rest of us who as David so bluntly put it on my birthday, are only two years shy of no longer being in our twenties. Many, many good things could be said about this birthday girl, for she is truly + in every way amazing. She is a giver not a taker. She is as strong ( or what you'll hear her refer to as feisty )as she is sweet. And she is sunshine for every square inch. She is a lovely, lovely, wife + mama + friend + example. Leslie, I want to be just like you when I grow up. Oh wait, I am older than you. Darn.
Wishing that your birthday + the year to follow, will be your best yet. Or in the words of C.S. Lewis:
" There are better things ahead, than any we leave behind."

{ a pocketful of grace }

My first-day-of-October collection of thankfuls.


My $ 2.00 bargain bouquet of the most gorgeous dahlias from a nearby roadside stand.

Morning and evening's necessity to " run and put on a sweater."

Annabelle's delight in learning. You should have seen her excitement over learning the the word polliwog today. We are reading Charlotte's Web out loud. A real chapter book. She sits perfectly still and stares at my face, spellbound. But then she also argues with me like a practiced 15 year old. Right now she's equal parts heart-melting + hard.

Dreaming of baking up something spicy and comforting. And then sharing with loved ones and neighbors, over a big steamy mugs of good earth tea. Now if I only I could decide either apple or pumpkin?

Giddy, so giddy at the thought of moving at the end of the month...knowing that friends are waiting with open arms, ready to love us. Also giddy for our friends who have over the summer become man and wife or welcomed sweet new babies, for friends who are moving + settling into their new homes. As the answered prayers unfold around us and your heart aches with gratitude. Still we continue to pray and pray for friends that are still waiting for it to be their turn.
Annabelle rosy-cheeked and twirling as flame-tipped leaves swirl around the yard in the wind.

Our little evening visit with Granny Annie. And how wonderful it is to really truly see her back to herself again.
Snacks of perfectly crisp apple slices + juice-down-your-chin pears.
Recent cravings for the company of a good book. And have been staying up into the wee hours of the morning curled up on the couch reading to the the soft beat + rhythm of the rain against the window as background music.
Stretching out the early morning under the cover giggles, cozy + snuggled up together...
Loving the schemes and plans and brainstorming sessions with David, over ideas for the house. And our future.
Jack's delicious roly-poly-ness. His unbelievable squishy kissy cuddle-bug cuteness. Oh and did I mention, he's sporting not just one but two (hard earned) wee pearly whites. That and he's had his first taste of real food? Pumpkin pie. Straight off Daddy's fork. First he loved it...and then he puckered up and made terrible faces and we laughed so hard, and then after he got used to the texture, he loved it again and clamored for more. He is dying to crawl and gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth. Once he figures out how to move his arms he will be everywhere.
Longing to grow. Keenly aware of my insecurities, of how ugly the selfishness in me is.
" Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. " Rom. 5: 20
The fear is like a blister. Doubts tug at me.
Until I remember Jesus. Then I am overwhelmed by His goodness. Overtaken by love.
Perfect Love.
" For perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4: 18
And then my smile returns. And it is huge.

boy oh ( sweet ) boy

Do you even know the sunshine you have brought into our

lives since you came to us, only four short months ago?

With your highly contagious grins.

{ Jack in his most darling wee sweater, knit by this sweet friend }

And that look you have the one that says, “Mommy, I am in love with you.”

And the tender way you peer in to my eyes, that makes my heart melt into a syrupy little puddle. Every single time.

And your pout Jack-Jack, you have the best pouty lip. Your bottom lip turns under in slow motion and starts to quiver when something upsets you . It is hilarious + adorable.

I am crazy about the dimples in your elbows. Crazy I tell you.
And the way you curl your toes.

Jack you are a fusser. Auntie Deb, who you adore, dubbed you " Jack-the-finicky" but she says you make up for it by being so cute. And I concur. Some days are just sad and Mommy has to hold you nonstop and jolly you along. You popped your first tooth a couple of days ago. Teething has been miserable for you. And we all feel so bad for you as you drool like a leaky faucet and try so hard all day long to get both your hands in your mouth so you can chomp down. Mommy’s even started to call you chomper. That and, chubby-wubby-fuzzy-wicks. Because of all the little fuzz that has suddenly sprouted on top of your head.

My wiggle/giggle bit of boy you are such a love. Your laughter comes quick and easily. And you have the most remarkably sweet grin. And you are so quick to smile, even at strangers. I love how your face lights up in response to others. You are in awe of your big sister and think her very funny. And she loves that. And is she ever, ever in love with you. You two started playing your first game in the last couple weeks and it is the sweetest thing in the world to hear your babies giggling together. I am going to post a video of it soon.

Daddy is very proud of how strong and big you are. You can get up on all fours and hold your head way, way up. And you love to stand with help. And always try to pull yourself up. And you are long enough to fill out the striped size 9 months jammies you are wearing today. Daddy also takes great delight in how much you love being outside. You are content for hours to stare wide-eyed from your pouch as the the world goes by. Like this:

{ walking on the beach }